Where we left off last week, the Northern tribes of Israel were captured and taken away by the Assyrians.  It was their unfaithfulness that led to God’s allowing this.  Why?  That He might save His remnant.  Cleansing had to come before all were destroyed by the apostasy.   It was a very evil and frightening world in which Hezekiah came to be King of Judah. Could he make a difference?  How?  Afterall, the people worshipped many false gods.  They even worshipped the bronze serpent with new fervor as though it were God Himself instead of a mere symbol.  Still as the story of King Hezekiah unfolds, we see that God Absolutely Amazingly Responds to one man’s true prayer of faith.  What was it about King Hezekiah and his prayer that made a difference?  How can we learn to pray powerfully?  Can we make a difference in our nation today?

        King Hezekiah came to power as co-regent King of Judah in the year 729 BC, merely 6-7 years before the Northern tribes of Israel were taken over by the Assyrians. Samaria fell after 3 years of battle.  His father was an evil king disrespectful of God.  Following cultural norms, King Ahaz further encouraged pagan worship.  Yet, now came his son to change all that.  Cannot help but wonder with amazement how King Hezekiah came to know the one true God.  Perhaps a Godly mother, grandmother, or teacher.  Maybe he had listened in the corridors when Isaiah the prophet had spoken.  Yet, he was a good king. Before looking at his prayer of faith or revealing how God Absolutely Amazingly Responds to his prayer, let us look at some of King Hezekiah’s character traits. Perhaps we will find changes necessary in our heart to enrich our prayer chest.

He Chose To Do What Was Right

 he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done.  ⁴ He removed the ^[b]high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the ^[c]wooden image and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it ^[d]Nehushtan. (a bronze thing)2 Kings 18: 3-4

For that to be possible King Hezekiah must have known what the scriptures said.  He had to know the law to be able to do what was right.  And he had to be brave enough to go against the current trends and ideologies of the cultural day. 

Faith Over Fear is Needed for a true prayer of faith

⁵ He trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him. ⁶ For he held fast to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses. ⁷ The Lord was with him; he prospered wherever he went. And he rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. ⁸ He ^[e]subdued the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory, from watchtower to fortified city.  2 Kings 18 (NKJV).

Remember this was in a time when Assyria’s army was overtaking the world and his army was small, somewhat like David against Goliath.  If God did not come to the rescue, all would perish.

 Acknowledged God’s Righteousness, the nation’s sin, and their need to be cleansed

³ In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them. ⁴ Then he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them in the East Square, ⁵ and said to them: “Hear me, Levites! Now ^[b]sanctify yourselves, sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry out the rubbish from the holy place. 

⁶ For our fathers have trespassed and done evil in the eyes of the Lord our God; they have forsaken Him, have turned their faces away from the ^[c]dwelling place of the Lord, and turned their backs on Him. ⁷ They have also shut up the doors of the vestibule, put out the lamps, and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel. 

⁸ Therefore the wrath of the Lord fell upon Judah and Jerusalem, and He has given them up to trouble, to desolation, and to jeering, as you see with your eyes. ⁹ For indeed, because of this our fathers have fallen by the sword; and our sons, our daughters, and our wives are in captivity. ¹⁰ “Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us. 

³¹ Then Hezekiah answered and said, “Now that you have consecrated yourselves to the Lord, come near, and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the Lord.” So the assembly brought in sacrifices and thank offerings, and as many as were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings2 Chronicles 29 (NKJV).

 Understood Grace by Re-establishing the Passover

And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to the Lord God of Israel. …

⁶ Then the runners went throughout all Israel and Judah with the letters from the king and his leaders, and spoke according to the command of the king: “Children of Israel, return to the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel; then He will return to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. ⁷ And do not be like your fathers and your brethren, who trespassed against the Lord God of their fathers, so that He gave them up to desolation, as you see. 

⁸ Now do not be stiff-necked,^[c] as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the Lord; and enter His sanctuary, which He has sanctified forever, and serve the Lord your God, that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you. ⁹ For if you return to the Lord, your brethren and your children will be treated with compassion by those who lead them captive, so that they may come back to this land; for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn His face from you if you return to Him.”  2 Chronicles 30

Compassion for the Lost needs a true prayer of faith

Many arrived unprepared and unsanctified, not really understanding their guilt nor their need for cleansing.  For these the king prayed.

But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the good Lord provide atonement for everyone ¹⁹ who prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he is not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.” ²⁰ And the Lord listened to Hezekiah and healed the people. 2 Chronicles 30

 Understood the importance of Worship

²¹ So the children of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great gladness. And the Levites and the priests praised the LORD Day by day, singing to the Lord, accompanied by loud instruments.  2 Chronicles 30

Generosity

Not everyone came prepared with a proper sacrifice; therefore, King Hezekiah provided for them

²⁴ For Hezekiah king of Judah gave to the assembly a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep.  2 Chronicles 30

 Humility is necessary for a true prayer of faith

After all this was done, the Assyrian King came and took many of the fortified cities and threatened Jerusalem.  In fact, he sent men to disseminate a false narrative. Saying that God sent them because King Hezekiah had torn down the “high places”.  Even in that day, there were those who take partial truths, twist them, and disseminate false news.  When King Hezekiah heard of this, he displayed great humility.

Isaiah 37:

when King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth and went into the house of the Lord. ² Then he sent Eliakim, who was in charge of the [royal] household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz. ³ They said to him, “This is what Hezekiah says, ‘This day is a day of distress, rebuke and disgrace; for children have come to birth, and there is no strength to deliver them. ⁴ It may be that the Lord your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh [the commander], whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to taunt and defy the living God, and will avenge the words which the Lord your God has heard. Therefore, offer a prayer for the remnant [of His people] that is left.’”

⁵ So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah. ⁶ Isaiah said to them, “You shall say the following to your master: ‘This is what the Lord says, “Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me. ⁷ Listen carefully, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land. And I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.” Isaiah 37 (AMP)

The Assyrian King’s Letter vs One Prayer of Faith

The King of Assyria sent forth his men with a letter mocking God and threatening King Hezekiah.

¹⁴ And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. ¹⁵ Then Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said: “O Lord God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. ¹⁶ Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. 

¹⁷ Truly, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands, ¹⁸ and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands—wood and stone.  Therefore they destroyed them. ¹⁹ Now therefore, O Lord our God, I pray, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord God, You alone.” 2 Kings 19.

God Absolutely Amazingly Responds to this prayer of faith

³² “Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria:

‘He shall not come into this city,
Nor shoot an arrow there,
Come before it with shield,
Nor build a siege mound against it.
³³ By the way that he came,
By the same shall he return;
And he shall not come into this city,’
Says the Lord.
³⁴ ‘For I will defend this city, to save it
For My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.’ ” 2 Kings 19

Then God did as He Declared

³⁵ And it came to pass on a certain night that the ^[d]angel of the Lord went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses—all dead. ³⁶ So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went away, returned home, and remained at Nineveh. ³⁷ Now it came to pass, as he was worshiping in the temple of Nisroch his god, that his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat.  2 Kings 19

Not one shot had to be fired by the people of Jerusalem.

What Can we learn from King Hezekiah’s Prayer of faith?

1.  Take the problem directly to the only one who can solve it.
2.  Never forget His Sovereignty in handling the matter
3.   It is not about me, it is about His Glory; therefore, I can accept His response knowing He has this. Regardless of what this is.
4. King Hezekiah’s Prayer was a plea that all the nations on earth will know that God Is Lord God, Alone and only He is.  That should be our motivation as well. 

We know that one day every knee shall bow.  The question is do you know Him as Lord and trust Him today?

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

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When God Says ENOUGH, what then? Are You Ready? Judgement will come!

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New English Translation (NET)

NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

Such were the words of Moses just before his death and their entrance into the promised land.  He had taught them a song to remember.  In that song, he reminded them of all that God had done for them.  Additionally, he reminded them of their rebellious hearts which taunted against God’s grace and love for them.  He reminded them of how often God had reached out his hand in grace; but, one day when God Says Enough, Judgement will come.  Why would they or we be so foolish as to presume upon His grace so much that we cast all His Goodness and Righteousness aside for our own stubborn will?  How can we believe that our will, desires, and way are better than the perfect will of He who created everything?

Yet, that is exactly what we do!  That was also what the children of Israel did.  This brings us to the final chapter concerning the Northern tribes of Israel in 2 Kings 17. As we read these words, look closely around us.  Evil is spinning out of control.  How we would feel lost, if we did not know that this is also controlled by God. 

Deuteronomy 32:

1“Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak,
    and let the earth hear the words of my mouth.
² May my teaching drop as the rain,
    my speech distill as the dew,
like gentle rain upon the tender grass,
    and like showers upon the herb.
³ For I will proclaim the name of the Lord;
    ascribe greatness to our God!

⁴ “The Rock, his work is perfect,
    for all his ways are justice.
A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,
    just and upright is he.

All that is good.  Everything that is righteousness.  All the powers of love are Him; yet, that means He must be just.  Can you say you love your child and let them destroy their life in disobedience?  This is something, I face every day with my grandchildren.  Love must bring discipline.  Justice demands that sinners deserve the full penalty of death.  How evil could my own heart be if it were not for God constraining it?  And for all those who do not know Him, who would they be apart from His restraining grace?

Jonathan Edwards wrote in his sermon: “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.”

There are in the souls of wicked men those hellish principles reigning, that would presently kindle and flame out into hell fire, if it were not for God’s restraints. There is laid in the very nature of carnal men, a foundation for the torments of hell. There are those corrupt principles, in reigning power in them, and in full possession of them, that are seeds of hell fire. These principles are active and powerful, exceeding violent in their nature, and if it were not for the restraining hand of God upon them, they would soon break out, they would flame out after the same manner as the same corruptions, the same enmity does in the hearts of damned souls, and would beget the same torments as they do in them. The souls of the wicked are in scripture compared to the troubled sea, Isa. lvii. 20. For the present, God restrains their wickedness by his mighty power, as he does the raging waves of the troubled sea, saying, “Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further;” but if God should withdraw that restraining power, it would soon carry all before it. Sin is the ruin and misery of the soul; it is destructive in its nature; and if God should leave it without restraint, there would need nothing else to make the soul perfectly miserable. The corruption of the heart of man is immoderate and boundless in its fury; and while wicked men live here, it is like fire pent up by God’s restraints, whereas if it were let loose, it would set on fire the course of nature; and as the heart is now a sink of sin, so if sin was not restrained, it would immediately turn the soul into a fiery oven, or a furnace of fire and brimstone.

When God Says Enough, Judgement will come

35 Vengeance is Mine, and recompense;
Their foot shall slip in due time;
For the day of their calamity is at hand,
And the things to come hasten upon them.’

³⁹ ‘Now see that I, even I, am He,
And there is no God besides Me;
I kill and I make alive;
I wound and I heal;
Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand.

When God says Enough, Judgement will come.  It is in His hands.  The increasing evil, He has allowed, although still He restrains.  It is a slippery slope that humanity stands upon.  One day their feet shall slip.  We see the ever-increasing psychopathic overlords trying to control everything around us.  There are pandemics released and a potential greater one being developed in the same labs.  Famine is increasing due to proxy wars.  The progressive elites demand we bow before their demands for reducing the carbon footprints, while they fly their jets around the world.  Yet, their demands are forcing farmlands to be destroyed and inflation to rage throughout the world.  There is drought throughout Europe only adding to the crisis.  Needed energy is restricted while we fight proxy wars for corrupt oligarchs, while humanity suffers. 

Our own nation so filled with corruption, we cannot help but feel despair and sorrow.  We cannot help but hear God saying,

²⁸ “For they are a nation void of counsel,
Nor is there any understanding in them.
²⁹ Oh, that they were wise, that they understood this,
That they would consider their latter end!  Deuteronomy 32:

When God Says Enough

 Now the king of Assyria went throughout all the land and went up to Samaria and besieged it for three years. ⁶ In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria and carried Israel away to Assyria…

Reason #1 Idolatry

⁷ For so it was that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and they had feared other gods, ⁸ and had walked in the statutes of the nations whom the Lord had cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made.

⁹ Also the children of Israel secretly did against the Lord their God things that were not right, and they built for themselves ^[a]high places in all their cities, from watchtower to fortified city. ¹⁰ They set up for themselves sacred pillars and wooden images^[b] on every high hill and under every green tree. ¹¹ There they burned incense on all the high places, like the nations whom the Lord had carried away before them; and they did wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger, ¹² for they served idols, of which the Lord had said to them, “You shall not do this thing.” 2 Kings (NKJV)

GUILY AS CHARGED–#2—They Stopped Believing God IS God

¹³ Yet the Lord testified against Israel and against Judah, by all of His prophets, every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways, and keep My commandments and My statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by My servants the prophets.” ¹⁴ Nevertheless they would not hear, but stiffened their necks, like the necks of their fathers, who did not believe in the Lord their God. ¹⁵ And they rejected His statutes and His covenant that He had made with their fathers, and His testimonies which He had testified against them; they followed idols, became idolaters, and went after the nations who were all around them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them that they should not do like them. 2 Kings NKJV

#3—They Ignored God’s Commands

¹⁶ So they left all the commandments of the Lord their God, made for themselves a molded image and two calves, made a wooden image and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. ¹⁷ And they caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and soothsaying, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger. ¹⁸ Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them from His sight; there was none left but the tribe of Judah alone.

And What About Us? When God Says Enough

It was several years later, but Judah did not listen despite watching all that happened.  Oh, they had a few revivals.  But nothing lasted.  Such has been the story throughout the ages.  God has been patient, long suffering with such hard necked people; but there will come a day when God Says Enough and the remainder of prophecy will be fulfilled. 

God spoke of Israel and does of Our Nation today:

You grew fat, you grew thick, (with prosperity and pride)
You are obese! (with self-righteousness)
Then he forsook God who made him,
And scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation……

And He (GOD) said: ‘I will hide My face from them,
I will see what their end will be,
For they are a perverse generation,
Children in whom is no faith.
²¹ They have provoked Me to jealousy by what is not God;
They have moved Me to anger by their ^[f]foolish idols.
But I will provoke them to jealousy by those who are not a nation;
I will move them to anger by a foolish nation.
²² For a fire is kindled in My anger,
And shall burn to the ^[g]lowest ^[h]hell;
It shall consume the earth with her increase,
And set on fire the foundations of the mountains.

²³ ‘I will heap disasters on them;
I will spend My arrows on them.
²⁴ They shall be wasted with hunger,
Devoured by pestilence and bitter destruction;
I will also send against them the teeth of beasts,
With the poison of serpents of the dust.
²⁵ The sword shall destroy outside;
There shall be terror within
For the young man and virgin,
The nursing child with the man of gray hairs. Deuteronomy 32 NKJV

Judgement will come.  Are You Ready?

Paul sent a letter to the church in Thessalonica.  They were being severely persecuted by the world around them yet stood strong in their faith.  To all who believe, I challenge and encourage you with these same words.

³ We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, ⁴ so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and ^[a]tribulations that you endure, ⁵ which is manifest^[b] evidence of the righteous judgment of God,

that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; ⁶ since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with ^[c]tribulation those who trouble you, ⁷ and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, ⁸ in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, ¹⁰ when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who ^[d]believe, because our testimony among you was believed.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

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How to Really make the Right Choices in Life to Honor God

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New English Translation (NET)

NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

        We look around us and wonder. “Has there ever been such a time as this?”  Evil invades everything around us. Our life overwhelmed with trials.  Yet, is it really that different than before.  Oh certainly with all the modern technology, we know so much in seconds of time.  News speeds so quickly we cannot assimilate it before the next cycle begins.  Yes, we know that evil will wax worse, and sorrows abound before the rapture.  Immediately followed by the worst days of all in the end times.  However, it has been pretty awful before like in Noah’s day or Sodom and Gomorrah.  What about the years of the Kings in Israel?  Is it that different? We must learn from the faithful in those days. Only then we really make the right choices in life to Honor God. This in spite of living in a world such as this.

        The books of Kings and Chronicles there is outlined the history of the Kings of Israel and the Kings of Judah.  Now what a messed-up bunch of humanity grabbling for power, prestige, money, and position.  There are stories of how they get so involved in idol worship, false doctrines, wars, and even family disputes.  All the way through, God sends his prophets to warn them.  But no one seems to listen for long.  Yet, in His grace, God holds fast with His promise to these His chosen people.  One day the Messiah returns. He comes from the line of David. And all the world are blessed with His offer of salvation.  From the promise given to Adam and Eve of a Savior through to today, God remains faithful.  He completes every promise. That in spite of so few people making the right choices in Life to Honor God.

A Tale of Kings

        Even before Kings were designated, God had warned the people that Kings are not the best of rulers.  At times they abuse their power.  They use the money and the labor of the people.  At times, people will follow after the King, believing he is the solution they need.  Only to find the one they trusted lead them farther away from the only true help.  God alone is the one whom they could trust.  If only they would believe, trust Him, and make the right choices in life to Honor God.  Then their lives could be filled with hope, peace, and joy.  But alas, such as we people are, we wander far from Him. Yet we cannot understand why life has gotten so hard.  Never do we believe the truth. It is our fault.

        Afterall, it is such a broken world we live in.  As the Kingdom divided following Solomon’s reign, these trials and sorrows even worsened.  No nation can stand for long once divided. 

        During the years, there were a few good Kings that would bring revival.  We will this week look at one who is named Joash.

Did the Kings make the Right Choices to Honor God?

Of the Kings, you may see by the chart that the majority of the Kings were evil leading the people further and further into idolatry.  This was worse in the Northern Kingdom of Israel; however, also leaked over into the Southern Tribes of Judah.

In particular, King Jehoram (also called Joram) of Judah married the daughter of Jezebel and King Ahab of Israel.  King Ahab and Queen Jezebel were the evilest of all. They promoted the worship of Baal and made life miserable for the true worshippers of God.  Well Queen Athaliah followed closely in the footsteps of her mother.  After her husband died, her son Ahaziah became King.  This was good for the queen mother who ruled through him. 

10 Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal heirs of the house of Judah. 11 But [^h]Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were being murdered, and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the sister of Ahaziah), hid him from Athaliah so that she did not kill him. 12 And he was hidden with them in the house of God for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land. 2 Chronicles 22 NKJV

IN OTHER WORDS

So, in other words, she tried to kill all her grandchildren so she could remain in power.  The underlying Satanic plot was to destroy the line from which the Messiah was foretold.  As though Satan thought all along, he might succeed one day in destroying God’s plan.

We cannot outdo the palace intrigue of old.  Note, the wife of the priest Jehoiada who raised Joash was actually her daughter.  Probably because he was only one year old, she may not have ever even noticed him being born.

Queen Athaliah ruled the kingdom of Judah for 6 years.

#1 Courage to make the Right Choices in life to Honor God

23 In the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself and made a covenant with the captains of hundreds…they went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the chief fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem. 3 Then all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said to them, “Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as the Lord has said of the sons of David.

 4 This is what you shall do: One-third of you entering on the Sabbath, of the priests and the Levites, shall be keeping watch over the doors; 5 one-third shall be at the king’s house; and one-third at the Gate of the Foundation. All the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord.  6 But let no one come into the house of the Lord except the priests and those of the Levites who serve. They may go in, for they are holy; but all the people shall keep the watch of the Lord. 7 And the Levites shall surround the king on all sides, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes into the house, let him be put to death. You are to be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.” 2 chronicles 23:

True Courage

It took courage to stand; but that courage as you note came from knowing the Lord has said.  He is the courage needed.  We must know His word and that is our sword to stand courageously.  And so, with great courage they crowned the new King Joash surrounded by sword bearing Levites and priests to keep him safe.

And the Queen?

Well, she heard the commotion and came to declare, “Treason, treason” It was an insurrection of sorts in her mind.  But she fled to the stables, where she was pursued and killed. 

#2 Must Cleanse from Evil to Make the Right Choices to Honor God

16 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, the people, and the king, that they should be the Lord’s people. 17 And all the people went to the [^b]temple of Baal, and tore it down. They broke in pieces its altars and images and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. 18 Also Jehoiada appointed the oversight of the house of the Lord to the hand of the priests, the Levites, whom David had assigned in the house of the Lord, to offer the burnt offerings of the Lord, as it is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was established by David. 19 And he set the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the Lord, so that no one who was in any way unclean should enter.  2 Chronicles 23

It is absolutely necessary to cleanse away the sin.  For us it is to lay it at the feet of the cross, to leave it there with sincerity of heart.  Oh, a day when we are drawn aside, we may wander again.  How often does God forgive?  More than I can count; but He looks upon the heart.  We may come with a broken and contrite heart to Him as often as needed. 

#3 Right Counsel is Needed to Make the Right Choices to Honor God

Jehoash (Joash) [^a] became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 3 But the [^b]high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

4 And Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money of the dedicated gifts that are brought into the house of the Lord—each man’s census[^c] money, each man’s assessment money—and all the money that [^d]a man purposes in his heart to bring into the house of the Lord, 5 let the priests take it themselves, each from his constituency; and let them repair the [^e]damages of the temple, wherever any dilapidation is found.”  2 Kings 12

Adult Choices to Honor God

He did learn well, because at the age of 30 he realized the temple was still in shambles and nothing had been repaired.  Jehoiada was quite old by then and perhaps had been more complacent.  The task needed to be done; but somehow the money never got directed to the temple repairs.  So, King Joash devised a more secure plan and set up a giving box at the door of the Temple which was secured and brought to the treasurer each day.  Then the King hired the carpenters, contractors and all who were needed to finish the task.

Unfortunately, after Jehoiada died, the King had some very poor counselors to follow.  This led to the breaking of the peace within the Kingdom of Judah. 

2 Chronicles 24:

¹⁵ But Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and he died; he was one hundred and thirty years old when he died. ¹⁶ And they buried him in the City of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God and His house.

¹⁷ Now after the death of Jehoiada the leaders of Judah came and bowed down to the king. And the king listened to them. ¹⁸ Therefore they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served wooden images and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass. ¹⁹ Yet He sent prophets to them, to bring them back to the Lord; and they testified against them, but they would not listen.

²⁰ Then the Spirit of God ^[a]came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, He also has forsaken you.’ ” ²¹ So they conspired against him, and at the command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the Lord. ²² Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada his ^[b]father had done to him, but killed his son; and as he died, he said, “The Lord look on it, and repay!”

#4: One Must Always Remember God is a Just God to make the Right Choices in life to Honor God

²³ So it happened in the spring of the year that the army of Syria came up against him; and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the leaders of the people from among the people, and sent all their ^[c]spoil to the king of Damascus. ²⁴ For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men; but the Lord delivered a very great army into their hand, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers.

So they executed judgment against Joash. ²⁵ And when they had withdrawn from him (for they left him severely wounded), his own servants conspired against him because of the blood of the ^[d]sons of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed. So he died. And they buried him in the City of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings.  2 Chronicles 24

Conclusions

We cannot become complacent in our own lives either, listening to the wrong crowds and ignoring, “Thus says the Lord.” 

Nevertheless, God will accomplish all that He has planned.  The Question is are we willing to have the courage, the faith, and the fortitude to make the right choices in life to honor God.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

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How Absolutely Marvelous; Yet Mystifying is the Way of God

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New English Translation (NET)

NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

        Sometimes when we read of all that God has done and plans to fulfill, it seems as though we are part of a mystifying story that is absolutely marvelous as well.  Each part of the story is filled with such wonder.  There are moments of great joy, and sometimes sorrows which leads to the next joy being even more exuberant.  Then there are the moments of fear, which press us ever forward reaching for that which will steady through the storm.  Each step, the way of God leading us to a greater faith and hope.  Finally, there are glimpses of greater joy that we have ever seen before lying just before us.  We know it deep within our hearts.  Hearts born to live in perfect harmony with Him, always searching and moving forward.

        Perhaps it was that vision of blazing horses pulling a blazing chariot to sweep up Elijah from this earth into heaven that gave Elisha special courage and faith.  He could see the spiritual beyond the mundane tasks of this earth.  Yet, that too caused him great sorrow.  He could see the impending doom.  The futility of all those around him that sought after earthly treasures and idols who promised them.  He had seen glory and how absolutely marvelous that was.  The warmth and beauty of God’s grace and love kept Elisha strong.  He saw the spiritual battle around him and was overwhelmed with sorrow because of all those who did not believe. Knowing their fate, made him very sad. 

Absolutely Marvelous

In 2 Kings 4 (NET) we read:

Now a wife of one of the prophets^[a] appealed^[b] to Elisha for help, saying, “Your servant, my husband is dead. You know that your servant was a loyal follower of the Lord.^[c] Now the creditor is coming to take away my two boys to be his servants.” ² Elisha said to her, “What can I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She answered, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a small jar of olive oil.”

³ He said, “Go and ask all your neighbors for empty containers.^[d] Get as many as you can.^{[e] 4} Go and close the door behind you and your sons. Pour the olive oil into all the containers;^[f] set aside each one when you have filled it.” ⁵ So she left him and closed the door behind her and her sons. As they were bringing the containers to her, she was pouring the olive oil. ⁶ When the containers were full, she said to one of her sons,^[g] “Bring me another container.” But he answered her, “There are no more.” Then the olive oil stopped flowing. ⁷ She went and told the prophet.^[h] He said, “Go, sell the olive oil. Repay your creditor, and then you and your sons can live off the rest of the profit.”

Marvelous, Yet Mystifying the Miracles of God

Then, he met a very gracious Shulamite woman who made certain he had a private room to sleep in with food provisions each time he passed through the providence.  She had been baron.  Elisha prophesied that she and her husband would have a son.  She could hardly believe; yet God gave her a son.  That son died; however, by faith she placed him in the room where Elisha stayed.  Then with her husband’s permission she left with the carriage and drivers to find Elisha.  Through Elisha, God restored her son’s life. 

This was the life of Elisha.  Absolutely marvelous miracles all around him.  He directed the leprous Syrian general to wash in the Jordan 7 times and he was healed.  But nothing was more miraculously absolutely marvelous more than in Chapter 6. 

A Vision Beyond Man’s sight.

The King of Syria wanted to kill the King of Israel; but each time his attempts were foiled.  He determined someone was spying and betraying him.  But his men told him that it was a prophet who could hear everything he whispered though many miles away.  So, the King of Syria sent troops to surround Elisha’s little school of theology.  (For he had a great school teaching others of God’s wonderful absolutely marvelous glory).  Well, his servant was frightened when he saw the army surrounding them. 

¹⁵ The prophet’s^[r] attendant got up early in the morning. When he went outside there was an army surrounding the city, along with horses and chariots. He said to Elisha,^[s] “Oh no, my master! What will we do?” ¹⁶ He replied, “Don’t be afraid, for our side outnumbers them.”^{[t] 17} Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he can see.”

The Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw that^[u] the hill was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. ¹⁸ As the army approached him,^[v] Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike these people^[w] with blindness.”^[x] The Lord^[y] struck them with blindness as Elisha requested.^{[z] 19} Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the right road or city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you’re looking for.” He led them to Samaria.

²⁰ When they had entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open their eyes, so they can see.” (2 Kings 6 NET).

The army found themselves in the center of Samaria, surrounded by the Samaritan army.   Elisha commanded that grace be given them as prisoners of war.  He advised the King to feed them then send them home.  Elisha was the one whom they came to kill, and he spared their lives.

How Mystifying Is the Way of God

For a time, there was peace for Samaria, but that did not last long for they failed to turn to God.  As they and their King continued to sin against God, the Syrian army once more came and encircled them cutting them off from all food and supplies.  A horrid famine had presented and now with no roads to find food they were in a dire state of affairs.  Instead of pleading to God, the King determined this was God’s fault and the fault of Elisha as God’s man.  He sent a lynch man to kill Elisha. But of course, Elisha saw him coming long before he arrived.  Then, God spoke through Elisha to the people.  He told them that by tomorrow morning, food would be plentiful and the prices reasonable.  The horrid inflation they were enduring would end suddenly. 

² So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, “Look, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” And he said, “In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it.” 2 Kings 7 (NKJV)

Not a good idea to mock God, but such are the foolish of the world who hold fast to their ideas as being greater than Gods.

What happens next is Absolutely Marvelous; yet Mystifying

³ Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die? ⁴ If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die.” ⁵ And they rose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians; and when they had come to the outskirts of the Syrian camp, to their surprise no one was there.

⁶ For the Lord had caused the army of the Syrians to hear the noise of chariots and the noise of horses—the noise of a great army; so they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us!”

⁷ Therefore they arose and fled at twilight, and left the camp intact—their tents, their horses, and their donkeys—and they fled for their lives. ⁸ And when these lepers came to the outskirts of the camp, they went into one tent and ate and drank, and carried from itsilver and gold and clothing and went and hid them; then they came back and entered another tent, and carried some from there also, and went and hid it. (2Kings 7: NKJV)

Think of this. 

4 Lepers who believed there was no hope went to surrender to the Syrians.  At least then they would die quickly rather than slowly of starvation.  For if there was no food for the other people.  These who lived off the scraps thrown them out of charity had no hope.  But when all hope is gone, but God.  Well, He is all you need.

The Most Unlikely News Bearers

At first, they reveled in their fortune only to then to realize they must share in this news with all the others.  Perhaps these 4 lepers were more noble that many of the people in the city.  It is funny how God does absolutely marvelous things in such mystifying ways.  They ran to town to tell everyone.  At first the King refused to believe it so.  It must be a trap.

However, in the end, he sent out a scouting troop who confirmed the absolutely marvelous miracle.  There was an abundance of food which could be sold at a very reasonable price for all to eat.  And the naysayer we read of before? Well, he went out to see and got trampled by the crowd, just as foretold.  He would see it, but not live to enjoy it. 

So what do all these stories have to do with us? 

 God Is the Same Yesterday, today and tomorrow

“God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He said, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Numbers 23:19 NKJV

Furthermore,

God is Absolutely Marvelous Yet Mystifying, there is none like HIM

 ³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance ^[b]incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been ^[c]grieved by various trials, ⁷ that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ⁸ whom having not ^[d]seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹ receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. I Peter 1

• Therefore, though famine, pestilence or trials come, we have nothing to fear because we can trust Him.  Even though his ways are mystifying to us, we can rest in His promises.  He has always completed all that He has foretold and He isn’t about to stop being the absolutely marvelous, sovereign God who can calm our hearts and give us peace, joy and love today. 

Isaiah 55: (NKJV)

Seek the Lord while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
⁷ Let the ^[b]wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the Lord,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.

⁸ “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
⁹ “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.

¹⁰ “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
¹¹ So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me ^[c]void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

¹² “For you shall go out with joy,
And be led out with peace;
The mountains and the hills
Shall break forth into singing before you,
And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
¹³ Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree,
And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree;
And it shall be to the Lord for a name,
For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

PREVIOUS

One Way of Salvation and only One way, which is God and God Alone

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New English Translation (NET)

NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com