Devotional

2Chronicles 31, Blessings comes from the LORD!

2Ch 31:3, MOREOVER HE COMMANDED THE PEOPLE WHO DWELT IN JERUSALEM TO CONTRIBUTE SUPPORT FOR THE PRIESTS AND THE LEVITES, THAT THEY MIGHT DEVOTE THEMSELVES TO THE LAW OF THE LORD.

The offering given to the church belongs to the LORD! In fact everything we earn, everything we have, and see comes from the LORD!

Job 41:11, Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine. 

Lev 27:30, And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, IS THE LORD’S. IT IS HOLY TO THE LORD.

Some may say, “I just don’t have or make enough to give to the LORD”? TRUTH ME BE THAT YOU DON’T HAVE BECAUSE YOU DON’T GIVE

Mal 3:8-10, “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ IN TITHES AND OFFERINGS. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, AND TRY ME NOW IN THIS,” Says the LORD of hosts, “IF I WILL NOT OPEN FOR YOU THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN AND POUR OUT FOR YOU SUCH BLESSING THAT THERE WILL NOT BE ROOM ENOUGH TO RECEIVE IT.

When we put GOD and HIS kingdom first, HE promises to meet our needs! TRY ME NOW ON THIS! REMEMBER HE CAN’T LIE!

Mat 6:33, BUT SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED TO YOU. 

2Ch 31:21, And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, HE DID IT WITH ALL HIS HEART. SO HE PROSPERED. 

King Hezekiah’s service to the LORD was done with all his heart, and the LORD blessed him! HE IS FAITHFUL AND HE KNOWS WHAT YOU NEED EVEN BEFORE YOU ASK! SEEK HIM AND HIS KINGDOM WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND HE SHALL BLESS YOU MORE THAN YOU IMAGINE!

2Chronicles 30, Reaching the lost!

2Ch 30:1, 5, And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah… THAT THEY SHOULD COME TO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD AT JERUSALEM, TO KEEP THE PASSOVER TO THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL… SO THEY RESOLVED TO MAKE A PROCLAMATION THROUGHOUT ALL ISRAEL… SINCE THEY HAD NOT DONE IT FOR A LONG TIME IN THE PRESCRIBED MANNER

The Temple was opened and it’s time to invite the people to gather before the LORD! Hezekiah even reached out to their long lost brothers, the northern kingdom of Israel!

2Ch 30:10-11, So the runners passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun; BUT THEY LAUGHED AT THEM AND MOCKED THEM. NEVERTHELESS SOME FROM ASHER, MANASSEH, AND ZEBULUN HUMBLED THEMSELVES AND CAME TO JERUSALEM.

SOME LAUGHED, AND MOCKED AT THE THOUGHT, WHILE OTHERS CAME!  JESUS CAME FOR THE LOST, YET EVERYONE HAS A CHOICE TO MAKE; ACCEPT OR REJECT!

Luk 10:16, He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.

2Ch 30:18-20, For a multitude of the people, many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, HAD NOT CLEANSED THEMSELVES, YET THEY ATE THE PASSOVER CONTRARY TO WHAT WAS WRITTEN. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “MAY THE GOOD LORD PROVIDE ATONEMENT FOR EVERYONE 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.” AND THE LORD LISTENED TO HEZEKIAH AND HEALED THE PEOPLE.

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT COME TO CHURCH BEING COMPLETELY IGNORANT OF THE WORD, THE MESSAGE AND MANNERS; YET HEZEKIAH DIDN’T LAUGH OR REBUKE THEM, BUT PRAYED FOR THEM! GOD DIDN’T LAUGH AT US WENT WE CAME IN IGNORANCE! WE REPRESENT HIM!

2Co 5:20, … WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST, AS THOUGH GOD WERE PLEADING THROUGH US: WE IMPLORE YOU ON CHRIST’S BEHALF, BE RECONCILED TO GOD. 

2Chronicles 29, Open the House of the LORD!

2Ch 29:1-2, Hezekiah became king when he was twenty-five years old… AND HE DID WHAT WAS RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, according to all that his father David had done.

In Scripture the true measure of a man is if he does right or wrong before the LORD! Nothing else matters, and today it’s still the same!

2Ch 29:3-5, In the first year of his reign, in the first month, HE OPENED THE DOORS OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD AND REPAIRED THEM. Then he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them in the East Square, and said to them: “HEAR ME, Levites! NOW SANCTIFY YOURSELVES, SANCTIFY THE HOUSE OF THE LORD GOD OF YOUR FATHERS, AND CARRY OUT THE RUBBISH FROM THE HOLY PLACE.

THE HOUSE OF THE LORD WAS SHUT DOWN AS IT IS TODAY; it was time to get the house of the LORD READY FOR ITS PEOPLE!

2Ch 29:10-11, “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. MY SONS, DO NOT BE NEGLIGENT NOW, FOR THE LORD HAS CHOSEN YOU TO STAND BEFORE HIM, TO SERVE HIM, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense.”

It was in Hezekiah’s heart to open the house of the LORD and to make a covenant with the LORD! HE also calls on the people to not forsake their calling, their true purpose in life!

2Ch 29:27-30, Then Hezekiah commanded them to offer the burnt offering on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, THE SONG OF THE LORD ALSO BEGAN, WITH THE TRUMPETS AND WITH THE INSTRUMENTS OF DAVID KING OF ISRAEL. SO ALL THE ASSEMBLY WORSHIPED, THE SINGERS SANG, AND THE TRUMPETERS SOUNDED; …the king and all who were present with HIM BOWED AND WORSHIPED…SO THEY SANG PRAISES WITH GLADNESS, AND THEY BOWED THEIR HEADS AND WORSHIPED. 

WE NEED TO GET BACK TO WORSHIPING THE KING OF kings AND THE LORD OF lords! We need to get back to what the LORD has called us to do. FOR HE HAS CHOSEN US, IN THIS WICKED AGE, TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT BEFORE THE LORD!

Jos 1:9, Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. 

2Chronicles 28, a hardened heart!

2Ch 28:1-3, Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king… and HE DID NOT DO WHAT WAS RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD… FOR HE WALKED IN THE WAYS OF THE KINGS OF ISRAEL, and MADE MOLDED IMAGES FOR THE BAALS. He BURNED INCENSE IN THE VALLEY OF THE SON OF HINNOM, AND BURNED HIS CHILDREN IN THE FIRE, …

He sacrificed his children to Molech a pagan, demon, so called god? ABORTION!

2Ch 28:5, Therefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria…

Judah was attacked by Syria, Edomites, Philistines;

2Ch 28:19, FOR THE LORD BROUGHT JUDAH LOW BECAUSE OF AHAZ KING OF ISRAEL, FOR HE HAD ENCOURAGED MORAL DECLINE IN JUDAH AND HAD BEEN CONTINUALLY UNFAITHFUL TO THE LORD. 

THIS IS A PERFECT DESCRIPTION OF OUR COUNTRY. FOR WE SACRIFICES TO MOLECH BY WAY OF ABORTION! OUR COUNTRY IS IN THE STATE OF MORAL DECLINE WHERE GOOD IS NOW BAD AND BAD IS NOW GOOD!

2Ch 28:22, Now in the time of his distress King Ahaz BECAME INCREASINGLY UNFAITHFUL TO THE LORD. This is that King Ahaz. 

Trials are designed to bring you closer to GOD, yet it drives others away! Which are you?

Psa 18:6, IN MY DISTRESS I CALLED UPON THE LORD, AND CRIED OUT TO MY GOD; HE HEARD MY VOICE FROM HIS TEMPLE, AND MY CRY CAME BEFORE HIM, EVEN TO HIS EARS. 

Rom 2:5, BUT IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR HARDNESS AND YOUR IMPENITENT HEART YOU ARE TREASURING UP FOR YOURSELF WRATH IN THE DAY OF WRATH AND REVELATION OF THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT OF GOD, 

GUARD YOUR HEART AND SUBMIT TO GOD; IN TRIALS SEEK HIM AND HE SHALL GIVE YOU STRENGTH! THE HARDENING OF YOUR HEART WILL ONLY BRING WRATH UPON YOU!

2Chronicles 27, Teach your children!

2Ch 27:1-2, Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. …. AND HE DID WHAT WAS RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, ACCORDING TO ALL THAT HIS FATHER UZZIAH HAD DONE (ALTHOUGH HE DID NOT ENTER THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD). BUT STILL THE PEOPLE ACTED CORRUPTLY.

Jotham was a godly man, who was influenced by his father Uzziah; he learned what to do and what not to do! Spurgeon said,

“HE REGARDED HIS FATHER’S SIN RATHER AS A BEACON TO WARN HIM AWAY FROM THAT ROCK ON WHICH UZZIAH’S LIFE HAD BEEN WRECKED.”

Deu 6:4-7, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH. “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. YOU SHALL TEACH THEM DILIGENTLY TO YOUR CHILDREN, AND SHALL TALK OF THEM WHEN YOU SIT IN YOUR HOUSE, WHEN YOU WALK BY THE WAY, WHEN YOU LIE DOWN, AND WHEN YOU RISE UP.

As parents we must teach our children to do what is right in the sight of GOD! It’s a command from the LORD to do so! WE LEAD BY EXAMPLE, NOT BY WORD! LIKE PAUL SAID,

1Cor 11:1, “IMITATE ME, JUST AS I ALSO IMITATE CHRIST”

Eph 6:4, And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

2Ch 27:6, SO JOTHAM BECAME MIGHTY, BECAUSE HE PREPARED HIS WAYS BEFORE THE LORD HIS GOD.

GREAT MEN, MEN OF VALOR IN THE SIGHT OF GOD ALWAYS PREPARE THEIR HEARTS TO SEEK THE LORD! FOR HE GIVES WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING TO THOSE THAT SEEK HIM!

Pro 3:1, MY SON, DO NOT FORGET MY LAW, BUT LET YOUR HEART KEEP MY COMMANDS; 

2Chronicles 26, Pride comes before the fall!

2Ch 26:3-5, Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. … AND HE DID WHAT WAS RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, …HE SOUGHT GOD IN THE DAYS OF ZECHARIAH, WHO HAD UNDERSTANDING IN THE VISIONS OF GOD; AND AS LONG AS HE SOUGHT THE LORD, GOD MADE HIM PROSPER.

He was a good king who sought the LORD for understanding and GOD helped him!

2Ch 26:7, God helped him against the Philistines, against the Arabians …. 

2Ch 26:15, …SO HIS FAME SPREAD FAR AND WIDE, FOR HE WAS MARVELOUSLY HELPED TILL HE BECAME STRONG. BUT WHEN HE WAS STRONG HIS HEART WAS LIFTED UP, TO HIS DESTRUCTION, for he transgressed against the LORD his God by entering the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. 

Pro 16:18, PRIDE goes before destruction, And a haughty (ARROGANT) spirit before a fall. 

In his pride, king Uzziah believe he could also be a priest! THERE IS ONLY ONE TRUE KING, WHO IS ALSO THE HIGH PRIEST AND PROPHET; HIS NAME IS JESUS THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD!

2Ch 26:18-19, … “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, BUT FOR THE PRIESTS…. GET OUT OF THE SANCTUARY, FOR YOU HAVE TRESPASSED! YOU SHALL HAVE NO HONOR FROM THE LORD GOD.” Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. AND WHILE HE WAS ANGRY WITH THE PRIESTS, LEPROSY BROKE OUT ON HIS FOREHEAD, …

Pro 18:12, BEFORE DESTRUCTION THE HEART OF A MAN IS HAUGHTY, AND BEFORE HONOR IS HUMILITY.

BEING ARROGANT WILL LEAD TO RUIN, BUT A HUMBLE HEART WILL LEAD TO HONOR BEFORE THE LORD! REMEMBER, GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE 1Peter 5:5!

2Chronicles 25, a Loyal heart!

2Ch 25:1-2, Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king…  AND HE DID WHAT WAS RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, BUT NOT WITH A LOYAL HEART. 

So many people fall into this category; going to church, worshipping the LORD then living like hell the rest of the week! 

2Ch 25:6-8, He also hired one hundred thousand mighty men of valor from Israel for one hundred talents of silver. BUT A MAN OF GOD CAME TO HIM, SAYING, “O KING, DO NOT LET THE ARMY OF ISRAEL GO WITH YOU, FOR THE LORD IS NOT WITH ISRAEL…But if you go, be gone! Be strong in battle! EVEN SO, GOD SHALL MAKE YOU FALL BEFORE THE ENEMY; FOR GOD HAS POWER TO HELP AND TO OVERTHROW.” 

It made sense to hire these men for war against Edom, Yet when GOD is with you HE BECOMES YOUR STRENGTH IN BATTLE!

2Ch 25:9, …”But what shall we do about the hundred talents …” And the man of God answered, “THE LORD IS ABLE TO GIVE YOU MUCH MORE THAN THIS.”

IT MAY COST YOU TO BE OBEDIENT, YET IT WILL COST YOU A LOT MORE TO BE DISOBEDIENT TO GOD!

2Ch 25:14, Now it was so, after Amaziah came from the slaughter of the Edomites, THAT HE BROUGHT THE GODS OF THE PEOPLE OF SEIR, SET THEM UP TO BE HIS GODS, AND BOWED DOWN BEFORE THEM AND BURNED INCENSE TO THEM. 

God gave Amaziah a great victory, but he fell into idolatry by bowing himself to false, useless idols; DEAD IDOLS MADE FOR DEAD PEOPLE!

Psa 115:8, THOSE WHO MAKE THEM ARE LIKE THEM; SO IS EVERYONE WHO TRUSTS IN THEM.

TRUSTING IN YOUR POSITION, YOUR MONEY, OR IDOLS RATHER THAN TRUSTING GOD MAKES US SPIRITUALLY DEAD! LIKE THE DEAD WOOD AMAZIAH BOWED DOWN TO! LOYALTY TO THE LORD MAY COST US SOMETHING, YET YOU GAIN EVERYTHING BEING WITH THE LORD!  TRUST IN HIM!

2Chronicles 24, Pleasing men!

2Ch 24:1-2, … JOASH DID WHAT WAS RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD ALL THE DAYS OF JEHOIADA THE PRIEST.

Joash was a weak leader and he did what his advisors told him to do! He had a godly man, Jehoiada, who raised him and advised him!

2Ch 24:5, … “Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather from all Israel money TO REPAIR THE HOUSE OF YOUR …

YOUR GOD? NOT OUR GOD OR MY GOD, BUT YOUR GOD! JOASH ONLY DID LIP SERVICE TO THE LORD!

Isa 29:13, … “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And HONOR ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT HAVE REMOVED THEIR HEARTS FAR FROM ME, …

2Ch 24:17-18, Now after the death of Jehoiada the leaders of Judah came and bowed down to the king. AND THE KING LISTENED TO THEM. 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. 

2Ch 24:20, Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest… 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.

Joash ignored the warning of GOD, and killed the son of the man who raised him! He was unstable in all his ways (Jas 1:8). Joash was killed by his own servants while he laid in bed!

Joh 12:43, FOR THEY LOVED THE PRAISE OF MEN MORE THAN THE PRAISE OF GOD. 

Gal 1:10, For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? FOR IF I STILL PLEASED MEN, I WOULD NOT BE A BONDSERVANT OF CHRIST. 

IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT PEOPLE SAY, IT ONLY MATTERS WHAT THE LORD SAYS! WHOM DO YOU SERVE? CHRIST OR MAN?

2Chronicles 23, the coming KING!

2Ch 23:1, In the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself,

Jehoiada the priest strengthened himself with other believers and brought them to the house of the LORD and said to them

2Ch 23:3, … Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as the LORD has said of the sons of David

For 6 years no one knew that David still had a successor to the throne! Everyone believed that the promise of GOD failed!

Psa 89:34-36, MY COVENANT I WILL NOT BREAK, NOR ALTER THE WORD THAT HAS GONE OUT OF MY LIPS. ONCE I HAVE SWORN BY MY HOLINESS; I WILL NOT LIE TO DAVID: HIS SEED SHALL ENDURE FOREVER, AND HIS THRONE AS THE SUN BEFORE ME;

2Ch 23:11, AND THEY BROUGHT OUT THE KING’S SON, PUT THE CROWN ON HIM, GAVE HIM THE TESTIMONY, AND MADE HIM KING. THEN JEHOIADA AND HIS SONS ANOINTED HIM, AND SAID, “LONG LIVE THE KING!” 

They brought the king out of the house of GOD a seven-year-old son of David!

THE LORD KEEPS HIS PROMISSES AND EVERYTHING HE HAS SAID WILL COME TO PASS! HIS WORD WILL NEVER FAIL!

Num 23:19, “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? 

The true KING JESUS, the SON of the LIVING GOD will one day reign as KING of all!

Zec 14:9, And the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be “The LORD is one,” And His name one. 

Today people allowed Athaliah (satan) to reign because they don’t know that TRUE KING JESUS IS STILL ALIVE AND COMING BACK! BE READY! THE KING OF kings is coming!

2Chronicles 22, Train your children!

2Ch 22:2, AHAZIAH WAS FORTY-TWO YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING, AND HE REIGNED ONE YEAR IN JERUSALEM. HIS MOTHER’S NAME WAS ATHALIAH…

King Ahaziah was actually 22 years old when he became king! This is known as a scribble error! THIS HAPPENS WHEN YOU GIVE THE PERFECT WORD OF GOD TO IMPERFECT PEOPLE!

2Ki 8:26, AHAZIAH WAS TWENTY-TWO YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING,

2Ch 22:3, HE ALSO WALKED IN THE WAYS OF THE HOUSE OF AHAB, FOR HIS MOTHER ADVISED HIM TO DO WICKEDLY.

Pro 22:6, TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO, AND WHEN HE IS OLD HE WILL NOT DEPART FROM IT. 

REMEMBER WE TRAIN OUR CHILDREN BY OUR WORKS MORE THAN OUR WORDS, AND THEY WILL DO WHAT WE DO, NOT WHAT WE SAY TO DO!

This led to Ahaziah’s death by the hand of JEHU in verse 27.  LIVE BY THE SWORD, DIE BY THE SWORD!

2Ch 22:10, 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. 

Athaliah was trying to kill off the lineage of David and with that the lineage of JESUS!

2Ch 22:11, BUT Jehoshabeath… took JOASH the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were being murdered

BUT THE LORD SENT A COURAGEOUS LADY, SISTER OF AHAZIAH BY A DIFFERENT MOTHER, TO SAVE JOASH! THE LORD KEEPS HIS PROMISES AND HE CAN SAVE BY ONE PERSON OR BY MANY!