2 Kings: Greatest Treasure On Earth

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Friday, April 22, 2016
Chapters: 2 Kings 21-23
Message: 2 Kings: Greatest Treasure On Earth

Hello My Friend,

I got my first King James Bible on September 11, 1984, I remember the date because I earned that Bible while I was doing volunteer work as a teenager and learning about Jesus myself over that summer. Like many people do when they first receive a Bible, I looked it over, read through it a little, even started from Genesis, but it never became part of my life. I have misplaced that Bible time and time again, moved to another state and thought I left it behind only to have it show up right when I was ready to make it a daily part of my life. Now, almost thirty-two years later it is the prominent book in my life, and never leaves my sight. You know, we can get saved and that would be the best decision we ever made, but to fully understand God and see the value in what we possess as a child of the true King, there is no greater treasure on earth than His word. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” - 2 Timothy 3:16,17.

It is not uncommon for people who do not know the word of God to love God, all throughout the Old Testament we learn of kings who did right in the sight of God, but not like David. This meant that although they loved God and lived morally, they did not follow Him with all their heart like David. After Hezekiah died his son, Manasseh reigned, and he turned Judah completely upside down, he not only rebuilt the groves and high places that his father removed from Judah, he brought Baal worship into the very house of God. The events that took place in his fifty-five year reign brought God to remove all of Israel from His sight.

“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. And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the LORD said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever: Neither will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; only if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them. But they hearkened not: and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel.” - 2 Kings 21:5-9.

“only if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them,” If at any time Manasseh would have repented God would have removed His judgment from Israel. He not only rejected God he brought more wickedness and corruption to the people than the ones who were removed from the land. Let me tell you, all it takes is for one person to reject God and bring their false god around to bring judgment to any nation. Our nations are a mess today because our rulers have forsaken God and replaced Him with the false gods of the world. People still worship the sun, moon, and stars, and even His creation more than God today. We cannot stop God’s judgment on the earth, He made His decision, but we can be prepared and safe for when it does come. “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” -Luke 21:36.

After two wicked kings ruled over Judah, we learn of Josiah, a godly king, who walked in the ways of David, and did not cave to other nations trying to buy peace. He was king at the age of eight, and when he turned eighteen, he had all all the idols and groves removed out of the Temple, and began restoring it. Upon cleaning the temple, the high priest discovered something hidden for centuries, the word of God. As they read through it and brought the information to the king, Josiah sought help to understand and discovered the judgment placed o Israel.

“So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her. And she said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read: Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched. But to the king of Judah which sent you to enquire of the LORD, thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard; Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD.” - 2 Kings 22:14-19.

“and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD” The Bible had completely disappeared, even the priests did not know and follow it as it had been forbidden to be read. And because he learned the truth God spared him from seeing the judgment of Jerusalem. An amazing thing happens to a person who accepts Christ and begins reading His word, it convicts them, which means it makes them aware of sin they never knew existed. As much as we love God and want to live a life that is pleasing to Him, the only way we can is by reading and doing what is written in His Word. The Holy Spirit is our guide to understanding the word of God, so never let anyone tell you that modern versions are the same only been changed to help you understand. If we hear His word, and are saved we will do follow it immediately as Josiah did. “He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” - John 8:47.

As Josiah learned the truth, he gathered the entire nation together and the word of God was read. After reading it, a huge spiritual revival took place, people repented, turned to God, and all the abominations were removed out of Judah. And they did not stop there, they went throughout all of Israel and removed everything they could find that would lead the people into sin. Josiah even had the two golden calves that Jeroboam made destroyed.

“And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven: and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Bethel. And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven. And he brake in pieces the images, and cut down the groves, and filled their places with the bones of men. Moreover the altar that was at Bethel, and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, both that altar and the high place he brake down, and burned the high place, and stamped it small to powder, and burned the grove. And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchres that were there in the mount, and sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burned them upon the altar, and polluted it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words.” - 2 Kings 23:4,4,14-16.

“both that altar and the high place he brake down,” Even though a great revival took place and God was very pleased, God did not withdraw His judgment upon Israel. God would spare Josiah the pain of seeing his kingdom destroyed, but the damage was done, God had enough, and was not retracting His judgment. The same holds true for us today, Jesus is coming, God has given the warning, He has had enough, and judgment is coming. People who have already died will face Jesus and be resurrected to either eternal life or eternal death. Those who have not died upon His return will be raptured into the heavens if they are saved. Only those whom believed and received Christ as their Saviour will be saved from eternal death and the lake of fire. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” - John 3:16-18.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the prophetess (21:14) who told Hezekiah the truth. Jesus is not only a prophet, He is the Son of God. “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.

Today's Prayer: God, I know that the Holy Bible is not some ordinary book, it is Your Word, it is holy, pure, alive, and it gives life to all who want You in their lives. Reading Your Word, studying it, and following it will never return void as we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us to what truly is and is not acceptable to You. Lord, give me Your power to live and grow in Your Word, Help me to follow Your commands with all might heart and soul, and lead me to others who need to be saved before Jesus comes to claim us. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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