2 Chronicles 33:14-34:33 + Romans 16:10-27 + Psalm 26:1-12 + Proverbs 20:19
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Old Testament – Wow… I thought today’s readings are some of the best we’ve had in a while! King Josiah cleaned up house for God! Unfortunately, the southern kingdom of Judah is about to meet a similar fate as the northern kingdom of Israel did. But King Josiah goes down with a fight for the Lord in today’s readings! I wonder about this in our lives today – are we willing to fight for the Lord and his values in the way that Josiah did today? Or, perhaps “fight” isn’t quite the right word, as Jesus taught us to turn the other cheek…. but, then, considering this, should we simply be meek and mild and not fight for things of the Lord? I don’t think Jesus modeled this entirely either. Jesus turned over some tables in the Temple and turned over some ideas about God during His life… What can we learn about a zeal for God from Josiah and Jesus’ lives? Below is an image of King Josiah and his men destroying a pagan altar from today’s readings:
Verse 15 reminds me of the old adage – “Dusty Bibles lead to dirty lives…” 🙂 – “Hilkiah said to Shaphan the court secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the LORD’s Temple!” Then Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan.” That is amazing to think about – that finding the Book of the Law in the Lord’s Temple was a big find! Most commentaries suggest that the scroll was either the entire Pentateuch (Genesis-Deuteronomy) or possibly just Deuteronomy. Imagine if you will that the Bible was “forgotten” about for generations and then finally discovered today!
King Josiah’s words in verse 21 are wonderful repentful words – “Go to the Temple and speak to the Lord for me and for all the remnant of Israel and Judah. Inquire about the words written in the scroll that has been found. For the Lord’s great anger has been poured out on us because our ancestors have not obeyed the word of the Lord. We have not been doing everything this scroll says we must do.” Have you ever had ah-ha experiences like this in your life? Where you realize finally what God wants you to do – and you realize that you have not been doing it? Well, fortunately God is a God that Psalm 145 verse 8 tells us, “is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.” There is room for repentance with God! When you have these ah-ha moments like King Josiah did, will you turn in repentance and humble yourself before God?
Verses 29 & 30 demonstrate true leadership from King Josiah! – “Then the king summoned all the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem. And the king went up to the Temple of the LORD with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem and the priests and the Levites–all the people from the greatest to the least. There the king read to them the entire Book of the Covenant that had been found in the LORD’s Temple.”
New Testament – We finish up Romans today! Tomorrow we embark on First Corinthians! Romans has been a powerful book for me to read and study this year. I hope it has been for you as well? I love the closing words in this book today from Paul in Romans 16 verses 25 through 27: “God is able to make you strong, just as the Good News says. It is the message about Jesus Christ and his plan for you Gentiles, a plan kept secret from the beginning of time. But now as the prophets foretold and as the eternal God has commanded, this message is made known to all Gentiles everywhere, so that they might believe and obey Christ. To God, who alone is wise, be the glory forever through Jesus Christ. Amen.” Do you believe that God is able to make you strong? Are there areas of your life currently where you feel weak? Will you turn these areas over to God completely, so that he can strengthen you? To God, who indeed alone is wise, be the glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in Romans titled “Watching Out for Wolves” is at this link.
Psalms – Today in Psalm 26 verse 2 we read: “Put me on trial, LORD, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and affections.” What a powerful reflection from David – God, test my motives and affections. What are your motives? Why do you do what you do in life? Whom are you doing it all for? What are your affections? Who do you pledge your loyalties to? Who do you give your heart to? Where are you investing your time, treasure and talents? Have you ever asked God to test your motives and affections?
Verse 8 of this Psalm reminds me of my church and I pray it reminds you of your church as well: “I love your sanctuary, LORD, the place where your glory shines.” Wow… the place where God’s glory shines! Yes, I do believe this happens in our churches – even if we maybe don’t notice it sometimes. When we come together as the body of Christ each week, God’s glory shines! Will you take a moment to really pay attention to God’s glory shining in your church as you attend a service this upcoming weekend?
Proverbs – Proverbs 20 verse 19 is quite a Proverb! Perhaps convicting for some of us – “A gossip tells secrets, so don’t hang around with someone who talks too much.” This Proverb reminds me of something I posted up recently – I find all too often that we all too often talk about “nothing.” Or, even worse than talking about nothing is that we talk about others. We gossip. We tell secrets. There is so much wisdom in “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Keep our mouths shut. You’ll be appearing wise this way! 🙂 Do you gossip? Do you hang around someone that talks too much? Think this is good for your relationship with God? Think this is good for your relationship with others?
Worship Video: Today’s readings in Romans reminded me of Matt Maher’s song “Turn Around:”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IbgbfmQogo
Are you lost & need to be found? Click here and turn around!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much.” Proverbs 20:19 TNIV
Prayer Point: Pray that you won’t participate in gossip. Pray against gossip in your church, family, and place of work.
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
God bless,
Mike
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.
p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.
p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )
======= Ramona:
II Chronicles 33:14-34:43
Our pride makes repentance a difficult thing to do. And when one repents, meaning to turn back, when they are a national leader, well—that is a most difficult thing to do. Manasseh did his repentance in public view.
Attached to each form of worship, be it idols or the True God, there is a political mindset, a group, that jockeys for power and a seat of influence to maneuver the hands and mind that rules the nation. Manasseh destroyed all religious worship that was not directed toward God. That was a bold step to take. I can hear and see in my minds eye the political uproar, the coalitions disbanding and banding together trying to get to the king’s ear. (33:14-17)
When I came to the thirty-fourth chapter, I became fascinated with the ages and stages of Josiah and his father, King Amon (chapter 33:21-24). Josiah’s father (the son of Manasseh, only ruled for two years because of his wickedness. When he came into power he was twenty-two years and he had a son who was six, which means Josiah was born to Amon when he was only sixteen years old. Amon produced a child at sixteen; his son Josiah produced a revival.
At the ripe age of eight, Josiah became king. Eight years latter, he inspires a revival by seeking the God of his ancestor, David. He began clearing the land of idols his father had brought back into the land as well as into the daily political life of the rulers. Then ten years latter, the land having been cleansed, the Temple is set to be repaired. Change is a process not an event. When we turn our hearts toward God, He may instantaneously remove some things that are deadly from our lives, but many things that are not pleasing to Him take time to be removed.
Mike comments on how amazing and unbelievable it is to not have the Book of the Law in plan sight and in use in the Temple built to honor the Name of God, the God who gave the Law. Not only was it out-of-sight, it was lost in a room. My question to this find, “How long was it lost and/or which king was the last to actively seek it out and use it?
Romans 16:10-27
The words of the Bible are timeless and never grow old no matter how many generations come and go between the time the words were written and the present day. Paul warns,
Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who create dissensions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that you learned. Avoid them! (Rom 16:17 NET.)
The above words are as fresh and pertinent as the day they were written. In order to “watch” for the people that distort the Word of God, one must know what to watch for. Thank you Mike for inviting and encouraging all of us to come into this site and partake of God’s wonderful Words, our guide our yardstick by which we measure every other word.
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
(Psa 34:8 KJV)
Psalm 26:1-12
Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have integrity, and I trust in the Lord without wavering.
(Psa 26:1 NET.)
Man may declare you guilty, but when we walk uprightly before God and do what He requires of us, God will declare us innocent.
Proverbs 20:19
We just love gossip it feeds are ego. We get a kick out of knowing things other people don’t know. Information has value, and we not only will pay a huge price to get that information, we will sell it to the highest bidder as we pass it along. However, the price we are willing to pay and the selling price we extract from a buyer is not measured in gold, but it is measured in integrity and self-worth.
If a gossip tells secrets, and we are willing to pay the cost to get those secrets, the seller we buy the secrets from will unreservedly sell us also.. What they have done to others, they will do to us. .
Grace and peace,
Ramona
======= Vance:
2 CHRONICLES 34
33
So Josiah removed all detestable idols from the entire land of Israel and required everyone to worship the LORD their God. And throughout the rest of his lifetime, they did not turn away from the LORD, the God of their ancestors.
ROMANS 16
20
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
PSALM 26
2
Put me on trial, LORD, and cross-examine me.
Test my motives and affections.
3
For I am constantly aware of your unfailing love,
and I have lived according to your truth.
COMMENT:
It is so easy to hide things from people, to look good for others, but still be harboring idols in my heart.
2 Chronicles 34:33 begins: “So Josiah removed all detestable idols from the entire land……”
We see the universe around us through cameras in space that show us things that the people in the Bible never saw. And, through science, we also see the universe inside of us: the complexity of each cell of our body, of each organ, of each system.
Yet, the human heart—which no scientist can see—must be revealed to us.
So we need to ask God to
shine the light of the
Word through the Spirit
in our spirits to
illuminate what is in us…
so WE can see where we
need to repent.
Psalm 26:2 is the only reasonable prayer:
“Put me on trial, LORD, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and affections.”
I John 1:7
As we walk in the light as God is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus continually cleanses us from sin
~~~~~~~~~~
Adam was created to have dominion over earth, as being created in total dependence on God, with the Father’s authority working through him. When Adam failed to overcome temptation, he handed over authority to the devil. Thus, Satan illegally became “the god of this world.”
Jesus became a man—the Perfect Man—to overcome the temptations that Adam failed. And He succeeded. Thus, as a Man—representing men who are redeemed in Christ—He restored the authority to Christians to have spiritual dominion authority over sin, the world, the devil.
Like Adam, we are totally dependent on the Father, God can use our prayers to overcome… not just in our lives, but to help others find their strength in the Lord.
I pray that I see it with eyes of the spirit / Spirit… I pray we all see who we are in Christ !
As the Holy Spirit through Apostle Paul said:
17
[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him,
18
By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones),
19
And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength,
20
Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places],
21
Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come.
22
And He has put all things
under His feet and has
appointed Him the
universal and supreme Head
of the church [a headship
exercised throughout the
church],(A)
23
Which is His body, the
fullness of Him Who fills
all in all [for in that
body lives the full
measure of Him Who makes
everything complete, and
Who fills everything
everywhere with Himself].
Thus, purity opens the way for us to be used of the Lord to accomplish Romans 16:20
“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”
G – GOD’S
R – RICHES
A – AT
C – CHRIST’S
E – EXPENSE
Vance
====== Charles:
hi, just want to thank mike for finding all these great paintings related to what’s in the bible. it just reinforces the importance of knowing the word…..we will be in Rome this Sept. and can’t wait to see some of these in person.
Charles
====== Vance:
2 Chronicles 34 (NKJV)
1
Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.
2
And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
3
For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the wooden images, the carved images, and the molded images.
NOTE:
We should never, ever take Sunday school for granted. Surely Josiah must have been taught in the ways of the Lord as a child. Look at the effect of godly and loving teaching on this young man:
When Josiah was young (age 8), he became king. Then eight (8) years into his reign (about age 16), he began to earnestly and persistently seek the Lord. When he was about 20 years old began to purge evil out of the nation.
~~~
May we follow all of these examples:
1. to provide loving and godly teaching for our children
2. that the children would seek the Lord early with all of their hearts
3. that we would purge all evil from our domains in Jesus’ Name.
As we do all of this—ONLY THROUGH GRACE—we can be fit for service of love to others!
Romans 16 (NKJV)
19
For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.
20
And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
25
Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began
26
but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—
27
to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.
NOTE:
May we always “be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil”.
May we be completely established in the Lord through prayer, surrender, fellowship with the Lord throughout the day, and the Word of God.
May “the God of peace will crush Satan under [our] feet shortly.”
We as humans–and certainly as those who worship the Lord Jesus through the Spirit of God– are given the earth as the arena in which to establish God’s covenant and glory.
Psalm 115 (NKJV)
16
The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s;
but the earth He has given to the children of men.
May we walk with a definite and clear purpose borne out of true repentance and faith, and joy in the Lord.
~~~
Psalm 26 (NKJV)
2
Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my mind and my heart.
3
For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth.
NOTE:
This is great! Earlier, God withdrew from King Hezekiah to test what was in his heart.
Here, David (as it seems to me) is taking the initiative and asking God to search Him.
BEFORE WE ARE TESTED by life and by what God allows, MAY WE ALWAYS INVITE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO SEARCH US AND TO FILL US.
May God’s lovingkindness [always be] before [our] eyes” every day.
I have been meditating on Romans 6 and Philippians 3. I found this wonderful devotion by Charles Spurgeon on “The power of his resurrection.” – Philippians 3:10. See below.
source: http://www.studylight.org/devos/spg/index.cgi?FirstSelectMonth=11&FirstSelectDay=22&half=pm
“The doctrine of a risen Saviour is exceedingly precious. The resurrection is the corner-stone of the entire building of Christianity.”
“The doctrine is the basis of the experience, but as the flower is more lovely than the root, so is the experience of fellowship with the risen Saviour more lovely than the doctrine itself.”
“Though you cannot, like the disciples, see him visibly, yet I bid you aspire to see Christ Jesus by the eye of faith; and though, like Mary Magdalene, you may not ‘touch’ him, yet may you be privileged to converse with him, and to know that he is risen, you yourselves being risen in him to newness of life.”
“To know a crucified Saviour as having crucified all my sins, is a high degree of knowledge; but to know a risen Saviour as having justified me, and to realize that he has bestowed upon me new life, having given me to be a new creature through his own newness of life, this is a noble style of experience: short of it, none ought to rest satisfied.”
“May you both ‘know him, and the power of his resurrection.’ Why should souls who are quickened with Jesus, wear the grave-clothes of worldliness and unbelief? Rise, for the Lord is risen.”
Vance
====== Mae:
Romans was really powerful! I’ve really enjoyed reading this! Verse 25 of this chapter is such an encouraging “Now all glory to God, who is able to make you strong, just as my Good News says. This message about Jesus Christ has revealed his plan for you Gentiles, a plan kept secret from the beginning of time”. ~ The Lord Jesus Christ is the only one who can make you strong! If you think differently (and sad enough I do know people who think differently) you should think again. Some people think that succes in whatever area can make them strong, or a relationship with a certain person will make them strong. I feel that’s such a misleading thought by the enemy. We should give God all the glory! (verse 27 “All glory to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, forever. Amen”.) He and He alone has the power and wisdom to strengthen you. Open your heart for Him and let Him work powerfully in your life and you’ll see! Seek the Lord, put the difficulties of your life in His hands and let Him do the rest. That, my friend, is your freedom as a Christian!
Mae
====== John:
Romans 16
WHERE IS PETER?
Romans was written in 56-57 A.D.. Nowhere in Paul’s Greetings is Peter mentioned. Either Peter was not in Rome yet, or Paul was being very rude. Peter traditionally is thought to have bben crucified (upside-down) in Rome by Nero in 62 A.D.
With the exception of a couple of apostles, the deaths of the apostles are accounts of tradition. Perhaps by not mentioning them anywhere in the Bible God is saying what they did in life was more important than anything revolving around their deaths.
Apostles were messengers of God. They evangelized and planted churches. Perhaps making rounds to check up on their churches, but except for Peter there are no claims that apostles were ever heads (bishops) of local churches (unless in a group of elders). Bishop status does not seem to be in the apostle’s job descriptions at least in God’s revealed view.
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16:17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.
Unfortunately back then and even today – if you are in a Christian church not all are believers. Sadly, this may also include people with responsibility in the church. Pray for discernment, submit to God, and let Him lead you to the Church best suited for you.
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16:25 Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel….
God establishes your belief. God knows if you are a true Christian, and you should know. If you are not sure, perhaps it is time to pray to God about your faith.
John
====== John:
2 Chronicles 33:14-34:33
II Chronicles 33
VERSES 18-20
1. Manasseh’s conversion is very similar to that of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar’s pride brought him to a state of madness until he finally looked up to the true and living God. And Manasseh also had to be broken before he would look to God.
VERSES 21-23
1. Amon, Manasseh’s son, was also a wicked king and he is spinning out of control, away from God. Amon does not repent of his sin but remains lost moving in the opposite direction of God. The die was cast, and the nation was sinking lower and lower, drowning in their wickedness.
VERSES 24-25
1. Amon was only king for 2 years before he was assassinated by his own men. And in his death Josiah is now king and Josiah brings about the last revival before the Southern Kingdom of Judah is taken into captivity by the Babylonians. We are about 34 years away from Babylon’s first invasion of the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
http://www.ccmanitowoc.org/Library/Guglielmo-Joe/Studies/TH/14-2CH/TH1067.HTM
2 Chron 34
VERSES 1-2
1. The Southern Kingdom of Judah had five good kings that brought spiritual reform to the nation as a result of their returning to the Lord and their obedience to His Word. These kings were Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash, Hezekiah, and now Josiah.
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PROPHECY:
VERSE 5
1. What Josiah did here was the fulfillment of a prophecy that was made some 300 years earlier, back in I Kings chapter 13. To set the stage for this prophecy, the kingdom was divided, Rehoboam to the south, and Jeroboam to the north. And Jeroboam was concerned that many of his people would go to the temple in Jerusalem, in the south, to worship God, and they would not return to his kingdom in the north because there was no temple, no place of worship. So he makes two golden calves, sets one in Dan and one in Bethel so the people could now go and worship God.
Now we are told in I Kings chapter 13 that “…a man of God went from Judah to Bethel by the word of the LORD, and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. Then he cried out against the altar by the word of the LORD, and said, ‘O altar, altar! Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, a child, Josiah by name, shall be born to the house of David; and on you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and men’s bones shall be burned on you.'” I Kings 13:1-2. God called Josiah by name 300 years before he was born and Josiah fulfilled this prophecy, just as God had said he would.
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FOR SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS GOD’S WORD WAS LOST – HOW SAD!!!!!
VERSES 14-15
1. It is so easy for something that is precious to get lost in the garbage, and that is what happened to the Word of God. But Hilkiah finds a copy of the books of Moses, the Pentateuch, from Genesis to Deuteronomy.
VERSES 29-33
1. Again, you have to love the heart of Josiah. He could have just kicked back in his lazy boy chair, waiting to go home with the Lord, he was saved. There was nothing he could do to stop the judgment, it was going to come upon the nation. But instead of sitting around, he leads the people by giving them the Word of God and being an example to them. And yes, many did not follow with a loyal heart, but that did not stop Josiah, he forged ahead, doing all he could do, and allowing God to do the rest.
http://www.ccmanitowoc.org/Library/Guglielmo-Joe/Studies/TH/14-2CH/TH1068.HTM
John
====== Helene:
Just wanted to post a note about the division/denomination type issue you mentioned in the blog. Romans 14 tells us to not be a stumbling block to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Was reading that chapter in several versions and thought it would be good to note on here.
Helene
====== Billy:
The Proverbs have definitely made me think before I act.
Billy
====== Dee:
That is interesting..looking at Ramona’s post amd the commentary about the bible being lost and then found. That is crazy. Dusty bibles lead to dusty lives as the commentary said. I wonder if that is what happened to the leaders before Manasseh and Josiah..hmmm. could be. But now revelation. Knowledge is being spread.
Wow another book down..the book of Roman’s! We must be on watch and be obedient and not listen to wrong teaching but walk in the way of the Lord. Love and serve him only. Amen!
Psalm 26..in the congregation I bless the Lord. I love my church body and love to bless them and in turn I have such a blessing right around the corner. Isn’t it beat how God operates.
Ouch that is a tough one. Me and my walking buddy have had our share of tale-bearing. Does that mean both of us need to step away. Pray for us definitely. Have an awesome night
Dee
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