#584 Second Summation of The Chronicles Part 1

Solomon reminds me of my youth, that happy day whence first I heard, like that old song, Gloria in excelsis deo. The temple had not yet been built, but the wonder of it all lay before me, and I had no other choice, for it was marvelous beyond my comprehension, I had to ask for wisdom. I found that it was not natural to me, and that I could not do every task, not right or fit for every work, I had to ask for help. Solomon, when given the choice of anything, wisely ask for the thing he cannot make or buy, the wisdom of God. He also finds himself insufficient to the task of the temple and trades in things that benefit his work and another kingdom. Some of his business dealings later will be wanting for their disobedience to God's law, and where it is always right is where we do good, if thine enemy hunger, feed him, if he thirst give him drink. If my enemy wants weapons so he calls me his friend then I should shrewdly as a serpent realize that we are unequally yoked to this, if I am to find myself in Christ and he not. Yet like a dove I should offer him know harm and trade in the things that are just and fair. I do not want another to starve, but I would rather not arm them against someone else and then later myself. 

It is in the very nature of man to worship, but in a fallen nature, he will worship things, God incorrectly, money, intellect, violence, the stars and even angels. It is good to build the temple, to make everything point to the mercy seat, to know that even the angels worship and refuse to be worshiped. Only the fallen will accept what does not belong to them, only the perverted will worship the things that were made. It is important for Solomon to build this temple, to make the word of the Lord be heard again. The site of the temple was long ago decided upon, from eternity, but this is the threshing floor that his father bought, this is Mt. Moriah, where Isaac was replaced by a ram. God has put His name here. They dedicate the temple and the Shekinah fills it, God's fire accept the sacrifice. I am attaching this link because this holds the prayer of the king who asked for wisdom and it can teach us how or what to pray. Always remembering not my will but Yours be done. How freeing is that, how independent of the expectations and desires of this world and it's systems, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, in prosperity or in suffering, the same want, to thine be the glory and the honor. 

Solomon's temple prayer

Unfortunately Solomon's story does not end there, nor flow forth in the embodiment of such a prayer, the whole of his grand life is not a sweet smelling savor. What is it to know but not do? Read the law of kings, and you will see a pattern prevalent as much today as then. 

• He was unequally yoked in marriages, and the law of kings spoke against the acquiring of many wives.
• He was unequally yoked in alliances, which did not cause so much influence to the good as much as his own demise. Moses wrote against returning to Egypt long before, yet Solomon worked with them to deal arms to the Syrians. 
• He was not to acquire much gold or silver to himself, but he appears to trust his own self better in these questions. Solomon did not lack in learning, ignorance could not be claimed. He saw the ways of Egypt and embraced them as good method, forced labor and ill dealings, but like all false religions and politics, the end doth justify for them the means. 
• He amassed more chariots and horses then needed and though he was blessed with peace and prosperity, he sold the next generations to war. He raised the tax most heavily for all these things and for the vanities of his many princes. 

In the end, he discounted the words of God, and traded the covenant of his father for a half hearted reign. He separated a world to himself and a world to the religion of God, having access to the temple, but so split in his ways, his desires, that in the end, as he said, "all is vanity." He leaves us in the state of compromise.

Solomon passes away and then Rehoboam takes over, with the desire to rule by force and entitlement. He threatens a load that will make his pinky look like his father's thigh. He threatens slave labor at the end of more than whips, but even scorpions. This fulfills the words of Moses and also the prophet Samuel in 1 Samuel 8.

But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,[c] 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,[d] 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20: 25-28

This is also the time of Jeroboam, the rise of a northern kingdom, split off from Judah. It is in "rebellion" to the Davidic rule, but God does not allow Rehoboam to draw it back together. He is not fit for such a task, and no matter how difficult the road has been made by Jeroboam to the temple, those who worship in truth, leave the apostasy of Jeroboam. No matter where we are, where we came from, Jesus insists that He is the way. Jeroboam puts up an idol in place of true religion. The stand off between him and Abijah is a beautiful picture of the stand that we, who have been called from sin, must make while crying out to God. 

Abijah

Asa is mentioned in 1 Kings 15. He was more like David than the others up until this point. Going out into battle his father was apt to carry the name of the Lord, but at home there was a great need of reform. He tore down the foreign altars and high places, in the books of the kings it says he also removed the state sanctioned male prostitutes. He not only stands up for God publicly, but also addresses the religious infidelity of his own house, standing up to his mother, who has lead the people in ways like a Jezebel. Asa truly starts out strong but then goes to the world rather than God, and it could be an error of omission, but the greater error, the grotesque sin, is that he sees himself above correction. He jails the one who warns him, refuses to seek God in his sickness, and has not tried to reconcile with his brother privately. Sad end to a promising start.

Suppose one of you wants to bring a charge against another believer. Should you take it to ungodly people to be judged? Why not take it to the Lord’s people? 2 Or don’t you know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? Since this is true, aren’t you able to judge small cases? 3 Don’t you know that we will judge angels? Then we should be able to judge the things of this life even more! 4 So suppose you disagree with one another in matters like this. Who do you ask to decide which of you is right? Do you ask people who live in a way the church disapproves of? Of course not! 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that no one among you is wise enough to judge matters between believers? 6 Instead, one believer goes to court against another. And this happens in front of unbelievers! 1 Corinthians 6: 1-6

Jehoshaphat comes out against the idolatries in the land, fortifies himself against those outside the gate, but strengthens the people within the gate, arming them with their history and the word of God. He has done so well, but now he will reach north, and the hand of grace, of peace should ever be extended, we should meet at the White Horse Inn, but never to be married. This is leaven in the dough, and how can you remove it, it must be thrown away. Rather than implore his cousins to the mercies of God, begging them, convincing them away from God's wrath, he invites the yeast into his own lump. They marry into a most evil line.

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#583 Ur Go Nomads

The people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah and made him king in his father's place in Jerusalem. 2 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. 3 Then the king of Egypt deposed him in Jerusalem and laid on the land a tribute of a hundred talents of silver and a talent[a] of gold.4 And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. But Neco took Jehoahaz his brother and carried him to Egypt.

5 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God. 6 Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and bound him in chains to take him to Babylon.7 Nebuchadnezzar also carried part of the vessels of the house of the Lord to Babylon and put them in his palace in Babylon. 8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and the abominations that he did, and what was found against him, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. And Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.

9 Jehoiachin was eighteen[b] years old when he became king, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. 10 In the spring of the year King Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babylon, with the precious vessels of the house of the Lord, and made his brother Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem.

11 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. 12 He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the Lord. 13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. He stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the Lord, the God of Israel. 14 All the officers of the priests and the people likewise were exceedingly unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations. And they polluted the house of the Lord that he had made holy in Jerusalem.

15 The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. 16 But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord rose against his people, until there was no remedy.

Jerusalem Captured and Burned

17 Therefore he brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or aged. He gave them all into his hand. 18 And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king and of his princes, all these he brought to Babylon.19 And they burned the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem and burned all its palaces with fire and destroyed all its precious vessels. 20 He took into exile in Babylon those who had escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and to his sons until the establishment of the kingdom of Persia, 21 to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. All the days that it lay desolate it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.

The Proclamation of Cyrus

22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lordby the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: 23 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the Lordhis God be with him. Let him go up.’” 2 Chronicles 36 ESV

These people did not in themselves carry the same tender heart of Josiah, but while they lamented him, they did not mourn their sins. They selected one of his sons to reign, he was the people's choice. It is the poorest choice that does not consult the wisdom of God. Men choose what they are comfortable with, that affords their ideal, their luxury, but who can stand before God? I should like to know the thoughts of the Creator of the universe. What should I look for in a leader? What are the issues of concern? Have I learned anything in the discovery of the history of the kings thus far, so much as I have read in God' word till now? He was king for 3 months and then put down by Neco, and now the Pharaoh from the land God redeemed you from, will replace your choice, set up his own tax collector, name him and charge you. Those who don't bow to the Sovereign Creator, will always take the knee to an infinitely lesser image, institutions, tyrants and vanity.  

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. Romans 1: 28-32

Judah will not be called out of Egypt like God's Son, and so after yet another evil reign, it will be a king from the land of Abraham, that will take them back to the beginning. Babylon, in the land of the Chaldees, we will find ourselves in captivity. These kings do not repent, though God sends Jeremiah and others to warn them, and see how He calls to us, not willing that any should suffer, but sending the message by which all may be saved. They puff out their chest and mock the prophets, this people and theses kings know more than God. Dust will think much of itself, that it is flying, when really it is only being blown about by the wind. Swear to me by God, Zedekiah, but Nebuchadnezzar could probably swear better by the Hebrew God in the dark then this rebel who had been afforded so much light. He and the priest defiled the temple, and walked in the ways of the pagan, lost nations. They cut out their own eyes and stuffed their own ears, and now like Samson they would tread out the grain, fill the cups of the Babylonians, and pay for all the Sabbaths they had stolen from God, the glory they had heaped upon themselves. What a sad, sad ending, if only God could have known this and provided a better King. Lord, I praise You for the gift of Your Son, for we can produce no great king or politician of ourselves, that may ever do Your will, that could ever satisfy Your Holy and Just nature.

Sister Passage 2 Kings 25

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#582 Lamenting Josiah

Josiah kept a Passover to the Lord in Jerusalem. And they slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the first month.2 He appointed the priests to their offices and encouraged them in the service of the house of the Lord. 3 And he said to the Levites who taught all Israel and who were holy to the Lord, “Put the holy ark in the house that Solomon the son of David, king of Israel, built. You need not carry it on your shoulders. Now serve the Lord your God and his people Israel.4 Prepare yourselves according to your fathers' houses by your divisions, as prescribed in the writing of David king of Israel and the document of Solomon his son. 5 And stand in the Holy Place according to the groupings of the fathers' houses of your brothers the lay people, and according to the division of the Levites by fathers' household. 6 And slaughter the Passover lamb, and consecrate yourselves, and prepare for your brothers, to do according to the word of the Lord by Moses.”

7 Then Josiah contributed to the lay people, as Passover offerings for all who were present, lambs and young goats from the flock to the number of 30,000, and 3,000 bulls; these were from the king's possessions.8 And his officials contributed willingly to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the chief officers of the house of God, gave to the priests for the Passover offerings 2,600 Passover lambs and 300 bulls. 9 Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethanel his brothers, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, the chiefs of the Levites, gave to the Levites for the Passover offerings 5,000 lambs and young goats and 500 bulls.

10 When the service had been prepared for, the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their divisions according to the king's command. 11 And they slaughtered the Passover lamb, and the priests threw the blood that they received from them while the Levites flayed the sacrifices. 12 And they set aside the burnt offerings that they might distribute them according to the groupings of the fathers' houses of the lay people, to offer to the Lord, as it is written in the Book of Moses. And so they did with the bulls. 13 And they roasted the Passover lamb with fire according to the rule; and they boiled the holy offerings in pots, in cauldrons, and in pans, and carried them quickly to all the lay people.14 And afterward they prepared for themselves and for the priests, because the priests, the sons of Aaron, were offering the burnt offerings and the fat parts until night; so the Levites prepared for themselves and for the priests, the sons of Aaron. 15 The singers, the sons of Asaph, were in their place according to the command of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the king's seer; and the gatekeepers were at each gate. They did not need to depart from their service, for their brothers the Levites prepared for them.

16 So all the service of the Lord was prepared that day, to keep the Passover and to offer burnt offerings on the altar of the Lord, according to the command of King Josiah. 17 And the people of Israel who were present kept the Passover at that time, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days. 18 No Passover like it had been kept in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet. None of the kings of Israel had kept such a Passover as was kept by Josiah, and the priests and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.19 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah this Passover was kept.

Josiah Killed in Battle

20 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to meet him. 21 But he sent envoys to him, saying, “What have we to do with each other, king of Judah? I am not coming against you this day, but against the house with which I am at war. And God has commanded me to hurry. Cease opposing God, who is with me, lest he destroy you.”22 Nevertheless, Josiah did not turn away from him, but disguised himself in order to fight with him. He did not listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, but came to fight in the plain of Megiddo. 23 And the archers shot King Josiah. And the king said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am badly wounded.” 24 So his servants took him out of the chariot and carried him in his second chariot and brought him to Jerusalem. And he died and was buried in the tombs of his fathers. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. 25 Jeremiah also uttered a lament for Josiah; and all the singing men and singing women have spoken of Josiah in their laments to this day. They made these a rule in Israel; behold, they are written in the Laments. 26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his good deeds according to what is written in the Law of the Lord, 27 and his acts, first and last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. 2 Chronicles 35 ESV

Josiah continues with the Lord, and after the reading with the people, what is left but the doing? Otherwise we are ever after, awake or asleep to it, disobedient in that part which we neglect. He puts the priest back to their work as under the law, as a faithful reader he sees where they are amiss. Those that govern should ever be after the advisement of those that study the Word of God and history, but they should also ask that those who perform such also do it circumspectly. It should never become show or good form, for God always looks at the heart. The cloth does not protect from the eye, and if those that supposedly represent the church are not doing what is right then they are more than any man to be held accountable.

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers,because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.…James 3:1

There is in Christ these 3 offices, that of King, He is the King of kings, the great "I am". He will rule at the right hand of the Father over a new heaven and a new earth. The Magi brought Him gold, for he was the true heir of David.

The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Genesis 49:10

“I see him, but not now;

I behold him, but not near.

A star will come out of Jacob;

a scepter will rise out of Israel. Numbers 24:17

There is in Christ the role of prophet for He only did what He saw the Father doing. His life was an example of a constant prayer, a living sacrifice, a burning incense. The Magi brought Him Frankincense. 

And there is this role here of priest, a shadow of Christ, for we need no other High Priest, this is Jesus Christ the righteous. The priest could go where we could not, could take our place, our suffering, provide a sacrifice worthy of acceptance. Christ spoke as a prophet telling the woman at the well all she had ever done, and convicting the world of sin, but then silently He went before Herod and Pilate. As priest he opened not His mouth, but walked through the sacred rites as a lamb to the slaughter, as a sheep before its shearers is dumb. The king tells them to put the ark back in it's place, and consecrate yourselves, serve the Lord and His people. Teach them in the way that they should go. The Magi brought Jesus Myrrh, for the manger ever looks forward to the cross and preparing of His body.  

Josiah provided Passover offerings for all who were present, for every house had a lamb, no one had the merit, everyone needed a lamb without blemish to be offered for them. They roasted the Passover lamb by fire, for our God is a consuming fire and Christ was not just murdered by men, but also having taken our sins upon Him, He Who knew no sin became sin for us, which incurred the wrath of God. And the other meat was quickly boiled and taken to the people, for this is my body which was broken for you, take and eat. What a beautiful thing to have the Passover again and it was extended even to the Northern tribes. What a great king. 

His was a good reign, a desire to serve God and people as was not so often seen, but sadly and it should always be sadly, we see him slip. There is a struggle for power at that time between Assyria, a rising Babylonian empire and Pharaoh Neco of Egypt. Josiah interjects himself, and we are not certain as to why, but Neco sends him word to stand down. If I am not coming against you, but against another ungodly nation, then why do you want to fight with me? And there is a question here for Josiah, what place has good with evil? Why are you helping this other nation? His relatives before him made mistakes in courting Babylon, selling horses and chariots to those who would one day use them against Israel, and assimilating the culture of the Assyrians. Whether he trusted Neco or not, his words got to him, or else why did he so foolishly like Ahab, put on a disguise? Because there was merit to what Neco said, just like Balaam's words above, he should have tested them with a prophet or gone back to the prophetess. He was a student of scripture himself, and that was enough to make him afraid, but not enough to turn back. Pride makes it difficult to amend our words and decisions, but if we run on pride then we run like Lemmings. The Assyrians misspoke with Hezekiah, they played at understanding Judaism, but look how carefully Hezekiah still took this to the Lord, sought the advice of Isaiah. Sometimes we speak to quickly, promise too much to those we should not embrace, for their aim is evil. Humility turns out to be the greater teacher and decision maker. The proud are only pretending; God will not be confused by your disguise, oh Josiah, thank God He gave you a tender heart, so rest in peace.

Finally, Jesus was the perfect Passover because He was the Son of God. No one else could take God's infinite wrath against sin, except the eternally begotten of the Father. Behold the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world. It says we are in Christ a royal priesthood, so we should be teaching our children the precepts of our faith and walking it out before them every day. God, I praise you for Your Passover Prevision and I ask that You save my family, taking them unto Yourself, as all belongs to You. Help me to lead by both word and example, Amen. 

And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.

51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.

53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?

54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:

55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?

58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. John 8: 50-58

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#581 Josiah as Promised

Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. 2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father; and he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 3 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet a boy, he began to seek the God of David his father, and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, and the carved and the metal images.4 And they chopped down the altars of the Baals in his presence, and he cut down the incense altars that stood above them. And he broke in pieces the Asherim and the carved and the metal images, and he made dust of them and scattered it over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. 5 He also burned the bones of the priests on their altars and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem. 6 And in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, and as far as Naphtali, in their ruins[a]all around, 7 he broke down the altars and beat the Asherim and the images into powder and cut down all the incense altars throughout all the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.

The Book of the Law Found

8 Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had cleansed the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the house of the Lord his God. 9 They came to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought into the house of God, which the Levites, the keepers of the threshold, had collected from Manasseh and Ephraim and from all the remnant of Israel and from all Judah and Benjamin and from the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 And they gave it to the workmen who were working in the house of the Lord. And the workmen who were working in the house of the Lord gave it for repairing and restoring the house. 11 They gave it to the carpenters and the builders to buy quarried stone, and timber for binders and beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had let go to ruin. 12 And the men did the work faithfully. Over them were set Jahath and Obadiah the Levites, of the sons of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to have oversight. The Levites, all who were skillful with instruments of music, 13 were over the burden-bearers and directed all who did work in every kind of service, and some of the Levites were scribes and officials and gatekeepers.

14 While they were bringing out the money that had been brought into the house of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord given through[b] Moses. 15 Then Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan. 16 Shaphan brought the book to the king, and further reported to the king, “All that was committed to your servants they are doing. 17 They have emptied out the money that was found in the house of the Lord and have given it into the hand of the overseers and the workmen.” 18 Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it before the king.

19 And when the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes.20 And the king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying, 21 “Go, inquire of the Lord for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to do according to all that is written in this book.”

Huldah Prophesies Disaster

22 So Hilkiah and those whom the king had sent[c] went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter) and spoke to her to that effect. 23 And she said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me,24 Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the curses that are written in the book that was read before the king of Judah. 25 Because they have forsaken me and have made offerings to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands, therefore my wrath will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched. 26 But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard,27 because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and you have humbled yourself before me and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. 28 Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place and its inhabitants.’” And they brought back word to the king.

29 Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30 And the king went up to the house of the Lord, with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the priests and the Levites, all the people both great and small. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the Lord. 31 And the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book. 32 Then he made all who were present in Jerusalem and in Benjamin join in it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. 33 And Josiah took away all the abominations from all the territory that belonged to the people of Israel and made all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God. All his days they did not turn away from following the Lord, the God of their fathers. 2 Chronicles 34 ESV

Sister 2 Kings 22

And the man cried against the altar by the word of the Lord and said, “O altar, altar, thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name, and he shall sacrifice on you the priests of the high places who make offerings on you, and human bones shall be burned on you.’ ” 1 Kings 13:2

So 300 years after the prophecy above, Josiah becomes king, as a child, due to the assassination of his father. 

1 Kings 13

& the other half 1 Kings 13.5

It is a wonder here, but the story of his grandfather is much like the parable that Jesus told of the prodigal son. Maybe Manasseh was much better received as a grandfather than a father. Josiah's own father did not repent like his father before him, and so we see Josiah attributed to David rather than Amon. Amon left his son early and little in the way of example. Yet, from the earliest time we see a boy whose heart is fixed on seeking God. He does not wish to stray at all, not a step too far in any direction, and he returns to even more reforms than his grandfather. He seeks the Lord while he may be found, not putting God off like his father, but destroying those false images that flatter the weakness of the mind. How does he know to do this?

Seek and ye shall find, ask and it shall be given unto you, knock and the door shall be open. He sets his eyes upon the temple, it's restoration as a building but also the place of true worship. It was the place back then that your body is now. In the process of drawing nigh to God, of seeking God where He may be found, Hilkiah finds the book of the law. Shaphan reads it to the king, and trust this well, that for those who are being most effectually called, they will at some time respond, for faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. He is not sitting in a pew in some vast church, looking at his watch, wondering if they will get out of here in time to beat the traffic to his favorite restaurant. No, this he understands, it has been made aware to him, that this is a letter from God. It is so serious and has never changed from being so, but not everyone has eyes or ears, it's only manna after all, it's not what you ordered. It's just God's word, no more than that. He rents his clothes, and what else can I do, for it says this here, that this was the covenant, and our fathers broke it. This is what is coming to us. Go inquire of the Lord for me, what does He want me to do with the knowledge of this? People speak of fair and just all the time, but the nations that were kicked out before us, were violent, perverted, idolaters, and God hated all of it. We are guilty of the same, our parents worshiped idols and we ourselves still can't fathom the error, but here is the contract and Moses writing, we are in the breech. 

So the priest don't give him an answer, but maybe theirs is more form than it is function, and maybe this is unfortunately as fresh to them as it is the seeker. If you don't know the answer though, it is better to go and look for someone who handles the word of God most soberly. This is the time of part and prophet, and though his grandfather has killed many, God has preserved some, and this Huldah, though a witness to these things, speaks the words of God without fail. Most today will not say what God has said for fear of no longer being friends on Facebook, much less being sawn in half for the gospel. She tells them plainly, God is going to do this because they have forsaken Him. God's just wrath is coming as promised, but to the young man, say this also, God has seen your tender heart, has witnessed your sorrowful tears, and so you will not be alive for the time of Judah's destruction. He wouldn't have to see the Babylonian captivity, so break at the bottles, bring in the prostitutes, start the music, that's all I wanted to hear. Nope, the truly repentant don't respond that way, and those weren't crocodile tears, he was actually humble. His response in hearing that there will be certain judgment, yet because you have believed and humbled yourself you will be spared, inspires him to not hide the word from the people but rather proclaim it. He reads it to them himself, and how humble is that, not trying to gain the ear of the religious, make a play for his own gain, no, he shares it with all the people, because we all need God's word. No one lives by bread alone. That can only feed part of you.  

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that[b] they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Christ Came to Fulfill the Law

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5: 13-20

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#580 There It Is

Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. 2 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel. 3 For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had broken down, and he erected altars to the Baals, and made Asheroth, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. 4 And he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem shall my name be forever.” 5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. 6 And he burned his sons as an offering in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and used fortune-telling and omens and sorcery, and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. 7 And the carved image of the idol that he had made he set in the house of God, of which God said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever,8 and I will no more remove the foot of Israel from the land that I appointed for your fathers, if only they will be careful to do all that I have commanded them, all the law, the statutes, and the rules given through Moses.” 9 Manasseh led Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem astray, to do more evil than the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the people of Israel.

Manasseh's Repentance

10 The Lord spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they paid no attention. 11 Therefore the Lord brought upon them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh with hooks and bound him with chains of bronze and brought him to Babylon. 12 And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. 13 He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.

14 Afterward he built an outer wall for the city of David west of Gihon, in the valley, and for the entrance into the Fish Gate, and carried it around Ophel, and raised it to a very great height. He also put commanders of the army in all the fortified cities in Judah. 15 And he took away the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the Lord, and all the altars that he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, and he threw them outside of the city. 16 He also restored the altar of the Lord and offered on it sacrifices of peace offerings and of thanksgiving, and he commanded Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. 17 Nevertheless, the people still sacrificed at the high places, but only to the Lord their God.

18 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, behold, they are in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.19 And his prayer, and how God was moved by his entreaty, and all his sin and his faithlessness, and the sites on which he built high places and set up the Asherim and the images, before he humbled himself, behold, they are written in the Chronicles of the Seers.[a] 20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his house, and Amon his son reigned in his place.

Amon's Reign and Death

21 Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. 22 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done. Amon sacrificed to all the images that Manasseh his father had made, and served them. 23 And he did not humble himself before the Lord, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself, but this Amon incurred guilt more and more. 24 And his servants conspired against him and put him to death in his house. 25 But the people of the land struck down all those who had conspired against King Amon. And the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place. 2 Chronicles 33 ESV

Sister Passage 2 Kings 21

I must say, after originally reading about the life of Manasseh in 2 Kings 21, which I have included above, I did not find it in myself to feel encouraged. It was not in me at that time, in passing through, to say, that this is truly one of the most encouraging passages of scripture. Look at his life, it is horrible. He has a Godly father, who reforms the nation, but they only seem strong when there is a Godly king at the helm. He does lead, but the people do most agreeably follow as well. There is a time for civil disobedience and this king provided much just opportunity for such. The people should have refused to worship the man made gods of Assyria and Babylon, they did not. He turned the temple into a brothel for the worship of Asheroth (Venus). It is held in other historical contributions that he had multiple incestuous relationships, one of which was with his own mother. No matter how proud Freud would have been, God had declared these things as an abomination. He led the people to sin in the way of those who were driven out before them. I am a bit slow myself, but there is some really simple math there, the Canaanites were removed for such, and the northern tribes are only a remnant now, most are captive. We are doing the same things they did to invoke God's wrath, what should we expect?  Well, if we put any weight on what the Bible says, then the wages of sin is death, this was the way it was when man first embraced pride in Eden. If we don't put any weight on what the Bible says, does that really change anything? This is the way the world was in the time of Noah, up until the first drop of rain, violence and obscenity were rampant. The Bible does not describe us as truth seekers, but rather, that no one seeks the truth, that everyone has gone astray, lost, turned to their own way. It says that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and no one is the least concerned or troubled over this. Men take encouragement in their own monuments, idols, what they think they know and who they believe themselves to be. Certainly I have in the first waking moment of everyday, in every sentence of this blog, in every object I have ever laid my eyes upon and said, "mine", I have called the world into disaster once again, forfeited my claims to goodness and sanity. There is no need to cast lots, if you are all "good", as you say, then it's me, I am the one, throw me off the boat. How encouraging is that? Look what else he did, it said he was guilty and brought the nation into guilt of much innocent blood as well. Wow, if that doesn't sound familiar, like my country. I will write about that more at the end of 2 Chronicles, but look at some of the blood he shed. He sacrificed to Molech, but he also sacrificed those who brought him the words of life, the prophets who were his grace, unmerited and undeserved. Jeremiah wrote:

And I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, did in Jerusalem. Jeremiah 15:4

God's judgment is sure and it was coming, so why is this so encouraging, why would I say that? God doesn't owe me the prophets, this Bible I read, a parent, friend or stranger that prays for me and proclaims the gospel. He does not owe me anything but death, and for that, all He would have to do is stand before me. I may have once pretended at stoically twisting my beard, riding at the bow of a boat, heading towards the infinite, making one last cast. I was stubborn, stupid, arrogant, mad at the world and the God I refused to believe in, but I still held some romantic view of self. I don't believe in You, God, so you can't have that. Have what, Calvin, your heart, your mind, your body, I made it all, show me what belongs to you. It's my life, God, and I will do with it what I please, if You are really Who You say You are then show yourself. If you saw me, you would surely die, for darkness has no place with light. I am Holy, and while you cannot wrap your head around that, you are not, and neither your lack of understanding nor your lack of desire to understand this help your cause, your mantra. Who is the pot anyway? We are so much further along then we deserve, the moment we open our eyes afresh. Manasseh killed the prophets, and like the blood of Abel cries out against Cain, so the blood of the prophets demands the retribution that is against Jerusalem. Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem that kills the prophets, how long have I wanted to take you under my wing. I sent those men to warn you, that you are quickly approaching true justice, that my ways are not your ways and I will not always strive with you. You asked me to stand before you, I made a Way. Oh come on, God, are you talking about that dead guy, Jesus? I wasn't even alive back then, how am I supposed to believe that? I sent your mother who told you from early on, preachers and teachers who you despised. You said "they" were too prideful, but you were too prideful and they would not change my words to tickle your ears. Oh, God, I am glad I remembered this, you had me nervous for a while there, but what about those other pastors, remember, the ones that said I was ok because I said that prayer with them? They were so nice, but I quit going because they said you wanted me to be rich and healthy, but instead you made me an epileptic and poor. I never sent them, those weren't my Words, I will honor My words. 

The anger of the LORD will not diminish until He has fully accomplished the purposes of His heart. In the days to come you will understand it clearly. 21I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied. 22But if they had stood in My council, they would have proclaimed My words to My people and turned them back from their evil ways and evil deeds.”… Jeremiah 23:21

After all of this, the people and Manasseh did not repent. Like the people in the desert they loathed the word of God, like those loathed the manna. Christ had no beauty that I would desire him, he came lowly, and I despised him. God did meet man face to face, clothed in the form of sinful man, covering the majesty of the eternal God in rags, so that we who are being saved could see the glory of humility. Born in a manger, what's that smell? It's dung, it's straw, mold and earth, his parents offered two pigeons, that means they were poor. That's not good enough for you, you say, but here is the encouragement for me, I was an idiot, I was proud like that, chased stupid idols and ideals. It says that he was imprisoned, the king was brought low, and he humbled himself before the Lord his God, and God heard him. God's wrath is still against sin, but he pardoned this sinner. His judgment is coming, but Manasseh escaped it. He returned home and strengthened the walls around Jerusalem. He probably thought little of that before, but now he realized how much this was worth protecting. He welcomed the Assyrians and Babylonians before he realized that he was going to be their slave. It is sad it says of his son that saw all these things, the former and the latter, but he did evil, he was wicked in the eyes of the Lord and his reign was fast. Trapp puts it well for all of us:

“Glycas saith that Amon hardened himself in sin by his father’s example, who took his swing in sin, and yet at length repented. So, thought he, will I do; wherefore he was soon sent out of the world for his presumption, dying in his sins, as 2 Chronicles 33:23.” (Trapp)

He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103: 10-12

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#579 I Found Your Heart

After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself. 2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and intended to fight against Jerusalem, 3 he planned with his officers and his mighty men to stop the water of the springs that were outside the city; and they helped him. 4 A great many people were gathered, and they stopped all the springs and the brook that flowed through the land, saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?” 5 He set to work resolutely and built up all the wall that was broken down and raised towers upon it,[a] and outside it he built another wall, and he strengthened the Millo in the city of David. He also made weapons and shields in abundance. 6 And he set combat commanders over the people and gathered them together to him in the square at the gate of the city and spoke encouragingly to them, saying, 7 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. 8 With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

Sennacherib Blasphemes

9 After this, Sennacherib king of Assyria, who was besieging Lachish with all his forces, sent his servants to Jerusalem to Hezekiah king of Judah and to all the people of Judah who were in Jerusalem, saying, 10 “Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, ‘On what are you trusting, that you endure the siege in Jerusalem? 11 Is not Hezekiah misleading you, that he may give you over to die by famine and by thirst, when he tells you, “The Lord our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria”?12 Has not this same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, “Before one altar you shall worship, and on it you shall burn your sacrifices”? 13 Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of other lands? Were the gods of the nations of those lands at all able to deliver their lands out of my hand? 14 Who among all the gods of those nations that my fathers devoted to destruction was able to deliver his people from my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you from my hand?15 Now, therefore, do not let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you in this fashion, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you out of my hand!’”

16 And his servants said still more against the Lord God and against his servant Hezekiah. 17 And he wrote letters to cast contempt on the Lord, the God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, “Like the gods of the nations of the lands who have not delivered their people from my hands, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver his people from my hand.”18 And they shouted it with a loud voice in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them, in order that they might take the city. 19 And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they spoke of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men's hands.

The Lord Delivers Jerusalem

20 Then Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed because of this and cried to heaven. 21 And the Lord sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he came into the house of his god, some of his own sons struck him down there with the sword. 22 So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all his enemies, and he provided for them on every side. 23 And many brought gifts to the Lord to Jerusalem and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from that time onward.

Hezekiah's Pride and Achievements

24 In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death, and he prayed to the Lord, and he answered him and gave him a sign.25 But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem. 26 But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

27 And Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made for himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of costly vessels; 28 storehouses also for the yield of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and sheepfolds. 29 He likewise provided cities for himself, and flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him very great possessions.30 This same Hezekiah closed the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works. 31 And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.

32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his good deeds, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 33 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the upper part of the tombs of the sons of David, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his place. 2 Chronicles 32 ESV

Sister Passage 2 Kings 19


Sibling Passage 2 Kings 20


The chronicler covers a good bit of ground here, but I urge you to read the sister passages linked above, for much of this depends on or assumes that knowledge. So after "these acts of faithfulness", Hezekiah finds his kingdom under attack, and the Assyrians have already taken many of the cities in Judah, also the northern kingdom as well. In quiet and time of peace, Hezekiah was one of few kings who actually did the right thing. He went further than any other king, even taking down the high places, so is no good deed truly unpunished? Is that how we are to read into this? Lord, I cleaned up the temple, the arrogance of the high places, set out to honor You as God above Israel, and yet here is this test brought against me. I did what I was already suppose to do, honor the One Who made me, yet we would like to wash our hands then and retire to our tables of celebration. There are other things here as well, for Hezekiah also tried to pay the Assyrians to leave him alone, which only acted as an appetizer. He is quite tempted to run to Egypt, but it must be the respect of the prophets that constantly hold his face to the law that kings are supposed to know. Don't go back to Egypt. Don't sell out your moral, spiritual and national convictions to those who don't know Jehovah, let God deliver you in righteousness. 

The king is not lazy in this, he repairs the breaches and adds to the walls of defense for Jerusalem. He cuts off the water supply so as not to help the invaders, because he knows their tactic of a siege. He proclaims to the people a reason not to lose heart, and in 2 Kings we see that he goes to Isaiah to inquire of the Lord and they pray. With Assyria is an arm of flesh, but unto us is Immanuel. There is more for us than against us, so don't be deceived by all the pomp and circumstance you see outside. He has built up the wall, prepared the well and now the people. Our acts of faithfulness are often seen as shots fired.

Here comes the enemy, and he sends his best orators ahead of him. They speak loudly, often and in the language of the people. Hezekiah is deceiving you, and let me count the ways:

1. The enemy is now an expert on your religion, or he would at least like to pass himself off this way. Didn't Hezekiah tear down the high places, those that were places of worship to this very same God? I can't count how many times someone has told me "you believe this", "you Christians", and I haven't the faintest clue what they mean at first. It sounds like they are saying Christian, like a follower of Christ, but maybe its Krishna or they know someone named Kristen and there is a speech impediment or accent, but whatever they mean, it is not what I believe, and I am a Christian. God told the people how they should worship, instituted the Levitical priesthood and sanctioned the temple. Now God is truly kind and patient with us in our ignorance, but as they came out of ignorance, studied the Word, they also wanted to return to obedience. The high places should have been torn down a long time ago. Read the books of 1st and 2nd Kings, but this is a good ploy upon those who do not read, who remain ignorant, the godless will shake them with the wisdom of men, but it will be foolishness for sure. Many people in our day will use the argument of unity and inclusion to dismiss the truth of God, but His word will still stand, will you? The Assyrian rightly stated that Hezekiah believed that there was one altar, One Way, but he thought that more was better.
2. He doesn't really know your God, but that's irrelevant, this is his testimony, now be afraid. Now this seems more realistic, this may well reach even to the heart of the theologian, look at the other countries I have passed through on my way to you. They all had other gods, yet none were able to save them. Well, I know that those were just idols, and I know that the Creator is greater than any created thing or imagination of men, but from a practical stand point, they did just shred those other places. This is a massive army, how long can we survive a siege? And there is this, why should God preserve us? 

This didn't lead Hezekiah to break out a boom box, there was no trash talk, again, read the sister passages. He took the letters of the Assyrians, the situation, and all his own weakness before God. I did not trust in chariots or horses this time, Egypt is not my master, and I did fail at sending tribute to the Assyrians, to wicked men, but I thought that life and peace would be better than silver or gold. Your honor, oh God, is above all of these things, and though it may come against contest, spit and furry, it is worth every bit of discomfort to bring glory to Your name. Lord, deliver us, I cannot see it any other way. The Lord sent one messenger to conquer all that stood against them, to deliver all that waited upon Him. It is not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord. Pray.

All this and we read years later of sickness, then humility and healing, of pride yet again and then repentance. Hezekiah respected wealth and he used his extended life to acquire more. It was unfortunately the glory of  gray head, and a failure before the kings of the earth. God causes His rain to fall on the just and the unjust. He brought down the king of Assyria in the most dishonorable of fashions, by the hands of his own sons. He was told, as all other kings, not to return the way of Egypt, yet he was tempted and God intervened. Egypt is not just a place but many, and those who despised the Lord in Babylon, were in every way as arrogant as the pharaohs in Egypt. Tell them about the greatness and goodness of your God, about the folly of riches and the foolishness of pride, but instead he elevated himself above his kingdom and made much of his worldly success. I have known heroine addicts that would trade eternity for one more shot, just one more fix, and somehow it will all be worth it. Pray. 

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 2 Timothy 4: 7-8

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#578 What The Shepherds Said To Them

Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke in pieces the pillars and cut down the Asherim and broke down the high places and the altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, and in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the people of Israel returned to their cities, every man to his possession.

2 And Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and of the Levites, division by division, each according to his service, the priests and the Levites, for burnt offerings and peace offerings, to minister in the gates of the camp of the Lord and to give thanks and praise. 3 The contribution of the king from his own possessions was for the burnt offerings: the burnt offerings of morning and evening, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, the new moons, and the appointed feasts, as it is written in the Law of the Lord. 4 And he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion due to the priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to the Law of the Lord. 5 As soon as the command was spread abroad, the people of Israel gave in abundance the first fruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field. And they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything. 6 And the people of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also brought in the tithe of cattle and sheep, and the tithe of the dedicated things that had been dedicated to the Lord their God, and laid them in heaps.7 In the third month they began to pile up the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month. 8 When Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord and his people Israel. 9 And Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites about the heaps. 10 Azariah the chief priest, who was of the house of Zadok, answered him, “Since they began to bring the contributions into the house of the Lord, we have eaten and had enough and have plenty left, for the Lord has blessed his people, so that we have this large amount left.”

11 Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare chambers in the house of the Lord, and they prepared them. 12 And they faithfully brought in the contributions, the tithes, and the dedicated things. The chief officer in charge of them was Conaniah the Levite, with Shimei his brother as second, 13 while Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers assisting Conaniah and Shimei his brother, by the appointment of Hezekiah the king and Azariah the chief officer of the house of God. 14 And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, keeper of the east gate, was over the freewill offerings to God, to apportion the contribution reserved for the Lord and the most holy offerings. 15 Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah were faithfully assisting him in the cities of the priests, to distribute the portions to their brothers, old and young alike, by divisions, 16 except those enrolled by genealogy, males from three years old and upward—all who entered the house of the Lord as the duty of each day required—for their service according to their offices, by their divisions. 17 The enrollment of the priests was according to their fathers' houses; that of the Levites from twenty years old and upward was according to their offices, by their divisions. 18 They were enrolled with all their little children, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, the whole assembly, for they were faithful in keeping themselves holy. 19 And for the sons of Aaron, the priests, who were in the fields of common land belonging to their cities, there were men in the several cities who were designated by name to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to everyone among the Levites who was enrolled.

20 Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. 21 And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered. 2 Chronicles 31 ESV

Hezekiah had already started reform, but now the people were invested as well. This did not change who was king in the northern regions, but the people had changed. Government can only go so far, we may hope that they enforce those rules that benefit all humanity, but the influence of heart, the desire for God has gone to the homes and across the border, where Hezekiah could not reach. Some men think much of legislation, but truly the law is for the lawless, there is no better remedy than a heart set upon the glory and honor of God. Men's ideas are up and down, but God never has to change. Men can be wrong about God, but again it is not God Who needs to change. Daniel and his friends realized this well, and for those that suppose that God can be adjusted to a time or culture, neither the lion's den nor the furnace testified to such. You may feel powerless against the culture and yet able to hide away one Jew during the holocaust. You may feel powerless against the culture, and yet take one slave to safety aboard the underground railroad. You may stand up for God's honor and die to your need of acceptance by the crowd, put yourself between a bully and his victim. When you realize that it is bigger than you, that your strength can fail, you may find the strong and warm embrace of God, as you lift up empty hands to heaven. Pray for your leaders, pray for your neighbors, and when the call comes, give what is asked of you. 

The king puts back the order of the tithe, the provision of the Levis and the priest. They were to be set apart for the service of God, the temple, study of the law, and the service of the people in religion. The people were glad to give and the king looked in upon it, and we should always look to where we give, for though we place blame later, it would be better to know in advance. Whether government or church, we should be concerned as stewards where our money has gone. Wherever there is access to money in this world there will be wolves and charlatans near by. They will learn to say what you say, go through such motions as make you comfortable, but they will be stealing all along. They love titles and the idea of influence and rule, for it gives them money, they relish power. Some will never give up the vocabulary of religion, even when they do not own the heart of it; we see politicians, that couldn't care less about God, pull out scriptures all the time. Do not think that it won't happen in the church as well. 

The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18 For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,”[a] and “The worker deserves his wages.”[b] 19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 20 But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. 21 I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism. 1 Timothy 5: 17-21

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