Read: 2 Chronicles 35:1-36:23; 1 Corinthians 1:1-17; Psalm 27:1-6; Proverbs 20:20-21
Josiah follow the law and did everything it said concerning the Passover. The people enjoyed a passover celebration that hadn’t been celebrated in that way since David’s time. Josiah was responsible for setting the temple in order according to what God had written. Then Josiah got involved in a battle that was not his to fight. Neco, the king of Egypt told him so and he refused to listen. It costs Josiah his life, and Judah’s. His son, Jehoahaz became king and he did not follow the Lord. He was dethroned by the king of Egypt and his brother, Jehoiakim became king. He was not a godly king either. Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon attacked and bound him in chains and took Jehoiakim to Babylon. His son, Jehoiachin became king. He only reigned for 3 months and King Nebuchadnezzar took him to Babylon also. His uncle, Zedikiah was made king. He did evil in God’s eyes and refused to listen to the words of Jeremiah. He even rebelled against the king of Babylon. God sent them prophets to turn Judah back to him but the people ridiculed them and wouldn’t listen. Finally, God sent the Babylonians to conquer them. They robbed the temple, burned all the palaces and destroyed everything of value. The people were taken captive to Babylon. The land lay dormant 70 years to enjoy all the Sabbaths it had been robbed of and to fulfill Jeremiah’s prophecy.
After the seventy years, God put it on the heart of Cyrus, king of Persia to send Jews back to Jerusalem to build the temple for God.
Many prophets today believe that this king Cyrus is like our president. He has been called to bring the temple of God back into our nation and be built up again. We know that this is not a physical building but a spiritual one in the hearts of all Christians. Our nation was built on the foundation of Christ and is returning to its roots, but not without a struggle.
We begin First Corinthians today. Paul established the church in Corinth during his second missionary trip and stayed there eighteen months. He had left to visit his other churches when he heard news that some of the members in the church in Corinth had become morally lax. Paul penned this letter to admonish them to lay down their differences and stop exalting their leaders over each other. The most important person to follow was Jesus.
We all have our favorite teachers and preachers but the bottom line is that they are only people. Jesus is the only one worthy of our worship and adoration.
Lord, thank you for what you are doing in our nation. Help us to not lose hope or courage. You are establishing your kingdom in our hearts and on the earth. May we look to you as the author and finisher or our faith.
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