When Things are Horrible

O. T. #994  "When Things are Horrible"
June 1, 2017
2 Chronicles 33
Youths may faint and grow weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust in the LORD will renew their strength; they will sore on wings like eagles; they  will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 HCSB

LET IT GLOW

Here is something good I found in this chapter. It actually appears in verse 7-9, after the horrible description of King Manasseh.

God had told David and his son Solomon this:

• His name would be honored forever in the Temple and in Jerusalem-the city He chose from among all the tribes of Israel;
• If the Israelites would be careful to obey God's commands-all the laws, decrees, and regulations given through Moses-He would not send them into exile from this land that He set aside for their ancestors.

When God made a covenant with David and Solomon, He made a three way connection between the dwelling in the Temple in Jerusalem, the people dwelling in the Promised Land, and the obedience to the Law. (Holman)

When things are horrible, what do we do? As said before, God is sovereign, in control. He will not play second fiddle to anyone or anything. He will be first place in our life, one way or another. It may take our being led into captivity as Manasseh was, or losing everything, or being humiliated, but He will bring us to repentance so God's will is done in our life. Others may suffer because of our rebellion, while we wander in sin, but love and forgiveness are awaiting us. If this isn't us, but we are going through such a thing with a loved one, let us continue to pray for them and our strength to wait.
Is Jesus calling us to bring our brokenness to Him today?



LET IT GROW

The next king of Judah was Manasseh, the son of the good King Hezekiah. this horrible king changed Judah into a horrible place, and a horrible people since they followed What do we know about Manasseh, known as the most wicked and longest reigning king of Judah?
He:

• was 12 years old whenever he took the throne. (He born during Hezekah's extended life of 15 years.); he  was the 13th legitimate king of Judah;
• did what was evil in the LORD's sight, following the detestable practices of the pagan nations that the LORD had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites;
• rebuilt the pagan shrines his father had broken down;
• constructed altars for the images of Baal and set up Asherah poles;
• bowed before all the powers of the heavens and worshiped them; 
• built pagan altars in the Temple of the LORD;
• built altars for the powers of the heavens in both courtyards of the LORD's Temple;
• sacrifice his own sons in the fire;
• practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft;
• consulted mediums and psychics;
• did much that was evil in the LORD's sight, arousing His anger;
• took a carved idol he had made and set it up in God's Temple;
• led the people of Judah and Jerusalem to do even more evil than the pagan nations that the LORD had destroyed when the people of Israel entered the land.

What can we say?
Hang on, for mercy is coming.

LET IT GO

Love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.