Mon.’s Devo - The Faithful and the Unfaithful

 ead: 2 Chronicles 33:14-34:33; Romans 16:8-27; Psalm 26:1-12; Proverbs 20:19

Manasseh’s repentance was real. He fortified the city of David with an outer wall and put army commanders in all the fortified cities. He cleansed the Temple of all idols and commanded Judah to serve the Lord. The people still worshiped in the high places but they worshiped the Lord there.

When Manasseh died, his son Amon ruled. He undid all the good Manasseh had done. He brought back the foreign gods and  worshiped them which much guilt for Judah. Some of his own servants did a coup and killed him in his own house. The people of the city killed his murderers and made Amon’s son Josiah king. 

Josiah was only 8 when he became king. When he was 16 he began to seek the Lord. He began to purge Judah of idolatry and at 20 he had cleansed the land and the Temple. He met with Azaliah, the governor of Jerusalem, and the recorder to plan to restore the damages in the Temple. They went to the high priest and gave him the money collected and told him to use it to repair the Temple. The priests and Levites hired workers to repair the Temple. 

While they were working in the Temple, they found a copy of the law and brought it to Josiah. When he read it, he tore his clothes. He realized how far they had gone from serving the Lord and what the consequences would be. 

Josiah sent for a prophetess and asked her what the Lord was saying to Judah. She told him that the curses written in the law would fall on Judah, but because Josiah had sought the Lord and had a humble heart, it would not happen during his days. 

Josiah gathered the elders together and the people and read to them the words of the law. Josiah made a covenant before the Lord to walk according to God’s ways and follow his law. He made all the people join with him in this. He took away all the abominations from the land and made all who were present serve the Lord. Josiah remained faithful to the Lord all his days.

In Romans, Paul finishes his letter. He names many of those who labored along side him and he wanted to introduce to the Romans. He warned them of those who would want to cause division among them. They did not serve the Lord but their desire was to deceive the people. He told them to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. He encouraged them that Jesus would soon crush Satan under their feet. He prayed for the grace of Jesus Christ to be with them. 

Lord, may we be hopeful as we wait for your kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. May we stay true to your Word and walk in your ways all our days as Josiah did.