Tuesday, September 14, 2010

2 Chronicles 21&22

I have been having trouble for the past while retaining what I read in the morning. I seriously desire to meditate on what I am reading in the morning all day like Joshua:
Joshua 1:8
"This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success."
So I am trying better to retain what I've read by writing down here on my blog. Hopefully some of you will find it interesting. Please comment on whatever you feel would encourage me (as in Hebrews 3:13).

2 Chronicles 21
After two generations of good kings who sought the Lord and did good in the sight of the Lord, now arises Jehoram who did evil in the sight of the Lord (21:6). This dude was so far from the family tree that he actually murdered all his brothers. People revolted around him and others were led astray by the high country pagans. It seems to me that Jehoram had no clue how to rule. God speaks to him through Elijah and basically says he's gonna die in the midst of a great calamity.

I don't see this side of God today, or my eyes are just not open to it; but God actually punishes people on earth, even before they die, for their miss deeds. That makes total sense to me. Like I said, I don't know if he still does this, but I do know that every day I am alive, God has shown me patience in not killing me in my sleep (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Just for good measure, the chronicler writes that God was faithful in punishing Jehoram to exactly what he said he would do.

2 Chronicles 22
Ahaziah succeeded Jehoram. He was a wicked king, holding his mother's counsel, who taught him to do wicked things (22:3). He also allied Judah with Israel, which was not a good thing at the time because Israel walked wickedly as well.

Jehu, a man anointed by God to execute judgment on Israel and Judah, killed Ahaziah. Athaliah, Ahaziah's mother, then pulled a power move. She killed all of the royal children so that she rule over Judah, but one child, Joash the son of Ahaziah, was saved unknown to Athaliah (22:11).

One lesson I am reminded of through all this is summed up best in psalm 1:
"How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!"

I pray that my delight is in the Law of the Lord and in seeking his face above all else!

No comments:

Post a Comment