Unmerited Favor and Undeserved Grace.

Jonah 3-4

This change of plans upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So he complained to the LORD about it: "Didn't I say before I left home that you would do this, LORD? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you were a gracious and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. I knew how easily you could cancel your plans for destroying these people. Just kill me now, LORD! I'd rather be dead than alive because nothing I predicted is going to happen." ­– Jonah 4:1-3 NLT

Jonah had not wanted this assignment from God. In fact, he had attempted to run away when God had told him what he was to do: Go to the people of Nineveh and preach a message of judgment. Now we see why Jonah didn't want to go. It wasn't that he disliked the message of doom and gloom he was to share. It was that he feared the people would repent and God would spare them. Jonah hated the people of Nineveh. In his mind, they were idolatrous pagans who deserved to die at the hand of God. He didn't want to call them to repentance, because they just might do it, and then God might extend mercy to them. That is what drove Jonah to run from God. Pretty revealing, isn't it? Jonah's will was that Nineveh be destroyed. And his greatest fear was that God might show mercy and allow them to live. He knew that a message of judgment was a possible precursor to repentance.

And that is exactly what happened. Once Jonah got to the city, his only message was: "Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!" And we're told "the people of Nineveh believed God's message" and repented. They were so serious, they even made their animals wear garments of mourning. They prayed, fasted, and waited to see what God would do. And what He did was relent from His plans to destroy them. He extended mercy. He was, as Jonah knew, "eager to turn back from destroying people" (Jonah 4:2b NLT). But God's unfailing love and mercy angered Jonah. He wanted destruction and wrath. He hated the people of Nineveh. When Jonah was in the belly of the fish, he prayed to God for mercy. He counted on God's unfailing love. And he received it. But there is a certain degree of spiritual pride and arrogance in Jonah's prayer. He said, "Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God's mercies. But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows" (Jonah 2:8-9 NLT). Jonah seemed to think he was special because he somehow deserved God's mercy and grace. He somehow earned God's gracious favor and deliverance. The people of Nineveh didn't. And he was right. Except that he failed to understand that neither he or the people of Nineveh deserved God's mercy and grace. God says of Himself, "I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy" (Exodus 33:19 NET). No one deserves God's mercy and grace. We can't earn it. God simply extends it. And He chose to extend it toward the people of Nineveh. He also chose to extend it to Jonah, in spite of his rebellion and running away. Yet Jonah was more upset about a plant that died than the 120,000 residents of Nineveh who were destined for destruction. Jonah had been extended mercy and grace, but he was unwilling to extend it to others. What about you and me? Who do we know that we would love to see destroyed because of their sin? Who out there do we wish God would wipe off the face of the earth because of their evil and rejection of God? Do we have the heart that God has? Do we see the world the way He does? Are we merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love? Are we eager to see God turn back from destroying those who probably deserve it? The message of the book of Jonah is one of redemption and forgiveness. It is about the compassionate heart of God. He is righteous and just and must deal with sin, but He also longs to redeem and restore. Which is why He came up with the idea of the cross. He had a plan for restoring mankind that would allow Him to remain just and still extend mercy. Because we could not pay for the penalty our sins deserved, He came up with the only way to satisfy His righteous demands and pay in full the price our sins required. He gave His only Son. He sacrificed Jesus on our behalf. He showed us mercy and grace when we deserved death. We have benefited greatly from the mercy of God. Now we must extend it to others. We should want them to know what we know and to experience what we have experienced. Regardless of who they are and what they have done.

Father, thank You for showing me mercy. Now help me to develop a heart of mercy toward others.  Amen

You Can Run, But You Can't Hide.

Jonah 1-2

But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction in order to get away from the LORD. He went down to the seacoast, to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping that by going away to the west he could escape from the LORD. ­– Jonah 1:3 NLT

Running from God. Sounds idiotic doesn't it? I mean, who in their right mind would ever think they could get away from God? Yet Jonah decides to ignore God's command, catch a ship and head off in the opposite direction, somehow hoping that God would not see him and possibly forget about him. But God warns us, "'Am I a God who is only in one place?' asks the LORD. 'Do they think I cannot see what they are doing? Can anyone hide from me? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?' asks the LORD" (Jeremiah 23:23-24 NLT). The omnipotent, omniscient God is not some old geezer in the sky that we can somehow pull a fast-one over. We can't run from him. We can't hide from him. And we certainly can't say we worship Him if we refuse to listen to Him. Yet that is exactly what Jonah did. When he caught a ride on the ship and it gets caught in a violent storm, Jonah gets exposed as the cause of all their problems. And when they confront him, he simply says, "'I am a Hebrew, and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land.' Then he told them that he was running away from the LORD. The sailors were terrified when they heard this. 'Oh, why did you do it?' they groaned" (Jonah 1:9-10 NLT). Did you catch the irony of Jonah's statement? "I worship the Lord." Really? Do you?

You see, worship is about more than going through the motions. It's about more than words of affirmation and declarations of intent. Jonah could claim to be a God-worshiper, but his actions proved otherwise. He was disobedient and dismissive of the very command of the One he claimed to worship. He talked a good game, but he lacked follow-through. He was going to live life on his terms, not God's. He worshiped his own agenda, his own opinion, his own desires. Yet when Jonah saw what was going on and that the men in the ship were going to perish because of his disobedience, he confessed his sin and instructed them to throw him overboard – which they eventually did. But death wasn't to be Jonah's lot. Deliverance was. But first Jonah was going to have to discover what real worship is all about. He found himself in a lonely and extremely difficult situation – under the water and in the belly of a large fish. That's a bad day anyway you look at it. Jonah was in trouble and at a loss as to how he was going to get himself out of the fix he was in. So what did he do? He worshiped! He turned to the only one who could rescue and restore him. He called out to God, and in doing so he acknowledged the sovereignty and power of God. "Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from inside the fish. He said, 'I cried out to the LORD in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the world of the dead, and LORD, you heard me!'" (Jonah 2:1-2 NLT). Worship is far more than singing songs and attending a service on Sunday. It is a state of the heart. It is a way of life. It involves submission to the will of God. It includes obedience to the Word of God. It requires an understanding of the worth or value of God. Listen to what Jonah said: "When I had lost all hope, I turned my thoughts once more to the LORD. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple" (Jonah 2:7 NLT). Worship is turning our thoughts to the Lord. It is turning our thoughts away from ourselves and all those other things we turn to for hope, help, deliverance, and satisfaction. It is learning to rely, instead of run. It is listening to the Word of God and doing what He tells us to do – regardless of how we feel, what we think, or what others may tell us to do.

Jonah tried to run from God. He thought he could hide from God. But God had a job for him to do. He had a message for him to share. And God has a job for you and me as well. He has a message for us to share, too. Yet just think about how many times we follow Jonah's lead and run from God's will. We ignore God's Word. We reject God's way for our lives and choose our own. But while you may run from God, you won't get far. You can try to hide from God, but He'll always find you. The story of Jonah is really not about him, but it's about the redemptive plan of God for mankind. It's about a sovereign God who chooses to use fallen men to accomplish His divine will. God has determined to use people like you and me to accomplish His will in the world. He doesn't need us. But He chooses to use us. Amazing isn't it? So why in the world would we ever want to ignore His call and command for our lives? Why would we ever choose to run and hide from God when we can be instruments in His redemptive hands?

Father, I run way too much. I try to hide far too often. I ignore Your Words and reject Your will far too frequently. Forgive me. Thank You for using me. Thank You for choosing me. Thank You for showing patience to me. Give me a view of Your redemptive plan for mankind. Then give me the strength to obey – at all costs.  Amen

Is God For You Or Against You?

2 Chronicles 25

God will overthrow you, for he has the power to help you or to trip you up."­– 2 Chronicles 25:8b NLT

Chapter 25 of 2 Chronicles gives us some further insight into the story of King Amaziah of Judah and the events surrounding his defeat at the hands of Israel. It seems that Amaziah started off well. We're told that he "did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight," but then we're given the additional little caveat, "but not wholeheartedly." He was half-hearted in his obedience, devotion, and submission to God. Sometimes he did what he was supposed to do. Other times, he did what he wanted to do. His real god seemed to be military conquest and power. He formed an army comprised of 300,000 trained men, then added to that number 100,000 more paid mercenaries from the northern kingdom of Israel. But a prophet of God warns Amaziah against going into battle with these Israeli soldiers on his payroll. The prophet warns him, "Your majesty, do not hire troops from Israel, for the Lord is not with Israel. He will not help those people of Ephraim!" (2 Chronicles 25:7 NLT). If he chooses to disobey God's warning, he will be defeated, no matter how well armed, trained, and numerous his troops are. If he disobeys God, he will be fighting against God – and that is a no-win situation.

But it is amazing how easy it is to inadvertently do battle with God when we choose to ignore His counsel or refuse to seek His advice. He has given us His written Word, but we too often leave it out of our decision-making processes. And yet, He "has the power to help you or to trip you up." It's interesting that Amaziah's first concern when given the warning by the prophet is about the money he stood to lose if he sent the Israelite troops packing. He said, "But what about all that silver I paid to hire the army of Israel?" (2 Chronicles 25:9a NLT). Wait a minute God! I stand to lose a lot of money if I listen to You! We're talking 7,500 pounds of silver – down the drain, wasted, squandered – if I listen to God. This can't be God's will. It doesn't make good financial sense. It's fiscal suicide! But the prophet simply replies, "The Lord is able to give you much more than this!" (2 Chronicles 25:9b NLT). Just do it! Don't try and rationalize your decision or justify your desire to obey God's clear command. Remember, He has the power to help you or to trip you up. Amaziah could have used a little bit of Micah 6:8 about this time. "He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord really wants from you:He wants you to promote justice, to be faithful,and to live obediently before your God." God wanted Amaziah to do the just thing, not the expedient thing. God wanted Amaziah to put his faith in Him, not an army. God wanted Amaziah to make his faith into practice by obeying instead of justifying his own actions.

And God wants the same things from you and me. It doesn't pay to fight against God. That's a battle you will always win. God's ways don't always make sense. His will is not always palatable or even enjoyable. Obeying is not always easy. But it always pays. It always brings blessing. God has the power to help us or trip us up. His will always wins out. We will never lose if we always obey. Our obedience may cost us, but He will make up any loss we suffer in ways we could never even imagine. Jesus put it this way, "If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life" (Matthew 16:25 NLT). We never lose with God on our side.

Father, why would I ever willfully choose to leave You off my team? It just makes no sense. But I do it every single day in a variety of ways. I rationalize, justify, ignore, and avoid Your divine will in order that I can do my own. I decide that Your way is too costly and then learn the hard way that disobedience carries a much higher price in the long run. Father, You have the power to help me or trip me up. Why would I ever choose the latter over the former? I know. Pride. Continue to deliver me from myself.  Amen

The Self-Destructive Nature of Self-Importance.

2 Kings 14

You have indeed defeated Edom, and you are very proud of it. But be content with your victory and stay at home! Why stir up trouble that will only bring disaster on you and the people of Judah? ­– 2 Kings 14:10 NLT

Pride goes before the fall. Or something like that. We all love paraphrasing this message from the book of Proverbs. It actually says, "Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18 NLT). But regardless of exactly what it says, we enjoy sharing the basic gist of it – especially in retrospect – when someone we know, and usually don't like, has experienced a failure of some kind. It's a very biblical way of saying, "I told you so!" Whatever negative circumstances this person has experienced was well-deserved. They got what was coming to them. Now while we probably misapply this verse more than any other, there is some truth to the idea that pride is destructive. And behind all pride is a sense of self-importance that blinds us to the danger we face when we think too highly of ourselves. Paul provided this warning against being overly self-important. "I gave each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us" (Romans 12:3 NLT).

Self-importance is a dangerous drug that is both addictive and destructive. Little victories and successes, even spiritual ones, can cause us to suffer from inflated self-worth and become overly self-confident. That's what happened to Amaziah. As king of Judah, he experienced some early successes and seemed to have the hand of God on his life. At one point he experienced a decisive victory over Edom, defeating 10,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He also defeated the stronghold of Sela, located in the city of Petra. Fresh off these convincing victories, Amaziah decides to challenge the king of Israel to a battle. He is confident and tad bit cocky. King Jehoash of Israel warns him to think about what he is doing. He compares Judah to a thistle going up against a mighty cedar tree. Not only that, but the thistle ends up getting stepped on and crushed. before it can even attack the cedar tree! But self-importance can make us self-delusional. We can begin to believe our own press clippings and think we are something really special. Which is exactly what happened to Amaziah. He refused to listen to Jehoash and went ahead with his battle plans. Rather than be content with his victory over Edom, he had to have more. He had to prove himself to himself. His self-confidence would end up being self-destructive. "King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah's king, Amaziah son of Joash and grandson of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. Then he marched to Jerusalem, where he demolished 600 feet of Jerusalem's wall, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. He carried off all the gold and silver and all the articles from the Temple of the Lord. He also seized the treasures from the royal palace, along with hostages, and then returned to Samaria" (2 Kings 14:13-14 NLT).

Amaziah's pride led to his fall and the defeat of Judah. His own self-importance became self-destructive, but also spread to those around him. The effects of self-importance and pride are rarely relegated to self alone. Others are always impacted by our own self-obsession and over-confidence. Nowhere do we read that Amaziah was instructed by God to wage war with Israel. This was his own plan, driven by his own need for self-importance. And the results were disastrous. Jerusalem was left defenseless with broken-down walls. The Temple of God was ransacked and left desecrated. Citizens were turned into slaves. The wealth of Judah became the booty of Israel. All because of one man's self-importance and pride. If Amaziah had only listened to the wisdom of Solomon. "Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the LORD will be happy" (Proverbs 16:20 NLT). The antidote to self-importance is humility and submission to the will of God. When we begin to think we are something special, we need to remind ourselves of the reality of our own self-worth. Paul gives us sobering words to consider any time we begin to think too highly of ourselves. "Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and use them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God" (1 Corinthians 1:26-29 NLT).

Father, protect me from self-importance and it's offspring – pride. Help me remember that I am nothing without You. My value is found in Christalone. Self-importance is self-delusional and self-destructive. But learning to find my value and worth in Your Son reminds me that I bring nothing to the table. All my worth comes from Him and what He has done for me.  Amen

A Sign of Things To Come.

2 Chronicles 24

Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah's father, had shown him, but killed his son. And when he was dying, he said, "May the LORD see and avenge!" ­– 2 Chronicles 24:22 ESV

Christ, the living Word of God, fills the written Word of God from beginning to end. He is revealed in a variety of types and forms throughout the pages of the Old Testament. It is essentially the story of redemption – God delivering His people from their slavery to sin and providing them with salvation. The undeserved grace and mercy of God can be seen everywhere. His repetitive use of a savior to rescue His people is a common theme. And here is the story of King Joash, we see the rejection of the savior. King Joash had been rescued from sure death at the hands of his power-hungry grandmother, Athaliah. She had had all his siblings murdered so that she would have clear access to the thrown after the death of her son, Ahaziah. But Joash had been hidden by Jehoiada the high priest in the temple for seven years. Then at the age of seven, Joash had been crowned king of Israel and Athaliah had been executed for her crimes. And all the years that Jehoiada was alive he provided Joash with counsel and wisdom so that his reign was a righteous one. But when Jehoiada dies, Joash turns away from the wise counsel of Jehoiada and succumbs to the wicked counsel of men. He forgets all that Jehoiada had done for him – the grace and mercy he had shown him all those years ago. He forgets that it was Jehoiada who made it possible for him to live and take the throne of Israel.

So God sends the son of Jehoiada to call him to repentance. Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, is given a message from God to the people. "Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, 'This is what God says: Why do you disobey the LORD's commands so that you cannot prosper? You have abandoned the LORD, and now he has abandoned you!'" (2 Chronicles 24:20 NLT). But his message was not well-received. Neither the people of Joash like what Zechariah has to say, so Joash commands that he be put to death – stoned in the middle of the courtyard of the temple itself. The messenger of God is killed.

Fast-forward. The people of God have rejected the wisdom and will of God again. Their rebellion has resulted in the occupation of their land by the hated Romans. They are an oppressed, yet proud people. And into their midst, God sends His own Son, Jesus Christ, to bring them a message of repentance. The very one who had rescued them from captivity and given them a land they did not deserve, had been rejected by them. So He sends His Son with a message for them to hear. And their response? They kill Him. Unlike Zechariah, Jesus came with a message of hope and salvation. He brought good news of great joy to all people. He offered a means for them to receive forgiveness of sin and a restored relationship with God – that was not tied to them keeping the Law, but was a free gift based solely on faith. Yet they still killed the messenger. The killed the Messiah. They rejected the very one who brought the answer to their problems and the solution to their sins. And we still reject Him today. Even those of us who have placed our faith in Christ for salvation can end up rejecting Him on a daily basis. We reject His wisdom. He reject His leadership. We reject His call to holiness. We reject His offer of sanctification and heart transformation. Instead, we try to change ourselves and work our way toward righteousness. We demand to do things our own way. We listen to the advice of the world and reject the word and wisdom of God. And we suffer the consequences. But if we listen, we will learn. If we obey, we will be blessed. If we take the words of Jesus seriously, we will continue to be changed – radically. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Father, You sent Your Son to save. You sent Him to provide life more abundantly. But we have to listen. Not just to His offer of salvation, but to His call to sanctification. He wants to transform us into His likeness. He wants to make us increasingly more into His image. We have His Spirit living within us, but we have to listen to the voice of His Spirit speaking to us each and every day. Don't let us be like Joash and reject the message of God given through the messenger of God. Amen

Our Gracious God.

2 Kings 13

But the LORD was gracious to the people of Israel, and they were not totally destroyed. He pitied them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And to this day he still has not completely destroyed them or banished them from his presence. ­– 2 Kings 13:23 NLT

If I were God … I know, that's a dangerous statement to make, let alone finish. But when I read through the history of the kings of Israel and Judah, I can't help but think what I would have done to the people of God if I had been in God's place. Extending grace is NOT one of the things that comes to mind. Even when I was a kid I would read some of these stories and think how ridiculous it was that God didn't wipe these people off the face of the earth for their stupidity and stubbornness. He could have started all over with some other people group. But He didn't. And as I've gotten older, I've realized that these stories are less about the fallibility of men, than the faithfulness of God. These brutally hones portrayals of the lives of the kings and their people allow us to see just the kind of God we worship and follow. Over and over again we see their infidelity. And over and over again we see God's faithfulness – His commitment to keep His promises – in spite of the actions and attitudes of His people. Today's reading is a perfect case in point.

We read that Jehoahaz, the king of Israel, was just as wicked as the kings who came before him. And it resulted in punishment from the hand of God. "So the LORD was very angry with Israel, and he allowed King Hazael of Aram and his son Ben-hadad to defeat them time after time" (2 Kings 13:3 NLT). But Jehoahaz, unlike most of his predecessors, sought God. " Then Jehoahaz prayed for the LORD's help, and the LORD heard his prayer" (2 Kings 13:4 NLT).  God heard and God responded because of His grace and mercy. "The LORD could see how terribly the king of Aram was oppressing Israel. So the LORD raised up a deliverer to rescue the Israelites from the tyranny of the Arameans. Then Israel lived in safety again as they had in former days" (2 Kings 13:4-5 NLT). God sent a deliverer – literally, a savior – to rescue the people. He gave them what they didn't deserve – which is the basic definition of grace. They deserved punishment, but instead God extended mercy and rescued them from their oppressors. And in spite of God's grace and mercy, the people continued to turn against Him. His mercy was met with ingratitude and rebellion.

But even in the days of Jehoahaz, as the people continued to reject God, He continued to fulfill His covenant promise that He had made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. "But GOD was gracious and showed mercy to them. He stuck with them out of respect for his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He never gave up on them, never even considered discarding them, even to this day" (2 Kings 13:23 MSG). He never gave up on them. And He never gives up on you and me! God keeps His promises. He remains faithful to His commitments. He shows us mercy and grace, when we deserve nothing less than punishment. He continues to extend grace even in the face of our ingratitude. Because that is who He is. He is faithful. He is merciful. He has made a promise to His people and He has and will keep it. God's faithfulness to His covenant resulted in the arrival of the Messiah. His faithfulness to His promise made possible salvation to all those who would accept it. When Israel and Judah were unfaithful, God was faithful, and we are the beneficiaries of that faithfulness today.

Father, thank You for Your faithfulness. Without it, I would not be here. Without it, I would never have been given eternal life and forgiveness of my sins. You remained faithful so that we might have a chance to experience the faithfulness of Your Son, who died on a cross in our place. Thank You! Amen

Good Start. Bad Ending.

2 Kings 12

All his life Joash did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight because Jehoiada the priest instructed him. ­– 2 Kings 12:2 NLT

Jehoiada the priest had protected Joash for seven years from his scheming grandmother, Athaliah. She had killed all his siblings in order to take over the throne of Judah when her son, King Ahaziah, had died. But Joash had been hidden away in the temple of God until the day he was crowned king by Jehoiada at the age of seven. He would reign for forty years in Judah and as long as his mentor, Jehoiada was live, he accomplished some good things for the kingdom. One of his main projects was the restoration of the temple. It had fallen into disrepair, so he came up with a fund-raising plan to provide the resources to see to its repair and restoration. But somewhere along the way, Jehoiada died. "Jehoiada lived to a very old age, finally dying at 130. He was buried among the kings in the City of David, because he had done so much good in Israel for God and his Temple" (2 Chronicles 24:15-16 NLT). And with his death, things began to change for Joash – and not for the good.

Within no time, Joash's reign took a turn for the worse. According to 2 Chronicles 24, Joash was easily convinced by his officials to abandon the restoration of the temple. "But after Jehoiada's death, the leaders of Judah came and bowed before King Joash and persuaded the king to listen to their advice. They decided to abandon the Temple of the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and they worshiped Asherah poles and idols instead! Then the anger of God burned against Judah and Jerusalem because of their sin" (2 Chronicles 24:17-18 NLT). God sent Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, to rebuke Joash, and his reaction was to have him killed. He was stoned to death at the command of Joash. Suddenly, Joash found himself in a difficult place. He was under attack from King Hazael of Aram. Hazael had recently defeated the northern kingdom of Israel and was headed south along the Mediterranean coast toward Judah. He had already captured Gath and had sent soldiers against Jerusalem. who killed many of the leaders of Judah. But instead ofturning to Yahweh for deliverance, Joash decided to try and buy off Hazael using gold from the renovated temple. But Hazael would later return to Judah and Jerusalem with a small company of men and destroy all the princes of the people and send their spoil to the king of Damascus (2 Chronicles 24:23).

In the midst of all this, Joash was wounded by the Arameans and left Jerusalem to recuperate in a town named Beth Millo. It was while there that several of his officials came up with a plan to assassinate him, all because he had put the high priest Zechariah to death. Joash was buried in Jerusalem but not in the royal tombs – a sign that the people had lost respect for him as their king.

"Once a promising, God-fearing young ruler, Joash died a disappointment. By bribing Hazael with Temple treasures, he tarnished his one great achievement, the Temple restoration." – R. L. Hubbard Jr., First and Second Kings

Joash started out well, but ended poorly. All because he turned away from following Yahweh. When his godly mentor died, he began to listen to the advice of the ungodly men around him. Instead of listening to the counsel of Zechariah as a word from God, he had him killed. As a result, God would remove His blessing from the life of Joash, causing his reign to end with death and indignity. He failed to finish well. Our goal, as followers of God, is to finish well. The writer of Hebrews put it this way, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1 ESV). Let us run with endurance. Finish well.

Father, I want to finish well. Give me the strength to run the race ahead of me so that I can finish with a kick. I want to cross the line with a full head of steam, not staggering and stumbling. May my life bring You joy and pleasure right up to the very end. Amen

A Godly Influence.

2 Kings 11

Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people that they would be the LORD's people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people. ­– 2 Kings 11:17 NLT

Salt and light. That is what we have been called to be – providing an influence and making an impact on the society in which we live. As God's chosen people we exist to influence. We can and should make a difference in our surroundings. We are His ambassadors, His change agents, who are indwelt and empowered by the very Spirit of God. Our presence in this society should be felt. Our lives should be making a difference. Just like Jehoiada did. Jehoiada was the high priest of God living in a time when the worship of God was waning. The people of Judah were worshiping Baal more than they were worshiping God. A line of kings had led them in rebellion against God and caused them to turn their hopes to false gods instead. Even in Jerusalem, home of the temple of God, they had erected a temple to the rival god, Baal. The queen, Athaliah, was a wicked woman who had ascended to the throne when her son Ahaziah had been killed. She did so by killing all the royal offspring – her own grandchildren – so that she would be the only heir left. But little did she know that God had preserved one son, Joash, by having him hidden in the temple, where he was protected for six years by Jehoiada, the high priest.

For six long years, Jehoiada kept the future king of Judah safe, providing him with around-the-clock protection. He knew that if Athaliah ever got wind that Joash was alive, she would have him destroyed. He had to keep him alive long enough so that he could grow old enough to crown him king. So when Joash turned seven,  "Jehoiada brought out Joash, the king's son, and placed the crown on his head. He presented Joash with a copy of God's covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and all the people clapped their hands and shouted, 'Long live the king!'" (2 Kings 11:12 NLT). Jehoiada had endured the wicked reign of Athaliah for six long years, but now it was time to make a change. During that time he must have been grooming this young boy, teaching him the law and telling him about Yahweh, the one true God. He must have told him all the stories about David, the one king of Israel who was a man after God's own heart. He probably read him the writings of Solomon, the wisest king who had ever lived. He more than likely told him all the stories of God's deliverance of the people of Israel from captivity, of His miraculous provisions during their wilderness wandering years, and of His provision of the Land of Promise. Behind the scenes, Jehoiada was preparing the next king of Judah to be a king who had a heart for God.

But Jehoiada's influence didn't stop there. He had Athaliah executed for her crimes against God and the royal family. "Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people that they would be the LORD's people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people" (2 Kings 11:17 NLT). He called the people back to God. He encouraged them to restore their commitment to God. And they took that commitment so seriously that they immediately tore down the temple of Baal and killed the high priest of Baal. Jehoiada's godly influence was far-reaching. He made a difference. "So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was peaceful because Athaliah had been killed at the king's palace" (2 Kings 11:20 NLT). The city was peaceful. The people rejoiced. A godly man had made a powerful impact on the society in which he lived. And he had not done so without risk. Everything he did was risky. But he was willing to do it because it was the right thing to do. Godly people living godly lives will have a godly influence. They will make a difference. What is God asking you to do today? What risk are you willing to take to stand up for God and against wickedness? You could be the difference maker.

Father, I want to make a difference. I want my life to make an impact on the world in which I live. Like Jehoiada, I want to be used by You to prepare the next generation to live for You and serve You. But to do that I am going to have to want to protect them from evil. I am going to have to take a stand for You. Don't let me become complacent or content with my life the way it is. You have called me to serve You, not me. Show me what You would have me do to make a difference today. Amen

Good, But Not Good Enough.

2 Kings 9-10

Thus, Jehu destroyed every trace of Baal worship from Israel. He did not, however, destroy the gold calves at Bethel and Dan, the great sin that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit. ­– 2 Kings 10:28-29 NLT

Jehu isn't exactly a household name, but he stands as a semi-bright spot on the landscape of Israel's dark history. He was chosen by God to take the throne of Israel and to punish the descendants of Ahab for his years of wickedness and rebellion against God. Jehu was hand-picked by God and anointed by the prophet of God. And he took his new role as king seriously. In fact, he took it so seriously that Elisha warned the prophet who was being sent to anoint him, "Say to him, 'This is what the Lord says: I anoint you to be king over Israel.' Then open the door and run for your life!" (2 Kings 9:3 NLT). Jehu was going to waste no time getting acclimated to his new role. He immediately kills King Joram, the king of Israel, as well as King Ahaziah of Judah, who had made an alliance with the king of Israel. The Jehu began to methodically wipe out every descendant of Ahab he could find. He also killed every priest of Baal as well as all Baal worshipers he could find, as well as 70 of King Ahab's sons. He cleaned house – Baal's house that is. He tore down the sacred pillar and wrecked the temple, converting it into a public restroom. We're told that Jehu destroyed every trace of Baal worship from Israel.

Sounds great, doesn't it? He was obedient. He did what God had told him to do. HOWEVER! Yes, the story of Jehu's exploits contains that awkward and tension-packed word. He didn't exactly finish what he began. "He did not, however, destroy the gold calves at Bethel and Dan, the great sin that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit" (2 KINGS 9:29 NLT). Why in the world would he be so committed to getting rid of the prophets of Baal, every worshiper of Baal, as well as the temple and idols of Baal, but leave the golden calves in Bethel and Dan that Jeroboam had set up as replacements of Yahweh? It would seem that his decision was based on convenience. Since Baal was tied directly to the reign of Ahab, it made good political sense to disassociate himself from Ahab's gods. But if he got rid of the golden calves, then the people would have no place to worship; leaving them Jerusalem as the only option. This was unacceptable to Jehu as the new king of Israel. He could not afford the risk of any of his people coming back from Jerusalem ready to reconcile with their southern brothers. There was also more than a possibility that Jehu saw the golden calves as not idols, but simply as representations of Yahweh Himself. When Jeroboam came up with the idea of the golden calves in the first place, he had told the people, "It is too much trouble for you to worship in Jerusalem. Look, Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of Egypt! (1 Kings 12:28 NLT).

While Jehu received more than a passing grade for his removal of all descendants of Ahab and is destruction of all remnants of Baal worship, he failed in one fatal respect. "But Jehu did not obey the Law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit" (2 Kings 10:31 NLT). Jehu's reign would last an amazing 28 years – an eternity for a king in those days. But his reign would not be marked by complete obedience. God would never have his whole heart. He was content to give God partial obedience, partial commitment, and partial worship. He would never be a man like David – a man after God's own heart. Jehu is a powerful reminder of partial obedience and incomplete devotion. Jehu knew what God expected. Nothing less than his best. "Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today" (Deuteronomy 6:4-6 NLT).  Wholehearted obedience. Wholehearted commitment. Wholehearted devotion. God wanted all of Jehu, but only got a part of him.

Father, You want my whole heart. But on my own, I am incapable of loving You wholeheartedly. I am incapable of obeying You completely. I am lousy at worshiping You alone. But You have given me a new heart and a new desire, and filled me with Your Spirit, so that I have a new capacity to love You – wholeheartedly. Thank You for making it possible for me to love and follow You wholeheartedly. Amen

Our Behind-the-Scenes God.

2 Kings 8

But the Lord did not want to destroy Judah, for he had made a covenant with David and promised that his descendants would continue to rule, shining like a lamp forever. ­– 2 Kings 8:19 NLT

He is always there, behind the scenes, working in ways that we can't see. It may appear that God has abandoned us or become too busy elsewhere, but He is always there. His timing is perfect. His knowledge of our needs and circumstances is complete. In writing this chronicle of the kings and prophets of Israel and Judah, the author has a Jewish audience in mind. He is not only giving them a history lesson, but a primer on the character of God. Every story is designed to provide the people of God with an intimate understanding of just who it is they worship and serve. These stories reveal His power and patience, His wrath and redemption, His sovereignty and His faithfulness. The kings of Judah and Israel present a sad portrait of the character of man, full of rebellion, selfishness, unfaithfulness, and sin. Each seems to take the practice of evil to a whole new level of depravity. They lead the people of God away from God. They believe they have become the masters of their own fates. But God reveals over and over again that He is in control. This is His story, not theirs. God has a greater plan that will outlast every one of the kings. He has a purpose behind every circumstance that happens. Even their most willful act of rebellion against God will be used by God to accomplish His will.

The story of the woman from Shunem gives us an understanding of just how gracious and good our God is. Here you have this relatively unimportant woman who had been helped by the prophet Elisha earlier in the story. He had miraculously brought her son back to life. Then Elijah had told her to take her family out of the country because a famine was coming to the land of Israel. She listened to the words of the prophet and did as he instructed her. Seven years later she returned. But her concern was that she would be able to get her land back after having been gone so long. Little did she know that the very moment she was making her way to the king's palace to make her request, the servant of Elisha was telling the king about her story. "At that very moment, the mother of the boy walked in to make her appeal to the king about her house and land" (2 Kings 8:5 NLT). Not only did she get her land back, but all the value of the crops that had been harvested while she had been away. God took care of her. Her obedience resulted in blessing. This story is here for a reason. It was a reminder to the people of God to obey Him, even when it seemed to make no sense.

This story stands in contrast to that of Jehoram, king of Judah. As was the case with his predecessors, "Jehoram did what was evil in the Lord's sight" (2 Kings 8:18 NLT). Rather than obey, he rebelled. Rather than trust God, he trusted in himself. He did what was right in his own eyes. He did things his way and eventually lost it all. There would be no blessing from God. But in the midst of his rebellion and rejection of God, we see the faithfulness of God expressed to the people of Israel. While their actions were punishable by God, He remained faithful to the covenant He had made to David. He had made a promise and He was going to keep it. Why? Because His promise came with a provision and a plan. A descendant of David would someday rule who would save His people once and for all. God had a reason for preserving the tribe of Judah, because out of the tribe of Judah would come the Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ. He would become the ultimate King of kings and Lord of lords. He would rule justly and righteously. He would be the faithful King. God would preserve Judah so that He could redeem mankind. Every king and every story in these two books show us that our God is faithful and in full control of history because it is ultimately His story. This is all about Him. He started it and He will finish it. He is working behind the scenes in ways we can't see, but He is there. We can trust Him. And while we may not like our circumstances, we can rest in the fact that "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28 NASB).

Father, this is Your story. Help me to keep the greater context in mind as I look at the text of my life and of the time in which I live. You are working a far greater plan than the one that I can see. But at the same time, in the midst of all that is going on, You care for me. Like the woman of Shumem, You care for and provide for me in ways that are beyond belief. All I have to do is trust You. Amen

The Blindness of Doubt.

2 Kings 5-7

O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see. ­– 2 Kings 7:17 NASB

When we doubt God, it prevents us from seeing what He is doing or getting ready to do. Doubt distorts our vision of reality. It blurs our perspective and causes us to view life with less-than-perfect vision. We become far-sighted and can only see things that are close-up or nearby. But faith is the like corrective lenses for our lack of vision. The writer of Hebrews tells us, "What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see" (Hebrews 11:1 NLT). Faith has a way of correcting our perspective and improving our sight. We begin to see things from God's point of view. Rather than our myopic, limited perspective, we begin to see what God see and realize that He is working in ways that have been unseen to us before. Paul told the Corinthians believers,"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV).

In these chapters of 2 Kings, we have two different stories of spiritual blindness brought on by doubt and a lack of faith. In the first, Elisha's servant is suffering from spiritual nearsightedness. He can't see beyond the immediate problem surrounding him. The king of Aram has sent troops to capture Elisha for having exposed his plot to attack Israel. When Elisha's servant wakes up one morning he sees them surrounded by enemy troops and cries out, "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?!" All he can see is trouble. His vision of reality is distorted. He is unable to see what is really going on. So Elisha tells him to calm down, to relax. "Don't be afraid, Those who are with us are more than those who are with them" (2 Kings 6:16 NLT). Really? But that's not the way this servant saw things. Elisha's statement couldn't have seemed more ill-informed or unrealistic. So Elisha prays for him. "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see" (2 Kings 6:17 NLT) and immediately the servant's eyes are opened and suddenly he can see what he couldn't see before. The hills around them are filled with horses and chariots of fire – the army of God. His lack of faith had limited his perspective. But Elisha had seen it all along. He had learned to look at life through the lense of faith. He had learned that what was seen was not necessarily an indication of reality. Elisha had learned to fix his eyes on what is unseen. He had learned to look at life through God's eyes, not his own.

It's interesting that in the story, while the servant of Elisha had his eyes opened, God blinded the eyes of the enemy. They lost their ability to see and were easily led by Elisha right into the capital of Israel where they were captured by the king. Their inability to see made them vulnerable. They were easily mislead and confused. That is what a lack of faith can do to us. It blinds us to the work of God. It causes us to lose our way. But when our eyes are opened by faith, we are able to see God at work where we didn't see Him before. We learn to see what is unseen, not just what is right in front of our face. God is always at work. He never rests. He never sleeps. He never runs out of ideas or answers to our problems. Faith allows us to see that God is at work despite our circumstances.

Open my eyes, that I may see

glimpses of truth thou hast for me;

place in my hands the wonderful key

that shall unclasp and set me free.

Silently now I wait for thee,

ready, my God, thy will to see.

Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!

Father, open my eyes. Help me to see what You can see. Give me an eternal perspective. Increase my vision, my ability to see more than what seems to be apparent at first glance. Replace the blindness of doubt with the vision of faith. Amen

A Perfectly Practical Prophet.

2 Kings 3-4

And sure enough, there was plenty for all and some left over, just as the LORD had promised. ­– 2 Kings 4:44 NLT

The prophets of the Bible get a bad rap. They're typically seen as socially awkward, hyper-spiritualists who never have anything good to say, but were always spouting doom and gloom and warning about the coming wrath of God. They weren't exactly the kind of guys you would invite to a dinner party. They were loners who had the unenviable job of acting as God's spokesmen to a generation of people who were refusing to live for God. We usually know little about them other than the few times they appear on the scene to dispense bad news. But in the story of Elisha we're given a different perspective. Sure, we get to see Elisha prophesying the will of God to three powerful kings concerning a pending battle. They found themselves on the verge of battle without water for their men or horses and Elisha predicts that God will provide water for them – without rain. Not only that, God will provide them with victory over their enemies. And it all takes place just as Elisha says.

But then in chapter four we see a different side of Elisha. We see his humanity expressed in simple, practical, everyday ways. Elisha encounters a recently widowed woman who is faced with the loss of all that she has, including her two sons, because of debts she can't pay. Her sons are about to be sold into slavery and she has no resources to keep it from happening. So she calls out to the prophet of God. And he responds by providing her with a miraculous answer to her problem. From one small vial of oil, she fills every container she can find in the house with oil – enough to sell and pay off all her debts. God used His prophet to minister to one of His own. He met a very real need in a very practical way. The prophet represented the word of the Lord. He spoke for God. As the woman faithfully obeyed the word of the Lord, spoken by the prophet, her needs were met. She was provided for.

The next story is about a prominent woman and her husband who show Elisha hospitality, providing him with a room in which to rest from his travels. As a way of repaying this couple for their kindness, Elisha asks her what he can do for her. She responds that she has all that she needs. But Elisha sees that there is one thing missing. She and her husband have no heir. There is no son to carry on his father's name. So Elisha tells her that in one year she will bear a son – which she does. But not long after that, the son becomes ill and dies. In faith, she sends for the prophet. When she tells her husband she is going to seek the prophet and he asks her why (not knowing his son is dead), she simply replies, "It's all right." She had faith to believe that the prophet of God, as the representative of God, would know what to do and would have a solution to her problem. And he did. Elisha raises the son from the dead. He miraculously brings him back to life and gives him back to his mother. God worked through His prophet to restore life and return joy to this woman and her husband during their greatest time of need.

The next story involves a simple meal eaten during a time of famine. Elisha instructs his servant to prepare a stew for a group of his fellow prophets. Inadvertently, one of the men adds an ingredient to the stew that happens to be poisonous. As the men eat, they realize what has happened and become concerned that they are all going to die because they have eaten the poisonous stew. But Elisha calmly instructs them to throw some meal into the pot and informs them that it is now safe to eat. The word of God through the prophet of God averted a disaster and provided a solution to their problem.

Finally, we read of Elisha miraculously feeding 100 men with nothing more than 20 loaves of bread and some grain. In a scene reminiscent of the feeding of the 5,000 the men eat to their fill and there are leftovers when they are done. The story concludes with the words, "and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the Lord" (2 Kings 4:44 NASB). According to the word of the Lord. That is a theme throughout these two chapters. This is not really about Elisha, but it is about God. He was merely God's mouthpiece. He represented the word of God. He spoke for God. Today, you and I have the written Word of God. We no longer have prophets revealing new words from God. We have the completed Word of God readily available at all times. It is the revelation of God providing us with instruction, insight, wisdom, direction, and a glimpse into the character of God Himself. When we read it and obey it, God provides through it. God meets our needs through His Word. He does all things "according to" His Word. God still meets us at our point of need. He provides solutions to our problems. He feeds us, clothes us, protects us, provides for us, and goes into battle on behalf of us. His Word is practical for everyday life. It is NOT just doom and gloom, rules and regulations. It is the living, breathing, Word of God that can speak into our lives and circumstances. But like the widow in need who called out to the prophet of God, we must turn to the Word of God in our times of need. Like the woman who lost her son, we must seek the Word for a solution to our problems, AND expect God to answer. Like the men who thought they were poisoned, we must turn to God's Word for healing from our infirmities – both physical and spiritual.

Father, Your Word is a powerful resource that we tend to overlook and sometimes ignore. Too often we treat it like the prophets were treated. We see it as negative, hard to understand, full of bad news, and not exactly fun to have around. But like Elisha, Your Word is highly practical, useful, and powerful. It is a resource with having and using. Keep me in it. Help me listen to it and live out what it says – every day of my life. Amen

A Strange Career Choice.

2 Kings 1-2

And when they had come to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, "Say what you would have me do for you before I am taken from you." And Elisha said, "Be pleased to let a special measure of your spirit be on me." ­– 2 Kings 2:9 BBE

You've probably asked more than a few kids in your life, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" And I doubt a single one of them ever responded: "I want to be a prophet!" Even in Elijah's day, being a prophet wasn't exactly a popular career path choice. Prophets were anything but popular. As spokesmen for God they had unenviable position of speaking on His behalf and, typically, what they had to say was anything but good news. Like the news Elijah had for Ahaziah. "This is what the LORD says: Why did you send messengers to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether you will get well? Is there no God in Israel? Now, since you have done this, you will never leave the bed on which you are lying, but you will surely die" (2 Kings 1:16 NLT). So prophets weren't exactly popular. It could be a very lonely position. As a prophet, you were typically appointed to the position by God Himself. These were men who were usually obscure and unknown, but who quickly gained a reputation for their outspoken nature.

In this story we have a somewhat rare picture of a man who aspired to the role of prophet. He longed for it and even requested that he receive the responsibility. Elisha had been serving alongside Elijah, the prophet of God, ever since Elijah had handpicked him (1 Kings 19:19-20). At that point Elisha was just an ordinary young man plowing in his father's fields. Then along comes the prophet of God, who throws his mantle or cloak over Elisha. Elijah was simply following orders. God had told him to find Elisha and anoint him as his successor (1 Kings 19:16). It seems that Elijah was still somewhat in the midst of his pity party over the way things had gone with Ahab and Jezebel. Because when it came time to anoint Elisha, all he did was thrown his mantle over him. No introductions. No announcement. No ceremony. But even in spite of the way Elijah handled the situation, Elisha seems to understand. He knows who Elijah is and he willingly leaves his family and all that he has known to follow the prophet of God. At this point, he does not necessarily know he has been anointed as Elijah's successor. But he follows.

It is interesting that three different times in this story, Elijah seems to give Elisha the chance to bail out on him. On three separate occasions, he tells Elisha that stay where he is while he goes on, but Elisha refuses, saying, "As surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you!" (2 Kings 2:2 NLT). And two different times Elisha is questioned about whether he was aware that Elijah was about to be taken away from him. And on both occasions Elijah makes it clear that he knew what was going to happen. But he stayed with Elijah anyway. He seemed to sense that Elijah was leaving, but that he was going to be the one to take on his role and responsibilities. God has been preparing Elisha for this moment. He had handpicked him to take up Elijah's mantle – literally. He would be the next prophet of God in Israel, proclaiming the Word of God to the people of God. So when asked by Elijah what he wanted before Elijah was taken up by God, Elisha requested a "double portion" of Elijah's spirit. He asked from Elijah what any Israelite boy would ask of his father: a double portion of the inheritance. He had effectively become Elijah's son in the faith. But rather than material possessions, he requested a double portion of what Elijah possessed: spiritual power. He knew he would need it. Elijah's name means, "God saves," and he was going to spread the news of God's willingness to save, but also His requirement of repentance. That message would not be well received. He would need all the power that Elijah possessed and more. The days ahead would be difficult.

The story ends with Elijah's miraculous departure and a clear indication that Elisha had indeed received the power he had requested. He had become the prophet of God. And it would appear that this was a position Elisha deeply desired. But he knew that he could not do the job without the power of God. His aspiration to be used by God would require the inspiration and power of God. And the thing is true of every one of us as followers of Christ today. We cannot serve God without the power of God. We can't be used by God without being empowered by God. We can desire to serve God, but we must understand that we can't do it without God.

Father, You want to use, but first You want to empower us. Keep me dependent on You for the strength I need to do what You are calling me to do. Amen

Good Luck With All That!

Psalm 82-83

"Come," they say, "let us wipe out Israel as a nation. We will destroy the very memory of its existence." ­– Psalm 83:4 NLT

How many times over the centuries have these words been expressed? It seems like ever since God set apart the people of Israel as His own, there has been some individual, group, or nation ready to wipe them off the face of the earth. This morning as I was reading through the book of Esther, I was reminded of the attempt by Haman to do just that. Stung by Mordecai's refusal to bow down in his presence, Haman convinced King Xerxes to issue a decree giving him permission to put every Jew living to death, including all Jews living in the land of Judah. With the paperwork in hand, he was ready to annihilate an entire people group, effectively ending God's promise and plan to bring the Savior onto the scene as a descendant of David. But God's plans are not so easily ended. He was not about to let a royal decree end His divine plan for the redemption of mankind. The Jews would survive Haman's threat as they have survived threats against their existence for years.

These two Psalms remind us that God is in control. And He will hold judges accountable for how they have treated the poor, orphans, widows, and oppressed. He has a heart for the downtrodden. He stands up for them. He hears their cries of distress. He knows when they are being abused and taken advantage of. And when He hears, He acts. God will bring about justice. He will protect His own. He will do what needs to be done. The key is, He will do it in His way and according to His timing. Israel has suffered greatly over the years. They have been abused and attacked regularly and relentlessly. Even today, nations plot their destruction. But God is still on the side of Israel. He is not done with them. Our faithful God will act faithfully toward His own. We can trust in that. We can rest in that.

Father, You never sleep or slumber. You never turn your back or get caught off guard. You're never surprised or at a loss as to what to do. When we see all that is happening in the world we can get anxious, but these two Psalms remind us that You're always watching and working Your plan to perfection. Amen





Doom, Gloom and Hope.

Obadiah

But Jerusalem will become a refuge for those who escape; it will be a holy place. And the people of Israel will come back to reclaim their inheritance. ­– Obadiah 1:17 NLT

The book of Obadiah is a prophetic book bringing a warning against the nation of Edom. From the day that the people of Israel had entered into the Promised Land given to them by God, the Edomites, descendants of Esau, Jacob's twin, had been a source of contention. They refused to allow the Israelites to pass through their territory on their way into the Promised Land and it had gone downhill from there. They were enemies of Saul, David, Solomon and Jeshoshaphat. They also rebelled against Jehoram. As a result, God had some bad news for the people of Edom. A prideful people who lived in virtually impregnable conditions in the cliffs south of the Dead Sea, they were going to experience the humbling discipline of God. He was going to breach their defenses (Vs 2-4), plunder their treasure (Vs 5-7), and destroy their leadership (Vs 8-9). But while most of the book of Obadiah seems to be words of warning against the people of Edom, it was written to the people of Judah. This book was meant to be a word of encouragement to the people of God about His sovereign rule and reign over their lives, circumstances, and future.

God was not unaware or indifferent to the condition of the people of Judah. He knew what was going on. He was fully aware of the events taking place around them, and this included the behavior of such nations as Edom. While it may have appeared to the people of God that He was unsympathetic or preoccupied elsewhere during their times of difficulty, nothing could have been further from the truth. He was not only aware, He was in control. And He had a plan. The message of Obadiah was one of hope for the people of God because He was going to act on their behalf. He was going to right all the wrongs, defend the helpless, and keep His covenant promises. It may get worse before it gets better, but IT WILL get better. Much better. Nations like Edom will not be able to stand against the wrath of God. When Christ returns to Earth the second time, He will wage war against the nations that have aligned themselves against God and His people.

It is interesting to note that when Jesus came to earth as a baby, Herod the Great, an Edomite, tried to have Him destroyed when he put to death all the Jewish boys under the age of two. The animosity of the Edomites against the people of God continued even in that day. But Herod would fail and the plan of God would succeed. Even today, there are nations trying to destroy the people of God – the nation of Israel. Jerusalem itself is a battle ground of contention and strife between Muslims and Jews. The Palestinians and Iranians would love to see Israel completely eliminated from the face of the earth. But God is their protector. He will not allow that to happen. He is in control and He is going to finish what He began with the people of Israel. He is going to fulfill every promise He has ever made to them. Obadiah is a reminder to us all that God is in control. He knows what is going on around us. He knows our hurts, cares, and concerns. And He has a plan. He will ultimately right every wrong, destroy every enemy of His, and restore righteousness to the earth. Even in the midst of all the doom and gloom, we can have hope – because our God lives!

Father, never let me lose hope – no matter how bad things may look around me. You are still on Your throne and You still have a plan that You are working behind the scenes in ways that I can't see. Help me to rest in Your promises. Amen





Yawheh Has Given.

2 Chronicles 22-2

Joash remained hidden in the Temple of God for six years while Athaliah ruled over the land. ­– 2 Chronicles 22:12 NLT

It would be easy to read the story of the kings of Judah and Israel and become disheartened by all the treachery, idolatry, murder, and unfaithfulness. It seems with each passing chapter, the kings get worse and the story gets more depressing. Each king seems to take the sins of his predecessor one step farther. Even in chapter 22 of 2 Chronicles we see Ahaziah, the king of Judah destroyed by God for his sins. We also read of the destruction of Joram, king of Israel at the hands of Jehu, a man appointed by God for that duty. God seems to be cleaning house. But at the same time, God is preparing the way for Him to keep the covenant He had made with Israel through David – a promise that would ultimately be fulfilled through a descendant of David – Jesus Christ. But for that to happen, the line of David had to be preserved. And in this story we see God intervene and provide salvation and deliverance in a way that is eerily reminiscent of how He did it back in the days of Moses.

It seems that after Ahaziah is killed by Jehu, Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah determines to make herself the queen of Judah. After all, she had essentially been running the nation when Ahaziah was alive, providing him with wicked counsel. So when he died, she promptly had all the royal offspring of Ahaziah murdered. In other words, she killed all her own grandchildren! This woman made Jezebel look like Mary Poppins. But remember, Ahaziah is off the line of David. His children would be required to keep that line alive. If Athaliah was allowed to destroy them, God's plan and promise would be thwarted. But God had another idea. He did something He had done before and would do again. He spared the life of one child so that He could be the savior of others. When news of Athaliah's plot to kill all the children of Ahaziah gets out, a nurse made takes Joash and hides him in the temple of God. Then Jehoida, the high priest, comes up with a plan to provide him with around-the-clock protection using Levites and priests as the armed guards. Then six years later, they would take Joash and anoint him king of Judah.

Jehoida the high priest not only provided protection for the king, he destroyed Athaliah and began a campaign to restore the worship of Yahweh in Judah. After Joash was crowned as the only living member of David's line, Jehoida renews the covenant between God, the king, and the nation. Then he has the temple and priest of Baal destroyed. He also reinstituted the sacrificial system and the Levitical priesthood. He helped prepare the people of Judah for the reign on Joash. But God was behind it all. He had helped spare the life of this one child, much like He had spared the life of Moses and He would spare the life of Jesus in years to come. Joash would become a savior of the people of Judah, much like Moses had been and Jesus would ultimately be. As we will see in the following chapters, Joash would live up to his name, "Yahweh has given," because he would be a man who followed after God and would do what was right in the sight of the Lord. He would be a breath of fresh air in the stench that surrounded the people of God in those days. Through Joash God was giving the people a respite from the sin and rebellion. Joash would be a light in the darkness. He would act as God's deliverer for forty years. Even in the midst of all the sin and suffering, God would deliver. He would provide a savior. Not because the people deserved it, but because He is faithful to keep His promises. What a reminder of God's faithfulness to us expressed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God provided a light in the darkness. In the midst of despair, God provided hope and a way of deliverance. He is faithful. He has given.

Father, thank You for the story of Joash. It is a reminder of just how good and gracious You are and always have been. You always provide a way out. You are the deliverer. You are always saving and providing a way of escape. And You always keep Your promises. Amen



Look to the Lord.

2 Chronicles 19-21

O our God, won't you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help. ­– 2 Chronicles 20:12 NLT

The first line of The Battle Hymn of the Republic is "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord." As I read these three chapters this morning I couldn't help but think of that song. Here in the story of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, we have a powerful reminder of God's power to deliver in the face of overwhelming odds. We have chronicled for us the amazing faithfulness of God in the midst of the incredible unfaithfulness of men. The stories of the kings of Judah and Israel are filled with plenty of negative portraits of rebellion, pride, idolatry, and unfaithfulness. But right in the middle of the story of Ahab's ill-fated reign, we get to read about a king who ruled righteously. He sought to follow after God. He encouraged the people of Judah to do the same thing. But while he is busy calling the people back to God, his kingdom comes under attack from his enemies. He finds himself surrounded and out-manned. He becomes fearful. So what does he do? He seeks the Lord. He turns his attention to God. "Jehoshaphat was alarmed by this news and sought the LORD for guidance" (2 Chronicles 20:3 NLT). He called a nationwide fast. He and the entire nation call out to God for help. In his prayer on behalf of the people we read words that should come from the lips of everyone of us when we face trials and troubles in our lives. "We're helpless before this vandal horde ready to attack us. We don't know what to do; we're looking to you" (2 Chronicles 20:12 MSG). We don't know what to do! An admission of weakness and inability. We're looking to you! An expression of dependence and faith. Many of us have reached a point in our lives where we have had to say, "I don't know what to do!" But instead of turning to the Lord and saying, "I am looking to you!," we turn elsewhere for our help and hope. We look to men and any means possible for deliverance from our problems. But Jehoshaphat turned to God. He put himself and his nation in the hands of the only one who could truly deliver.

What happens next is amazing. God responds to Jehoshaphat's prayer. "Do not be afraid! Don't be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God's" (2 Chronicles 20:15 NLT). This was going to be God's battle. He was going to take care of this problem Himself. He was going to prove Himself greater than their biggest problem. And it gets even better. "But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD's victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out there tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!" (2 Chronicles 20:17 (NLT). Not only was God going to give them victory, they weren't even going to have to fight. All they had to do was stand still and watch God work. He was inviting them to witness His power and deliverance.

Now here's the part we need to hear. When the people of Judah heard the words of God, they immediately fell down before God and worshiped. They praised God with a loud voice. Nothing had happened yet! They had not seen victory. There had been no deliverance. But they were rejoicing over the promise of God. His word was enough to cause them to respond in worship even before His word had become reality. Before the battle even began Jehoshaphat reminded them, "Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed" (2 Chronicles 20:20 NLT). That word "believe" carries the idea of trust and expectancy. They were to stand on what God had said, even before they had seen anything happen. God's word was as good as His actions. So the people gave thanks and sang to the Lord. Before anything had happened. And as they sang, the victory came. "At the moment they began to sing and give praise, the LORD caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves" (2 Chronicles 20:22 NLT). At the very moment they expressed their trust in God by singing the praises of God, He acted. He delivered. They trusted. God acted. And they were able to witness an amazing victory without ever lifting a finger or a sword. Not only that, when the dust settled there were able to plunder the armies of their enemies and it took them three days to do so because their was so much to gather. God did the work. They got the blessing. God fought the battle. They got the benefit. The only part they played was to trust. They worshiped expectantly. They sang expectantly. They watched expectantly. And God delivered. In the same way He longs to deliver today. But are we willing to come to Him in our own weakness and look to Him for help? Are we ready to rely solely on Him and nothing else? Are we prepared to wait expectantly for His deliverance? Will we trust Him to do what only He can do? Will we sing His praises and thank Him for the victory even before it has come? Trust His word. He can back it up. He always has. He always will.

Father, what a timely reminder. As we face the trials of life, You are there, ready to answer. You are ready to deliver. You are ready to do battle on our behalf. You stand ready to give us the victory we long for, but You are waiting for us to admit on our deficiencies and turn to You in dependency. Help me to learn to trust Your word as much as I trust Your actions. Amen



Sheperdless Sheep.

2 Chronicles 18

So Micaiah told him, "In a vision I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, 'Their master has been killed. Send them home in peace.'" ­– 2 Chronicles 18:16 NLT

When it came time for Macaiah to deliver his word of prophesy from God to Ahab, what he had to say was somewhat strange and rather cryptic. God had given him a vision in which he had seen the people of Israel represented by sheep who were wandering without a shepherd. Why? Because their shepherd had been killed. It is a sad image of helplessness and hopelessness. Without a shepherd, sheep are completely defenseless and lacking in any ability to fend for themselves. They lack leadership and end up wandering all over the place, susceptible to predators, injury and death. It seems that from the context of the message, both God and Macaiah are more concerned about the state of the sheep than what happened to the shepherd. Even Ahab gets it that the vision does not bode well for him. He is going to die. And his death will have dire consequences on the people of Israel. But he doesn't care. All he can think about is himself. He is self-centered, self-promoting, and self-worshiping. His world revolves around himself and his own desires.

But God has a love for his sheep. In fact, He uses that metaphor throughout the Scriptures, often referring to His people as His sheep. When Moses knew that he was not going to be able to lead the people of Israel into the Promised Land, he asked God to provide a new leader to do the job: "O LORD, the God of the spirits of all living things, please appoint a new leader for the community. Give them someone who will lead them into battle, so the people of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd" (Numbers 27:16-17 NLT). Years later, when the people of Israel were living in exile in Babylon, God would prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, "As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, you abandoned my flock and left them to be attacked by every wild animal. Though you were my shepherds, you didn't search for my sheep when they were lost. You took care of yourselves and left the sheep to starve. Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD. This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I now consider these shepherds my enemies, and I will hold them responsible for what has happened to my flock. I will take away their right to feed the flock, along with their right to feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths; the sheep will no longer be their prey" (Ezekiel 34:8-10 NLT). The kings and prophets of Israel had failed to care for God's sheep. He had placed them under their protection and given them responsibility for their well-being. Now the people of Israel were literally scattered, living in captivity in the land of Babylon.

But God would not leave His sheep sheperdless or defenseless. He would intervene. "I myself will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. I will bring them back home to their own land of Israel from among the peoples and nations. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel and by the rivers in all the places where people live. Yes, I will give them good pastureland on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in pleasant places and feed in lush mountain pastures. I myself will tend my sheep and cause them to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign LORD. I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak. But I will destroy those who are fat and powerful. I will feed them, yes -- feed them justice!" (Ezekiel 34:11-16 NLT).

God cares for His sheep. He sent His own Son to help rescue and redeem His lost sheep from captivity to sin. When Jesus came, He saw the great need among the people of Israel. "He felt great pity for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn't know where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd" (Matthew 9:36 NLT). He even referred to Himself as the Good Shepherd, saying, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will leave the sheep because they aren't his and he isn't their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he is merely hired and has no real concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep" (John 10:11-15 NLT).

Ahab had neglected the sheep. He had abandoned his responsibility as a shepherd of God. And most the kings to follow him would do the same thing. The people of God would suffer for years due to lousy leadership and irresponsible shepherding. But God never abandoned them. He continued to act as their Great Shepherd, watching over them and ultimately rescuing them from captivity. And God has cared for us as well, rescuing us from captivity to sin and leading us back into His fold through the efforts of His Son, the Good Shepherd. Where Ahab and others like him had failed, God would succeed. He would be the shepherd the people needed. He would provide the care, comfort, protection and provision they needed. And He still does.

Father, You are the Great Shepherd and You care for me each and every day of my life. You watch over me in ways that I can't even see. You provide for me in ways that go unnoticed by me. While men may fail me, You never do. Thank You. Amen





No News Is NOT Good News.

1 Kings 22

The king of Israel replied to Jehoshaphat, "There is one more man who could consult the Lord for us, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me!! His name is Micaiah son of Imlah." ­– 1 Kings 2:8 NLT

I don't know of anybody who ever named their son after Micaiah, but I think it would be a great name for any boy to have. I'm not quite sure how to pronounce it or what it means, but I know what he stood for: God and the truth. Even against the most powerful man in Israel at the time, this obscure, little know prophet was willing to speak the truth of God, even when he was the odd-man out. I just love this guy's unbridled devotion to God and his willingness to stand up for God regardless the cost. More than 400 other "prophets" had given King Ahab the news he wanted to hear: If he went up against the Arameans in battle, he would easily win. The Lord would give him victory. But Micaiah had a slightly different take on how things were going to turn out for Ahab and the Israelites.His news was not going to be what Ahab wanted to hear.

I also love the fact that Micaiah had a sarcastic sense of humor. He was a prophet of God, but he wasn't afraid to drop a little sarcasm on the king when the opportunity presented itself. When he was brought before king Ahab to give his prediction of the battle's outcome, Micaiah replied, "Yes, go up and be victorious, for the Lord will give the king victory!" (1 Kings 22:15 NLT). That is exactly what Ahab wanted to hear, but he knew that Micaiah wasn't telling him the truth. Why? Because as Ahab irritatingly told Jehoshphat, "He never prophesies anything but trouble for me" (1 Kings 22:18 NLT). Micaiah ultimately told Ahab the truth – that he would lose his battle against the Arameans and, not only that, he would die. God was going to pay Ahab back for all his wickedness and his lifelong love affair with rebellion. Rather than listen to the prophet of God, Ahab chose to listen to the false prophets who were more than willing to tell him what he wanted to hear. Their news was good news. He wanted God to bless what he was doing. He wanted God to conform to his will. It reminds me of the warning Paul gave Timothy: "For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths" (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT). Had Ahab listened to the Word of God delivered to him by the prophet of God, he would have survived this battle. But what God had to say was hard. It was difficult to accept. It would require Ahab to die to his own will and submit to God's.

So the king died. That's how Ahab's story ends. Tragic and sad. He had rejected the Word of God and suffered the consequences. He had refused the will of God and died seeking his own. God had spoken, but Ahab refused to listen. He rejected the good news for a false and more flattering version. And millions of individuals have repeated that same sad mistake ever since. But as followers of Christ, we can also refuse to heed the Word of God. We can ignore it. We can reject it. We can refuse to obey it. There will always be plenty of those willing to tell us what we WANT to hear. They'll tickle our ears. They'll tell us everything is fine. They'll paint a rosy picture of life. They'll refuse to preach the full counsel of God. But as children of God, we should long to hear the unfiltered, unadulterated Word of God. Not a watered down, sweetened up, pasteurized, homogenized, and palatable version that makes us feel good about ourselves and justifies our sins. No news is NOT good news. Are you willing to hear from God and accept His Word as the final word? Seek it. Listen to it. Obey it.

Father, I can be just as guilty as Ahab of seeking to hear only what I want to hear. I can cherry-pick the Scriptures, looking for passages that justify my actions and assuage my guilt. Give me a listening ear and a soft heart that is ready to hear what You have to say and do what You tell me to do. Amen





Hardened Hearts.

1 Kings 21

"nd then seat two scoundrels across from him who will accuse him of cursing God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death. ­– 1 Kings 21:10 NLT

How do two people get to the point that they are willing to kill to get what they want? How did Ahab and Jezebel, the king and queen of Israel, find themselves so morally corrupt that they were willing to twist the very laws of God to fulfill their own selfish desires? It was all a matter of the heart. Their hearts had become hardened after years of living in rebellion against God. Over in Proverbs, Solomon warns, "Blessed is the one who is always cautious, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into evil" (Proverbs 28:14 NET). The NET Bible study notes read, "The one who 'hardens his heart' in this context is the person who refuses to fear sin and its consequences. The image of the 'hard heart' is one of a stubborn will, unyielding and unbending (cf. NCV, TEV, NLT). This individual will fall into sin." Ahab and Jezebel had developed calloused, hardened hearts characterized by a stubbornness and insensitivity to the will and the ways of God. They both knew that it was impossible for Naboth to sell his vineyard – it would have been a breech of the Law for him to sell his family inheritance. But Jezebel was not only willing to break that law, she was willing to twist another law of God to suit her own selfish agenda. She used the law of blasphemy to have Naboth falsely accused and executed. Once he was out of the way, she could get his land.

In his letter to the Ephesians church, Paul describes the ungodly is terms that seem as if he is describing Ahab and Jezebel. "Their closed minds are full of darkness; they are far away from the life of God because they have shut their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They don't care anymore about right and wrong, and they have given themselves over to immoral ways. Their lives are filled with all kinds of impurity and greed" (Ephesians 4:18-19 NLT). Closed minds, hardened hearts, an indifference to right and wrong, lives filled with impurity and greed. That is exactly what was wrong with Ahab and Jezebel. When they had decided to turn their backs on God, their hearts began to turn hard. Without hearts that were tender toward the ways of God, they were capable of doing anything. Their hearts were driven by selfishness and self-centeredness. This whole story revolves around Ahab's desire to have a vegetable garden! A man loses his life and his family loses their inheritance all because Ahab wanted to have a garden. According to Elijah the prophet, Ahab had "sold" himself to doing evil. He had surrendered himself to a life of doing what was against the will of God. And the result was going to be his own destruction and that of his family. God would not and could not allow Ahab and Jezebel to continue to mock His name and His law.

How did Ahab and Jezebel get to this point? It all began when they decided to disobey God and live according to their own set of standards. Hard heads develop hardened hearts. An unwllingness to listen to God turns into an inability to know right from wrong.

Father, hard hearts don't happen overnight. They develop over time. And it begins with a willingness to disobey You in the small areas of life. As we do, we become increasingly more insensitive to Your will and Your ways. Please protect me from disobeying You and justifying it. Don't let me rationalize my sin and excuse my disobedience. It will only result in a hardened heart. Keep my heart tender and sensitive to You. Amen