In every case that comes before you from your people who live in the cities—whether bloodshed or other concerns of the law, commands, decrees or regulations—you are to warn them not to sin against the LORD; otherwise his wrath will come on you and your people. Do this, and you will not sin. – 2 Chronicles 19:10

Today’s Scripture Reading (December 4, 2019): 2 Chronicles 19

We spend a lot of time arguing whether or not an action is legal. It seems to be a consistent theme that I hear throughout the impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump. Supporters of the President argue that what he did in his communication with Ukraine was wrong, it may have been immoral, and it violated common sense, but it was not illegal, and therefore it was not impeachable. The lesson that I am afraid we are learning is that “illegal” is the line of which we need to be careful. If the law allows it, then why should we prohibit it.

Maybe let me phrase it a different way. Let’s return to the discussion of language. I don’t like the word “damn.” When I was growing up, “damn” was a swear word. But now, the word is commonly used and culturally there is nothing wrong with the word. I still don’t like it. Culture has declared that the word is fine, but it describes a condition of the soul that is in the hands of God. It is a soul condition that I would not wish on my enemies. So casually saying the word bothers me. I get it; it is my issue. But the problem then magnifies. What words should we avoid using in casual conversation around our coffee tables? And the answer that we arrive at is that the only prohibited words should be those associated with the Third Commandment do not take the name of your God in vain. We have successfully limited that to the words God (or Gawd, spelling doesn’t really change the legality) or Jesus Christ. Everything else is permissible. So go ahead, use the “F word” as much as you want. It is not biblically or legally prohibited. Its avoidance is just a social regulation.

But the Bible does say, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29). So any unwholesome talk, according to Paul in our inspired text, is swearing, whether or not it uses culturally approved words.

Jehoshaphat’s instructions to the judges are that in any case that was brought before them, their message needed to be “do not sin against God.” That is the line that we had better not cross. If you do what is right before God, you will not sin. If you do not honor God’s instructions, regardless of legality, then you are placing yourself in danger. But the King goes a step further. There is an element of communal guilt here that extends from God’s anger with Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 19:2). Do not associate with people who refuse to honor God. Do not enter into alliances with them, because God’s wrath will be poured out on the one who dishonors God, as well as the good who may be associates of that person.

James Burton Coffman makes this observation about 2 Chronicles 19, using the alliance between the good King Jehoshaphat and the evil King Ahab as an example.

This chapter makes it clear that too close association with evil people is a fearful danger to Christian people. It is not that we should not love "all men," even as our Father in heaven; but cooperative alliances with wicked partners can easily prove to be an unqualified disaster, as was Jehoshaphat's alliance with Ahab. The danger comes from all directions. The evil partner himself is a threat, as when Ahab disguised himself, almost causing the death of Jehoshaphat; furthermore, the wrath of God can be incurred through our cooperative aid of wicked men (James Burton Coffman).

Maybe Jehoshaphat realized his error. And so he warned his judges out of his experience.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 20