Burunche’s Blog

“Then Josiah celebrated the Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem, and the Passover lamb was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month. He appointed the priests to their duties and encouraged them in the service of the house of the LORD.

To the Levites who taught all Israel and were holy to the LORD, Josiah said: “Put the holy ark in the temple built by Solomon son of David king of Israel. It is not to be carried around on your shoulders. Now serve the LORD your God and His people Israel. Prepare yourselves by your families in your divisions, according to the instructions written by David king of Israel and his son Solomon.

Moreover, stand in the Holy Place by the divisions of the families of your fellow countrymen, the lay people, and according to the divisions of the families of the Levites. Slaughter the Passover lambs, consecrate yourselves, and make preparations for your fellow countrymen to carry out the word of the LORD given by Moses.”

From his own flocks and herds, Josiah contributed 30,000 lambs and goats plus 3,000 bulls for the Passover offerings for all the people who were present.

His officials also contributed willingly to the people and priests and Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the administrators of the house of God, gave the priests 2,600 Passover offerings and 300 bulls. Additionally, Conaniah and his brothers Shemaiah and Nethanel, as well as Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad, officers of the Levites, donated to the Levites 5,000 Passover offerings and 500 bulls.

So the service was prepared; the priests stood in their places and the Levites in their divisions according to the king’s command. And they slaughtered the Passover lambs, while the priests sprinkled the blood handed to them and the Levites skinned the animals. They set aside the burnt offerings to be given to the divisions of the families of the people to offer to the LORD, as is written in the Book of Moses; and they did the same with the bulls.

They roasted the Passover animals on the fire according to the regulation, and they boiled the other holy offerings in pots, kettles, and bowls and quickly brought them to all the people. Afterward, they made preparations for themselves and for the priests, since the priests, the descendants of Aaron, were offering up burnt offerings and fat until nightfall. So the Levites made preparations for themselves and for the priests, the descendants of Aaron.

The singers, the descendants of Asaph, were at their stations according to the command of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer. And the gatekeepers at each gate did not need to leave their position, because their fellow Levites made preparations for them.

So on that day the entire service of the LORD was carried out for celebrating the Passover and offering burnt offerings on the altar of the LORD, according to the command of King Josiah. The Israelites who were present also observed the Passover at that time, as well as the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days. No such Passover had been observed in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet. None of the kings of Israel ever observed a Passover like the one that Josiah observed with the priests, the Levites, all Judah, the Israelites who were present, and the people of Jerusalem. In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, this Passover was observed.

The Death of Josiah (2 Kings 23:28-30)

After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Neco king of Egypt marched up to fight at Carchemish by the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to confront him. But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What is the issue between you and me, O king of Judah? I have not come against you today, but I am fighting another dynasty. God told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or He will destroy you!”

Josiah, however, did not turn away from him; instead, in order to engage him in battle, he disguised himself. He did not listen to Neco’s words from the mouth of God, but went to fight him on the Plain of Megiddo. There the archers shot King Josiah, who said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am badly wounded!” So his servants took him out of his chariot, put him in his second chariot, and brought him to Jerusalem, where he died. And Josiah was buried in the tomb of his fathers, and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him.

Laments over Josiah

Then Jeremiah lamented over Josiah, and to this day all the choirs of men and women sing laments over Josiah. They established them as a statute for Israel, and indeed they are written in the Book of Laments.

As for the rest of the acts of Josiah, along with his deeds of loving devotion according to what is written in the Law of the LORD, and his words, from beginning to end, they are indeed written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.”

Josiah is continuing his reforms and now wants to celebrate Passover. Some previous kings have celebrated Passover, but nobody has celebrated the way Josiah does! The first thing Josiah does is to make sure the priests, Levites, and common people consecrate themselves so that they can celebrate according to the Law. Next, Josiah donates lavishly. Look at the animals slaughtered: Josiah himself donates 30,000 lambs and goats plus 3,000 bulls. Josiah’s officials also contributed 2600 Passover offerings and 300 bulls. Several of the Levites also donated 5,000 Passover offerings and 500 bulls. (Presumably, “Passover offerings” would refer to the lambs.) The results of these preparations are celebrations the likes of which have never been seen since the prophet Samuel.

Josiah continues the work on the temple until it is complete. All is well in Judah for the time being, and Josiah has is set for a long and prosperous reign, until he makes a fatal mistake. Pharaoh Neco is rushing to a battle at Carchemish on the Euphrates, several hundred miles east of Jerusalem. Puffed up with pride, Josiah insists on going out to confront Neco. Neco sensibly asks Josiah why Josiah is attacking, since Neco has no issue with Judah. Not only that, but Neco warns Josiah that he, Neco, is on a mission from God and that God has told him to hurry. If Josiah is foolish enough to insist on attacking the Egyptians, God will destroy him.

Josiah refuses to listen to Pharaoh Neco – and God; instead, Josiah attacks Neco’s huge army with fatal results. Disguising himself as a common charioteer, Josiah plunges into battle and is fatally wounded by Egyptian archers. Josiah’s servants take him back to Jerusalem where he dies. So ends the rule of the last righteous king of Judah.

APPLICATION:  Josiah became king when he was eight and he has reigned until his death in battle at age thirty – nine. The sad thing is that Josiah’s death at this time is totally unnecessary. Blinded by pride, Josiah decides to seek glory on the battlefield, ignoring the word of God because it is coming from a pagan Egyptian.

Is Josiah’s death at this early age the perfect will of God? Likely, no. There is no indication that God has moved Josiah to fight Pharaoh Neco, and Neco himself has warned Josiah to remain in Jerusalem. Why does Josiah, a man who previously has always sought God’s will suddenly decide to engage in a senseless fight? Pride might be one answer; however, let’s consider another possibility.

Even though Josiah has cleansed Judah from its idols and has rebuilt the temple, and has moved all the leaders of Jerusalem and Benjamin to covenant with God, things may be quietly falling apart. Have all those elders acted on their oaths or are they sliding back into idolatry? Are the priests and Levites remaining righteous, or have they begun compromising themselves? Perhaps Josiah has learned that his reforms are being undermined by those who should have maintained them. It’s very tough to keep an entire nation on track if leaders are sliding back into corruption. Under such circumstances, it’s possible that Josiah might choose to challenge Neco with the idea that if he survives, it’s God’s will and if he dies, God will take him to Himself. 

In police circles there is a term “death by cop.” When someone is in despair, sometimes that person will incite the police to shoot at him/her in hopes that he/she will die in the conflict. It’s a form of suicide, even though the fatal blow comes from someone else. Perhaps Josiah’s foolish attack on Pharaoh Neco is really a form of “death by pharaoh.”

We must always listen for God’s words, even when they come from unlikely sources. Josiah refused to listen to Pharaoh Neco because Neco was a pagan; however, if God could speak through Balaam’s donkey, He could certainly speak through Neco. There is no indication that Josiah sought God’s will before moving out to confront Neco. Josiah’s premature death at age thirty – nine deprived Judah of its last righteous king. Who knows how much more good Josiah would have done, had he lived another twenty or thirty years? May we learn from Josiah’s example and seek God’s guidance in all our major decisions, remembering that those decisions may have lasting consequences for people we might never meet.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to always turn to You for guidance, never forgetting that You are the only One who knows the end from the beginning. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law (2 Kings 22:8-13)

While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD given by Moses. And Hilkiah said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD!” And he gave it to Shaphan.

Then Shaphan brought the book to the king and reported, “Your servants are doing all that has been placed in their hands. They have paid out the money that was found in the house of the LORD and have put it into the hands of the supervisors and workers.”

Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king.

When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes and commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the servant of the king: “Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for those remaining in Israel and Judah concerning the words in the book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that has been poured out on us because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD by doing all that is written in this book.”

Huldah’s Prophecy (2 Kings 22:14-20)

So Hilkiah and those the king had designated went and spoke to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, the keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District.

And Huldah said to them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Tell the man who sent you that this is what the LORD says: I am about to bring calamity on this place and on its people, according to all the curses written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah, because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. My wrath will be poured out upon this place and will not be quenched.’

But as for the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the LORD, tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘As for the words that you heard, because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its people, and because you have humbled yourself before Me and you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I have heard you,’ declares the LORD.

‘Now I will indeed gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the calamity that I will bring on this place and on its inhabitants.’” So they brought her answer back to the king.

Josiah Renews the Covenant (2 Kings 23:1-3)

Then the king summoned all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. And he went up to the house of the LORD with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as well as the priests and the Levites—all the people small and great—and in their hearing he read all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD.

So the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments, decrees, and statutes with all his heart and all his soul, and to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book. Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin take a stand in agreement to it. So all the people of Jerusalem carried out the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.

And Josiah removed all the abominations from all the lands belonging to the Israelites, and he required everyone in Israel to serve the LORD their God. Throughout his reign they did not turn aside from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.”

The story is nearly incredible! The priests are bringing out the money that has been collected for temple repairs when they just “happen” to find the Book of the Law of Moses. WHAT? Throughout all generations, the priests have been charged with keeping the Law, especially as it regards temple worship. But somehow during the time all these pagan kings have been in power, the Book of the Law has gotten shoved into a dusty corner covered with cobwebs.

Perhaps a conscientious priest hid the Book of the Law during the first part of Manasseh’s reign when Manasseh was bringing graven images and additional altars into the temple. Perhaps the priests feared that if Manasseh ever got his hands on that book, he would burn it. But once something has been put away for safe keeping, it is easily forgotten. Now Hilkiah the priest gives the Book to Shaphan the scribe who then informs Josiah,
“Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” Why does Shaphan make such an off – handed remark about something so important? Previous kings killed anyone teaching the ways of the Lord. Even now, Shaphan still isn’t certain what kind of reception he will get.

When Shaphan reads the Law to King Josiah, Josiah is stunned! Here is the Word of the God whom Josiah has been worshiping, and his people have violated every single one of God’s commands for generations. Josiah sees clearly that unless his people repent immediately, they are bound for destruction. Josiah is no fool; he fully realizes that some of his subjects have merely given lip service to his reforms but continue to worship idols.

Realizing the perilous situation of the people of Judah, Josiah tears his garments in despair and then asks the priests to inquire of the Lord regarding the fate of his people. It is highly significant that the priests do not use the ephod and the Urim and Thummim to discern the will of the Lord but rather go to Huldah the prophetess. Amazingly, even in these uncertain times, there is still a woman hearing from the Lord.

Huldah’s message is a grim one: “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Tell the man who sent you that this is what the LORD says: I am about to bring calamity on this place and on its people, according to all the curses written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah, because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. My wrath will be poured out upon this place and will not be quenched.’

But as for the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the LORD, tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘As for the words that you heard, because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its people, and because you have humbled yourself before Me and you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I have heard you,’ declares the LORD.

‘Now I will indeed gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the calamity that I will bring on this place and on its inhabitants.’”  

Josiah is horrified, but he does what he can. Calling the elders of Jerusalem and Benjamin together, Josiah reads all the Law to them and then stands by the King’s Pillar in the temple and swears that he will follow the Lord and keep His commands, decrees, and statutes. Then all the leaders of Benjamin and Jerusalem also enter into a covenant to keep all of the Law.

APPLICATION: There is a famous novel by a Nigerian writer named Chinua Achebe entitled Things Fall Apart. Set in the 1890’s, the novel depicts the social upheaval brought by missionaries and the colonial government to a society previously governed by traditional rules. For King Josiah, reading the Book of the Law is just as earth – shaking as the events described in that novel. Josiah is emotionally shattered as he realizes that Judah is bound for destruction. Things are falling apart; what can Josiah do?

Fully aware of the sins of the people, Josiah now realizes that generations of disdain for God are about to bring disaster on Judah. The Assyrians have already conquered Israel, leaving it in tatters. Now the prophetess Huldah confirms Josiah’s worst fears: Judah is bound for destruction as well. Josiah tries to forestall this calamity by reading the Law to the leaders and getting them to swear oaths before God. Are these leaders really serious? Who knows? But at least they honor the Lord for the remainder of Josiah’s reign.

Any group will only be as righteous as a group as its leadership; however, individual members may continue to cherish pet sins and practice idolatry in private. Josiah’s reforms hold off destruction for a few decades. Sometimes we have to be content with doing what we can, realizing that others who succeed us may pursue less noble agendas. But God does not hold us responsible for the actions of our successors, only for our own responses to our situation. May we take courage from Josiah’s example and do everything we can in our homes, our schools, our churches, our businesses, and our society so that God will be honored as much as possible in our day!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to honor You in all aspects of our lives so that those around us will honor You also. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Josiah Reigns in Judah (2 Kings 22:1-2)

2 Chronicles 34:1 – 13 “Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.

Josiah Destroys Idolatry (1 Kings 13:1-10; 2 Kings 23:4-20)

In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his father David, and in the twelfth year he began to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images. Then in his presence the altars of the Baals were torn down, and he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them. He shattered the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images, crushed them to dust, and scattered them over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. Then he burned the bones of the priests on their altars. So he cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.

Josiah did the same in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins around them. He tore down the altars and Asherah poles, crushed the idols to powder, and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.

Josiah Repairs the Temple (2 Kings 22:3-7)

Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, in order to cleanse the land and the temple, Josiah sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.

So they went to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought into the house of God, which the Levites at the doors had collected from the people of Manasseh and Ephraim, from all the remnant of Israel, Judah, and Benjamin, and from the people of Jerusalem. They put it into the hands of the supervisors of those doing the work of the house of the LORD, who in turn gave it to the workmen restoring and repairing the house of the LORD. They also gave money to the carpenters and builders to buy dressed stone, as well as timbers for couplings and beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to deteriorate. And the men did the work faithfully. The Levites overseeing them were Jahath and Obadiah, descendants of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam descendants of Kohath. Other Levites, all skilled with musical instruments, were over the laborers and supervised all who did the work, task by task. Some of the Levites were secretaries, officers, and gatekeepers.

 

Sometimes reading the stories of the kings of Judah and Israel is extremely depressing. One man after another messes up, leading his people further and further into spiritual La Brea tar pits. But the story of Josiah gives us one last ray of light and encourages us that even if someone comes from a bad background, even if someone becomes a king as a child, righteousness can still prevail with proper advisors and supporters.

King Hezekiah was righteous but fathered Manasseh, who brought idolatry back to Judah. Manasseh repented once in captivity in Babylon and returned to Jerusalem to try to undo the horrors that he had created. When Manasseh’s son Amon ascended to the throne at age twenty – one, he proceeded to bring back full – bore idolatry. Amon was so terrible that his own servants killed him in the palace after only two years of his rule. Now Amon’s eight-year-old son, Josiah, has become king.

Miraculously, Josiah loves God and serves Him whole – heartedly just as King David did. These comments are a high tribute to whomever has trained Josiah in the ways of God. Josiah begins to seek God when he is sixteen and when he is twenty, he cleanses Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles, and idols of every sort, cast and carved. Josiah crushes all these items to dust and then scatters that dust over the graves of those who had worshipped those idols. Josiah kills the pagan priests and burns their bones on the pagan altars, desecrating them. Not only does Josiah do this in Jerusalem and Judah, but also throughout the Northern Kingdom as well. “Josiah did the same in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins around them. He tore down the altars and Asherah poles, crushed the idols to powder, and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.”

Why can Josiah go throughout most of the Northern Kingdom cleansing it? Sadly, the Assyrians have already killed most of the citizens of the Northern Kingdom or carried them off into captivity. Now that the idolators have perished, there is nobody left to oppose Josiah. And Josiah’s coming has been foretold from the time Jeroboam built the altar at Bethel.

The story is told in 1 Kings 13. Jeroboam has just built two big altars, complete with golden calves, one in Dan and the other in Bethel. “And behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the Lord to Bethel. Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. The man cried against the altar by the word of the Lord, O altar, altar, thus says the Lord: Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name; and on you shall he offer the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and men’s bones shall be burned on you.”

When Josiah is twenty – six years old, to cleanse the land and the temple, he orders that the temple in Jerusalem be repaired. These are the first repairs in a long time, and there is a great deal to do. Moved by the Holy Spirit, people from all over Judah and from much of the Northern Kingdom have donated money for this cause. Even though this work is beyond the scope of the traditional duties of the priests, they assume positions as supervisors and general contractors, assuring that the work is done properly.

Once more, Ezra carefully records the names of those handling most of the duties. Even though these men have died thousands of years ago, God is still reminding us of their faithfulness and their attention to their tasks. Never assume that God does not know your circumstances! Never feel that your efforts have gone unnoticed or unappreciated! God knows! God sees! God understands!

Tomorrow we will continue the story of Josiah. Josiah acted righteously and loved God because people whose names have not been recorded here discipled him properly. We must train our children while they are young; it is a mistake to leave children alone and assume they will make right choices later. If we love our children, we will train them in the ways of God and discipline them. Proverbs 13:24 tells us, “A refusal to correct is a refusal to love; love your children by disciplining them.” (The Message)

We must always remember that God is watching and taking note of our efforts. When we are discouraged and feel that our struggles are in vain, we should turn to God, the only One who truly knows us.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives. Help us to love You more each day than we did the day before. And help us to train the children around us so that they will truly know You, the One True Living God. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.  

2 Chronicles 33:1 – 25 Manasseh Reigns in Judah (2 Kings 21:1-9)

” Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD by following the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had torn down, and he raised up altars for the Baals and made Asherah poles. And he worshiped and served all the host of heaven.

Manasseh also built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, “My Name will remain in Jerusalem forever.” both courtyards of the house of the LORD, he built altars to all the host of heaven. He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger. Manasseh even took the carved image he had made and set it up in the house of God, of which God had said to David and his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will establish My Name forever. I will never again cause the feet of the Israelites to leave the land that I assigned to your fathers, if only they are careful to do all that I have commanded them through Moses—all the laws, statutes, and judgments.”

So Manasseh led the people of Judah and Jerusalem astray, so that they did greater evil than the nations that the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites.

Manasseh’s Repentance and Restoration (2 Kings 21:10-18)

And the LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they did not listen. So the LORD brought against them the military commanders of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon. And in his distress, Manasseh sought the favor of the LORD his God and earnestly humbled himself before the God of his fathers. And when he prayed to Him, the LORD received his plea and heard his petition; so He brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.

After this, Manasseh rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David from west of Gihon in the valley to the entrance of the Fish Gate, and he brought it around the Ophel and heightened it considerably. He also stationed military commanders in all the fortified cities of Judah.

He removed the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the LORD, along with all the altars he had built on the temple mount and in Jerusalem, and he dumped them outside the city. Then he restored the altar of the LORD and sacrificed peace offerings and thank offerings on it, and he told Judah to serve the LORD, the God of Israel. Nevertheless, the people still sacrificed at the high places, but only to the LORD their God.

As for the rest of the acts of Manasseh, along with 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, they are indeed written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. His prayer and how God received his plea, as well as all his sin and unfaithfulness, and the sites where he built high places and set up Asherah poles and idols before he humbled himself, they are indeed written in the Records of the Seers. And Manasseh rested with his fathers and was buried at his palace. And his son Amon reigned in his place.

Amon Reigns in Judah (2 Kings 21:19-26) Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh had done. Amon served and sacrificed to all the idols that his father Manasseh had made, but he did not humble himself before the LORD as his father Manasseh had done; instead, Amon increased his guilt. Then the servants of Amon conspired against him and killed him in his palace. But the people of the land killed all who had conspired against King Amon, and they made his son Josiah king in his place.”

Remember God granting Hezekiah fifteen additional years of life? During that time, Manasseh, Hezekiah’s successor, was born. Why Manasseh wound up as king at age twelve is a mystery. Didn’t Hezekiah have other sons who were older and wiser who might have succeeded him? Was Manasseh’s mother a favorite wife who manipulated the aging Hezekiah? This information is unavailable. But when Manasseh became king, obviously, those advising him were full – bore idolaters who had been enduring Hezekiah’s reforms just waiting for their opportunity.

It is always a bad mistake to assume that evil has been defeated and will never resurface! Within a short time, Manasseh built Asherah poles, altars, and high places throughout Judah. Not content with building pagan altars, Manasseh even offered his sons as live burnt offerings to Moloch in the Valley of Hinnom. Manasseh set up pagan altars and pagan images in the temple and turned his back on the God of Israel. “So Manasseh led the people of Judah and Jerusalem astray, so that they did greater evil than the nations that the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites.”  Judah was rapidly sliding into a spiritual morass, until the kings of Assyria captured Manasseh, placed a hook in his nose, and sent him to Babylon in chains.

While Manasseh was in captivity in Babylon, a miracle happened. “And in his distress, Manasseh sought the favor of the LORD his God and earnestly humbled himself before the God of his fathers. And when he prayed to Him, the LORD received his plea and heard his petition; so He brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.”

Manasseh returned to Jerusalem a totally changed man! “He removed the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the LORD, along with all the altars he had built on the temple mount and in Jerusalem, and he dumped them outside the city. Then he restored the altar of the LORD and sacrificed peace offerings and thank offerings on it, and he told Judah to serve the LORD, the God of Israel. Nevertheless, the people still sacrificed at the high places, but only to the LORD their God.” For the rest of Manasseh’s reign, he did well. Then Manasseh died at age 67 and his son Amon reigned in his place.

Amon was twenty – one when he became king, and he was horrible. In two short years, Amon attempted to undo all the good that his father had done in the latter part of his career. Did Amon assume that his father had been a weak and foolish old man when he turned to the God of Israel? Did Manasseh attempt to teach Amon, only to have Amon refuse to listen? The only thing we know is that Amon was so horrible that his own servants killed him in the palace. Evidently, nobody mourned Amon’s death.

APPLICATION: Several years ago, I heard the testimony of a man who had been a member of the Hell’s Angels motorcycle gang, despite the prayers of his mother. But at a point, God got this man’s attention. The man took refuge in a phone booth in rural Oregon. Just as the Hell’s Angels were about to capture and kill him, the man called his mother in South Carolina, who called a local Assemblies of God minister. The minister turned out to be a big strong man who looked fully capable of defending himself. The minister collected this man from a phone booth just as the Hell’s Angels were about to attack him, took him home, and led him to the Lord. I attended church with the man’s mother, and I knew the story was true. Something similar happened to Manasseh.

Manasseh repented, and God extricated him from the Assyrians and returned him to Jerusalem, where he did everything he could to undo the spiritual damage that he had done previously. Too bad Manasseh’s son Amon refused to learn from his father’s experiences. Amon ruled for only two years, was assassinated, and was not mourned by anybody.

Sometimes we pray for unsaved family members and wonder if our prayers do any good. Manasseh’s story should give all of us help. The same God who picked Manasseh out of captivity in Babylon and brought him back to Jerusalem can do the same thing for our loved ones. One of my favorite Gospel songs says, “I know my God can turn it around!” Don’t lose hope! Don’t stop praying! Remember Manasseh! God can still turn seemingly hopeless situations into victory!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to trust You and to continue to pray, even when things appear hopeless, knowing that you are still the God of miracles! In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

2 Chronicles 32:1 – 33 Sennacherib Invades Judah (2 Kings 18:13-16; Psalm 46:1-11; Psalm 47:1-9; Psalm 48:1-14)

“After all these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, intending to conquer them for himself.

When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come to make war against Jerusalem, he consulted with his leaders and commanders about stopping up the waters of the springs outside the city, and they helped him carry it out. Many people assembled and stopped up all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land. “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?” they said.

Then Hezekiah worked resolutely to rebuild all the broken sections of the wall and to raise up towers on it. He also built an outer wall and reinforced the supporting terraces of the City of David, and he produced an abundance of weapons and shields.

Hezekiah appointed military commanders over the people and gathered the people in the square of the city gate. Then he encouraged them, saying, “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged before the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater One with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.”

So the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:17-37; Isaiah 36:2-22)

Later, as Sennacherib king of Assyria and all his forces besieged Lachish, he sent his servants to Jerusalem with a message for King Hezekiah of Judah and all the people of Judah who were in Jerusalem: “This is what Sennacherib king of Assyria says: What is the basis of your confidence, that you remain in Jerusalem under siege? Is not Hezekiah misleading you to give you over to death by famine and thirst when he says, ‘The LORD our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria?’ Did not Hezekiah himself remove His high places and His altars and say to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You must worship before one altar, and on it you shall burn sacrifices’?

Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands? Have the gods of these nations ever been able to deliver their land from my hand? Who among all the gods of these nations that my fathers devoted to destruction has been able to deliver his people from my hand? How then can your God deliver you from my hand?

So now, do not let Hezekiah deceive you, and do not let him mislead you like this. 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 from my hand!”

And the servants of Sennacherib spoke further against the LORD God and against His servant Hezekiah. He also wrote letters mocking the LORD, the God of Israel, and saying against Him: “Just as the gods of the nations did not deliver their people from my hand, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver His people from my hand.”

Then the Assyrians called out loudly in Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them in order to capture the city. They spoke against the God of Jerusalem as they had spoken against the gods of the peoples of the earth—the work of human hands.

Jerusalem Delivered from the Assyrians (2 Kings 19:35-37; Isaiah 37:36-38)

In response, King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out to heaven in prayer, and the LORD sent an angel who annihilated every mighty man of valor and every leader and commander in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons struck him down with the sword.

So the LORD saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the hand of King Sennacherib of Assyria and of all others, and He gave them rest on every side. Many brought offerings to Jerusalem for the LORD and valuable gifts for Hezekiah king of Judah, and from then on he was exalted in the eyes of all nations.

Hezekiah’s Illness and Recovery (2 Kings 20:1-11; Isaiah 38:1-7)

In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. So he prayed to the LORD, who spoke to him and gave him a sign. But because his heart was proud, Hezekiah did not repay the favor shown to him. Therefore wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem. Then Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart—he and the people of Jerusalem—so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.

Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made treasuries for his silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all kinds of valuable articles. He also made storehouses for the harvest of grain and new wine and oil, stalls for all kinds of livestock, and pens for the flocks. He made cities for himself, and he acquired herds of sheep and cattle in abundance, for God gave him very great wealth.

It was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Spring of Gihon and channeled it down to the west side of the City of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all that he did. And so when ambassadors of the rulers of Babylon were sent to him to inquire about the wonder that had happened in the land, God left him alone to test him, that He might know all that was in Hezekiah’s heart.

Hezekiah’s Death

As for the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his deeds of loving devotion, they are indeed written in the vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. And Hezekiah rested with his fathers and was buried in the upper tombs of David’s descendants. All Judah and the people of Jerusalem paid him honor at his death. And his son Manasseh reigned in his place.”

Sennacherib, the Assyrian commander, is approaching Jerusalem with an enormous army and Hezekiah is making preparations. The people stop up springs and divert springs, channeling the water into Jerusalem through a water tunnel that still stands as a marvel of ancient engineering. The Assyrians have already carried most of the population of Israel into captivity and now are turning attention to Jerusalem. Initially, Hezekiah pays the Assyrians a huge amount of money in hopes of averting an attack. The Assyrians pocket the money and just keep advancing.

When the Assyrians arrive, they do everything they can to intimidate the inhabitants of Jerusalem in hopes that they will surrender without a fight. But Hezekiah encourages his people with a command that echoes down through the ages: “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged before the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater One with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.”

Sennacherib makes the fatal mistake of mocking God. According to 2 Kings 19:35, “…For that night, the Angel of the Lord went forth and slew 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when the living arose early in the morning, behold, all these were dead bodies.” In the meantime, Sennacherib has also heard a rumor that the king of Ethiopia is also threatening to attack. Facing a disaster (perhaps a cholera outbreak in the camp?) and a possible attack from another direction, the Assyrian commander returned to Nineveh, where his sons assassinated him.

At one point, Hezekiah nearly dies however, God gives him a sign that He will heal him by moving the sun back one hour on the royal sun dial. When ambassadors from Babylon come to visit Hezekiah, he foolishly shows off all the royal treasures. At that point, God warns Hezekiah that one day, the Babylonians will carry all of those precious things to Babylon. Hezekiah’s response is a weak one; he comforts himself with the thought that this tragedy wild take place after his death. Hezekiah lives for another fifteen years, sufficient time to father Manasseh, one of the most evil kings to ever rule Judah.

APPLICATION: Hezekiah’s record as a king is an uneven one. During the threats from the Assyrians, Hezekiah came through as a hero of faith. But Hezekiah also failed to honor God as much as he should have after that deliverance and in addition, Hezekiah also gave the Babylonian embassy a guided tour of all the Judean treasures, making it simple for the Babylonians to collect everything and send it back to Babylon when they invaded later. God sovereignly healed Hezekiah when he had a major infection, but Hezekiah fathered Manasseh and then failed to train him in the ways of the Lord. Once more, a ruler who was a man of faith failed to train his son, resulting in spiritual disaster for the country.

All of us should study Hezekiah’s story carefully. Any one of us might make a great start, only to fail as a parent and to make other mistakes that leave our family vulnerable. May God help us to remain humble and close to Him at all times!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to remain close to You, to worship You, and to allow You to guide us throughout all of our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

2 Chronicles 31:1 – 21 The Destruction of Idols

“When all this had ended, the Israelites in attendance went out to the cities of Judah and broke up the sacred pillars, chopped down the Asherah poles, and tore down the high places and altars throughout Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the Israelites returned to their cities, each to his own property.

Hezekiah reestablished the divisions of the priests and Levites—each of them according to their duties as priests or Levites—for the burnt offerings and peace offerings, for ministry, for giving thanks, and for singing praises at the gates of the LORD’s dwelling.

Contributions for Worship

The king contributed from his own possessions for the regular morning and evening burnt offerings and for the burnt offerings on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed feasts, as written in the Law of the LORD. Moreover, he commanded the people living in Jerusalem to make a contribution for the priests and Levites so that they could devote themselves to the Law of the LORD.

As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously provided the firstfruits of the grain, new wine, oil, and honey, and of all the produce of the field, and they brought in an abundance—a tithe of everything. And the Israelites and Judahites who lived in the cities of Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things consecrated to the LORD their God, and they laid them in large heaps.

In the third month they began building up the heaps, and they finished in the seventh month. When Hezekiah and his officials came and viewed the heaps, they blessed the LORD and His people Israel.

Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and Levites about the heaps, and Azariah, the chief priest of the household of Zadok, answered him, “Since the people began to bring their contributions into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat and there is plenty left over, because the LORD has blessed His people; this great abundance is what is left over.”

Hezekiah Organizes the Priests

Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare storerooms in the house of the LORD, and they did so. And they faithfully brought in the contributions, tithes, and dedicated gifts. Conaniah the Levite was the officer in charge of them, and his brother Shimei was second. Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers under the authority of Conaniah and his brother Shimei, by appointment of King Hezekiah and of Azariah the chief official of the house of God.

Kore son of Imnah the Levite, the keeper of the East Gate, was in charge of the freewill offerings given to God, distributing the contributions to the LORD and the consecrated gifts. Under his authority, Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah faithfully distributed portions to their fellow priests in their cities, according to their divisions, old and young alike.

In addition, they distributed portions to the males registered by genealogy who were three years of age or older—to all who would enter the house of the LORD for their daily duties for service in the responsibilities of their divisions— and to the priests enrolled according to their families in the genealogy, as well as to the Levites twenty years of age or older, according to their duties and divisions. The genealogy included all the little ones, wives, sons, and daughters in the whole assembly. For they had faithfully consecrated themselves as holy.

As for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who lived on the farmlands around each of their cities or in any other city, men were designated by name to distribute a portion to every male among the priests and to every Levite listed by the genealogies.

So this is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah. He did what was good and upright and true before the LORD his God. He was diligent in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law and the commandments, in order to seek his God. And so he prospered.”

“When all this had ended, the Israelites in attendance went out to the cities of Judah and broke up the sacred pillars, chopped down the Asherah poles, and tore down the high places and altars throughout Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all.”

WOW! What happened? Some of these people were likely the same people who had been worshiping at these places before they came to Jerusalem. What changed? God moved in these people’s lives, cleansing them, purifying them, and placing the fear of God in their hearts. These people even tore down high places that had been there for centuries. What a cleansing of the land! All these actions stemmed from praise and worship.

Next, God began blessing the land so that it yielded abundantly, and the people began bringing tithes of their produce. These donations flowed into the temple, making it possible for the priests to concentrate on their work instead of struggling to feed their families. Once more, there were resources sufficient to maintain the temple.

APPLICATION: Part of this passage might seem pretty tedious as Ezra lists names of all those charged with receiving donations, storing donations, and disbursing donations. But wait! All these men died thousands of years ago, and yet, we still remember them. God has made sure that Ezra recorded the names of the faithful for all posterity as a memorial to their honesty and integrity.  

Why should we take encouragement from what seems like an ancient accounts book? Many times, we work, wondering if anyone is paying attention to our efforts. Perhaps you are caring for a handicapped child, an aged parent, or a child with ADHD or who is on the spectrum of autism. A superficial glance at your life will certainly fail to communicate all your struggles, your tears, and your sheer exhaustion. Or perhaps you work in a large corporation where backstabbing among workers is commonplace. You strive to remain uninvolved and to simply fulfill your duties, but you wonder if anybody really cares that you are not contributing to the seething chaos.

Take heart! God sees, God knows! God cares! God knows your name and all of your trials. Nothing is hidden from God. Those cries of anguish that you smother in a pillow, those doubts and fears that rob you of sleep – God knows all of them. Luke 12:6- 7 tells us: “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows.”

HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW – CIVILLA D. MARTIN

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
Refrain

I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to remember that You know everything about us, all our trials and all our struggles. Help us to praise you in the midst of our problems, realizing that when we praise You, You can transform our situations or give us grace to go through them. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

NOVEMBER 14, 2022 ANOTHER LOOK AT THE ISRAELITES PART TWO #32 2 CHRONICLES 30:1 – 27 WHEN A NATION PRAISES THE LORD, HE HEALS THEM AND EVEN FREES CAPTIVES!

Hezekiah Proclaims a Passover

“Then Hezekiah sent word throughout all Israel and Judah, and he also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh inviting them to come to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem to keep the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel. For the king and his officials and the whole assembly in Jerusalem had decided to keep the Passover in the second month, since they had been unable to observe it at the regular time, because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not been gathered in Jerusalem.

This proposal pleased the king and all the assembly. So they established a decree to circulate a proclamation throughout Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that the people should come to keep the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel, in Jerusalem. For they had not observed it as a nation as prescribed.

So the couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his officials, which read: “Children of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that He may return to those of you who remain, who have escaped the grasp of the kings of Assyria. Do not be like your fathers and brothers who were unfaithful to the LORD, the God of their fathers, so that He made them an object of horror, as you can see.

Now do not stiffen your neck as your fathers did. Submit to the LORD and come to His sanctuary, which He has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD your God, so that His fierce anger will turn away from you. For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and sons will receive mercy in the presence of their captors and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful; He will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.”

And the couriers traveled from city to city through the land of Ephraim and Manasseh as far as Zebulun; but the people scorned and mocked them. Nevertheless, some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. Also, the power of God was on the people in Judah to give them one heart to obey the command of the king and his officials according to the word of the LORD.

Hezekiah Celebrates the Passover

In the second month, a very great assembly gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread. They proceeded to remove the altars in Jerusalem and to take away the incense altars and throw them into the Kidron Valley. And on the fourteenth day of the second month they slaughtered the Passover lamb. The priests and Levites were ashamed, and they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of the LORD.

They stood at their prescribed posts, according to the Law of Moses, the man of God. The priests sprinkled the blood, which they received from the hand of the Levites. Since there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves, the Levites were in charge of slaughtering the Passover lambs for every unclean person to consecrate the lambs to the LORD.

A large number of the people—many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun—had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah interceded for them, saying, “May the LORD, who is good, provide atonement for everyone who sets his heart on seeking God—the LORD, the God of his fathers—even if he is not cleansed according to the purification rules of the sanctuary.”

And the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people. The Israelites who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy, and the Levites and priests praised the LORD day after day, accompanied by loud instruments of praise to the LORD. And Hezekiah encouraged all the Levites who performed skillfully before the LORD. For seven days they ate their assigned portion, sacrificing fellowship offerings and giving thanks to the LORD, the God of their fathers.

The whole assembly agreed to observe seven more days, so they observed seven days with joy. For Hezekiah king of Judah contributed a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep for the assembly, and the officials contributed a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep for the assembly, and a great number of priests consecrated themselves.

Then the whole assembly of Judah rejoiced along with the priests and Levites and all the assembly that had come from Israel, including the foreigners who had come from Israel and those who lived in Judah. So there was great rejoicing in Jerusalem, for nothing like this had happened there since the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel.

Then the priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard their voice, and their prayer came into His holy dwelling place in heaven.”

King Hezekiah is continuing to bring revival and renewal to Judah; however, there is a problem. For years, Hezekiah’s predecessors have failed to celebrate Passover at all, despite the commands of the Lord given in the Law of Moses. Passover should have been celebrated starting on the fourteenth day of the first month, the month of Nisan; however, many of the priests have been lax in consecrating themselves, so there aren’t enough priests to properly handle the sacrifices. In addition, the Israelites have gotten out of the habit of assembling in Jerusalem for Passover and must be summoned. A lesser person would have shrugged his shoulders and ignored this problem, but Hezekiah and his elders choose to celebrate during the second month, rather than not celebrate at all.  

Even though ten of the tribes have been separated from Judah and Benjamin since the time of Rehoboam, Hezekiah still sends invitations throughout all of Judah and Israel, from Dan in the northeast corner, down to Beersheba in the south. Sadly, many Israelites mock the messengers, refusing this divine opportunity in doing so. But there are those who are still faithful who rejoice and come from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulon.

Hezekiah’s message is worth close study as it makes several points: 1. “Return to the Lord, that He may return to you.” Many of these people have been serving Baals, Asherah, and all kinds of other demons. 2.” Do not be like your fathers and brothers.” The Assyrians have already carried many into captivity because the Israelites have failed to worship the Lord. 3. “Submit to the Lord and come to His sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever.” Jeroboam created two altars to lure the Israelites away from worshiping in Jerusalem. 4. “Serve the LORD your God, so that His fierce anger will turn away from you. For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and sons will receive mercy in the presence of their captors and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful; He will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.”  Amazing! Hezekiah is predicting that if the Israelites will worship God in Jerusalem as He has commanded, God can deliver the captives from Assyria.

The rest of the passage gives details about this fantastic celebration. Before the celebration began, the people gather up all the altars that King Ahaz erected throughout Jerusalem, including all the incense altars, and dump them in the Kidron valley. With Jerusalem cleansed from this filth, the celebration can begin. People are so thrilled to be worshiping God that they extend the celebration to two weeks. King Hezekiah and other officials donate sufficient animals so there are plenty for sacrifices as well as enough meat to feed those celebrating. The priests and Levites finally consecrate themselves so that they are able to perform the ritual slaughter for the Passover lambs for anyone who has failed to consecrate himself. At this point, there are some Israelites who are so ignorant of the Law that they have no idea what they should do. Hezekiah begs God to overlook these failings and to heal anyone who is suffering because of them.

APPLICATION: What happens when a nation sets itself to praise God? God responds! As this grand Passover celebration continued, people become increasingly joyful and the praises become increasingly fervent. Hezekiah is carrying out God’s commands and God is pleased. Obedience is the key to God’s heart. When we obey God’s commands, we honor Him and He blesses us in return. Hezekiah throws open his invitation to anyone who will show up, even to the extent of asking God to forgive those who have not consecrated themselves out of ignorance. This is a ruler who truly wants to lead his people closer to God and is doing everything in his power to accomplish that.

Ahaz led people into idolatry, and the people followed. Now Hezekiah is leading people back to God, and the same people are following. The sad thing is that if a new ruler arises who turns his back on God, those same people may swing back to idol worship. What’s the problem? These people are double – minded. The Book of James tells us that “a double – minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8)

What about us? How closely do we respond to the spiritual currents swirling about us? Recently, a Christian baker in California won a lawsuit against a gay couple who tried to force her to create a wedding cake for them. Although the baker was finally granted the right to exercise her religious beliefs as she chose, she suffered five years of emotional abuse, death threats, and all kinds of other persecution. This woman could have folded at any time, but she chose to hang on because she felt that to give in would be dishonoring to God. May God help us to remain true to Him, no matter the trials and struggles that we face!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to follow Hezekiah’s example and to honor You, following Your commands. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

2 Chronicles 29:1 – 35 Hezekiah Cleanses the Temple (2 Kings 18:1-12)

“Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done. In the first month of the first year of his reign, Hezekiah opened and repaired the doors of the house of the LORD. Then he brought in the priests and Levites and gathered them in the square on the east side.

“Listen to me, O Levites,” he said. “Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the house of the LORD, the God of your fathers. Remove from the Holy Place every impurity.

For our fathers were unfaithful and did evil in the sight of the LORD our God. They abandoned Him, turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the LORD, and turned their backs on Him. They also shut the doors of the portico and extinguished the lamps. They did not burn incense or present burnt offerings in the Holy Place of the God of Israel.

Therefore, the wrath of the LORD has fallen upon Judah and Jerusalem, and He has made them an object of terror, horror, and mockery, as you can see with your own eyes. For behold, this is why our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and daughters and wives are in captivity.

Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD, the God of Israel, so that His fierce anger will turn away from us. Now, my sons, do not be negligent, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, to minister before Him, and to burn incense.”

Then the Levites set to work:

Mahath son of Amasai and Joel son of Azariah from the Kohathites;

Kish son of Abdi and Azariah son of Jehallelel from the Merarites;

Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah from the Gershonites;

Shimri and Jeuel from the Elizaphanites;

Zechariah and Mattaniah from the Asaphites;

Jehiel and Shimei from the Hemanites;

and Shemaiah and Uzziel from the Jeduthunites.

When they had assembled their brothers and consecrated themselves, they went in to cleanse the house of the LORD, according to the command of the king by the words of the LORD. So the priests went inside the house of the LORD to cleanse it, and they brought out to the courtyard all the unclean things that they found in the temple of the LORD. Then the Levites took these things and carried them out to the Kidron Valley. They began the consecration on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they reached the portico of the LORD. For eight more days they consecrated the house of the LORD itself, finishing on the sixteenth day of the first month.

Then they went in to King Hezekiah and reported, “We have cleansed the entire house of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the table of the showbread with all its utensils. Moreover, we have prepared and consecrated all the articles that King Ahaz in his unfaithfulness cast aside during his reign. They are now in front of the altar of the LORD.”

Hezekiah Restores Temple Worship

Early the next morning King Hezekiah gathered the city officials and went up to the house of the LORD. They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats as a sin offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And the king commanded the priests, the descendants of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the LORD.

So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests took the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. They slaughtered the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar. And they slaughtered the lambs and sprinkled the blood on the altar.

Then they brought the goats for the sin offering before the king and the assembly, who laid their hands on them. And the priests slaughtered the goats and put their blood on the altar for a sin offering, to make atonement for all Israel, because the king had ordered that the burnt offering and sin offering were for all Israel.

Hezekiah stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres according to the command of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet. For the command had come from the LORD through His prophets. The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.

And Hezekiah ordered that the burnt offering be sacrificed on the altar. When the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD and the trumpets began as well, accompanied by the instruments of David king of Israel. The whole assembly was worshiping, the singers were singing, and the trumpeters were playing. All this continued until the burnt offering was completed.

When the offerings were completed, the king and all those present with him bowed down and worshiped. Then King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to sing praises to the LORD in the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness and bowed their heads and worshiped.

Then Hezekiah said, “Now that you have consecrated yourselves to the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the LORD.”

So the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings. The number of burnt offerings the assembly brought was seventy bulls, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to the LORD. And the consecrated offerings were six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep. However, since there were not enough priests to skin all the burnt offerings, their Levite brothers helped them until the work was finished and until the priests had been consecrated. For the Levites had been more diligent in consecrating themselves than the priests had been.

Furthermore, the burnt offerings were abundant, along with the fat of the peace offerings and the drink offerings for the burnt offerings. So the service of the house of the LORD was established. Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced at what God had prepared for the people, because everything had been accomplished so quickly.”

Hezekiah is now king and Judah can rejoice. Despite being the son of a horrible idolater, Hezekiah serves the One True Living God. How has this spiritual change come about? The answer lies in the character of Hezekiah’s mother, Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah, the priest. Just as evil has passed through the royal line, so righteousness and the fear of the Lord have passed from generation to generation through the priests who have remained faithful.

Wicked King Ahaz cut the implements of the temple into pieces, installed a huge altar he had copied from the Syrians in place of the altar of the Lord, and eventually locked the temple doors. All this time, the priests and Levites have been waiting for someone to give them permission to fulfill their duties. As soon as Hezekiah calls, the priests and Levites consecrate themselves and begin cleaning out the filthy fetish objects from the temple. It takes eight days to clear out all these things, and the Levites haul all of them off to the Kidron valley and presumably burn them.  

It takes eight additional days to consecrate everything in the temple. Finally, the priests and Levites report their success to Hezekiah. The very next day, Hezekiah calls a solemn assembly and all the city officials join Hezekiah, the priests, and the Levites at the temple. Hezekiah offers seven bulls, seven rams, seven male goats, and seven lambs as praise offerings and as sin offerings. The priests blow trumpets while the Levites who are musicians play all the other instruments and sing praises.

Inspired by Hezekiah’s example, the general public bring sacrifices, thank offerings, and burnt offerings. Altogether, there were burnt offerings of seventy bulls, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs. The consecrated offerings were six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep. Despite Hezekiah’s encouragement, many of the priests had failed to consecrate themselves, so the Levites had to assist them with the offerings. Everyone is amazed because what could have taken many months has been accomplished successfully in a few short weeks.

APPLICATION: In the Star Wars movie series, Luke Skywalker is the hero while Darth Vader is the arch – villain. In the beginning, we are given the impression that Darth Vader has killed Luke’s father. It is only later in the series that Darth Vader informs Luke, “Luke, I am your father. Come over to the dark side.” Yes, Luke’s beloved father has become his worst enemy and is now urging Luke to join him in his evil schemes.

Having King Ahaz for a father must have been almost as bad as learning that your beloved father has become the enemy of all that is right in the universe. But Ahaz died when he was thirty – six years old, and Hezekiah became king when he was twenty – five years old. The difference between their ages is only eleven years. There are two possibilities: first, Ahaz might have been older when he ascended the throne and died when he was older, or second, Hezekiah might have been the son of one of Ahaz’s brothers. Ahaz offered his sons as live burnt offerings to Moloch and the Israelites also killed Maaseiah, another son, who must have been a teenager. Perhaps Ahaz had no true sons left to succeed him. If Hezekiah was the son of Ahaz’s brother, he could be considered as a kind of son, or Ahaz might have adopted him to serve as heir to the throne.

Growing up at a distance from King Ahaz could help explain why Hezekiah was far more righteous than Ahaz. At any rate, Hezekiah wasted no time in cleansing the temple and reinstituting worship. Hezekiah had to ginger up the priests and Levites, all of whom had relaxed on remaining consecrated during Ahaz’s reign. After all, why go through all those motions the temple was closed? But now revival has come and it’s time to put everything right.

Hezekiah’s story proves that we are not bound to repeat the sins of our fathers. King Ahaz was as evil an idolator as ever lived, and yet, Hezekiah brought revival to Judah. What made the difference? Hezekiah worshiped the Lord and Ahaz ran around honoring every demon he could find and shunning the Lord. The lesson is clear: God honors those who honor Him. God never promises that we will not suffer; however, He does promise in Hebrews 13:5 – 6:” I will never leave you, nor forsake you. So we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”     

Today, let us turn to the only God who can save us from evil and from ourselves! Let us truly serve and worship the One True Living God!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for saving us. Lord, help us to follow Hezekiah’s example, not using our families or friends or excuses but truly serving and worshiping You. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.   

2 Chronicles 28:1 – 27 Ahaz Reigns in Judah (2 Kings 16:1-9)

Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. And unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD. Instead, he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even made cast images of the Baals.

Moreover, Ahaz burned incense in the Valley of Hinnom and sacrificed his sons in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

Aram (Syria) Defeats Judah (Isaiah 1:1-9)

So the LORD his God delivered Ahaz into the hand of the king of Aram, (Syria) who attacked him and took many captives to Damascus.

Ahaz was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with great force. For in one day Pekah son of Remaliah killed 120,000 valiant men in Judah. This happened because they had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers. Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the son of the king, Azrikam the governor of the palace, and Elkanah the second to the king. Then the Israelites took 200,000 captives from their kinsmen—women, sons, and daughters. They also carried off a great deal of plunder and brought it to Samaria.

But a prophet of the LORD named Oded was there, and he went out to meet the army that returned to Samaria. “Look,” he said to them, “because of His wrath against Judah, the LORD, the God of your fathers, has delivered them into your hands. But you have slaughtered them in a rage that reaches up to heaven. And now you intend to reduce to slavery the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem. But are you not also guilty before the LORD your God? Now therefore, listen to me and return the captives you took from your kinsmen, for the fierce anger of the LORD is upon you.” Then some of the leaders of the Ephraimites —Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berechiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai—stood in opposition to those arriving from the war. “You must not bring the captives here,” they said, “for you are proposing to bring guilt upon us from the LORD and to add to our sins and our guilt. For our guilt is great, and fierce anger is upon Israel.”

So the armed men left the captives and the plunder before the leaders and all the assembly. Then the men who were designated by name arose, took charge of the captives, and provided from the plunder clothing for the naked. They clothed them, gave them sandals and food and drink, anointed their wounds, and put all the feeble on donkeys. So they brought them to Jericho, the City of Palms, to their brothers. Then they returned to Samaria.

The Idolatry of Ahaz (2 Kings 16:10-20; Amos 1:1-5)

At that time King Ahaz sent for help from the king of Assyria. The Edomites had again come and attacked Judah and carried away captives. The Philistines had also raided the cities of the foothills and the Negev of Judah, capturing and occupying Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, and Gederoth, as well as Soco, Timnah, and Gimzo with their villages. For the LORD humbled Judah because Ahaz king of Israel had thrown off restraint in Judah and had been most unfaithful to the LORD.

Then Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came to Ahaz but afflicted him rather than strengthening him. Although Ahaz had taken a portion from the house of the LORD, from the royal palace, and from the princes and had presented it to the king of Assyria, it did not help him.

In the time of his distress, King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the LORD. Since Damascus had defeated him, he sacrificed to their gods and said, “Because the gods of the kings of Aram have helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But these were the downfall of Ahaz and of all Israel.

Then Ahaz gathered up the articles of the house of God, cut them into pieces, shut the doors of the house of the LORD, and set up altars of his own on every street corner in Jerusalem. In every city of Judah he built high places to offer incense to other gods, and so he provoked the LORD, the God of his fathers.

As for the rest of the acts of Ahaz and all his ways, from beginning to end, they are indeed written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. And Ahaz rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of Jerusalem, but he was not placed in the tombs of the kings of Israel. And his son Hezekiah reigned in his place.”

A long time ago, before internet and other forms of mass advertising, young ladies who wished to advertise their services as potential escorts or as prostitutes would write their names and phone numbers in public places. The post would always start out, “For a good time, call _________ (Name and phone number.) Had King Ahaz posted such an advertisement, it should have read, “For a BAD TIME, call King Ahaz!”

Ahaz assumes the throne at age twenty and reigns until he is thirty – six. For the Judeans, even one year with Ahaz as king would be too much, and sixteen years of Ahaz as king is a nightmare! No sooner than Ahaz assumes the throne, then he is hell – bent on proving how bad he can be. Ahaz makes images of the Baals, burns incense in the valley of Hinnom, and makes live sacrifices of his little sons to Moloch. Not content with all these abominations, Ahaz burns incense on the hills, on high places, and under every green tree, thus spiritually polluting all of Judah.

Evil attracts evil, and soon the king of Syria and then the king of Israel are plundering Judah, slaughtering Judean soldiers and carrying away large numbers of captives. After those raids, the Edomites and the Philistines swoop in as well. The Israelites do return their captives to Jericho; however, they keep most of the loot. Ahaz is so confused by his demons that he cuts the articles of the house of God into pieces to get the silver and gold, shuts the doors of the temple, and then erects altars throughout Jerusalem. When the Syrians defeat Judah, Ahaz begins worshiping the Syrian gods as well. Ahaz’s most foolish decision is to request help from the Assyrians, far to the East. Until now, the Assyrians have left Judah alone; however, now they take Ahaz’s money and then raid Judah anyway.

The final indignity for Ahaz is that at his death at age thirty – six, the people of Judah bury him in Jerusalem but refuse to bury him with the kings. This refusal to honor Ahaz as a king in his death is the only means the Judeans have to express their feelings about Ahaz, and their feelings are clear!

APPLICATION: Recently in our hospital, an elderly man who had been a fetish priest his entire life repented and became a Jesus follower. The man urged other family members to follow Jesus and to burn the fetishes; however, his sons obviously felt that their father was an old fool and that they could somehow control the demons. Newsflash: YOU DON’T CONTROL DEMONS! THEY CONTROL YOU!

The longer Ahaz served the Baals, Moloch, Asherah, Marduk, etc., the more confused he became. Satan will use you until he has gotten everything he can from you, and then he will destroy you. What is ironic is that Ahaz was simply doing publicly what many of the Judeans may have been doing in secret. It’s likely that Ahaz was so bad that these closet idol worshipers were pointing to him and assuring themselves that THEY were never as bad as King Ahaz.

It is amazing but sad that Ahaz would turn to every other idol but refuse to worship the God of Israel, the One True Living God who was actually the only Source of help and hope. Not content with turning his back on God, Ahaz even desecrated the temple by cutting up the temple implements Solomon had created and then locking the doors of the temple so nobody else could worship God there either. What a waste of leadership!

These days, there are all kinds of television programs focusing on ancient aliens and paranormal phenomena. Many of these programs seem to represent a search for a god who is not the Living God. Humans are created with a need to worship something or someone, even if they refuse to worship the God who has created them. Long ago, God through Jeremiah described the foolishness of such people: “For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the Fountain of living waters, and they have hewn for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns which cannot hold water.” (Jeremiah 2:13)  

The lesson for us from King Ahaz is clear: Don’t mess with demons! Anything that is not of the One True Living God should be left alone. One acquaintance did his doctoral thesis work by becoming a traditional diviner for a nearby tribe. This man became spiritually confused and his perception was blunted, even though he was an ordained minister. Friends also told us of two young men who came to northern Ghana to start an evangelistic work. Despite repeated warnings, these men insisted on visiting a very evil shrine and going through all the rituals, including stripping naked to enter the inner part of the shrine. The deleterious influence of that shrine was so powerful that these men never succeeded in their mission and returned to their home country.

God is not to be mocked or trifled with! God is to be worshiped. This same God loved us so much that He sent His only Son to die as a man for the sins of the world. Why look anywhere else? Why not worship the Maker of the Universe, the Creator of light and life?

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to worship and praise You as we should. Help us to love You and serve You and nobody else all of our lives. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.

2 Chronicles 27:1 – 9 Jotham Reigns in Judah (2 Kings 15:32-38)

“Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother’s name was Jerushah daughter of Zadok. And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done. In addition, he did not enter the temple of the LORD. But the people still behaved corruptly.

Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD, and he worked extensively on the wall at Ophel. He also built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests.

Jotham waged war against the king of the Ammonites and defeated them, and that year they gave him a hundred talents of silver, ten thousand cors of wheat, and ten thousand cors of barley. They paid him the same in the second and third years. So Jotham grew powerful because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God.

As for the rest of the acts of Jotham, along with all his wars and his ways, they are indeed written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. And Jotham rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And his son Ahaz reigned in his place.” (100 talents is approximately 3.77 tons or 3.42 metric tons of silver. 10,000 cors is approximately 62,400 bushels or 2.2 million liters (probably about 1,920 tons or 1,740 metric tons of wheat). 10,000 cors is approximately 62,400 bushels or 2.2 million liters (probably about 1,450 tons or 1,315 metric tons of barley.)

King Jotham was a good man and careful to follow the Lord in everything he did. 2 Kings 15:34 – 35 tells us, “He did right in the Lord’s sight, according to all his father Uzziah had done. Yet the high places were not removed; the people sacrificed and burned incense still on the high places.” Once more, those high places are drawing fetish worshipers to them!

Jehoshaphat did away with the Asherah poles and high places devoted to Asherah; however, he left many other high places alone. Jehoshaphat’s son, wicked King Jehoram, built new high places and involved the Judeans in every kind of idolatry. Subsequent kings compromised themselves spiritually. Uzziah made a promising start; however, his life ended in tragedy and disgrace when God struck him with leprosy for violating the temple. While Jotham personally honored the Lord, evidently, he left the high places alone.

APPICATION: Why didn’t Jotham do anything about the high places? Perhaps Jotham was unsure of himself, fearing that if he tackled the high places, his subjects would depose him and even assassinate him. Perhaps Jotham hoped that if he set a good example, the citizens of Judah would follow his lead. But the citizens of Judah weren’t paying any attention to King Jotham. Evil must always be confronted! When we fail to confront evil, it simply multiplies. Jotham never confronted the evil in his kingdom, but left it alone, allowing it to grow.

I follow some of the comics on an on – line web site. Recently, several comics have attempted to portray witches as cute and entertaining. But a disturbing number of comics have made graphic references to witches eating children, as if this practice was humorous. It appears that Satan is trying to gradually numb us spiritually so that we will accept this horrific practice. People are already accepting zombies and vampires as entertaining and funny, never mind their actual natures. For those of us who have witnessed the results of full – bore witchcraft first – hand, there is nothing cute or humorous about evil!

We used to live in a part of Northern Ghana where Christian parents had to carefully guard what their children ate. Why? In that area, it was common for witches and wizards to attempt to steal a child’s future by feeding them specially cursed food. In that town children roamed freely, making it simple for unscrupulous evil doers to practice enchantments on them. In that same town, fetish worshipers would put out food for the “gods” twice a week. We could tell when the food had been offered because the vultures could be seen swarming over the offering site.

Today, evil is everywhere. Video games, videos, online websites – never before have there been so many different ways to access evil. How can we prepare to confront evil? Ephesians 6:10 – 17 gives us the answer. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed, and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.”

King Jotham was a righteous man, but he was not an influential one. Jotham’s failure to tackle the evil in the kingdom of Judah left his kingdom worse off spiritually. And as we will learn in 2 Chronicles 28, Jotham also filed to teach his son Ahaz to fear the Lord, guaranteeing that Judah would continue to slide spiritually. May we take courage from the Lord to confront the evil surrounding us, trusting that God will guide us!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, the evil surrounding us seems nearly overwhelming, but You have promised that “when the Enemy comes in like a flood, You will raise up a standard.” (Isaiah 54:17) Help us to trust in You and to confront the evil in our situations, knowing that You are always with us to help us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.