Standing in Our Place

O. T. #1,000  "Standing in Our Place"
June 9, 2017
2 Chronicles 34-Part 4
But I have spared you for a purpose-to show you My power and to spread My fame throughout the earth. Exodus 9:16 NLT

LET IT GLOW

I am so thankful that God has allowed me to study His Word with you, dear friends all this time. It is humbling to think that He uses me to share His encouragement and Truth around the world. I celebrate today as the 1,000th lesson in the Old Testament. He is a good, good Father, and we are loved by Him. Wish you were here to grab a blueberry muffin and iced tea and sit on my porch of this country road of faith. Join me again as we search for answers in His Word.

The King Josiah received discouraging words from the Law and the prophets. Doom and captivity was headed Judah's way, in time to come, because of their idolatry and neglect of obedience to God's Word. But, you know, I don't read of him staying in his room, curtains drawn, and deep in depression. What did he do?(Verses 30-33 give us the answers.)

• First of all, the king went up into the House of the LORD.
• He was joined by all the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem the priests, the Levites. (That is to be expected, isn't it?)
• In addition, all the people, greatest and least, joined them.
• Josiah read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the House of God.
• The king stood in his place and made a covenant before the LORD to walk after the LORD and keep His commandments, and His testimonies, and His statutes, with all his heart, all his soul, and to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.

What a godly and committed king! We saw it earlier when he was 16.
Whatever happens to us in the future, can we stand in our place, committed to follow God completely as Josiah did, not matter what? Count me in, Jesus!
Lift our heads, Lord, for it ain't over yet. Though our heart has been broken, keep us walkin' by faith. Though our prayers aren't answered yet, keep us standing where you put us. We are holdin' on to You to get us through this, so please hold us.


LET IT GROW

Look at verse 32. The king caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. They made a pledge similar to that of the king. They renewed their covenant with God, the God of their ancestors.

Then Josiah removed all the detestable idols from the entire land of Israel and required everyone to worship the LORD their God.
And throughout the rest of his lifetime, they did not turn away from the LORD, the God of their ancestors.

Yes! They came full circle again, worshiping God to worshiping idols, and back to worshiping God again. Now that is a good note to end on today.
Sweet ones, let us join together praising and worshiping and giving glory to our Holy One of Israel, Great Jehovah, Lord Almighty, King Jesus! Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me, praise His holy name.

Have a wonderful weekend, ya'll.  I'm spending it with my husband's siblings at a beautiful Missouri state park soaking in the beauty of God's creation and the love of family. Christian, let us stand by faith in Jesus!

LET IT GO

Stand by faith, being faithful, where God has placed me.

Stand to it, keeping my commitment to Him.

Hearing Bad News

O. T. #999 "Hearing Bad News"
June 8, 2017
2 Chronicles 34-Part 3
When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes. 2 Chronicles 3:19

LET IT GLOW

Josiah is a good example for us to follow. When he heard the Word of God, he sought His will, was humbled, and even wept in repentance of the sins of his people. What do we do whenever we hear bad news?

When the Book of the Law of Moses was found in the Temple, it was read to the king of Judah, Josiah. Then he sent the high priest and royal officials to consult a prophetess named Huldah to determine God's perspective on the situation.
What did the LORD say through her?

• God was going to bring disaster upon Jerusalem and its people.
• All the curses written in the Scroll read to the king of Judah will come true.
• For His people abandoned Him and offered sacrifices to pagan gods.
• He is very angry with them for everything they had done.
• God will pour out His anger on that place, and it would not be quenched.

God would send His judgment upon Judah about 28 years later, using Babylon to take them into captivity and destroying the Temple as well as Jerusalem. Can you imagine the brokenness of the king's heart as he heard of what God promised?
It is difficult to have to stand by and watch a loved one broken and death coming. Such is the case of those going through the effects of cancer or heart deterioration or Alzheimer's. We don't want them to suffer in their last days, and God is merciful in that area.
When our hope is in Jesus, we can have His peace and love as we go through those valleys.

LET IT GROW

A specific message for Josiah from the Lord said:

• You were sorry and humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this city and its people.
• You humbled yourself and tore your clothing in despair and wept before Me in repentance.
• He heard Josiah and promised He would not send disaster until after Josiah died and had been buried in peace.
• Josiah would not see the disaster God was bringing upon Jerusalem and its people.

Can we see the seriousness of sin? Do we hear people excuse their sin, blame others, or pretend it isn't so bad as they compare it to other's sins?
Josiah was so appalled at the people's neglect of the Law that he tore his clothing expressing his grief. Our sins should lead us to "godly grief" that produces repentance as in 2 Corinthians 7:10.
An unread Bible is as useless as a lost one. Even reading the Bible is not enough; we must be willing to do what it says. (Life Application Study Bible)

Wash us in Your mercy, the blood of Jesus' sacrifice, for our righteousness is as dirty rags. Clean us Lord Jesus.

LET IT GO
                     ...of sin and be sorry, humbled, weeping, and repentant over it.
                                ... and pray for our loved ones to get to that point in their life.
                                ... of spending my time my way and spend it in the Bible, obeying it.

Anticipation

O. T. #998 "Anticipation"
June 7, 2017
2 Chronicles 34-Part 2
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.  (Isaiah 40:31)

LET IT GLOW

Anticipation. What commercial used that son? Was it syrup being poured on top of a pancake? If you are like me, the hardest thing to do is wait. We wait for vacation time to come, appointments, birthdays, special events, and test results. We are planning a vacation to Oregon in August. We are planning our agenda with anticipation of seeing the beauty of God's creation there-mountains, waterfalls, ocean, etc. However, there are some other things for which we await before that time comes, so I needed that key verse.

The word wait in the key verse above is the Hebrew word qavah (kaw-vaw'), which means to bind together; collect; to expect; look; wait; tarry.

I don't want to be weary or faint as I wait upon the Lord. I want to have my strength renewed. How about you? But how does this happen? It is God who does it.

God is the strength of my heart. My portion forever. Psalm 73:26b

If I keep repeating this verse it will surely sink into me, right?
We're an overcomer, as the song says. There's nothing God can't do, so let's stay in there, waiting for God to work in our situation. It will be for our good and His glory. So don't quit and don't give in dear one. Keep walking by faith in Jesus. (I hear those words, too.)

Okay. When King Josiah was 26, he had workers repairing the Temple, due to his father and grandfather desecrating it with idols. As the people sent money for the project, it was placed in the Temple. Then Hilkiah the high priest found  the book of the Law of the LORD given by Moses. (verse 14) He gave it to Shapan the scribe, who in turn read it to the king of Judah. (Keep in mind that Ezra is writing this book to those Jews returning to rebuild the Temple after being captives in Babylon for 70 years. How encouraging for those Jews to hear.)
The thing is, there were few copies of the Law back then. No copy machines were available. What is significant is that the Word of God had not been lost. Think about it-the Bible has been preserved for us throughout all those ages. How precious I should be to us-the God of the universe speaks to us. Mind boggling to me.

The book of the Law that Hilkiah found may have been one or more scrolls containing the entire Pentateuch-the books of Moses from Genesis through Deuteronomy. Apparently Shaphan  did not realize the importance of the discovered Book since he left the report of it until after the general progress of the work. (Holman)

Can you imagine what it would be like if suddenly all of our Bibles disappeared, including our pastors' Bibles? How devastating it would be! It is our Bread of Life as Jesus feeds our soul. Do we treat it with respect and special significance? Are we reading it daily or is it just another book on the shelf collecting dust? Of course, I know you are not doing that, but others do.

LET IT GROW

The king's reaction is important, for he influenced a whole nation. Josiah tore his clothes showing strong emotion when he heard the Word of God for the first time. He realized that he and his people had strayed so far from its instructions. (verses 18-19)

King Josiah sent 4 men on a mission, who are listed in verse 20:

• Go to the Temple and inquire of the LORD for me and the remnant in Israel and Judah.
• Inquire about the Words written in the scroll that had been found.
• For the LORD's great anger had been poured out on them because their ancestors had not obeyed It. 
• The king admitted they had not been doing everything this scroll said they must do.

Keep in mind that prophets Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and Jeremiah were warning Judah of God's judgment.
Judah had stopped being faithful to the sacrificial system Moses recorded. Can you imagine the anticipation of what God had to say? We will wait in anticipation for the answer that God gave.


LET IT GO

Grieve over my sins and the sins of others.

Take them to God.

Surrender for His strength to be mine.

Anticipate soaring on wings as eagles with Jesus.

Having Hope

O. T. #997  "Having Hope"
June 6, 2019
2 Chronicles 34


LET IT GLOW

We have been waiting 7 months for answers to a health issue. Hope to have it this week. Judah's king found hope in today's chapter.

God is the strength of my heart. My portion forever. (Psalm 73:26b) As we are unsure what is in store for our future, our hope is in Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Did Judah give up hope? The nation had plunged back into idolatry during the reigns of Manasseh and Amon as their kings.

Would you agree with me that it was about time for revival in Judah? Although we may wonder if there is any hope for these chosen people of David's line, there is always hope. All things are possible with God, while not with men. God can move in hearts in His timing and in His way.

Josiah was the next king to reign over Judah. What do we read about him?

• He was 8 years old when he began reigning. (verse 1)
• He reigned 31 years in Jerusalem.
• Josiah did what was right in the sight of the LORD.
• He walked in the ways of his father David.
• He didn't turn from doing what was right. (verse 2)
• At age 16, Josiah began seeking the LORD, the eighth year of his reign. (verse 3)
• He began purifying Judah and Jerusalem, and the Temple, crushing idols into dust, smashing and scattering all of it over the graves who sacrificed to them. (verses 4-5)
• He even cut down the incense altars for idols throughout the land of Israel.

Talk about a revival! God can move upon the young people when they begin to seek Him and study His Word. Josiah was 20 when he began his reforms in Judah; God can bring reformation to our nation and young people. When sins are confessed and forgiven, changes in lives will be evident. As we get older, I find it common for folks to get set in their ways, even loosing hope, becoming lukewarm is spiritual matters.
Dare we pray for the Holy Spirit to move and make these tremendous changes needed in us, our churches, and nation?
Let it begin with us Lord Jesus!

LET IT GROW

So when Josiah was 26 years old, he began to repair the Temple-the damage his father and grandfather had done in their idolatry.
What happened next?

• the high priest Hilkiah, delivered money into the House of God.
• The Levites kept its doors open as the remnant in Israel, the "lost tribes" of Manasseh and Ephraim, sent money for the repair. (Israel had been taken into Assyrian captivity at this time.) (verse 9)
• The restorers of the Temple are mentioned in verses 10-13.
• Hilkiah found the book of the Law of Moses in the Temple, which was considered lost. He gave the scroll to Shaphan.
• In verse 16-18, Shaphan gave a good report to King Josiah and read to him from the scroll.
• When the king heard the Words of the Law, he rent (tore) his clothes in despair, for they had not been doing everything the scroll said they must do.

We will see what happens as a result of this revelation by the Word of God.
2 Timothy 3:16 says All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

Do we know Its instructions for the Christian life? Are we accepting of Its correction and reproof?
Is God's Word inspiring us with hope?

Jeremiah was prophesying during the thirteenth year of Josiah's reign as king of Judah. He gave hope in his writings:
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. (Jeremiah 17:7)

Will you join me in putting our hope in Jesus today? It is a win-win situation, whether God heals or not.

LET IT GO

Place my hope in Jesus.

Pray for revival and reformation.

Mid-Life Crisis

O. T. #996 "Mid-Life Crisis"
June 5, 2017
2 Chronicles 33-Part 3
"My wayward children," says the LORD, "come back to Me, and I will heal your wayward hearts." Jeremiah 3:22

LET IT GLOW

Do you know any middle aged people who have done crazy things? They may quit a long-time job or leave their family to pursue their own happiness? They leave  behind broken pieces and broken lives, only to have regrets later. Sure God forgives the repentant heart, but it is never the same. Satan is behind division, so we must guard against it. King Manasseh was evil until he was taken captive, then he repented and had a changed heart. Unfortunately, his son followed in his earlier footsteps and not the latter.

King's Manasseh's evil sickens us, and we wonder how God could ever forgive him. Not only did he intentionally offend God by desecrating Solomon's Temple with idols, but he also worshiped pagan gods and even sacrificed his children to them! Despite the bitter consequences of hi sins, he learned from them. (He was taken captive into Babylon.) Then he humbly repented of his sins before God. God will go a long way to get someone's attention. Forgiveness is limited not by the amount of sin but by our unwillingness to repent. How far has God gone to get our attention? (Life Application Study Bible)

So Manasseh came to know that Yahweh is God. (verse 13)

Looks like Manasseh's son, Amon, would have learned from his father's bad choices, but not so.
What do we find out about the next king of Judah, Amon?

• He was 22 years old when Amon reigned in Jerusalem. (verse 21)
• He only lasted 2 years as king.
• He did what was evil in the LORD's sight, just as his father had done. (verse 22)
• He worshiped and sacrificed to all the idols his father had made.  
• But unlike his father, Amon did not humble himself before the LORD. (verse 23)
• Instead, Amon sinned even more.

Whatever repentance or reform Manasseh attempted did no carry over to his son and successor, Amon. He picked up where his father had left off before his repentance, going back into idolatry. but with Amon there was no mid-life repentance. (Holman)

Sometimes it takes people 40 or 50 years to grow up; to come though the experience of a mid-life crisis realizing their life might by half over; to turn around and take responsibility for their actions; to even repent of their sins and try to make the best of what time they have let, coming to Jesus. It is sad that so many marriages do not survive that time.

Will we remain faithful through whatever life throws at us? Will our challenges bring us to our knees and result in our walking closer to God? Will we trust that God is in control and has a purpose for us? Keep in mind, sometimes troubles come due to the sinfulness of others.

LET IT GROW

What happened to Amon that he only reigned two years as king over Judah?
Amon's own officials conspired against him and assassinated Amon in his palace. he people of the land killed those who conspired against King Amon and they made his son Joash their next king.

The people were probably outraged by the assassination, so they had Amon's killers executed.
Killed at age 24, what short life.

LET IT GO

Rings in the Nose

O. T. #995  "Rings in the Nose"
June 2, 2017
2 Chronicles 33-Part 2

LET IT GLOW

Talk about humbling. I have had such an experience this week. The side effects of this new medication I have been on is an itching rash, even hives. I thought I was doing fine, with only one episode of horrible itching, that required a steroid shot, but not so. It started again after I waded through tall grass to turn on water to fill a lamb's bucket. (Taking care of my granddaughter's pets while they enjoy a vacation at the beach.) I was in tears by the time I got back home, rubbing and scratching both legs, even after a shower. I told my husband what was happening to me, and he suggested I use alcohol on the itchy spots. I was desperate so I gave it a try. What a relief! But that was 4 days ago and it happened again without my wading in the grass. Alcohol has not helped this time, so I took a pink pill. As I write this, I stop and scratch, then write some more. Please Jesus make it stop! Yes this is very humbling. Judah's king had a humbling experience in today's reading.

So when this overwhelmingly evil man Manasseh was king of Judah, he worshiped idols to the full extent; he even placed them in the Temple of God. All the good that his father had accomplished, including bringing revival to the people in worshiping God, became just a story written down.
However, the Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but how did they react? Was it repentance? No, they ignored all His warnings.

What happened next?

• God sent commanders of Assyrian armies and they took Manasseh prisoner.
• They put a ring in his nose and bound him in bronze chains.
• Judah's king was led away to Babylon.
• While in deep distress, Manasseh sought the LORD his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors.
• When he prayed, the Lord listened to him and was moved by his request.
• So the Lord brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom.
• Then Manasseh finally realized that the LORD alone is God!

I must admit that I would have given up on this man long before God did. Isn't it amazing that God did not give up on this cruel and evil man, a blasphemer? God knew how to humble him, though.
A ring in the nose of a king? He was treated like an animal. I have seen big bulls lead around and acting gently as a lamb because of the ring in their nose. And taken away as a captive slave-how humiliating and a helpless position.
Oh how gracious God is! This should be encouraging to godly parents of straying children. Our God can bring them back to Him. Don't give up, for God hears our prayers. After all, He did Manasseh's.
What will it take?


LET IT GROW

Manasseh was a changed man:

• He rebuilt an outer wall high  around Jerusalem,
• stationed his military officers in all the fortified towns,
• removed the foreign gods and the idol in the Temple,
• tore down the altars in Jerusalem,
• He restored the altar of the LORD,
• sacrificed peace offerings and thanksgiving offerings on it, and
• encouraged his people to worship only God.

What an experience for Manasseh. Finally, my itching is beginning to subside.
Watch out for those rings!

LET IT GO

                               of pride and be humbled.

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.