Contemplative Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 19:11 (New International Version)

11 “Amariah the chief priest will be over you in any matter concerning the LORD, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the tribe of Judah, will be over you in any matter concerning the king, and the Levites will serve as officials before you. Act with courage, and may the LORD be with those who do well.”

In this verse, Jehoshaphat king of Judah has returned safely to his palace. He is appointing Judges to make decisions on contentious matters for the people. A daunting task for both Jehoshaphat and the Judges.

I focused on the phrase act with courage. The Judges were not to be afraid of their judgments. They were not to take them lightly, or as a joke. But, they were not to be so mesmerized by the seriousness of the task that they could not decide.

In my profession, this is called analysis paralysis. The tendency to think about something so long and so hard that judgment never comes or is delayed to a time when it is meaningless.

There is a place for delaying decisions to the proper time.

There is a place for deciding today. Sometimes – many times – that takes courage, the courage to act.