TODAY’S READING: ESTHER 1-3

 

OVERVIEW:

Vashti (a Gentile woman) is removed from her royal position as queen; Esther (a Jewish woman) is chosen to be the new queen; the evil plot of Haman against the whole Jewish race.       

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

The events of Esther take place between Ezra 6 and 7.  The third year of Ahasuerus (1:3) would be the year 483 BC.  Ahasuerus is the title of the Persian ruler, just as Pharaoh was the title of the Egyptian ruler.  God’s name is found nowhere in this Book, although Jewish scribes have found the name Jehovah hidden in five different verses.  What a great spiritual lesson this illustrates for us all: when it seems that God is nowhere to be found, we just need to look a little harder and we will find Him working “behind the scenes” to accomplish His purposes for our lives (Rom. 8:28).

 

The Book of Esther opens with King Ahasuerus holding a seven day (1:5) feast for all those in His palace.  During this feast, the king, after much drinking, decided to show off His beautiful queen to all of his male friends.  The queen, in her wisdom and with her apparent high moral values, refused to cater to the king’s selfish drunken request.  This, of course, ticked off the king and all his princes.  So they all decided that it was best for the king to remove her from being the queen.  They let this be known by way of the “pony express” to the entire kingdom so that all the women would fear and honor their husbands.

 

After about four years, the king began to regret his rash decision regarding Vashti because he missed her (2:1).  His servants convinced him to pick a new queen from among the many beautiful women in his kingdom.  It just so happened that God had placed a man named Mordecai in an important position, for he was seated at the king’s gate (2:21).  Mordecai, a cousin of Esther, who had brought her up from her youth and was like a father to her, decided to enter her into this “contest” to become queen.  Esther did not let it be known to anyone that she was a Jew at the request of Mordecai (2:20).  She was chosen by the king to be his new queen and a feast was thrown in her honor.  At the end of chapter 2, Mordecai found out about a plot to kill the king.  He notifies Esther, who then tells the king in Mordecai’s name.  This all then gets written down in the book of the chronicles of the king.  While this may seem rather insignificant at the time, it ends up being the very thing that God uses to save His people from destruction.  Isn’t it just like God to save His people by something written in a “King’s Book” (Rom.10:17)?

 

Chapter 3 begins with a man named Haman getting a big promotion from the king.  Haman was now the King’s right hand man so to speak.  This promotion went to his head and when he found out that Mordecai didn’t bow to him as he passed by, it ticked him off (3:5).  Haman decided to offer the king about 25 million dollars in silver if the king would pass a law condemning the entire Jewish race to death (including women and children).  This money would probably come from the property of the Jews that would be slain (much like has happened down through history with Hitler during WWII and the Roman Catholic Church during the crusades).  The king passes the law and the date was set by casting lots (Est. 3:7, Prov.16:33).  In God’s providence he sets the date for this murder of His people a whole year away (3:7) in order to give time for Mordecai and Esther to work their plan in the following chapters to stop this wicked plot!     

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through KING AHASUERUS – Esther 1-2. There is coming a day very soon when God will rapture the church (His Gentile queen) off this earth because of her unfaithfulness to Him, and replace her with the Nation of Israel (His Jewish queen) for His 1000 year reign on earth as King

TODAY’S READING: NEHEMIAH 10-13

 

OVERVIEW: The list of leaders who placed their seal on the covenant with God; the city ofJerusalemis populated with by the Jews; the dedication of the city wall; Nehemiah condemns the people’s wicked ways and reforms the abuses.  

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

After making a “sure” covenant with God in chapter 9 to do all things according to His Word, the leaders sealed it.  Chapter 10 lists for us the names that entered into this covenant with God that day by sealing it themselves.  Little did they realize that their names would be recorded eternally in God’s Word for us all!  In verses 28-39, we see the people actually applying the Word to their everyday lives.  It is one thing to pray and sign a covenant; it is another thing to separate from evil, straighten out our homes (vs. 28-30), honor the Sabbath (vs. 31), contribute to the house of God (vs. 32-33), and serve God with tithes and offerings (vs. 34-39).  Too many “Bible conferences” end with people stirred and feeling all blessed inside, but never actually obeying what God supposedly taught them! 

 

In chapters 11 and 12, the city ofJerusalemis populated and the wall ofJerusalemis dedicated.  It was necessary to get the Jews to live in the city, both for the good of the city and the glory of God.  This, of course, demanded faith because you had to leave your home for a different place.  In order to accomplish this, the leaders cast lots and moved 10% into the city.  Nehemiah 11:2 indicates that there were some volunteers.  The numbers in Nehemiah 11:3-19 total just 3044 men.  If this represents 10% of the male Jewish population that had returned from exile to the Promised Land, then we can see how small the remnant in the land actually was.  This illustrates for us the truth found in Matthew 7:14…”Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and FEW there be that find it.”

 

From Nehemiah 13:6 and 7:2 we learn that Nehemiah had returned toBabylonfor a few years, leaving the governing of the city in the hands of his brother.  When he returned, he discovered that the people had fallen back into their old ways.  Nehemiah 13:1-3 tell us of the cleansing that took place the very day of the dedication, when they had separated the heathen wives in the families (see Deut. 23:3-5).  Sin has a way of repeating itself!  When Nehemiah returned toJerusalem, he found that the Jewish men had repeated this very sin (vs. 23-31).  In fact, even the priests had sinned in this way!  It was necessary for this courageous saint and leader to face sin honestly and judge it!  And that is exactly what he did.  How are you doing judging the sin in your life?  Are you a good enough friend to those you love that you confront them with the sin in their lives?

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As the WALL OFJERUSALEM– Nehemiah12:27. God is our fortress in whom we trust (Psalm 91:2).

 

TODAY’S READING: NEHEMIAH 5-9

 

OVERVIEW: The anger of Nehemiah regarding the way the wealthy Jews had taken advantage of the poorer Jews; the enemy attacks with deceit, slander and threats; the people who returned are numbered; the Word of God is preached to the people; the Levites cry out to God praising Him for His mercy and goodness. 

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Chapter 5 is a sad chapter.  The Jews are selfishly preying upon one another for the sake of material gain and money!  It just so happens to be that no building takes place in this chapter either.  There were great economic burdens on the Jews, not only because of the famine (Hag. 1:7-11), but also because of taxes and tributes.  The poorer Jews were being robbed by their own richer Jewish brethren through mortgages and servitude.  They were forced to do this in order to get food and other necessities.  The Jews, like us today, were supposed to watch out for one another, love one another, and help one another.  They did the exact opposite…they preyed on one another.  Proverbs3:27tells us to, “withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.”  Philippians 2:4 says, “look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”  We can become so selfish that we choose to make money on those to whom we should be offering help.  This whole practice of the Jews made Nehemiah very angry (Neh. 5:6).  That just happens to be the same response Jesus had when this same type of thing was happening in the New Testament (Mark11:15-17).  Nehemiah very wisely put this evil, selfish practice to an end (Neh. 5:9-12) and got back to the work at hand.

 

In chapter 6 the work on the walls resumes.  It is no coincidence that when the work started again, the enemy also appears.  This time Sanballat and his men aim their attacks at Nehemiah the leader.  Satan knows that every thing rises and falls on leadership.  If he can get Nehemiah to stop building the walls, then the work stops altogether.  There is a high price to pay when you are God’s leader in any area (i.e. pastor, father, mother, teacher, discipler, etc.).  There is a large target on your back for Satan to take aim.  This is why we must all put on the whole armor of God daily (Eph.6:10-18).  Sanballat tries repeatedly to arrange a meeting with Nehemiah “to just talk”. Nehemiah did not fall for this trick because he was not ignorant of Satan’s devices (II Cor.2:11).  Beware of the smiles of the enemy, for Satan is more dangerous when he appears to be your friend than at any other time.  Four invitations came (Neh. 6:3-4) and Nehemiah refused them all.  Stay on the job when Satan invites you to quit, and God will bless you.  The fifth time the messenger comes with an “open letter” (vs. 5) filled with slanderous accusations against Nehemiah.  “It is reported” (vs. 6) is one of the devil’s chief weapons.  “They say” or “I have heard,” and “Did you know?” are usually phrases that introduce gossip and lies.  Nehemiah’s life and character refuted every lie in the letter.  Note how Nehemiah once again takes this problem to God in prayer (vs. 9).  The servant of God cannot help what men may say about him, but he can help what kind of character and testimony he has.  If Nehemiah had stopped the work to defend his reputation, the walls would never have been built.  But that didn’t happen and the walls were completed in just 52 days (vs. 15)!  God was glorified and the enemy was embarrassed (vs. 16).  May all the work you allow the Lord to do through you end with this same result!

 

Chapter 7 is a numbering of all the people who had returned from the exile.  In Chapter 8 Ezra returned toJerusalemto assist Nehemiah with the dedication of the walls and the sanctifying of the people.  It is significant that the people gathered to hear the Word of God at the water gate (8:1)…for water always pictures the Word of God (Eph. 5:26).  Verses 8 and 9 describe the perfect church service: the people all assembled to listen; the Word was exalted high; the preacher read and explained the Word so the people could understand it; and the people wept at hearing the Word, which no doubt, revealed their sin!  This reading of the Word in chapter 8 led the leaders to prayer in chapter 9.  All of chapter 9 is a prayer that gives us a spiritual summary of the Old Testament history of the Jews.  In this prayer, they praise God for His mercy to them in spite of their unfaithfulness.             

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through NEHEMIAH – Nehemiah 5:17-19. He was the governor of the people, yet he fed all who came (Jews, nobles, and even Gentiles) to his table at no cost to them.

TODAY’S READING: NEHEMIAH 1-4

 

OVERVIEW:

Nehemiah prays to God aboutJerusalem’s desolate condition; Nehemiah petitions the King for permission to rebuild the walls ofJerusalem; Nehemiah organizes the people and they begin repairing the walls; opposition to the work arises.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As the Book of II Chronicles came to an end, we saw that God’s people were taken into captivity by the Babylonians.  In the Book of Ezra, we saw that God worked in the heart of Cyrus, the pagan King of Persia (note, that whileIsraelwas captivity, the Babylonians were overtaken by the Persians), to allow the Jews to return toJerusalemto rebuild theTempleand restoreTempleworship.  After this small revival, (only a remnant of God’s people chose to return), which began around 536 B.C., God used a prayerful man named Nehemiah in 445 B.C. to return toJerusalemand rebuild the walls of the ruined city.  God’s purpose behind this mission was to restore safety and order to the inhabitants ofJerusalem.

 

After hearing reports of the sad state of the city ofJerusalem, Nehemiah became burdened for his brethren and began to pray.  This was all in spite of the fact that he was in a high position in the King’s court (he was the cupbearer – Neh.1:11) and truly had no worries for himself.  It wasn’t his fault that the city was in the condition it was in.  He could have easily justified not doing anything but praying.  Instead he risked his own life by going before the King with his request to rebuild the walls ofJerusalem(Neh. 2:1-6).  Unlike Nehemiah, we oftentimes pray, expecting God to do all the work.  Yet we need to be more like Nehemiah who was willing to get up and do something about it.  God can’t direct our steps if we aren’t moving (Prov. 16:9)!  Note that God did more than just get the King to grant his permission for the work, he funded the whole thing as well!  Our God is certainly able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think (Eph.3:20).  We need to ASK and then we need to ACT, just like Nehemiah!  Pray as if all depends on God, but work as if it all depends on you.

In chapter 3, God lists the names of the workers and the work that they did.  Each man had a specified area of responsibility.  No man can do everything, but every man can do something.  It is interesting to note that in verse 5, some of the nobles didn’t do anything!  God reminds us of this truth in I Corinthians 1:26-29, when he says that “not many noble are called” to do the work of God.  Be careful if you find yourself not doing anything because you are just too good to be doing such meaningless tasks.  It may well be because you are too “noble” in your own mind! 

 

There are 10 gates that were repaired in this chapter and they paint for us a very incredible picture of the Christian life: ( this is the 1^st series I did as a pastor of CHBC)

 

1. The sheep’s gate (vs. 1) – speaks of Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross.  This was the first gate repaired, for without the sacrifice, there is no salvation.  Note that the sheep’s gate had no locks or bars, for the door of salvation is always open for the sinner to enter!

 

2. The fish gate (vs. 3) – We are called to be fishers of men (Mark1:17).

 

3. The old gate (vs. 6) – We are to follow the old paths and old truths of the Word of God (Jer.6:16).

 

4. The valley gate (vs. 13) – We are to be humble just as Christ was (Phil. 2:5-9).

 

5. The dung gate (vs. 14) – This is the gate through which the waste of the city was taken.  We are to cleanse ourselves of all filthiness of the flesh and spirit (II Cor. 7:1).

 

6. The gate of the fountain (vs. 15) – We need to be filled with the Spirit (John 7:37-39, Eph. 5:18).

 

7. The water gate (vs. 26) – Speaks of the Word of God (Eph.5:26).  This just “happens” to be the seventh gate mentioned (seven is the number of perfection in the Bible).  Psalm 19:7 says that God’s Word is perfect!  It just so “happens” that this gate needed no repairs!

 

8. The horse gate (vs. 28) – The horse is a symbol of war and we are certainly in a warfare as soldiers of God (Eph.6:10-17; II Tim. 2:1-4).

 

9. The east gate (vs. 29) – This reminds us of Christ’s return.  For the Sun of Righteousness will rise in the east (Mal. 4:2) with healing in His wings.

 

10. The gate Miphkad (vs. 31) – this speaks of God’s judgment.  This Hebrew word means “appointment”, “account”, or “census”.  We, too, will have to give an account before God at the judgment seat of Christ (Rom.14:10-12).   

 

Just the order in which the gates are mentioned can teach us some amazing truths about the Christian life.

 

In chapter 4, the enemy appears.  One thing you can be sure of – when God’s work is being accomplished, the enemy will come against it. This is exactly why we need to be on guard for the Enemy right now! We have seen in the past 3 or 4 months God do some great work in Callie Harbin, and it is not “if” but “when” the enemy will show up.   The enemy tries ridicule, force, discouragement, and fear to get God’s people to stop the work.  How did they overcome all of these?  Through prayer (vs. 9).  Note that Nehemiah did not just depend on prayer alone, he also set a watch.  God expects us to do the possible, and then trust Him for the impossible.

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As the KING’S CUPBEARER – Nehemiah1:11(Nehemiah was the King’s cupbearer – i.e. served the King beverages at his table.  Jesus took the cup of wrath of our King for us on the cross – Luke 22:42).

 

Through NEHEMIAH – (He left the King’s court and his high position behind, to go far away (approx. 750 miles) to build a wall of protection for God’s people) – Nehemiah 1-3.  (Jesus did this same thing for you and me!)

 

As the SHEEP GATE – Nehemiah 3:1 – (The only way we can become one of Christ’s sheep is by entering through the right “door,” which is Christ himself – John 10:1,7,9,10).

 

 

 

TODAY’S READING: EZRA 7-10

 

OVERVIEW:

Ezra leads a second group of Jews to return to the land; the sinful condition of the people; Ezra’s prayer and confession; the people repent.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Ezra chapter 7 begins approximately 60 years after the end of chapter 6.  Ezra leads a second wave of people returning toJerusalem.  Ezra has a good testimony before King Artaxerxes and the king gives Ezra the letter authorizing the return.  The description of Ezra in 7:6-10 is a description we should long for as well.  Verse 6 says he was a “ready scribe in the law of Moses”.  Though Ezra could not perform all his duties while in captivity, he still had made himself ready for the time when God would use him.  Am I preparing myself with God and His Word for whatever He may want to accomplish with me in the future?  I may not be able to do it now but am I READY?  Then verse 10 shows us how he had made himself ready – “Ezra prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach inIsraelstatutes and judgments”.  First he knew he must seek the law of the Lord.  Proverbs 2:4 talks about seeking God’s word as silver and searching for it as for “hid treasure”!  Honestly, how many of us have prepared ourselves to seek God’s word that way? 

 

Secondly, Ezra was prepared to do it.  Many of us have a good handle on the knowledge of God’s Word.  However, the real key is, are we prepared to DO it? We know we should seek the things above.  Do we do it?  We know we should be submissive one to another.  Do we do it?  We know we shouldn’t talk about each other.  Do we do it?  We know we shouldn’t hold grudges or be bitter.  Do we do it?  There are lots of things we know, but how much do we put in practice. 

 

Third, Ezra wanted others to understand God’s word.  One doesn’t have to be a pastor to teach the Word of God to others.  It’s called discipleship.  Is this still a priority in my life?  We are a group of people that like new things, and grow bored with things of the past!  We must always remember that discipleship is the one thing the Lord left us here to fulfill.  Is teaching the word of God to others something that excites you and you’re prepared to do?  It should be and must be for us to fulfill God’s plan for our life.  Notice also that God’s hand is upon Ezra.  This is not a coincidence.  We all want God’s hand to be upon our life; the problem is we also want to do what we want to do.  God’s hand was upon Ezra because he was a man surrendered to the purposes of God.  We can have God’s hand upon us as well, but it only comes as we are surrendered to the purposes of God.

 

Once Ezra arrives inJerusalemhe soon understands the true condition of the people.  Though they had returned to where they should be (the Promised Land), they had once again given in to their flesh and were involved in the abominations of the people around them.  We must remember that the battle with the flesh is a daily battle.  You can’t get to the place where you think you have conquered your flesh and can take it easy.  Sure you may not commit the kinds of sin these people committed but your flesh will constantly seek to find a way to conquer you.  Remember I Corinthians 10:12!  Ezra’s response to this is brokenness.  Chapter 9 and verse 5 says, “And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness…”  In fact, as you read Ezra’s prayer in chapter 9, he identifies himself with his people.  Rarely do we take this path.  Many times we’re not broken about the sin in our brothers and sisters lives.  We may talk about it, we may think it’s terrible, we may think we knew something like that would happen, but rarely inLaodiceaare we truly broken and heavy about it.  And the few times we may be truly mourning our brother or sisters sin, how often do we identify with them.  Do we intercede in prayer on their behalf before God?  Is it something that consumes us as it did Ezra? 

 

Ezra does confront the sin, and the people confess their sin and turn from it.  This was difficult.  It meant turning from things to which they had grown very accustomed.  It meant turning from things and people they loved.  True repentance seems costly until you view it through the eyes of eternity.

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through EZRA (a priest) making intercession for his people. – Ezra 9:1-5; 10:1 (Hebrews7:25says Jesus is our priest who “…ever liveth to make intercession for them.”)

 

TODAY’S READING: EZRA 1-6

 

OVERVIEW:

The decree from Cyrus; the returning Jewish families are listed; the altar and temple are rebuilt; the adversaries come against the work.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Ezra breaks down into two sections based upon the leader and the time period.  Chapters 1-6 are under the leadership of Zerubbabel.  Chapters 7-10 are under the leadership of Ezra and take place approximately 60 years after chapter 6. 

 

The children ofIsraelhave been in captivity for seventy years when the book of Ezra begins.  God works in the spirit of Cyrus to issue a decree for the Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild their temple.  This fulfills the prophecy in Jeremiah 29:10 and Isaiah 44:28 and 45:1.  Because of the wording of the decree and its emphasis upon God as “THE God,” many have speculated that Daniel had an influence upon the king’s decision, or even wrote the decree for the king.  Whatever the case, it happened because God said it would!

 

The captivity was not the same kind of slavery the Jews had endured inEgypt.  They actually did quite well as a people group in captivity.  That’s why not all Jews returned to the land.  The ones returning make it to the land and begin the restoration process. 

 

The restoration is led by Zerubbabel, from the king’s line, and Jeshua, from the priest’s line.  They lead the people to establish an altar as the starting point.  They begin rebuilding the temple, starting with the foundation, in the second year. It was both a joyous moment and sad moment as the foundation was completed.  Joyous because many had only dreamed of such a time when they could be a part of fulfilling God’s plan.  Sad for those who remembered the former temple and its glory, as they realized this would not be to the same scale.

 

It’s at this time that opposition to God’s work comes.  First, the adversaries offer their services to join the Jews in the building of the temple.  However, when Zerubbabel and Jeshua refuse their offer, their real motives surface.  The adversaries begin to trouble the people, and even hire counselors to “frustrate their purpose” (4:5).  They also appeal to the new king to make these people stop citing the past as the reason.  The new king agrees with the adversaries and the work stops.

 

However, Zerubbabel and Jeshua, along with the prophets, are able to encourage the people and lead them to begin the work again, even without permission.  When they are questioned about it, they make request to the king and their request is granted.

 

What a beautiful picture of restoration for our lives.  Maybe we need to make sure we are being led by a king and a priest.  A king that we submit to as Lord and do His will; a priest that not only can cleanse us from all sin, but can also be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.  There are times we need to get back to the altar of God, where it is just us and God, and our fellowship with Him can continue.  The good news is, we don’t have to lay the foundation again.  I Corinthians3:11says Christ is our foundation and our concern is how we build our temple upon that foundation (I Cor.3:10-15).  However, there will be adversaries.  The first battle is compromise.  If that doesn’t work, the adversary will trouble you, and try to “frustrate your purpose”.  Many well intentioned-Christians have been knocked out of the battle because their purpose was frustrated.  When those times come, and they will, we need to persevere in the work to which God has called us, and appeal to our King to intervene on our behalf.  We don’t always know how God’s plan will work out.  Our responsibility is to be faithful to our purpose and persevere in the work of the Lord (I Corinthians15:58).

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through the GREAT STONES used in building theTempleofGod– Ezra 5:8. Christ is the Stone which the builders rejected and He has become the Cornerstone of our faith (Psalm 118:22; Matthew21:42).

 

TODAY’S READING: II CHRONICLES 32-36

 

OVERVIEW: Assyria invades Judah; Hezekiah’s death; Manasseh’s reign; Amon’s reign; Josiah’s reign; the Book of the Law is found; the reigns of Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah; the fall of Jerusalem; Judah is taken into Babylonian captivity; the decree of Cyrus to rebuild the Temple.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Our closing commentary concerning Hezekiah in yesterday’s reading was, “What a guy!”  That is further reiterated in today’s reading.  The character of Hezekiah made manifest through the incredible decisions and reforms he made during his reign was a rare commodity in the kings ofJudahandIsrael.  As we have seen with every king, however, God allowed each of them to be tested.  In chapter 32, Hezekiah faces a major test as he gets word that Sennacherib, the wicked king ofAssyria, with his ferocious army “purposed to fight againstJerusalem” (32:2).  When faced with similar dilemmas, so many other kings we have read about resorted to the arm of the flesh for help, and/or contracting the help of pagan kings and nations.  Note the incredible surrender of Hezekiah to the Lordship of Jehovah, and his absolute confidence and complete trust in the Lord’s strength for victory in the battle.  My, my, my, do we 21st century Christians need to learn from Hezekiah’s example!  When faced with the threat of Sennacherib’s army, Hezekiah didn’t freak out, or kick into panic mode in any way!  Rather, he spoke “comfortably” to the people of Judah, saying, “Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: with him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our GOD, to help us, and to fight our battles” (32:7-8a).  Wow! What strength! What faith! What dependence! What trust! And notice the response of the people: “And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king ofJudah” (32:8b).

 

Note also that this great demonstration of faith didn’t cause Satan (i.e. Sennacherib) to roll over or shut up.  Actually, it caused him to run his blasphemous mouth even more!  He sought to intimidate the people saying, “Yeah, yeah, all the other countries that I’ve humiliated and obliterated thought their god was going to deliver them out of my hand too, and you see where it got them!  And you’re going to be no different!”

 

Verses 9-18 of chapter 32 let us know that Satan (i.e. Sennacherib) used every opportunity and available means to continuously seek to destroy the people’s confidence in Hezekiah’s leadership and Jehovah’s lordship.  But he was barking up the wrong tree!  I love verse 19:  “And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man.” Sennacherib was successful in defeating those gods, because they were man-made gods.  Now he was coming against the God who made man!  Hezekiah and Isaiah join their hearts together in prayer to THAT God, and the rest is history!  God turned loose an angel and that was it!  The battle was over just that quick.  Verse 21 says that loudmouth Sennacherib “returned with shame of face to his own land.”  (For those of you who are acquainted with Asian and Middle Eastern culture, you understand that that “shamed face” thing is monumental!) It was so monumental that when he did get home, his own sons slew him with their swords (32:31)!

 

Hezekiah is faced with another test (32:24-26), and briefly allows his pride to cause him to sin against God.  In great Romans 7 fashion, however, he immediately humbles himself before the Lord.

 

After his death, his son Manasseh comes to the throne.  His reign was even more wicked than that of Ahaz, if you can imagine!  He gets the prize for not only having the longest reign inJudah(55 years), but for having the most evil reign!  The list of sins he was involved in and led the people into is horrendous (33:3-8).  Verse 9 of chapter 33 takes the cake!  It says, “So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants ofJerusalemto err, (and catch this!!!) and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children ofIsrael.” For those who have a family member/co-worker/neighbor, etc. that you can think is just too far gone to ever turn to God, let the remainder of Manasseh’s story in chapter 33 fill you with hope and revive your prayers for them!

 

A great revival takes place in chapter 34 under the reign of one of the greatest kings, Josiah.  Time and space will not allow to highlight this incredible young man, but read chapter 34 slowly and carefully taking note of a guy who was doing the best he could with what he knew of the Lord, and then watch what happens when he gets the Word of God in his hands (and ears!).  Excuse the grammar, but may he be we! Note what is said of him in II Kings 23:25!

 

The last four kings of Judah – Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah, were all evil, and led the nation spiraling downward to its disastrous end morally, politically, and spiritually.  Nebuchadnezzar, the king ofBabylon, and his army finally break through the north wall ofJudah, killing anyone and everyone in sight, regardless of their age (36:17).  They remove all of the vessels out of theTemple, break down the walls of the city, and burn theTempleto the ground (36:18-19).  Those who weren’t killed in the massacre were taken into captivity (they would remain there for 70 years).

 

While in captivity,Babylonwas conquered byPersia, which led to the great proclamation of Cyrus, their king in 36:22-23.

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through the messengers of God who were rejected by His people – II Chron. 36:15-16 (Isa. 53:3; John1:11;Mark8:31; Luke9:22;17:25;20:17).

 

TODAY’S READING: II CHRONICLES 27-31

 

OVERVIEW:

The reign of Jotham; the reign of Ahaz; Syria and Israel defeat Judah; the death of Ahaz; Hezekiah’s reign; worship is restored in the Temple; Hezekiah destroys idolatry and paganism in Judah; the tithes and offerings of the people.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As chapter 26 came to a close in yesterday’s reading, Uzziah had been stricken with leprosy because of his sin of pride in going into the temple to burn incense, and had been made an outcast from the Temple and even his own palace.  In chapter 27, Uzziah’s son, Jotham, begins to reign inJudah.  Verse 2 says that he followed in the footsteps of his father, doing that which as right in the sight of the Lord, but did not make the mistake his father had made in going into theTemple.  Despite his personal devotion to the Lord, the people ofJudahwere living “corruptly” (27:2).

 

When Jotham died, his son Ahaz came to the throne.  To say that he didn’t follow in his father’s footsteps might be the understatement of the year!  He was the most wicked king thatJudahhad yet known.  He plunged the entire nation headlong into idolatry, even burning his own children as sacrifices!  Because of his unbelievable wickedness, thekingdomofJudahcontinued to suffer more and more loss of territory.  The Edomites took over in the southeast; the Philistines had raided the cities of the southwest and were now occupying them (28:17-18); and thousands upon thousands of his people were taken as slaves into other countries.  Rather than these things causing Ahaz to cry out to the Lord in humility and repentance, it caused him to become more wicked and to trespass against the Lord to an even greater degree.  (See 28:22).  By the time he died, theTempleof the Lord was in shambles, and the entirekingdomofJudahwas completely engulfed in idolatry (28:23-25).

 

Remarkably, Ahaz’s son Hezekiah comes to the throne upon his wicked father’s death, and he is one ofJudah’s greatest kings!  For all who had a wicked father, take refuge and courage in the fact that God can enable you by His grace and power in you to intersect that cycle of sin, and cause you to be a holy servant of the Lord Jesus Christ!  What a blessing Hezekiah is!  Four entire chapters are devoted to his reign in II Chronicles (29-32).

 

Rather than bemoan his terrible upbringing and plight in life, or allow bitterness toward his godless father (or God for that matter!) to rule him, when given the opportunity, Hezekiah chose to put the past behind him and simply made decisions that were in accordance with God’s will and Word.  To put his mode of operation into the words of Paul, “Hezekiah forgot those things which were behind him, and went reaching for the things that were before him, pressing toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”  (Phil 3:13-14).

 

In the very first month of his reign, he reopened and repaired the house of the Lord, restored the long-neglected priority ofTempleworship and the observance of the Passover, and passionately sought to remove any and all idol worship or pagan practices inJudah.  His obedience to God and His Word, manifest through the reforms he set in place brought about the wonderful blessing of God.  The days of Hezekiah were the greatest time (30:26) since the glory days of Solomon’s reign (I Kings 10; II Chron. 9).  God’s epitaph of him is worth noting and striving toward:  “Hezekiah…wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.  And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered” (31:20-21).  What a guy!

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through KING HEZEKIAH who offered intercessory prayer for everyone in his kingdom that was seeking God – II Chron. 30:18-19 (Heb. 7:25; Rom. 8:27, 34; John 17:9).

 

 

 

 

TODAY’S READING: II CHRONICLES 22-26

 

OVERVIEW: The reign of Ahaziah; the usurping of the throne by Ahaziah’s grandmother, Athaliah; Jehoiada’s plot to put Joash on the throne; Joash becomes king and repairs the Temple; the death of Jehoiada and the demise of the nation of Judah; Amaziah reigns in Judah; the war against Edom; Israel defeats Judah; Uzziah reigns in Jerusalem; Uzziah stricken with leprosy.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Little did the good king Jehoshaphat realize how far reaching the effects of his unnecessary alliance with Ahab would go (II Chron. 18).  As we move into the reign of Ahaziah in chapter 22, this is now the third generation that has been evilly affected by Jehoshaphat’s “unequal yoke with an unbeliever” (II Cor.6:14).  Ahaziah followed the counsel of his wicked mother, and the counselors from the house of Ahab (22:3-4), and verse 14 says, “Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab.”  That’s quite a statement in light of the fact that I Kings21:25says, “There was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.” 

 

When Ahaziah was killed inSamaria(22:9) after only one year on the throne (22:2), his godless, wicked mother, in great “Jezebellian” fashion, had every one of his sons and grandsons killed so she could rise to throne herself.  (Though her selfish pride motivated this unbelievably horrific act, don’t discount Satan’s unseen hand working tenaciously behind the scenes to cut off the Messianic line!) What Athaliah didn’t realize is that her sister, Jehoshabeath (Jehoiada, the high priest’s wife), took Joash, the one-year-old son of Ahaziah and hid him so he wouldn’t be killed. (Note that this is God’s unseen hand working tenaciously behind the scenes to fulfill His promise of Genesis3:15, and the Davidic covenant (II Chron.17:11; II Sam.7:12).)

 

Jehoiada kept Joash hidden until he was old enough to be able to really comprehend all that had happened, at which time Jehoiada began to strategize Athaliah’s overthrow (23:1-3).  All of the Levites and princes were designated their assignments (23:4-7), and on a particular Sabbath, Jehoiada’s plan unfolded to get Joash, the rightful heir, to his place on the throne.  When grandma (Athaliah) heard all of the cheering and shouting in the temple, she ran in to investigate only to find her seven year old grandson, whom she presumed dead, crowned as the king of Judah (23:8-13).  As any loving grandmother would do, she immediately screams out, “Treason! Treason!” (Be careful who you listen to!  Many times those who scream the loudest are guilty of the very things they are so enraged by!) – See Rom. 2:1.

 

Through Jehoiada’s influence, a covenant was established between young Joash the king, and all the people that would submit themselves to the Lord (23:16). 

 

To demonstrate their sincerity, theTempleofBaalwas destroyed, and Mattan, the priest of Baal, was killed (22:17).  Jehoiada also reestablished God’s design for worship in the Lord’sTemple.

 

Chapter 24 and verse 2 records that “Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord.”  Sadly, the rest of the verse says that it only lasted as long as Jehoiada was alive.  Once the godly influence of Jehoiada was gone, Joash turned to idolaters for advice, to the demise of the kingdom (24:15-18).  Though God sent prophets to warn him, rather than repent, he further rebelled (24:19).  By the time it was all said and done, all of the great things that Joash had accomplished in the early days of his reign, he had allowed to be undone by his wickedness in the latter part of his reign.  As we have seen time and time again in our 365 Days of Pursuit, there are many who START well, but few who FINISH well!  May we all heed God’s warning to us through the Apostle John:  “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.” (II John 8).

 

After Joash was murdered by his servants (24:25-27), his son Amaziah became the king ofJudah.  Note what was said of him in 25:2: “And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.” In other words, he did what he did for the Lord with an ulterior motive.  In time, as it always does, that ulterior motive was revealed.  In one instance, after defeating the armies of an idolatrous foe, he gathered up their idols and actually began worshipping them (24:11-14)!  You gotta love God’s rebuke of him through His prophet, “Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand?” (25:15)

 

One of the most successful kings inJudah’s history was Amaziah’s 16 year old son Uzziah (26:10).  Like so many others, however, he started strong, but ended defeated.  He sought the Lord (26:5) and remained dependent upon Him “till he was strong. But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.” (26:15-16). Uzziah began to think so highly of himself (Rom.12:3), he thought God wouldn’t mind if he performed a task only to be carried out by the priests.  God did mind, however!  God struck him with leprosy, and he lived the remaining years of his life an outcast from both his own palace, as well as the Lord’s (theTemple)!  Don’t ever think more highly of yourself than you ought to think (Rom. 12:3), and don’t ever think that you are above the Word of God.

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through AZARIAH THE HIGH PRIEST who stood between Uzziah and the altar, because the only way to approach the Lord God ofIsraelwas through the priests – II Chron.  26:17-18 (Heb.4:14– Jesus, our great High Priest is the only way through which any person can come to God – John 14:6).

 

 

TODAY’S READING: II CHRONICLES 17-21

 

OVERVIEW: Jehoshaphat succeeds Asa; Jehoshaphat’s alliance with Ahab, king of Israel; the death of Ahab; Jehoshaphat’s rebuke by Jehu the seer (prophet); Jehoshaphat’s national reform; Jehoshaphat’s victory over the children of Moab, Ammon, and Mount Seir; the death of Jehoshaphat; the reign of Jehoshaphat’s son, Jehoram; Jehoram’s bitter death.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

What a breath of fresh air Jehoshaphat is!  As we will see, he’s not perfect (oh, surprise, surprise!), but despite some stupid alliances he made with the wrong people, he was a good man and a good king. Verse 3 of chapter 17 says, “And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David.”  It’s interesting to note that David is constantly used as the standard by which the kings were measured.  If they followed David’s example, they were blessed.  If they didn’t, their lives and their kingdoms ran amuck.   David had his share of problems, but God was pretty “taken” with this heart!  Don’t ever forget, “The heart of the matter, is the matter of the heart!”  So, “keep (guard) your heart”! (Prov. 4:23)

 

Verses 4-7 of chapter 17 give at least five reasons the Lord was “WITH”(17:3) Jehoshaphat:

 

1. He sought the Lord (17:4a). (Don’t forget that that’s the goal of the365 Days of Pursuit(Deut.4:29)!)
2. He walked in the commandments of the Lord (17:4b).
3. His HEART was lifted up in the ways of the Lord (17:6a). (As opposed to his heart being lifted up, like Lucifer, toward himself!)
4. He removed all of the sick ways people were worshipping Baal and Ashteroth (17:6b), along with removing all of the homosexuals (I Kings22:46).
5. Recognizing that the key to spiritual renewal and revival in the lives of the people was the power of the Word of God in their lives, he establishes a nation wide “Bible study program,” being taught by princes, Levites, and priests.  Who knows, maybe they even called it “365 Days of Pursuit”!

 

Because of these incredible reforms in the kingdom, “the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war with against Jehoshaphat” (17:10).  As Proverbs 16:7 says, “even his enemies [were] at peace with him.”

 

Having your enemies at peace with you is a good thing.  Making alliances with them because of it is not!  In chapter 18, verse 1, it says that Jehoshaphat “joined affinity with Ahab.”  Ahab was the wicked, Baal-worshipping king of Israel.  This “affinity” with Ahab causes Jehoshaphat to join him in a battle to help him regain the city of Ramothgilead, which was very displeasing to the Lord, and almost cost him his life!  Ultimately, this “affinity” will even lead to the marriage of Jehoshaphat’s son, Jehoram, to Ahab’s (and Jezebel’s!!!) daughter (21:1, 6).

 

Because of Jehoshaphat’s unholy alliance with Ahab, God sent the prophet Jehu to rebuke him, “Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord?  Therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord” (19:2).  Jehoshaphat responded well to the Lord’s rebuke through Jehu, and moved immediately to restore justice (19:5-7), and priestly order in Jerusalem (19:8-11).  Do note, however, that even though Jehoshaphat responded correctly and was forgiven, there were still consequences to his sin.  The marriage of his son to Ahab and Jezebel’s daughter will open the door to Baal worship in Judah, and will result in the murder of every single one of Jehoshaphat’s sons and grandsons except for one-year-old Joash, who was hidden by Jehoida the high priest(22:10-12).  If it hadn’t been said 100 times already in the365 Days of Pursuit(slight exaggeration), this might be a place to say once again, “There is always a pricetag for sin.”  Since it has been said so often, I’ll refrain from saying it here! :>

 

Chapter 20 is one of the most practical and significant chapters we have come to thus far in our reading.  There is more to talk about here than we have space in simply trying to “highlight” things in each chapter.  Read it slowly and carefully, noting a few key phrases along the way as God describes this very strange battle that takes place in this chapter.  As the combined forces of Moab, Ammon and Mount Seir plan to converge upon Jehoshaphat and the armies of Judah note:

 

1. “The battle is not yours, but God’s” (20:15)
2. “Ye shall not need to fight in this battle” (20:17a)
3. “Set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you” (20:17b)
4. “Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established”(20:20).
5. “When they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against…Ammon,Moab, andMountSeir” (20:22).
6. “The LORD… made them to rejoice over their enemies” (20:27).
7. “And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against [their] enemies.” (20:29).

 

The reason these statements are so significant is that they coincide so perfectly with the New Testament teaching concerning spiritual warfare!  The battle we face is not ours, but God’s!  Therefore, we must “be strong in the Lord and the power of his might” (Eph. 6:10).  The battle plan in this battle is not for us to “fight,” but to “STAND” in the victory Christ has already won on our behalf!  (Note in Eph. 6:11-14 the repetition of the word “STAND”!)  Our battle, (as the battle in II Chronicles 20(verse 20) is a battle whereby the Lord causes us to rejoice over our enemies (verse 27) by faith (Eph.6:16), as we stand against the enemy singing the praises of our God (Eph.5:19).

 

After Jehoshaphat’s death (20:35-21:1), his son Jehoram takes the throne.  In his first public act, he kills all of his brothers, and everyone else he thought might have the potential for usurping his authority (21:4).  God judges him in many ways in chapter 21, not the least of which was afflicting him with an excruciating disease where ultimately his intestines exploded out of his body (21:18-19).  Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy!

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through MICAIAH, who spoke the words that God told him to speak – I Chron. 18:13 (John 8:26-28; 3:34; 8:40).