King James Bible Study: On God's Team

King James Bible Study: On God's Team
For: Monday May 09, 2011
Chapters: II Kings 21-23
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-may-9
Details of Today's Reading: The abominable reigns of Manasseh and Amon in Judah, God's judgment upon Judah, the godly reign of Josiah, the repairing of the temple, the finding of the Book of the Law, the Law read to the people, the king’s covenant and reformations of Israel, Josiah slain by Pharaoh-nechoh, and the wicked reigns of Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim.

Hello My Friend/Guest,

“ Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” - II Timothy 3:12-15.

As children of God, we would not get very far in life without the Word of God. His Word is the ultimate guide in providing us with inspiration, instruction, correction, and more importantly how we can have a relationship with God. The only way to God is through Jesus Christ and unless we have read it or had someone show it to us from the Bible we would have never known that. Without God's Word we leave God up to our own human reasoning and all that does is get us in some big trouble.

After Hezekiah died, his son Manasseh reigned and he did more evil than any other king in the four hundred and fifty years that Israel had kings, he even did worse than the heathen nations that were cast out of Canaan, in which he built groves and worshiped heathen gods inside the House of the Lord.

“And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put my name. And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.” - II Kings 21:2-6.

While God loves all the people He created He does not force Himself upon anyone, we are all free to worship whoever we choose to worship. However, mess with His people or get others to fall into the same corruption and there will be a price to pay.

“And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. “ - Revelation 21:6-8.

There was a price to pay, God gathered up all the faithful prophets He could find left in Jerusalem and told them the fate of Jerusalem and all Judah.

“Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle. And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down. And I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies;” - II Kings 21:12-14.

While God was set upon removing Israel from His sight He did not forsake all of them, He knew there would be a few that would remain faithful where ever they were. His remnant would find Him and they would be His and remain His forever. Today, God's remnant still exists and we are still among the enemy, but He never forsakes us, we may suffer from time to time, but in the end we will see the greater reward. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” - James 1:12.

After two wicked kings ruled over Judah, one godly man, named Josiah walked in the ways of David and did not get intimidated by other kings trying to threaten him. He began to reign at the age of eight, when he was eighteen he had all all the idols and groves removed out of the Temple and began restoring it. Upon cleaning the priest discovered something he had never seen before, the Book of the Law.

“And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king. And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying, Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.” - II Kings 22:10-13.

For two generations the Book of the Law had completely disappeared as it had been forbidden to be read even by the priests. This was the first time that Josiah heard the Word of God from the actual book, upon hearing it, Josiah repented for all his sins in true repentance then begins earnestly searching to find the truth that God would have him do concerning those things that were written in His Word. An amazing thing happens to a person who accepts Christ and begins reading His Word, it convicts us. When man finds the Word, the Word is quick to find him and convict him of sin. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” - Hebrews 4:12.

As Josiah learned the truth he gathered all the elders everyone together and the Word of God was read to the congregation. After reading it a huge spiritual revival took place, everyone in the congregation began helping remove all the abominations to the Lord out of Judah, Jerusalem, and even throughout Israel.

“And the king sent, and they gathered unto him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem. And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD. And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant...Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.” - II Kings 23:1-3,24.

Even though that spiritual revival took place and God was pleased, He still allowed Jerusalem and Judah to be destroyed. While the efforts are wonderful as it keeps God's faithful honest and faithful, a revival does no good if the people have no intention of changing their ways. God knew the only way to get the people to repent was to get them back to fearing Him. Today, our nations are in need of a serious spiritual revival, if the things of Jerusalem were an abomination to God back then, imagine what God must think of the world now as it is? I tell you what I am glad to be on God's team.

“But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.” - I Peter 3:14-17.

Jesus Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the prophets (21:10) “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” - Hebrews 1:1,2.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

Learn How Jesus Can Set You Free: http://www.godsprice.com
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com
Missed A Devotional: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/daily-bible-study
Subscribe To This Devotional: devotions@imfollowingjesus.com