ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 121 - 1 Chronicles 17-20 (Is God Done With His Program for Israel?)
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"And who is like Your people Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people--to make for Yourself a name by great and awesome deeds, by driving out nations from before Your people whom You redeemed from Egypt? For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, LORD, have become their God." (1 Chronicles 17:21-22)
I would say that there are only two small groups of people in the world today who believe that God is not yet done with His program for Israel - the religious conservatives among the Jews and the religious conservatives among Christians. Only these two groups really believe what the Bible says, as David in our text above stated, that God has chosen Israel as His very own people forever.
What any person or group believes about Israel doesn't really matter because what matters is what God says about Israel. All throughout the Old Testament, God has declared His everlasting covenant with Israel as His chosen people:
"He remembers His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations,
The covenant which He made with Abraham,
And His oath to Isaac,
And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,
To Israel as an everlasting covenant,
Saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan
As the allotment of your inheritance,"
(Psalm 105:8-11)
There is nothing in the New Testament that nullifies God's covenant with the Jews. What we find throughout the New Testament is the confirmation that God is not done with His Israel even though they have rejected their Messiah Jesus. Perhaps the strongest argument regarding this comes from the apostle Paul in his treatise in Romans chapter 11 on this very subject:
"I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. ...I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles." (Romans 11:1-2)
Paul begins his long treatise with a definitive answer no to the question of whether God has cast away His people. He then continues to brilliantly argue about how Israel's fall is temporary and that God will once again restore them to their faith in their true Messiah, Jesus Christ.
God said that those who love and bless His people Israel He will also bless. I choose to love and bless Israel and the Jews because it is what God wants me to do and because God loves them as His very own chosen people. I have included the rest of Romans 11 below should you want to read it for yourself:
12Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! 13For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. 15For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 18do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in." 20Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.22Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, F58 if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? 25For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26And so all Israel will be saved, F59 as it is written:
"The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
27For this is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins." F60
28Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. 33Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
34"For who has known the mind of the LORD?
Or who has become His counselor?" F61
35"Or who has first given to Him
And it shall be repaid to him?" F62
36For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Friday, May 8, 2015
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Day 120 - 1 Chronicles 14-16
ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 120 - 1 Chronicles 14-16 (Why I Think Pacquiao Lost)
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"When they went from one nation to another,
And from one kingdom to another people,
He permitted no man to do them wrong;
Yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes,
Saying, "Do not touch My anointed ones,
And do My prophets no harm."
(1 Chronicles 16:20-22)
Our text above is part of a prayer which David offered to God when he brought the Ark of God to Jerusalem with great rejoicing of all Israel. It spoke to me about how no harm or evil could possibly come upon God's children unless He allows it. Therefore, those who belong to God can rest in absolute certainty of their safety because God constantly watches and cares for them.
All throughout the history of the israelites in the Old Testament, there did not experience a single defeat wherein they said, "Oh, perhaps God didn't see that one coming." No, every defeat in battle that they suffered had a reason behind it; either there was sin in the camp or God was trying to teach them a lesson.
The same is true, I believe, for us who are God's children today through faith in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Every defeat we suffer in life either was caused by sin or because God is teaching us a valuable lesson. But whether in victory or defeat, Christians can take great comfort and assurance in the words of God written through the apostle Paul:
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)
Since there is still much talk in the media about the recent defeat of Pacquiao in the hands of Mayweather, I will give my take on it. In line with what I discussed above from our Scripture reading for today, I believe Manny lost because he either sinned or was out of God's will or because God wanted to teach him a lesson through his defeat. Regardless of the outcome, because Manny is a child of God, he can be sure that his loss will work for his own good.
Do you want to have absolute certainty that no harm can befall you unless God allows it? Become a child of God today by asking Christ to forgive you and inviting Him as your Lord and Savior. The Bible says, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name..." (John 1:12)
Day 120 - 1 Chronicles 14-16 (Why I Think Pacquiao Lost)
(To View Past Posts Click: http://tonyvicreyes1-yearbible.blogspot.com/)
"When they went from one nation to another,
And from one kingdom to another people,
He permitted no man to do them wrong;
Yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes,
Saying, "Do not touch My anointed ones,
And do My prophets no harm."
(1 Chronicles 16:20-22)
Our text above is part of a prayer which David offered to God when he brought the Ark of God to Jerusalem with great rejoicing of all Israel. It spoke to me about how no harm or evil could possibly come upon God's children unless He allows it. Therefore, those who belong to God can rest in absolute certainty of their safety because God constantly watches and cares for them.
All throughout the history of the israelites in the Old Testament, there did not experience a single defeat wherein they said, "Oh, perhaps God didn't see that one coming." No, every defeat in battle that they suffered had a reason behind it; either there was sin in the camp or God was trying to teach them a lesson.
The same is true, I believe, for us who are God's children today through faith in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Every defeat we suffer in life either was caused by sin or because God is teaching us a valuable lesson. But whether in victory or defeat, Christians can take great comfort and assurance in the words of God written through the apostle Paul:
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)
Since there is still much talk in the media about the recent defeat of Pacquiao in the hands of Mayweather, I will give my take on it. In line with what I discussed above from our Scripture reading for today, I believe Manny lost because he either sinned or was out of God's will or because God wanted to teach him a lesson through his defeat. Regardless of the outcome, because Manny is a child of God, he can be sure that his loss will work for his own good.
Do you want to have absolute certainty that no harm can befall you unless God allows it? Become a child of God today by asking Christ to forgive you and inviting Him as your Lord and Savior. The Bible says, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name..." (John 1:12)
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Day 119 - n1 Chronicles 12-13
ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 119 - 1 Chronicles 12-13 (A Great Lesson on Leadership)
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"Then some of the sons of Benjamin and Judah came to David at the stronghold. And David went out to meet them, and answered and said to them, "If you have come peaceably to me to help me, my heart will be united with you; but if to betray me to my enemies, since there is no wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers look and bring judgment." (1 Chronicles 12:16-17)
When David was still a fugitive from Saul, certain officers of king Saul started defecting to him. Now, there was no way that David could be 100 percent sure that all those who defected to him were sincere or if a few were spies of Saul. I love David's complete trust in God to protect him from spies or traitors as recorded in our text above.
Sadly, too many church leaders today are very insecure in their leadership that they cannot trust God to protect them from insincere people in their congregation. Rather than love even those they find unloveable, they marginalize those who they don't like and trust.
David, rather than treat those defectors who were Saul's relatives from the tribe of Benjamin as insignificant, made them captains of the troop (verse 18b). David took the risk of being betrayed for the the greater vision of uniting the kingdom under his leadership. That's what great leaders do.
Most people reading this blog would not be in the position of leading a church or organization but perhaps you may be the leader of your family. If so, you and I need to apply the same principle leadership we have learned from the life of king David in our Scripture reading today. How? We can start treating everyone in our family with trust and respect if we have not been doing it.
"Father, please help me to be secure enough in my own leadership so that I can trust you completely to protect me from harm that others could inflict on me. Please forgive me if I have marginalized anyone in my life because of my dislike for that person. Help me to love others as you love me. In Jesus name I pray, amen."
Day 119 - 1 Chronicles 12-13 (A Great Lesson on Leadership)
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"Then some of the sons of Benjamin and Judah came to David at the stronghold. And David went out to meet them, and answered and said to them, "If you have come peaceably to me to help me, my heart will be united with you; but if to betray me to my enemies, since there is no wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers look and bring judgment." (1 Chronicles 12:16-17)
When David was still a fugitive from Saul, certain officers of king Saul started defecting to him. Now, there was no way that David could be 100 percent sure that all those who defected to him were sincere or if a few were spies of Saul. I love David's complete trust in God to protect him from spies or traitors as recorded in our text above.
Sadly, too many church leaders today are very insecure in their leadership that they cannot trust God to protect them from insincere people in their congregation. Rather than love even those they find unloveable, they marginalize those who they don't like and trust.
David, rather than treat those defectors who were Saul's relatives from the tribe of Benjamin as insignificant, made them captains of the troop (verse 18b). David took the risk of being betrayed for the the greater vision of uniting the kingdom under his leadership. That's what great leaders do.
Most people reading this blog would not be in the position of leading a church or organization but perhaps you may be the leader of your family. If so, you and I need to apply the same principle leadership we have learned from the life of king David in our Scripture reading today. How? We can start treating everyone in our family with trust and respect if we have not been doing it.
"Father, please help me to be secure enough in my own leadership so that I can trust you completely to protect me from harm that others could inflict on me. Please forgive me if I have marginalized anyone in my life because of my dislike for that person. Help me to love others as you love me. In Jesus name I pray, amen."
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Day 118 - 1 Chronicles 11
ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 118 - 1 Chronicles 11 (Loyalty Reserved for God Alone)
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"And David said with longing, "Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!" So the three broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless David would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD. And he said, "Far be it from me, O my God, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy? For at the risk of their lives they brought it." Therefore he would not drink it." (1 Chronicles 11:17-19)
The above incident occurred while Saul was still alive and king and shows the extent of the Philistines control of the land based on the fact that they had a garrison in Bethlehem where David was from. It was also most likely during the time when David was hiding from Saul in the cave of Adullam (verse 15) who sought to kill him.
As people sometimes wish for the familiar comforts during hard times, David, perhaps due to the thirst he was experiencing, verbally wished for a drink from the well of Bethlehem. We are told that three of the thirty mighty men or bodyguards of David decided that it was worth risking their lives to satisfy the longing of their leader.
Before we look at David's response to the incredible act of the three soldiers, I want to make a quick comment on remarkable loyalty of the three men. That kind of loyalty only is earned by a leader who has proven his love and devotion as well to his followers. David was that kind of a leader.
Now, why did David pour out the water that his three men took from the well of Bethlehem at the risk of their own lives? David himself acknowledged that these men put their lives in jeopardy by breaking through the camp of the Philistines, thus killing everyone that was on their way. The answer is given by David himself:
"Far be it from me, O my God, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy? For at the risk of their lives they brought it." (1 Chronicles 11:19)
David did not just pour out the water on the ground; we are told that he poured it out to the Lord. It was an act of sacrifice and worship. David knew that such devotion as his three soldiers showed him should only be given to God.
Have you ever had a great blessing which you felt you did not deserve to enjoy for yourself but that you needed to offer it to God? This is how Amber and I felt and still feel about the home which God has blessed us with. We believe that God has given us our home not just for us to enjoy but for Him to be glorified through it - and we have seen over and over again how God has been glorified through the many people whom we have had the honor to minister to in our home.
David is one of my heroes of the faith not only because of his bravery and faith in God, but also because he was truly a great leader who inspired his men to unreserved loyalty and pointed them to God who alone deserved such devotion.
Day 118 - 1 Chronicles 11 (Loyalty Reserved for God Alone)
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"And David said with longing, "Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!" So the three broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless David would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD. And he said, "Far be it from me, O my God, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy? For at the risk of their lives they brought it." Therefore he would not drink it." (1 Chronicles 11:17-19)
The above incident occurred while Saul was still alive and king and shows the extent of the Philistines control of the land based on the fact that they had a garrison in Bethlehem where David was from. It was also most likely during the time when David was hiding from Saul in the cave of Adullam (verse 15) who sought to kill him.
As people sometimes wish for the familiar comforts during hard times, David, perhaps due to the thirst he was experiencing, verbally wished for a drink from the well of Bethlehem. We are told that three of the thirty mighty men or bodyguards of David decided that it was worth risking their lives to satisfy the longing of their leader.
Before we look at David's response to the incredible act of the three soldiers, I want to make a quick comment on remarkable loyalty of the three men. That kind of loyalty only is earned by a leader who has proven his love and devotion as well to his followers. David was that kind of a leader.
Now, why did David pour out the water that his three men took from the well of Bethlehem at the risk of their own lives? David himself acknowledged that these men put their lives in jeopardy by breaking through the camp of the Philistines, thus killing everyone that was on their way. The answer is given by David himself:
"Far be it from me, O my God, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy? For at the risk of their lives they brought it." (1 Chronicles 11:19)
David did not just pour out the water on the ground; we are told that he poured it out to the Lord. It was an act of sacrifice and worship. David knew that such devotion as his three soldiers showed him should only be given to God.
Have you ever had a great blessing which you felt you did not deserve to enjoy for yourself but that you needed to offer it to God? This is how Amber and I felt and still feel about the home which God has blessed us with. We believe that God has given us our home not just for us to enjoy but for Him to be glorified through it - and we have seen over and over again how God has been glorified through the many people whom we have had the honor to minister to in our home.
David is one of my heroes of the faith not only because of his bravery and faith in God, but also because he was truly a great leader who inspired his men to unreserved loyalty and pointed them to God who alone deserved such devotion.
Monday, May 4, 2015
Day 117 - 1 Chronicles 6-10
ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 117 - 1 Chronicles 6-10 (The Most Tragic Way to Die)
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Day 117 - 1 Chronicles 6-10 (The Most Tragic Way to Die)
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"So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. But he did not inquire of the LORD; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse." (1 Chronicles 10:13-14)
What do you think is the more tragic death of the two: getting beheaded by ISIS or dying in your sleep? The answer is that it depends on the way you lived before you died. If you lived faithfully serving the Lord, then whatever way you die would be considered would be considered precious in the sight of God (Psalm 116:15). If you lived your life in disobedience to God, your death would be most tragic.
Saul's death proved tragic because of the reasons why God killed him. Our text above records that Saul was killed by God because of his unfaithfulness to Him, because he did not obey God and consulted a medium instead of inquiring from the Lord who chose him to be king.
In a recent devotional I posted, I wrote about king Josiah who is arguably considered the greatest king of Judah and Israel because he lived faithfully before God all the days of his life. Two kings, but totally different lives. Josiah lived in obedience to God; Saul lived in disobedience.
I desire nothing more in life than to live faithfully for God. I realize that I do not possess the ability on my own to do it but with God's help and the empowering of the Holy Spirit, I am confident that I can if I remain strong as a good soldier to resist temptation and remain disciplined as a dedicated athlete in serving God with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.
Going back to the answer to the question above on which death is more tragic, the answer is the death of the one who lived unfaithfully before God. As we have already mentioned, any form death would be precious in the sight of God if it is the death of one of His faithful servants. By the way, many of those beheaded by ISIS are Christians who chose to die rather than deny Christ. Would you do the same if you were in their orange clothes?
Saturday, May 2, 2015
Day 116 - 1 Chronicles 1-5
ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 116 - 1 Chronicles 1-5 (Adam's Geneology and Pinocchio's Geneology)
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"Adam, Seth, Enosh, Cainan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth...Nahor, Terah, and Abram, who is Abraham. The sons of Abraham were Isaac and Ishmael...the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher...Boaz begot Obed, and Obed begot Jesse; Jesse begot Eliab his firstborn, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third, Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ozem the sixth, and David the seventh...."(2 Chronicles chapters 1-5)
Quite frankly, I admit that I skipped most of the names in the geneology from Adam to David and his descdendants up to king Zedekiah because I told myself that there was no way I could ever remember them anyway and that I think it is just recorded for the same purpose of all geneologies: they are proof of one's lineage going back to his earliest ancestor.
Our Scripture reading for today in 2 Chronicles in the Old Testament records the geneology of Adam to Abraham to David and his descendants to the last king of Judah, thirty-three generations in all spanning three thousand years. The gospel of Matthew in the New Testament records the geneology from Abraham to Jesus. If we begin counting the years from David to Jesus, there is 1000 years span; therefore, from Adam to Jesus spans four thousand years.
The accurate record of the geneology from Adam to Jesus alone is enough evidence to prove that we did not evolve from apes but that we were created in the image of God just as the Bible says! God knew that man's sinful nature will reject the fact of creation which was why He took great care in recording the geneologies in His Word the Bible.
Paul wrote about this very thing in his letter to the Romans explaining that these people who professed to be wise became fools and "exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen." (Romans 1:25)
So, the next time you come across geneologies in the Bible, go ahead and skip thru the names but remember the reason why God put it there in the first place. It is exactly the same reason why anyone would take great pains in recording a particular geneolgy, that is, to establish proof of the ancestral line of real people, not imaginary or fictional characters. If you still believe that Adam and Jesus are not a real persons who lived on this earth, go knock yourself out finding the geneology of Pinocchio.
Day 116 - 1 Chronicles 1-5 (Adam's Geneology and Pinocchio's Geneology)
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"Adam, Seth, Enosh, Cainan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth...Nahor, Terah, and Abram, who is Abraham. The sons of Abraham were Isaac and Ishmael...the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher...Boaz begot Obed, and Obed begot Jesse; Jesse begot Eliab his firstborn, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third, Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ozem the sixth, and David the seventh...."(2 Chronicles chapters 1-5)
Quite frankly, I admit that I skipped most of the names in the geneology from Adam to David and his descdendants up to king Zedekiah because I told myself that there was no way I could ever remember them anyway and that I think it is just recorded for the same purpose of all geneologies: they are proof of one's lineage going back to his earliest ancestor.
Our Scripture reading for today in 2 Chronicles in the Old Testament records the geneology of Adam to Abraham to David and his descendants to the last king of Judah, thirty-three generations in all spanning three thousand years. The gospel of Matthew in the New Testament records the geneology from Abraham to Jesus. If we begin counting the years from David to Jesus, there is 1000 years span; therefore, from Adam to Jesus spans four thousand years.
The accurate record of the geneology from Adam to Jesus alone is enough evidence to prove that we did not evolve from apes but that we were created in the image of God just as the Bible says! God knew that man's sinful nature will reject the fact of creation which was why He took great care in recording the geneologies in His Word the Bible.
Paul wrote about this very thing in his letter to the Romans explaining that these people who professed to be wise became fools and "exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen." (Romans 1:25)
So, the next time you come across geneologies in the Bible, go ahead and skip thru the names but remember the reason why God put it there in the first place. It is exactly the same reason why anyone would take great pains in recording a particular geneolgy, that is, to establish proof of the ancestral line of real people, not imaginary or fictional characters. If you still believe that Adam and Jesus are not a real persons who lived on this earth, go knock yourself out finding the geneology of Pinocchio.
Friday, May 1, 2015
Day 114 - 2 Kings 23-25
ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 114 - 2 Kings 23-25 (Why Josiah was Israel's Greatest King)
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"Now the king sent them to gather all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem to him. The king went up to the house of the LORD with all the men of Judah, and with him all the inhabitants of Jerusalem--the priests and the prophets and all the people, both small and great. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant which had been found in the house of the LORD. Then the king stood by a pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people took a stand for the covenant." (2 Kings 23:1-3)
Yesterday, we learned how king Josiah humbled himself before God when he heard the Scriptures. In our Scripture reading today, we learn how Josiah acted upon his commitment to God by leading the people to return to the true worship of Jehovah.
The first thing Josiah does as we read from our text above is to gather all the people and personally read the Scripture to them. A basic duty of every godly leader is to gather the people he leads in order to teach them the truth of the Word of God. The best definition of a leader is that a leader leads.
Then, Josiah set the example as the leader in making a "covenant before the LORD, to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people took a stand for the covenant." (2 Kings 23:3) Parents, husbands and church and goverment leaders need to set the example of what it means to follow the Lord before the people we lead. Leaders who lead by example are rare and the world is in dire need of them.
Next, Josiah rid the Temple and all the land as far as Samaria of all altars and idols and executed all the priests of those foreign gods and even dug up the bones of those who worshipped idols and burned them along with their altars. A great leader will have the will, determination and zeal to do the right thing at all cost.
Last, but not the least, Josiah reinstituted the Passover to the Lord. By reinstituting the Passover, Josiah was instilling in the minds of the people the importance of true worship of God and fellowship of God's people.
Because he humbled himself before God in repentance for his own sin and the sin of his people, lead in the reading and teaching of Scriptures, set the example of what it meant to follow God, destroyed all idolatry in his kingdom, and reinstituted the Passover to the Lord, God's epitaph on the life of king Josiah describes his as the greatest king Judah and Israel ever had:
"Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his s soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him. (2 Kings 23:25)
That is the epitaph I desire for God to say about my life. I hope it is yours as well.
Day 114 - 2 Kings 23-25 (Why Josiah was Israel's Greatest King)
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"Now the king sent them to gather all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem to him. The king went up to the house of the LORD with all the men of Judah, and with him all the inhabitants of Jerusalem--the priests and the prophets and all the people, both small and great. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant which had been found in the house of the LORD. Then the king stood by a pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people took a stand for the covenant." (2 Kings 23:1-3)
Yesterday, we learned how king Josiah humbled himself before God when he heard the Scriptures. In our Scripture reading today, we learn how Josiah acted upon his commitment to God by leading the people to return to the true worship of Jehovah.
The first thing Josiah does as we read from our text above is to gather all the people and personally read the Scripture to them. A basic duty of every godly leader is to gather the people he leads in order to teach them the truth of the Word of God. The best definition of a leader is that a leader leads.
Then, Josiah set the example as the leader in making a "covenant before the LORD, to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people took a stand for the covenant." (2 Kings 23:3) Parents, husbands and church and goverment leaders need to set the example of what it means to follow the Lord before the people we lead. Leaders who lead by example are rare and the world is in dire need of them.
Next, Josiah rid the Temple and all the land as far as Samaria of all altars and idols and executed all the priests of those foreign gods and even dug up the bones of those who worshipped idols and burned them along with their altars. A great leader will have the will, determination and zeal to do the right thing at all cost.
Last, but not the least, Josiah reinstituted the Passover to the Lord. By reinstituting the Passover, Josiah was instilling in the minds of the people the importance of true worship of God and fellowship of God's people.
Because he humbled himself before God in repentance for his own sin and the sin of his people, lead in the reading and teaching of Scriptures, set the example of what it meant to follow God, destroyed all idolatry in his kingdom, and reinstituted the Passover to the Lord, God's epitaph on the life of king Josiah describes his as the greatest king Judah and Israel ever had:
"Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his s soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him. (2 Kings 23:25)
That is the epitaph I desire for God to say about my life. I hope it is yours as well.
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