OT: 2 Chronicles 29-30
NT: 1 Thessalonians 5:11-14
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2 Chronicles 30:21-22 — The Israelites who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great rejoicing, while the Levites and priests sang to the LORD every day, accompanied by the LORD’s instruments of praise. Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites, who showed good understanding of the service of the LORD. For the seven days they ate their assigned portion and offered fellowship offerings and praised the LORD, the God of their fathers.
Encouragement can be a powerful thing. It can pick you up off the ground, dust you off, and pat you on the back as you resume your walk. It can wipe your wound and smother your fear, and lift your spirit when you're at the lowest point of your heart. Encouragement is a powerful thing. A lack of it can tear someone down by leading them into feelings of self doubt and worthlessness. They can easily lose heart and give up without knowing how they're doing and what they're worth. Encouragement is a vital characteristic for a leader, and Hezekiah demonstrated it well.
Levi was the tribe from which the priests originated, and when Hezekiah ascended to the throne and decided to rededicate the nation and the temple to the Lord, he needed the priests to help him. But because there was a shortage of priests, the non-priest Levites were called upon to step in and help with the repair and maintenance of the Temple. Hezekiah, knowing that these men were not accustomed to the religious service of their brethren, encouraged them verbally, and the Levites responded by doing as great job. Encouragement is a powerful thing. It motivates like a cool lake on the horizon in the midst of the desert. Are you encouraging one another? Can you do more to notice the efforts of those around you -- perhaps those under your authority?
Be God's.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
God's Security Blanket
OT: 2 Chronicles 27-28
NT: 2 Corinthians 1:1-5
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2 Chronicles 28:16-22 — At that time King Ahaz sent to the king of Assyria for help. The Edomites had again come and attacked Judah and carried away prisoners, while the Philistines had raided towns in the foothills and in the Negev of Judah. The LORD had humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had promoted wickedness in Judah and had been most unfaithful to the LORD. Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came to him, but he gave him trouble instead of help. Ahaz took some of the things from the temple of the LORD and from the royal palace and from the princes and presented them to the king of Assyria, but that did not help him. In his time of trouble King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the LORD.
Most children have some object that they hold onto when they are scared. For some it is a blanket. My little sister absolutely adored her blanket and when it came time to part ways, one might think she was having a limb cut off! When I was a little boy I also had a blanket but of more value to me was a pillow. I called it my "Security pillow." It went with me on all family road trips and faithfully sat on my bed every day. Whenever I was afraid, all I had to do was squeeze the pillow tight to find comfort. God's security covers us like a blanket and soothes all levels of emotional and spiritual fear. But when we forget to put on His blanket and come to Him in prayer, we can feel awfully isolated and scared.
Ahaz was a wicked king of Judah who totally forgot that the Lord was a security blanket that he could access at any time. When times got tough as a result of his own wickedness and the that of his people, Ahaz did not turn to the Lord for security. In fact, he did everything else -- including consulting the king of a powerful and growing empire, Assyria. Would Assyria come to his rescue? Nope. Problem worse. Now Assyria is interested in having Judah as a prize. One generation later, the king of Assyria would lay siege to Jerusalem in an attempt to take it. No, Ahaz needed to consult the Lord, the God of Israel. But he never did and the nation suffered as a whole. We would be wise to turn the Lord first for security in times of trouble. Don't leave the Lord last on your list of "fixes." Put Him first. He's more than capable of covering you with His blanket and sheltering you through your times of trouble.
Be God's.
NT: 2 Corinthians 1:1-5
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2 Chronicles 28:16-22 — At that time King Ahaz sent to the king of Assyria for help. The Edomites had again come and attacked Judah and carried away prisoners, while the Philistines had raided towns in the foothills and in the Negev of Judah. The LORD had humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had promoted wickedness in Judah and had been most unfaithful to the LORD. Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came to him, but he gave him trouble instead of help. Ahaz took some of the things from the temple of the LORD and from the royal palace and from the princes and presented them to the king of Assyria, but that did not help him. In his time of trouble King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the LORD.
Most children have some object that they hold onto when they are scared. For some it is a blanket. My little sister absolutely adored her blanket and when it came time to part ways, one might think she was having a limb cut off! When I was a little boy I also had a blanket but of more value to me was a pillow. I called it my "Security pillow." It went with me on all family road trips and faithfully sat on my bed every day. Whenever I was afraid, all I had to do was squeeze the pillow tight to find comfort. God's security covers us like a blanket and soothes all levels of emotional and spiritual fear. But when we forget to put on His blanket and come to Him in prayer, we can feel awfully isolated and scared.
Ahaz was a wicked king of Judah who totally forgot that the Lord was a security blanket that he could access at any time. When times got tough as a result of his own wickedness and the that of his people, Ahaz did not turn to the Lord for security. In fact, he did everything else -- including consulting the king of a powerful and growing empire, Assyria. Would Assyria come to his rescue? Nope. Problem worse. Now Assyria is interested in having Judah as a prize. One generation later, the king of Assyria would lay siege to Jerusalem in an attempt to take it. No, Ahaz needed to consult the Lord, the God of Israel. But he never did and the nation suffered as a whole. We would be wise to turn the Lord first for security in times of trouble. Don't leave the Lord last on your list of "fixes." Put Him first. He's more than capable of covering you with His blanket and sheltering you through your times of trouble.
Be God's.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Gone to the Head
OT: 2 Chronicles 26
NT: Romans 12:3-13
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2 Chronicles 26:1-2, 15-17 — Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. He was the one who rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah after Amaziah rested with his fathers. His fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became powerful. But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. Azariah the priest with eighty other courageous priests of the LORD followed him in.
If it is true that when we are weak, we are strong (2 Cor. 13); then it must also be true that when we are strong, we are weak. It is during times of great spiritual highs and perfect contentment in life that temptation often rears its ugly head and we fall prey. I know this is certainly true in my own life. Uzziah was a good king who, like Solomon, went bad in his later years. He was a strong king -- had everything going for him. But good times tend to cause us to forget that we are weak vessels who need the constant grace and strength of the Lord to make it through each day. And times of prosperity tend to cause us to forget the Giver of all good things.
Things were going so well for Uzziah that he forgot that there was a source for all his fortune. He forgot that the Lord had ordained places for the kings and for the priests and those duties were not to cross. It was the priests who ministered at the Temple. It was the priests who burned incense on the altars inside the Most Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. Uzziah decided, for whatever reason, to do the incense burning himself, so he marched right in to the Temple's second holiest room, followed quickly by a panicked high preist and 80 of his sort. The king could not offer insence, so the priests stepped in. As the story unfolds, Uzziah was punished by God with leprosy when he entered. The good king had lost his place and his prosperity had gone to his head. Has your good fortune also gone to your head? Have you thanked God for your possessions and your family? Are you living a life of thankfulness and gratitude, or are you forgetting the Giver of all good things?
Be God's.
NT: Romans 12:3-13
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2 Chronicles 26:1-2, 15-17 — Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. He was the one who rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah after Amaziah rested with his fathers. His fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became powerful. But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. Azariah the priest with eighty other courageous priests of the LORD followed him in.
If it is true that when we are weak, we are strong (2 Cor. 13); then it must also be true that when we are strong, we are weak. It is during times of great spiritual highs and perfect contentment in life that temptation often rears its ugly head and we fall prey. I know this is certainly true in my own life. Uzziah was a good king who, like Solomon, went bad in his later years. He was a strong king -- had everything going for him. But good times tend to cause us to forget that we are weak vessels who need the constant grace and strength of the Lord to make it through each day. And times of prosperity tend to cause us to forget the Giver of all good things.
Things were going so well for Uzziah that he forgot that there was a source for all his fortune. He forgot that the Lord had ordained places for the kings and for the priests and those duties were not to cross. It was the priests who ministered at the Temple. It was the priests who burned incense on the altars inside the Most Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. Uzziah decided, for whatever reason, to do the incense burning himself, so he marched right in to the Temple's second holiest room, followed quickly by a panicked high preist and 80 of his sort. The king could not offer insence, so the priests stepped in. As the story unfolds, Uzziah was punished by God with leprosy when he entered. The good king had lost his place and his prosperity had gone to his head. Has your good fortune also gone to your head? Have you thanked God for your possessions and your family? Are you living a life of thankfulness and gratitude, or are you forgetting the Giver of all good things?
Be God's.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Settling for Something Less
OT: 2 Chronicles 24-25
NT: Hebrews 8
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2 Chronicles 25:14-16 — Now after Amaziah came from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought the gods of the sons of Seir, set them up as his gods, bowed down before them and burned incense to them. Then the anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of the people who have not delivered their own people from your hand?” As he was talking with him, the king said to him, “Have we appointed you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” Then the prophet stopped and said, “I know that God has planned to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.”
Amaziah was the son of Joash, the good king of Judah. A young king, he seemed to have everything going in his favor, save for one thing — his heart. Amaziah "did right in the sight of the LORD, yet not with a whole heart" according to chapter 25, verse 1. His heart was not fully seeking the Lord, so he did foolish things. One such thing was to take the idolatrous gods of Edom, which he had defeated in battle, and set them up in Jerusalem to be worshipped. Why would Amaziah do this? Beats me. But God certainly wasn't pleased. The words of a prophet echo through time and eternity: why did you accept something that failed to save at the expense of the One who saved you? Why settle for less than the best?
The author of Hebrews would ask his readers the same thing repeatedly in his book: why settle for an Old Covenant that was incomplete and could not save at the expense of a New Covenant that gives life? Too often we settle for what cannot help us in our spiritual life — things dead or dying, things that confuse or distract. We often settle for a prayer life that is small and weak. Too often we run after pleasures that are poor and fleeting. Amaziah knew that the God of Israel was powerful and Almighty. Yet he was willing to bow before Edom's gods -- the nation he had just humiliated in battle. Don't settle for less. Follow the new and living way.
Be God's.
NT: Hebrews 8
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2 Chronicles 25:14-16 — Now after Amaziah came from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought the gods of the sons of Seir, set them up as his gods, bowed down before them and burned incense to them. Then the anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of the people who have not delivered their own people from your hand?” As he was talking with him, the king said to him, “Have we appointed you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” Then the prophet stopped and said, “I know that God has planned to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.”
Amaziah was the son of Joash, the good king of Judah. A young king, he seemed to have everything going in his favor, save for one thing — his heart. Amaziah "did right in the sight of the LORD, yet not with a whole heart" according to chapter 25, verse 1. His heart was not fully seeking the Lord, so he did foolish things. One such thing was to take the idolatrous gods of Edom, which he had defeated in battle, and set them up in Jerusalem to be worshipped. Why would Amaziah do this? Beats me. But God certainly wasn't pleased. The words of a prophet echo through time and eternity: why did you accept something that failed to save at the expense of the One who saved you? Why settle for less than the best?
The author of Hebrews would ask his readers the same thing repeatedly in his book: why settle for an Old Covenant that was incomplete and could not save at the expense of a New Covenant that gives life? Too often we settle for what cannot help us in our spiritual life — things dead or dying, things that confuse or distract. We often settle for a prayer life that is small and weak. Too often we run after pleasures that are poor and fleeting. Amaziah knew that the God of Israel was powerful and Almighty. Yet he was willing to bow before Edom's gods -- the nation he had just humiliated in battle. Don't settle for less. Follow the new and living way.
Be God's.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Bad Company, Worse Corruption
OT: 2 Chronicles 21-23
NT: 1 Corinthians 15:33
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2 Chronicles 21:4; 22:2-4 — Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter of Ahab. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD. Nevertheless, because of the covenant the LORD had made with David, the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David. He had promised to maintain a lamp for him and his descendants forever... [Jehoram's son] Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, a granddaughter of Omri. He too walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother encouraged him in doing wrong. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done, for after his father’s death they became his advisers, to his undoing.
For a hundred years or more the house of David and the northern kingdom were separate entities. A king sat on David's throne in Jerusalem while other kings, not of the royal line, sat ont he throne of the northern kingdom. But things changed when Jehoram, son of David, married the daughter of king Ahab, one of the north's wickedest kings. A son was born of the union named Ahaziah, a weak king who was led astray by his mother Athaliah. That same mother would later kill almost all the other royal sons in order to make herself queen of Judah. Evil and wickedness ruled Ahab's line. There was no respect for life and certainly no respect for God.
Jehoram led his family and his nation astray by associating with a family of bad character. His marriage of Ahab's daughter -- whether for love or for alliance -- was a mistake that led to a lot of bloodshed and evil. Paul quoted an old adage in 1 Corinthians 15:33 that says, "bad company corrupts good morals," and that adage was proven true in the kings of Judah. As we'll see in the next few chapters of 2 Chronicles, Joash, the young son of Ahaziah, listened to the wise counsel of Jehoida, the godly priest, and the kingdom of Judah was rescued from the wickedness of Ahab's influence. When we hang around people who not only do not follow the Lord but are antagonistic against Him, we can easily be corrupted and led astray. I'm reminded of the thousands of college students who go off to school for the first time and are immediately hit by negative influences they never experienced at home. Who are you listening to every day at work, on TV and in the marketplace? Are they individuals or programs that display godly behavior and good morals? Or are they bad influences? What can you do to reduce your risk of being led astray by them?
Be God's.
NT: 1 Corinthians 15:33
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2 Chronicles 21:4; 22:2-4 — Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter of Ahab. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD. Nevertheless, because of the covenant the LORD had made with David, the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David. He had promised to maintain a lamp for him and his descendants forever... [Jehoram's son] Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, a granddaughter of Omri. He too walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother encouraged him in doing wrong. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done, for after his father’s death they became his advisers, to his undoing.
For a hundred years or more the house of David and the northern kingdom were separate entities. A king sat on David's throne in Jerusalem while other kings, not of the royal line, sat ont he throne of the northern kingdom. But things changed when Jehoram, son of David, married the daughter of king Ahab, one of the north's wickedest kings. A son was born of the union named Ahaziah, a weak king who was led astray by his mother Athaliah. That same mother would later kill almost all the other royal sons in order to make herself queen of Judah. Evil and wickedness ruled Ahab's line. There was no respect for life and certainly no respect for God.
Jehoram led his family and his nation astray by associating with a family of bad character. His marriage of Ahab's daughter -- whether for love or for alliance -- was a mistake that led to a lot of bloodshed and evil. Paul quoted an old adage in 1 Corinthians 15:33 that says, "bad company corrupts good morals," and that adage was proven true in the kings of Judah. As we'll see in the next few chapters of 2 Chronicles, Joash, the young son of Ahaziah, listened to the wise counsel of Jehoida, the godly priest, and the kingdom of Judah was rescued from the wickedness of Ahab's influence. When we hang around people who not only do not follow the Lord but are antagonistic against Him, we can easily be corrupted and led astray. I'm reminded of the thousands of college students who go off to school for the first time and are immediately hit by negative influences they never experienced at home. Who are you listening to every day at work, on TV and in the marketplace? Are they individuals or programs that display godly behavior and good morals? Or are they bad influences? What can you do to reduce your risk of being led astray by them?
Be God's.
Monday, October 6, 2008
A Brief Interlude
Sorry for missing Sunday's devotion, but my family had to travel another state over for a bit of a family emergency. As I write this, I'm sitting in a chair late at night in Lousiana. We're on our way back to North Texas after a whirlwind trip to see my ailing grandfather in Cajun country.
When we last left our journey through the Bible, Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, had won an amazing victory without ever lifting a sword. The Lord had sent the armies of Moab, Edom and other foes into mass chaos and they turned on each other. All the armies of Judah had to do was munch on popcorn and watch the Lord at work.
Tomorrow, we'll resume our journey with 2 Chronicles 21 with a couple of bad kings of Judah, Jehoram and Ahaziah, and the remarkable story of the protection of King Joash.
Be God's!
When we last left our journey through the Bible, Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, had won an amazing victory without ever lifting a sword. The Lord had sent the armies of Moab, Edom and other foes into mass chaos and they turned on each other. All the armies of Judah had to do was munch on popcorn and watch the Lord at work.
Tomorrow, we'll resume our journey with 2 Chronicles 21 with a couple of bad kings of Judah, Jehoram and Ahaziah, and the remarkable story of the protection of King Joash.
Be God's!
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Popcorn and the Pass of Ziz
OT: 2 Chronicles 16-20
NT: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
2 Chronicles 20:14-17 — Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly. He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’”
Ancient popcorn vendors must've loved the prophecy of Jahaziel. When the Spirit of the Lord came upon the Levite and he proclaimed, "You will not have to fight this battle... stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD," vendors all across Judah had reason for celebration. God was going to do all the fighting! The soldiers were supposed to just show up, stand in line and watch the show. "Popcorn! Getcha popcorn heya!" God often showed His sovereignty and might in the Old Testament by winning miraculous victories on behalf of His people. Though He often accompanied human combat with a miracle, like when He made the sun stand still for Joshua, He also occasionally left us people out, like here. Remember Gideon? He had 300 men and didn't even have to swing a sword to defeat the Midian army.
This story goes to show us that God is the one who really does the fighting, no matter how it appears on earth. He stands sovereign over all creation and swings His sword in defense of His people. If you need help, all you have to do is cry out to the Lord. And He will be swift to save. And as you watch your deliverance play out before you... getcha popcorn ready and enjoy!
Be God's.
NT: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
2 Chronicles 20:14-17 — Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly. He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’”
Ancient popcorn vendors must've loved the prophecy of Jahaziel. When the Spirit of the Lord came upon the Levite and he proclaimed, "You will not have to fight this battle... stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD," vendors all across Judah had reason for celebration. God was going to do all the fighting! The soldiers were supposed to just show up, stand in line and watch the show. "Popcorn! Getcha popcorn heya!" God often showed His sovereignty and might in the Old Testament by winning miraculous victories on behalf of His people. Though He often accompanied human combat with a miracle, like when He made the sun stand still for Joshua, He also occasionally left us people out, like here. Remember Gideon? He had 300 men and didn't even have to swing a sword to defeat the Midian army.
This story goes to show us that God is the one who really does the fighting, no matter how it appears on earth. He stands sovereign over all creation and swings His sword in defense of His people. If you need help, all you have to do is cry out to the Lord. And He will be swift to save. And as you watch your deliverance play out before you... getcha popcorn ready and enjoy!
Be God's.
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