King James Bible Study: Halfhearted Turned Hardhearted

King James Bible Study: Halfhearted Turned Hardhearted
For: Friday May 06, 2011
Chapters: II Kings 14-15
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-may-6
Details of Today's Reading: The reign of Amaziah over Judah, the civil war between Israel and Judah, the reigns of Jeroboam in Jerusalem, Azariah, and Jotham over Judah and Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah over Israel.

Hello My Friend/Guest,

“And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” - Mark 12:28-31.

Of all that laws and commandments God had given to His people over the centuries none of them mattered to God unless these first two commandments were followed. Of course, God's mercy endures forever, but imagine how much better would lives be if thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength:and love thy neighbour as thyself.

Quite often when you read about the kings of Judah you hear that they did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, which was what they were taught by their fathers. However, it is almost always followed by, yet not like David his father, which meant that they were probably doing some things halfheartedly. The problem with halfheartedness is that it can become hardheartedness.

“He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did. Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places. And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father. But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin.” - II Kings 14:2-6.

Amaziah did really well in the beginning, but the latter end of his reign was full of corruption, so much so that a civil war developed between Judah and Israel, in which Judah was severely defeated. We learn of king after king that would not take away the high places, which meant that idol worship was still common and that the king was not fully loving the Lord with all his heart. Today, there are some people who still keep their high places up (people, jobs, hobbies, etc. that are worshiped above God), unless all the high places are removed they will not love God with all their heart, leaving much room for corruption and destruction. Chastisement is inevitable for all who do not take away the high places. “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” - Hebrews 12:6,7.

God truly does everything He can to get us to give ourselves wholeheartedly to Him, all the trials, all the afflictions, all the joys, and even the tears are placed before us so that we are the best we can be only through the power of God. There is not a day that goes by where I do not thank God for taking me out of the world and the mess I had gotten myself into. Although the Northern Kingdom revolted God, they were still His people and He still loved them just as much as He loved His faithful children. He tried time and time again to get the current king of Israel do right, once in a while He was able to get a king to follow His command, such as the case with Jeroboam.

“He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher. For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel. And the LORD said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.” - II Kings 14:25-27.

God does not want to see any person perish, otherwise He would not have sent Jesus to save all mankind. Jesus died on the cross for all of us, but He will not save anyone who does not want to be saved. Old and New Testament people alike never get anything from God without asking Him for it. However, no matter who you are or what you have done in the past, God is willing to reach out His hand and save all who believe in and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” - Romans 5:8,9.

Now we learn of Azariah, also known as Uzziah, he was a king who also did right in the sight of God, he had done more to restore lost territory and strengthen the prestige of Judah than any king since the kingdom divided.

“Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done; Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places. And the LORD smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house. And Jotham the king's son was over the house, judging the people of the land.” - II Kings 15:2-5.

Just as the others, Azariah's heart was not completely given over to God and toward the end of his reign he became leprous over his sins, which we learn in more detail in II Chronicles. Incidentally, God did not give these laws to those who are righteous they were given to enforce the law upon the lawbreakers.

“For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” - Romans 2:12-16.

No matter how much we repent, no matter how many commands we follow, unless we give God all our heart we will go through a lot of unnecessary suffering. Yes, we need trails and affliction from time to time to keep us reminded that God is still around, but there would be far less as we yield to God and love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Just following two commands paves the way for the rest and not only gives us honor to God, but honor from God as well. “ That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” - I Peter 1:7.

Jesus Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through God's judgment when He struck King Azariah with leprosy. Christ is judge of all and we will all face Him for judgment. “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: “ - John 5:22.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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