Sun.’s Devo - New Beginnings

Read: 2 Chronicles 33:14-34:33; Romans 16:10-27; Psalm 26:1-12; Proverbs 20:19 Manasseh was a new man and fortified his city and the other cities giving them protection and peace. He removed all the false gods and the one he put in the Temple. The people still used the pagan shrines but only to worship the Lord. *** When Manasseh died, his son Amon reined for only two years. He was evil and reinstitute idolatry. Some of his own officials had him killed. His assassins were killed by the people and Amon’s son, Josiah became king. *** Josiah was only eight when he became king and he honored the Lord. Eight years later, he began purifying the land of idolatry. He was the one the prophet called by name when Jeroboam was king of Israel (1 Kings 13:1-3). He had prophecied that he would burn the bones of the false prophets on their altars and Josiah did this very thing. *** Eight years after that, Josiah gave money to the high priest to repair the Temple. The money was the money they had collected at the gate every Sabbath. They say about repairing the Temple they found the book of the law…probably Deuteronomy. They read about the blessings and the curses. When Josiah read it he was devastated. He sent the priests to pray for the nation. They sought the prophetess, Huldah and she told them that all they read would come true, but because Josiah repented it would not happen in his life time. *** Josiah had the law read to all the elders in Jerusalem and Judah. Josiah renewed their covenant with the Lord to serve him only. He required everyone in Judah and Benjamin to make that same commitment. Josiah remained faithful to the Lord all his life. *** I found it interesting that Josiah came to power at the age of eight and every eight years he did some major reform. The number eight means “new beginnings.” *** In Romans, Paul honors his faithful believers and followers as his family. He wanted them of people who would cause division and teach things different than what Paul had. He encouraged them to obey the Lord because God would soon crush Satan underneath their feet. *** All glory to God, the only wise God who is able to make us strong through Jesus Christ, forever.