Sat.’s Devo - Boundaries

Read: 2 Chronicles 35;1-36:23; 1 Corinthians 1:1-17; Psalm 27:1-6; Proverbs 20:20-21
It is amazing what Josiah did during his reign. He orchestrated the bringing in of the ark of the covenant into Solomon’s temple…the right way. It was to be carried on the shoulders of consecrated priests with poles. The presence of the Lord is to be carried by those who have consecrated their lives to the Lord and are willing to carry the responsibility of God’s Word and not let it go to their heads. The priests were never to touch the ark with their hands. We can never take credit for what God’s grace and power does through us.
Josiah planned and brought about the greatest Passover celebration Israel had ever had since Samuel’s day. He went by the book. Josiah, himself offered 3,300 sacrifices and the people brought 8,400 additional gifts. Everything was orderly and pleasing to the Lord.
Once he had set up the temple worship and it was running like the law said, he heard that Neco king of Egypt had gone to fight at Carchemish. Carchemish was the capital of the Hittites in Babylon territory. Josiah had no business getting into their battle, but he insisted on fighting them. Sadly, he was injured in the battle and was brought back to Jerusalem to die.
God gave Israel boundaries that they were to live within. Josiah got out of the boundaries and God’s grace was not there to protect him. The same is true for us. In God’s will we are totally safe and can know that whatever comes our way, God is there to help us through it, but once we get out of that, we are not safe. God can rescue us when we call on him but it is better to stay in his grace.
After Josiah picked a fight with Egypt and Babylon, they controlled what went on in Israel. Kings lasted only months till Zedekiah became king and decided to rebel against God and the king of Babylon. That was a huge mistake which cost him everything. Babylonians came in and set fire to Jerusalem, carried off the people and desecrated the temple. Jerusalem rested for 70 years until King Cyrus made a decree to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.
Corinthians was a Greek city noted for its wealth, and for the luxurious and immoral and vicious habits of the people. It had a large mixed population of Romans, Greeks, and Jews. Paul had lived there for almost a year before he left to visit the other cities. He had received letters complaining about some of the abuses and contentions that had arisen among them so he wrote this letter to them. He started out reminding them of their strengths. They had all the spiritual gifts operating in their midst and he reminded them that they were not the convert of a man but a new creature in Christ. It didn’t matter who brought them to salvation, they were to follow Christ and him alone.
Lord, help us to stay in the boundaries you have set for us and enjoy the grace we have in You.