Sun.’s Devo - Trust in the Lord -

Read: 2 Chronicles 32:1-33:13; Romans 15:23-16:7; Psalm 25:16-22; Proverbs 20:16-18

Sennacherib of Assyria came against the fortified cities of Judah and was on his way to Jerusalem. Hezekiah had his men stop the water from the spring that was outside the city so when Sennacherib came he would not find water. He built a wall that included the spring and built up towers and repaired the wall that had been torn down. He had weapons made and secured his army. 

Hezekiah met with people at the gate of the city and told them not to be afraid because the God who fought for them was much more powerful than the horde that was fighting for Syria. The people believed what Hezekiah said.

Sennacherib sent messengers to try to intimidate him. They boasted of all the nations they had conquered and how their gods were not able to help them. They boasted that Judah’s God would not be a match for them. They came back many times and blasphemed God and tried to discourage the people. 

Hezekiah and Isaiah prayed when they heard the messages and the Lord sent an angel to cut off all the officers in the Assyrian camp. Sennacherib returned home disgraced. His own sons killed him with the sword. God had saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem. Many brought gifts to the Lord and to the king. 

After this, Hezekiah became sick and was dying. He prayed to the Lord and the Lord heard his prayer. God healed him of his disease and gave him 15 more years to live. Hezekiah became proud in his heart because he was very wealthy. When his time came, he died and was buried in the upper part of the tombs of the sons of David. All Judah honored him and his son Manasseh ruled in his place.

Manasseh was 12 when he came to be king and he reverted back to idolatry like Hezekiah’s father Ahaz. He rebuilt all the pagan altars that  Hezekiah had torn down. He burned his sons in the fire and consulted fortune-tellers and sorcerers. He set up an image of an idol in the house of the Lord and led Judah to do more evil than the nations had before them. 

God sent prophets to persuade him to return to the Lord, but he refused to listen. He was captured by the king of Assyria and taken to Babylon with hooks and in chains. There he repented and turned to the Lord. God heard his prayer and gave him back his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.

In Romans, Paul was at the end of his letter and wrote that he hoped to visit them on his trip to Spain, but at the present time he was going to Jerusalem to bring the saints provisions. 

Paul asks them to pray for him that he might not be delivered to the unbelievers in Judea and that the contributions he has for the believers in Jerusalem would get to the right people. He looked forward to seeing them and being refreshed by their joy in the Lord. 

Paul introduces Phoebe who has been a servant of the church and prays that they welcome her and provide her needs while she is there. He also is sending Prisca and Aquila who risked their lives for him. He mentions others that would be coming so they would know to trust them. 

To be a Christian then was dangerous. They gave up their safety to follow Christ and yet they were safer in God’s arms than they were before.

Lord, both our stories point to the fact that you are the one who is stronger than anything the world can manufacture. May we trust you in our world of unknowns and put our hope in you. 

Sat.’s Devo - Hezekiah’s Reform

Read: 2 Chronicles 30:1-31:21; Romans 15:1-22; Psalm 25:1-15; Proverbs 20:13-15

Hezekiah did a radical reform in the nation. It is incredible that his father was such an evil man who practiced all sorts of idolatry, but as soon as Hezekiah became king, he turned the whole nation around in two months. 

Hezekiah and his princes met in Jerusalem and agreed to make an announcement that they would celebrate the Passover for the first time in years. They couldn’t do it on the appointed time because they priests were not consecrated yet, but the law made provisions if it was impossible to celebrate the Passover in the first month, is said they could do it in the second month.

They sent messengers about the Passover to the cities of Ephraim, Manasseh and all the way to Zebulun. Many men laughed when they heard the announcement, but some humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 

When the people arrived they helped to remove all the altars that had been set up to worship other gods and took threw them into the Kidron brook. The priests slaughtered the Passover lamb on the 14th day of the month. When the priests who had not consecrated themselves saw this, they were convicted to get cleansed so they could act as priests. Many of the people had also not consecrated themselves so the priest sprinkled them with blood and Hezekiah prayed that God would not hold it against them. The Lord heard Hezekiah’s prayer and the people were covered. 

It was such a success that the people stayed another week to celebrate and offer their sacrifices to the Lord. There was great joy in Jerusalem like in the days of Solomon. God heard their singing and was pleased.

When it was time to go home, the people went throughout  the cities in Judah and broke down the Asherim poles and all the idol altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephriam and Manasseh. 

Hezekiah set up the divisions of the priests so the house of the Lord would continue to offer sacrifices to the Lord every day and on all the appointed times.  He followed the law of Moses exactly and the people gave abundantly to the house of the Lord. They had more than enough to provide for the priests and Levite, so Hezekiah had them prepare chambers where they could store all the contributions. 

In Romans, Paul encourages us to live like Jesus did who was more concerned about others than himself. He bore our reproach, so we should endure with courage every day we live. Our goal should be to live in harmony with one another so that our lives glorify Jesus and the Lord. 

It had been prophesied that the hope of the Gentiles would come out of Israel. Paul is proud that his ministry that is built on nothing but Christ. His calling is to the Gentiles so that those who have never heard of Jesus might know what he did for them and how they can trust him and become God’s children.

Lord, may our lives be built on You. May we fulfill out destiny everyday of loving and living Christ. May we fear you and be called your friend.

  

Fri.’s Devo - Hezekiah Consecrates the Temple

Read: 2 Chronicles 29:1-36; Romans 14:1-23; Psalm 24:1-10; Proverbs 20:12

Hezekiah came to reign when his father Ahaz died. His father had shut the doors of the house of the Lord and brought much idolatry into Judah. Hezekiah did the opposite. He opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired everything his father had destroyed. He called all the priests and Levites and had them consecrate themselves, then remove all the filth out of the Holy Place. He did this the first month he came to be king.

Hezekiah understood that the reason the nation was weak and falling apart was because they had forsaken the Lord. He admonished the priests and Levites to set everything up so they could return to the commands of the Lord and worship him the way the law said. The Levites worked and brought out all the unholy things and carried them to the Keaton brook. They consecrated themselves and the Temple. It took only 8 days to do all this so on the 16th day of the month it was done.

Hezekiah gathered all the officials of the city and took them to the house of the Lord. They brought 7 bulls, 7 goats and 7 lambs to the sanctuary for sin offerings to make atonement for Israel. 

The Levites made music with cymbals, harps and lyres and the priests blew trumpets. They offered the burnt offerings, sang to the Lord and worshiped to the sound of trumpets. When all the animals had been offered the king and all the people bowed and worshiped the Lord. Then he invited all who had brought an offering to bring it to the priests. They brought thousands of peace, burnt, and drink offerings to the Lord. The people rejoiced because God had provided for his people to do this and it happened so quickly.

Sin is gradual, but repentance and restoration is immediate. 

In Romans, Paul tells us not to judge each other’s conscience. It takes time to build faith to understand the freedom we have in Christ. Everyone comes to the Lord with different pasts and beliefs. It takes time to rest in the love of the Lord and walk in freedom. Everyone worships God according to their understanding so Paul tells us not to judge them according to our understanding. God sees the heart. In the end we will all stand before God and give an answer for our lives. 

We are not to discourage others in their walk with the Lord or condemn them in the way they walk out their walk with the Lord. The kingdom of God is a kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If we serve Christ, then we are accepted by God. So, we should not be arguing about how a person does this, but look for what we agree about and build relationships around the things we agree on. 

Paul also encourages those who live in freedom not to flaunt it in front of those who live more lawfully. Our faith is personal and between us and God. We just need to live in freedom of conscience. The Holy Spirit is our guide to help us know what is good and right.

Lord, thank you for the Holy Spirit in our lives. May we live in a way that is not a stumbling block for others but a stepping stone to You. May our hearts honor you and shine your light to others.

Thurs.’s Devo - Good and Bad Kind of Judah

Read: 2 Chronicles 26:1-28:27; Romans 13:1-14; Psalm 23:1-6; Proverbs 20:11

Amaziah had been put to death by his own people and they made his son, Uzziah king. Uzziah was only sixteen years old but he was mentored by Zechariah the priest and walked with the Lord most of his life. 

He sought the Lord’s help and God caused him to prosper and become very strong. He fought the Philistines, the Ammonites, and the Meunites and grew his territory. They feared him and paid him tribute. He built up his army and fortified his land. 

But, when Uzziah became strong, he let pride destroy him. He became unfaithful to God and took incense to burn into the holy place in the temple. The priest tried to stop him but not before his head broke out with leprosy. The priests hurried him out of the Temple and he was never able to enter again. He had to live apart from the people because of his leprosy and his son, Jotham had to rule his kingdom. 

When Uzziah died thy buried him in the field that belonged to the kings but not with the kings, because he was a leper.

Jotham was 25 years old when he became the king of Judah. He ruled 16 years. and did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but the people still followed corrupt practices. He repaired the upper gate of the house of the Lord and built on the wall of Ophel. He also built cities in the hills of Judah and forts and towers. He prevailed against the Ammonites so they began to pay him tribute in silver, wheat and barley. He was mighty because he honored the Lord. He was 41 when he died and was buried in the city of David.

Jotham’s son, Ahaz began to reign at the age of 20. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord  and led the people into idolatry of all kinds. So, the Lord gave him over to the king of Syria and took a number of his people to Damascus. Also, the king of Israel, Pekah attacked Judah and killed 120,000 of them. 

An Ephraimite named Zichri killed Ahaz’s son, his palace commander and his second-in-command officer. They took 200,000 captive of the people of Judah and much spoil. Obed the prophet met the army coming with the captives on their way to Samaria. He told them that God was not happy with them for what they had done to their own brothers and sisters. They had enough sins piled up against them to add this to their list. So some of the chiefs of Ephraim told the army that they couldn’t bring their captives into the city and bring guilt upon them. They took the captives and the spoil and clothed those who were in need. They gave them food and drink, anointed them and carried those who were injured on donkeys to Jericho. They left them there and returned to Samaria.

King Ahaz sent for the help of the Assyrian army because the Edomites were attacking their land and taking captives. The Philistines also raided them because God was humbling Judah because of the sins of Ahaz and the nation. The Assyrian army didn’t help them, they came up against them instead. Ahaz took portions from the house of the Lord and the kings and princes houses to pay the Assyrians not to kill them, but it didn’t help. 

Instead of turning to the Lord and repenting, Ahaz went after the gods of the Syrians since it looked like their gods were stronger than his. He shut down the house of the Lord and set up altars to idols and other gods. He was not buried with the kings when he died. Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.

In Romans, Paul encouraged them to honor their rulers, because God had set them up to rule. Good rulers are there to enforce the laws which is a good thing. All true authority is instituted by God so to resist them is to resits God who has appointed them. His leaders enforce his laws. If we disobey the law then we deserve the consequences. 

We are to pay taxes to whom they are owed and respect the ones who deserve respect and honor those who deserve honor.

We owe everyone our love because God loves them. Many of God’s laws had to do with how we treat one another. Love is how we fulfill his law. 

We are not to walk in this world like the heathen do but to put on the armor of light and put on the Lord Jesus Christ so that we will not gratify our flesh.

Lord, may we put on your armor of light. You live in us so may we let your shine through all we do. May we honor what you honor and hate what you hate. 

Wed.’s Devo - The Kingdoms of Joash and Azariah

Read: 2 Chronicles 24:1-25:28; Romans 12:1-21; Psalm 22:19-31; Proverbs 20:8-10

Joash who came to power at the age of seven was a good king until the priest, Jehoiada died. Jehoiada and his wife had raised Joash and found him two wives with which he had sons and daughters.

He decided to restore the house of the Lord because Athalia had used the holy things of the Lord in the temple of Baal. Joash put a box outside the Temple and had the people bring the tax Moses had commanded. The people were happy to bring their tax to the Lord and with it they were able to repair the Temple and get it back in working order. 

Jehoiada died and the princes of Judah came to Joash and encouraged him to worship the idols and the Asherim. God sent prophets to try to get him to turn back to the Lord, but he wouldn’t listen. Jehoiada’s son Zechariah spoke to the people and asked them why they would want to stop prospering and forsake the Lord. The king had him stoned in the court of the house of the Lord. Joash showed no respect for Jehoiada by killing his son. As Zechariah was dying he prayed that the Lord would avenge his death.

God did, by sending the Syrian army against Judah. They destroyed all the princes of the people - the ones who enticed the king to worship idols -  and took much spoil. A very few Syrians did much damage to Judah because they had forsaken the Lord. They left Joash severely wounded and his own servants conspired against him and killed him on his bed. He was not buried with the tombs of the kings. Amaziah his son reigned in his place.

Amaziah was 25 years old and he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not with his whole heart. He had the ones who killed his father killed but let their children live according to God’s law. He set up new commanders since all the princes had been killed. He formed an army of 300,000 men and then hired 100,000 men from Israel for 100 talents of gold. But a man of God came and told him not to take the men from Israel with him because God was not with Israel now. When he asked him what he would do about the gold he had paid them, he answered that God was able to give him much more than this. So, Amaziah sent the army of Israel home. They were so humiliated and angry that they looted and killed 3,000 in the cities of Judah on their way home.

Amaziah led his army against the Edomites and killed 20,000. Amaziah brought home the gods of the Edomites and set them up and worshiped them. God sent a prophet to ask him why he would worship gods who could’t save their people and abandon the God who defeated them. When the king was disrespectful to the prophet, the prophet told him that God was determined to destroy him because he didn’t listen to what he said. 

Amaziah picked a fight with Israel since he was feeling so strong and invincible. Joash, the king of Israel tried to stop him but Amaziah wouldn’t listen, so they met at Beth-shemesh to fight. Judah was defeated by Israel and fled. Joash of Israel went to Jerusalem and broke down 400 cubits of the wall and seized all the silver and gold from the Temple. He took hostages back to Samaria. There had been a conspiracy planned from the time Amaziah turned away from the Lord and he fled to Lachish. They found him and put him to death in Lachish. He was brought back to Jerusalem and buried with his fathers in the city of David.

In Romans, Paul appeals to us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to the Lord as our act of worship to him. Instead of conforming to the world, we are to let God renew our mind so that what we go through will teach us to discern what is God’s will and what is good and what is evil. 

We are not to think more highly about ourselves than God wants us to, but to grow in faith. We all need each other and benefit by others gifts. Some have been gifted with the ability to prophecy, some to teach, some to serve, some to exhort, some to give and some to do acts of mercy. 

We are to do everything with sincerity of heart and hate what is evil and love what is good. We are to be diligent and passionate in our service to the Lord. We are to be hopeful, patient and constantly in prayer. We are to be generous to the needy and hospitable. 

We are to bless those who persecute us, rejoice with those who are rejoicing and weep with those who are weeping. We are to live peacefully with those around us and not ever think we are better than anyone. We are to let God avenge us against our enemies and be kind to them instead because our kindness might cause them to repent.

Lord, may all we do bring glory to your name. May we be your witnesses of righteousness in the world. 

Tues.’s Devo - Judah’s Trials -

Read: 2 Chronicles 21:1-23:21; Romans 11:13-36; Psalm 22:1-18; Proverbs 20:7

Jehoshaphat died and his first born son Jehoram reigned in his place. Once he became established as king, he had his six brothers killed. 

When Jehoshaphat entered into a marriage convenant with Ahab he had taken Ahab’s dauthter Athaliah to marry his first born son Jehoram. She led him to worship Baal and to his downfall.

*** Edom and  Libna revolted from his rule because he had abandoned the Lord. God sent Elijah to tell him that because he had not walking in the ways of the good kings of Judah, but had followed after the evil ways of the kings of Israel and because he had killed his brothers who were better than him, God would bring a plague upon his people and he would lose his children and his wives and all his possessions. He would end up with a disease that would cause his bowels to come out.

*** God sent the Philistines and the Arabians to invade Judah and they looted the kings’ house and his family. They took all his children and wives except his youngest son, Jehoahaz.

*** Then Jehoram became diseased just like Elijah had prophesied. He died after two years and no one was sad. He was not even buried with the other kings. 

*** The people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, also known as Jehoahaz their king. He was Jehoram’s only son left and was 22 years old. He followed the evil advice of his mother Athaliah whose father had been Ahab. She led him and the nation further into idolatry. 

Ahaziah went with Israel’s king, Jehoram into battle against the Syrians at Ramoth-gilead. Jehoram was wounded so after the battle, Ahaziah went to visit him in Jezreel. They both went out to meet Jehu who was coming to the city to take down the dynasty of Ahab. Jehu met the princes of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah’s brothers and killed them. Then he found Ahaziah who had fled and killed him. There was no one left in the house of Ahaziah to rule so his mother Athaliah reigned. She killed all the royal family that was left but Joash.  Jehoshabeath had hidden Joash who was an infant and raised him in the house of God. Jehoshabeath was married to the high priest, Jehoiada. 

When Joash had his seventh birthday, Jehoiada devised a plan to bring Joash out and crown him king. He involved the military and all the priests of the land. They all joined together to crown Joash king. When Athaliah heard all the commotion she ran to the temple to see what it was all about. She saw Joash standing in the place of honor with the crown on his head and heard all the people shouting “Long live the king.” She cried “Treason!” but the priest ordered her to be killed outside the gate.

Then Jehoiada made a covenant with the people and the king that they would be the Lord’s people. The people tore down the house of Baal and killed the priest of Baal before the altar. Jehoiada reestablished the worship of the Lord in the Temple and had Joash taken to sit on the throne in the kings’s house.

In Romans, Paul compared the Jews to the dough of the first fruits. If it is holy then the whole loaf will be holy. If the root of a tree is holy then all the branches will be holy. But, if some of the branches are broken off and another tree was grafted in, it will share in the nourishment of the root. The Gentiles were the tree that was grafted into the root which makes them holy. 

The bad branches were broken off because they refused to honor the Lord. Paul warned the Gentiles that that could happen to them also if they turned from the truth of God. God is both kind and severe. One day the natural branches will be grafted back into the tree and it will be glorious. 

The hearts of the Israelites would be hardened until all the Gentiles who are chosen are brought into the kingdom, then The Jews will be saved. This is God’s plan and it will stand.

Lord, we praise you for what you are doing in our day. We see you disarming principalities and bringing down strongholds that have been standing for years. Thank you for bringing truth and justice back to our world. May you arise and all your enemies be scattered. 

 Mon.’s Devo -  Jehoshaphat’s Righteous Rule 7-27-26

Read: 2 Chronicles 19:1-20:37; Romans 10:14-11:12; Psalm 21:1-13; Proverbs 20:4-6

Jehoshaphat returned from fighting with Ahab in which Ahab was killed. Jehu the seer came to meet him and asked him why he loved and helped the wicked who hate the Lord, speaking of Ahab and Israel. God was not pleased with him, but he did see how he had destroyed the Asheroth out of his land and set his heart to seek Him.

Jehoshaphat went out among the people to bring them back to the Lord. He appointed good and honest men of integrity to judge the people. He warmed the judges that they would be  making decisions for the Lord, so to be fair and honest. He told them to let the fear of God help in their decisions - to be impartial and not to take bribes. 

He did the same in Jerusalem and appointed Levites and priest to judge all the cases. He warned them not to do anything to incur guilt or the wrath of God. 

The Moabites, Ammonites and some of the Menuites came up against them to war. When Jehoshaphat was told this he set his face to seek the Lord. He proclaimed a fast and all Judah assembled to seek the Lord from all the cities of Judah. 

Jehoshaphat stood before the people and prayed for their safety and for God’s help. God gave them a word through the Levite, Jahaziel. He told them not to be afraid because this battle was not theirs but the Lord’s. They were to go to the ascent of Ziz and take up their position and then just stand. They would see the salvation of the Lord. 

Jehoshaphat bowed his head to the ground and all of the people followed. The Levites led them in praise.

They went to the place they had been told to go and Jehoshaphat encouraged them to believe in the Lord and have courage. The appointed singers sang to give thanks to the Lord for his love endures forever. When they began to sing, the Lord set an ambush against their enemies and they were routed. They destroyed each other. 

When Judah looked from their watchtower all they saw were dead bodies strewn over the land. It took three days to collect all the spoil. On the fourth day they met and blessed the Lord. They returned to Jerusalem with great joy and singing. The fear of God came on all the kings around them when they heard what had happened. 

Jehoshaphat ruled over Judah 25 years and walked with the Lord all his life. The people still worshiped in the high places because their hearts were not turned wholly to the Lord. 

Jehoshaphat joined with Ahazial of Israel to build ships to go to Tarshish but the prophet Eliezer prophesied against him because he had joined with Israel. The ships wrecked and never made their destination. 

In Romans, Paul has just told the how God’s plan was to save the world - Jews and Gentiles. But, how can he do this if someone doesn’t go out and tell the Gentiles about the Lord? He reminded them of prophecies about how the Gentiles would make them jealous and angry because of their zeal for the Lord. He also reminds them that God said that he held out his hands to save his chosen ones but they refused to come to him.

God had not rejected his chosen people completely because Paul was one of them. Just like in the days of Elijah, he had faithful followers hidden away. His elect would see the truth and believe, the rest were given a spirit of slumber and could not see or hear the truth. Their rejection ended in the acceptance of the Gentiles, but the acceptance of the Gentiles into God’s kingdom will also lead to their return. It is a cycle to bring in all who will come to salvation.

Lord, thank you that you never give up on your chosen people. May we see righteous judgment return to our land with righteous leaders who honor and fear you. We pray for the salvation of our land and for Israel.