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Proverbs 7 of 14 – Friends

Read: Proverbs 16-18

There are deep and important thoughts in today’s reading, but this one speaks to me louder than the rest at this particular time in my life:

A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
Proverbs 17:17

Friends don’t happen overnight, to be sure, but the period from introduction to locking-arms-friendship is greatly reduced when going through adversity. The test of true friendship lies in difficult times. Of course, personal character has a whole lot to do with the process and this is the central theme of Proverbs, so it’s no surprise to dive into the concept of friendship in the middle of the book.

This should be one key trait that separates us, Christ-followers, from the rest of the world. Should be. Can be. Will be every time we invest time and take the great risk of developing meaningful friendships beyond our family units–what a concept! The reality is, we don’t look all that different from the rest of the world. I don’t have all the stats at my fingertips, but reliable sources tell us again and again how much we look like the rest of society. This is not good news. Not that we should be place on a pedestal of any kind; however, as the body of Christ, we should get along better than the PTA and civic organizations. After all, we have been adopted by the Lord of Creation!

Chapter 16 begins with seven proverbs that compare us to the Lord.

  1. from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.
  2. motives are weighed by the Lord.
  3. the Lord will establish your plans.
  4. the Lord works out everything to its proper end
  5. The Lord detests all the proud of heart.
  6. through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided.
  7. When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them.

We have the Ten Commandments, the Great Commandment and a ton of proverbs as tools to distinguish us as the people of God. We don’t need a checklist or program to keep us in line, what we need are true friends that remind us of these truths that all emanate from God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We need an effective community of believers, aka church, that is focused on learning these principles and living them out daily. I can’t wait to get into the study of Acts!

These two proverbs break my heart:

A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
The human spirit can endure in sickness,
but a crushed spirit who can bear?
Proverbs 17:22, 18:14

So often we’re distracted by our own issues that we don’t see the crushed spirit of the person standing right in front of us. So many times I’ve prayed for discernment, for the ability to see a person as God sees them. When I stop and listen, take time to hear what is unsaid, I change the way I look at the rude, loud, abrasive and rather obnoxious people; I see the quiet, shy, hidden and withdrawn who are truly mourning — all who Jesus Christ willingly accepted the brutal punishment of the cross for.

Friends, centered on Christ, are precious.

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24

Seems fitting to conclude this post with one last thought about friends. Some years ago, I don’t remember exactly, we sang a song by Delirious, What A Friend I’ve Found. This truly intimate song honors the incredible relationship that Jesus offers to us:

I have called you friends,
for everything that I learned from my Father
I have made known to you.
John 15:15

Everything. Forever. How can we not share this Good News?

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Proverbs 6 of 14 – Wicked, Fools and the Tongue

Read: Proverbs 12-15

Four chapters in Proverbs — that’s a lot of content! Half of the 111 verses center on the themes of those who are wicked, foolish or those that lie or use their words recklessly. In at least 24 verses righteousness is compared to wickedness; foolish vs wise accounts for another 22 verses and the deceitful, lying, reckless, unkind, perverse or harsh words from the mouth appear 13 times.

So, if I’m wondering if I am acting like a fool, wicked or my words have turned evil, these are the verses to test my heart.

One thought occurs to me as I read this morning: Have I become so accustom to the wisdom of proverbs that I believe everyone agrees with this as wisdom? Those who have not been raised on biblical truths may not agree, but not because they are evil; rather, they have simply not been taught. It’s been years since prayer was erased from schools and the Ten Commandments removed from walls of justice in many places. Many have not heard the Gospel, that is true. How many have created their own set of proverbs?

The importance of internalizing these truths cannot be understated, yet at the same time we cannot expect those who are far from God to appreciate these as absolute truth. Does that make sense? Our language, our lexicon, is different from the world’s. Lord help me to fully understand your words here and give me wisdom to see how to move those outside the faith toward Your truth.

A corollary thought is interesting as well: many who are not Christians would agree with these words, so they can become a solid bridge to build a relationship with. For example,

Those who work their land will have abundant food,
but those who chase fantasies have no sense.
Proverbs 12:11

You don’t have to be a Christ-follower to agree with that statement. There are many proverbs that fall into this category and there are many societal norms that do not! Lord, sharpen my mind and ears to know and hear the difference between your words of wisdom and that of the world that leads people astray.

I’m not going to exposit each of the thematic verses on wicked, fools and the tongue here, they are plain to see. Take note of these prevailing thoughts as you read these chapters and look for ways to use this wisdom as a witness for the Gospel, as ambassadors of Christ in a world that has created its own standards.

What verses speak to you today? Holy Spirit, highlight the words I need to hear.

Better a little with the fear of the Lord
than great wealth with turmoil.
Better a small serving of vegetables with love
than a fattened calf with hatred.
Proverbs 15:16-17

Lord, make me content with what is before me. Keep reckless words far from my thoughts and completely out of my mouth! May my words be gentle, yet truthful; full of knowledge and kind; soothing and warm. This world is so full of the opposite. Let us be a people of remarkable kindness and genuine love.

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Proverbs 5 of 14 – Even When It Hurts & Power of the Tongue

Read: Proverbs 10-11 and Psalm 88

Reading the Psalms in parallel to Proverbs is interesting and challenging at the same time.

Psalm 88 is dark and depressing, honest and open.

1 Lord, you are the God who saves me;
day and night I cry out to you.
2 May my prayer come before you;
turn your ear to my cry.
17 All day long they surround me like a flood;
they have completely engulfed me.
18 You have taken from me friend and neighbor—
darkness is my closest friend.
Psalm 88:1-2, 17-18

These four verses are the bookends for the psalm. We don’t sing these songs very often, which is good, but there are times when we publicly express pain. This past Sunday the worship was deeply expressive to me. One of the songs Beth added to this worship set was Even When It Hurts, by Joel Houston (Hillsong).

Even when the fight seems lost I’ll praise You
Even when it hurts like hell I’ll praise You
Even when it makes no sense to sing louder
Then I’ll sing Your praise.

Even When It Hurts, Hillsong United, Joel Houston, 2015

This particular Sunday the arrangement for this song did not include my guitar so my role was to simply worship with the congregation. It was as if God was making sure I didn’t miss the point by getting lost in playing guitar, clearing the way to hear the prophetic words from a modern psalm.

If we were to arrange Psalm 88 for worship I would simply tag it with the sentiment of this song. When (not if), it hurts like hell, I will sing Your praises even louder.  I’m absolutely certain this is what the Lord wants above all the earthly troubles, so I will unashamedly worship God, the Creator and Sustainer, the Redeemer that relentlessly pursues us, with all I have.

The worship was powerful this Sunday, timely for me personally as well as others who made a point of commenting. This Sunday we led worship without drums. This doesn’t happen often, but it created space for people to hear more, to enter a more intimate worship set as we begin the mini-series that leads to Easter. Timely yes, coincidence, not really. The result of a Worship Pastor that listens closely to the Holy Spirit’s prompting — thank you Beth!

Proverbs 10 & 11

Between these two chapters there are 63 proverbs that pour a foundation of wisdom for good vs bad. Few would argue about these contrasting verses, regardless of religious background.

  • Some examples of good: wise son, righteous, diligent hands, prudent, accepting commands, integrity, love, discerning lips, fortified, hold your tongue.
  • Compared to bad: foolish, ill-gotten treasure, lazy, violent, chattering fool, crooked paths, hatred, mouth of a fool.

Over and over we get the sense that the tongue, as James reminds us, is the rudder that controls our direction. So many times I’ve watched words slip out of my mouth that I regret; the same mouth that sings praises to God and encourages others. My prayer is that by reading through the proverbs, especially these individual verses, my mouth will tend toward discerning lips of wisdom more often than the fool that fuels dissent.

More than just mere fortune cookies, the book of proverbs is conveniently located in the middle of the Bible–the hinge surrounded by scripture. Lord, help us to consume these words of wisdom so they become the very core of our identity with Christ.

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Proverbs 4 of 14 – Anatomy of Seduction; Wisdom’s Call

Read: Proverbs 7-9 and Psalm 87

Two chapters on adultery are not enough! Today we read about how easy it is to be seduced by adultery followed by a chapter that begs us to choose wisdom.

As I let the words wash over me, I’m drawn to the theme of selfish desire, of me, me, me. What gives me pleasure right now? Our classic comeback for our girls was, “I want doesn’t live here,” but does it? How often does “I want” creep into our lives? The lure of adultery is all about I want, some temporary fix where one is convinced it’s ok to be completely self-indulgent. It may be nurtured in loneliness, anger, bitterness, etc., but it is not God’s plan for our lives. My prayer is we learn to re-think church as the community of believers where we can lean on each other, to transparently express feelings not as a dumping ground, but as a means of asking for help to focus on God above all else when these feelings of loneliness invade our minds. I’m convinced that the more we are able to live in a community of believers, the more we will grow in our faith and stay far from the path of temptation.

Chapter 7 provides a narrative story of how adultery creeps in and destroys. This reads like a script from many movies and TV shows, except the adulterers are not honored here, they are not the heroes. When did the movies change in this country? It seems like they once attempted to portray family values that honored marriage, but I guess that became too commonplace, so they had to be edgy to get the attention of movie-goers; followed by television shows and now a plethora of cable/streaming channels.

The intro to the warning about adultery this time begins with a call for wisdom:

Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and to insight, “You are my relative.”
They will keep you from the adulterous woman,
from the wayward woman with her seductive words.
Proverbs 7:4-5

It is clear that when we seek God first, when we lock arms with Jesus and ask for wisdom, we will not stray into the streets of temptation. Lord help us to keep your perspective as we look out our windows at the streets below. Hold us tight and remind us of your desire for marriages you arranged.

Chapters 8 & 9 eloquently lay out the case for choosing wisdom. I need to be reminded of this often, especially the thought that wisdom does not originate from with me!

Choose my instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold,
for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
Proverbs 8:10-11

There are several nice little videos floating around the internet these days, well at least on Facebook. They show people rising above all odds, overcoming obstacles and failure because they believed in themselves. Up until that last point, I’m moved by the imagery, but this is a false god, a lie meant to teach us to look inside for truth, wisdom and courage. I grew up listening to Simon & Garfunkel and playing I Am A Rock with enthusiasm. The ironic lyric was meant to discourage such individualism, but it came at a time when dust to stardom was the dream of our culture.

“Now then, my children, listen to me;
blessed are those who keep my ways.
Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not disregard it.
Blessed are those who listen to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.
For those who find me find life
and receive favor from the Lord.
But those who fail to find me harm themselves;
all who hate me love death.”
Proverbs 8:32-26

Find wisdom indeed! Wisdom is interwoven in the pages of the Bible, sometimes as direct as Chapter 8, other times by showing us examples of foolishness. In the 21st century we have the privilege of reading the words that many did not. May we spur each other on to gain wisdom from God. We should not do this life alone. It’s messy and difficult, but I would rather stumble while surrounded by a group of true Christ followers than out on my own. The “do it myself” culture needs to give way to do it in community. A tall order and lofty dream for sure, but when we put Jesus in the center, the focus of all, this is not so difficult to imagine.

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Proverbs 3 of 14 – Warnings Against Adultery

Read: Proverbs 5-6 and Psalm 86

Most of the warnings in these two chapters deal with adultery, one of the Ten Commandments that has to be explained over and over again to penetrate our think skulls! Such a simple concept, but obviously a divisive issue that seems to have transcended time.

With repeated warnings, you would think this would be an issue of the past, one we read about and say, “wow, those people were crazy,” but these words ring as true today as they did 2,500 years ago.

Now then, my sons, listen to me;
do not turn aside from what I say.
Keep to a path far from her,
do not go near the door of her house,
Proverbs 5:7-8

Do not go near the house of the adulterous woman…because you know full well what is going on. You know the path, you know the house, so stay away! There are so many examples of strong people slipping into adultery, intelligent leaders, gifted men and women who lose their way. The warning is strong and repeated often in various ways just in case we missed it!

Drink water from your own cistern,
running water from your own well.
Do not lust in your heart after her beauty
or let her captivate you with her eyes.
Proverbs 5:15, 6:25

The Lord created the covenant bond of marriage to be a joyful experience, one where we find comfort at home:

May your fountain be blessed,
and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
A loving doe, a graceful deer—
may her breasts satisfy you always,
may you ever be intoxicated with her love.
Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife?
Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?
Proverbs 5:18-20

There is nothing new here in 2017, why be enticed by another woman? With a few keystrokes the floodgate of pornography is at our fingertips. Wayward men and women, somebody’s sons and daughters, who have either lost their way or have never been shown a righteous path attempt to satisfy desires of the flesh. I suppose this is like a drug that provides a temporary escape–there is no good answer to “why,” yet the problem is real. Perhaps this is why the reminder is inserted here:

For your ways are in full view of the Lord,
and he examines all your paths.
Proverbs 5:21

If we really believe that our ways are in full view of the Lord, would we really walk down this path?

But a man who commits adultery has no sense;
whoever does so destroys himself.
Proverbs 6:32

Always in hindsight we know it is a mistake. The temporary insanity that causes us to slip is most likely the result of putting our focus on earthly pleasures and losing sight of God’s plan for our lives. The Tempter is devious and his desire is to see us fail, to fall into traps. Lord help us to hear the warning sirens and reach out to those who would keep us accountable to your better plan.

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Proverbs 2 of 14 – Nothing I Hold Onto

Read: Proverbs 3-4

I’m not sure I should post this, but I hope it’s useful for something. It’s real and transparent, though it only scratches the surface of the challenges of the day.

In particular, Proverbs 3:5-6 forms the basis for Nothing I Hold Onto, (Will Reagan and United Pursuit). This song echoed in my head after discovering the robbery of our empty house a few years ago. Thieves broken in and removed all of the appliances, mirrors, etc., as we served in Monterey, CA. Our insurance company essentially said, sucks to be you and we were left footing that bill completely. In the next week we hope to close on the sale of that same house as we empty our savings to reduce the principal to meet market demands. The financial loss is unbelievable, but very real.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6

While Zoe is left to close on the sale with my power of attorney, I will have the privilege of visiting a church with Healthy Growing Churches in an effort to help them find a path that will reinvigorate their church, to set them on a new life-cycle to be an effective witness to their community for the kingdom. I’ll get to meet with the Management Team for Restore Christian Church in Jacksonville, NC, and finish my part of launching that new church. I’ll get a chance to work other projects with HGC to reshape the way many think about discipleship and I’ll be honored to help out as best I can with the local church here in Anderson, SC.

Here’s the plain truth: I’d rather be doing these activities to support the kingdom than working for some company for financial gain.

Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Proverbs 3:9-10

Honestly, I don’t need barns that are overflowing or vats filled with new wine, but I will trust that God has a plan in all this mess.

Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
for the Lord will be at your side
and will keep your foot from being snared.
Proverbs 3:25-26

My comfort comes from knowing that the Lord is at my side.

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
Proverbs 4:7

I pray that there is great gain in wisdom as we go through these next few weeks. In this trial my prayer is simply:

Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.
Proverbs 4:23-27

We all have burdens to bear and it’s not my intent to cast this burden on anyone, I’m just being real and transparent. For a few brief moments this week I was able (and will be able) to lose my selfish thoughts in music, in playing guitar as part of authentic worship. That’s the best therapy I can think of.

Lord, help me keep my eyes straight ahead, fixed on you and your perfect plan for my life, for my family and friends. Keep my feet on paths of righteousness when I struggle to see what’s in front of me. I completely trust you have a reason and purpose behind all of this, though it’s honestly very difficult to understand. Perhaps that’s the point:

I lean not on my own understanding,
my life is in the hands of the maker of heaven.
I give it all to you Lord
Trusting that you’ll make something beautiful out of me.
There’s nothing I hold onto.

Nothing I Hold Onto, Will Reagan

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Proverbs 1 of 14 – Benefits of Wisdom

Read: Proverbs 1-2 and Psalms 85

In the next two weeks the words of King Solomon and other wise men will fill my thoughts. Given the difficulties we are currently facing, the timing of this scripture is perhaps most important.

Beyond the intro, the first exhortation from King Solomon is to ignore the temptation to go along with sinful people. Simply put,

My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them. Proverbs 1:10

To begin with, this assumes we have enough discernment to recognize the lure and bait of a sinful person. In hindsight this is easy to identify, it’s having the foresight to see what is happening that I find difficult. The distinction here, I believe, is these men are well known to be scoundrels; their reputation precedes them. Lord help us to have the foresight and clearly see the traps that lie ahead!

Wisdom’s Rebuke

Wisdom is personified in Proverbs 1:20-33. The imagery is really great!

on top of the wall she cries out,
at the city gate she makes her speech
Proverbs 1:20-21

If we would stop and listen we would hear wisdom speak, but it seems I am often in such a hurry, stressed by one thing or another, that I often do not hear the shouts from the city gate. The rebuke is rather harsh: I will mock when calamity overtakes you (Proverbs 1:26b); tough words which simply reveal the truth.

Moral Benefits of Wisdom

It’s great to follow up the rebuke with some refreshing words: if we call out for insight and wisdom God will provide!

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6

Thank you Lord!

While wisdom is not afraid to rebuke when necessary, wisdom provides discretion and understanding, saves us from wicked and adulterous people; it leads us on the path of righteousness.

Wisdom begins with fear of the Lord, with a deep and sincere appreciation for who God is as Father, Creator and Redeemer of all. This is important to appreciate in a world that relies on IQ scores to define those who are wise and who should be followed. In a world that denies God’s existence, the moral compass has no true north. Our key advantage is not only relying on the One True God, but working hard to learn his ways and follow his path. Reading the Bible daily is a start. Hearing the whispers and shouts from the gate is a great next step. Thank you for your words Lord. Help us to hear!

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Manasseh and Josiah; Judah Falls into Captivity

Read: 2 Chronicles 33-36

Today we read the closing chapters in 2 Chronicles, the last of the kings of Judah. Here’s a quick outline:

Manasseh

The story of Manasseh has a terrible beginning. Unlike his father:

He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had demolished; he also erected altars to the Baals and made Asherah poles. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them. 2 Chronicles 33:3

A month ago, when reading through 2 Kings 21, I summarized King Manasseh’s life in a simple sentence. Just a few weeks ago Brett Andrew provided great insight into Manasseh by including references to this passage in 2 Chronicles 33:12-13. The sermon focused on this amazing thought: if God can forgive Manasseh, he can forgive anyone.

This is incredible and so significant for us to hear today. I hope you’ll listen to the sermon, especially where Manasseh:

In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God. 2 Chronicles 33:12-13

For those who are holding onto guilt for past mistakes, this is the ultimate message for healing; permission to let go of the past. The God of Creation loves you more than you can imagine! Lord, help us to humble ourselves and turn to you completely.

Amon

From this amazing story, we move on to the brief account of Amon. Not much to say here. He did evil and did not humble himself.

Josiah

The narrative here and in the parallel account in 2 Kings 22-23 provide a great example of how a generation can change. Josiah was only 8 when they made him king, but by his 16th birthday, he began transforming Judah:

he began to seek the God of his father David. In his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols. 2 Chronicles 34:3

When he was 26, in his eighteenth year as king, they found the Book of the Law. When King Josiah was told he tore his robes and re-committed himself to ways of the Lord. He lead Judah by great example and read the entire book to the remnant of Israel and Judah, all who were eager to hear what the Lord wanted.

Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge themselves to it; the people of Jerusalem did this in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors. 2 Chronicles 34:32

Josiah was so moved by the words he reestablished the Passover like none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah (2 Chronicles 35:18). This was a great time in the history of God’s chosen people. As the prophet foretold, disaster did not come during his lifetime.

Josiah ruled well, but died in battle when the king of Egypt attacked a neighboring kingdom. He was moved to join the battle, but that proved to be a fatal mistake for him and his son.

Remaining Kings

Chapter 36 quickly wraps up the narrative of the remaining kings outlined above. Few details are listed here as the kings of Judah come to an end and the people are swept away into captivity by the Babylonians. The story is not over by a longshot, but we find the people have once again moved away from God:

The Lord, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy. 2 Chronicles 36:15-16

And there was no remedy until the ultimate sacrifice by Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary.

The rest of the chosen are swept away, yet some of these, the remnant, remain faithful even without the temple and freedom to worship God openly. The whole idea of the remnant permeates Frank Peretti’s early books, This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness. I remember reading about the concept of “the remnant” so many times and wondering, are we the remnant? Which side of the coin are we?

Lord I pray that we would lead well, that we would humble ourselves and hear your voice above all the noise and commotion of this day and age. Awaken your remnant, Lord. Help us to be strong and courageous as we intentionally build your church and create spaces that invite people into fellowship with Christ.

 

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Hezekiah’s Reforms

Read: 2 Chronicles 30-32 and Psalm 84

King Hezekiah was eager to reform Israel (those who were not swept away by the Assyrians) and Judah. He worked hard to get them back on track. He knew that they needed to gather in numbers in order to gain momentum — they needed what we refer to as church.

Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, inviting them to come to the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel. 2 Chronicles 30:1

His couriers were not well received as they spread the news of Hezekiah’s plans to gather and celebrate Passover; however, some did hear, some did understand. Eventually,  large crowd gathered to celebrate the Lord’s deliverance in the Passover feast. So many, in fact, that they were not all properly consecrated–they didn’t have time to go through all of the ritual cleaning steps. Hezekiah asked God to overlook this issue for their hearts were turned toward Him and the Lord heard and healed his people.

The festival went on for 7 days and then they decided to carry on for another 7 days.

There was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem.  The priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, his holy dwelling place. 2 Chronicles 30:26-27

Strengthened as a community of believers, they went out and destroyed the idols and Asherah poles that had become the center of worship. Together they were resolved. While individually they might be wonderful followers of the Lord, but Hezekiah knew that they needed to gather as a congregation, as a group, in order to change the evil ways of generations.

The people voluntarily brought their tithes to the temple; heaps of things!

Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about the heaps; and Azariah the chief priest, from the family of Zadok, answered, “Since the people began to bring their contributions to the temple of the Lord, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare, because the Lord has blessed his people, and this great amount is left over.” 2 Chronicles 31:9-10

They distributed contributions among the Levites so they could focus on serving the Lord in the temple. They wanted their staff to be free from distraction, to concentrate on serving the Lord as Moses outlined.

In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered. 2 Chronicles 31:21

The Assyrians are watching this transformation and began their military campaigns against Judah. Sennacherib king of Assyria thought he could sweep away Hezekiah and his people like he had successfully done with the northern kingdom, the people of Israel.

Hezekiah was confident that God was with them so he encouraged his people:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said. 2 Chronicles 32:7-8

Sennacherib continued to attempt to defeat God’s people, but his psychological warfare was ineffective:

Now do not let Hezekiah deceive you and mislead you like this. Do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or the hand of my predecessors. How much less will your god deliver you from my hand!” 2 Chronicles 32:15

Hezekiah and Isaiah cried out to the Lord for help and God answered their prayers in a mighty way, he sent an angel who annihilated all the fighting men and the commanders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king (2 Chronicles 32:21).

In just a few verses the battles are summarized, but this was hugely significant. With no mention of army vs army, the Assyrians are defeated. Hezekiah’s fame grew and so did his pride. Though we’re not privileged to many details, we simply read that his heart was proud, then he repented and the Lord relented.

There are many great lessons in today’s text. I really appreciate how Hezekiah boldly rallied the people around the celebration of the Passover. As we prepare for Easter 2017, I pray we will boldly invite people to church, to the gathering of God’s people, to hear the message of the cross. It’s not enough to sit in our homes and nod our heads in agreement, united together we need to gather and celebrate the Risen Savior.

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Ahaz Comes and Goes; Hezekiah begins

Read: 2 Chronicles 28-29 and Psalm 83

Ahaz

The only good thing I can say about Ahaz is that somehow he had a son, Hezekiah. Ahaz followed the ways of the northern kingdom, detestable practices, even burned his children in the fire as a sacrifice to some god.

In his time of trouble King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the Lord. 2 Chronicles 28:22

While most of us will cry out to the Lord in bad times, Ahaz somehow got worse! He reigned 16 years as king of Judah, long years for the few who remained faithful–surely there were some who made up the remnant. Ahaz was the king of the southern kingdom when the northern kingdom was carried away into Assyrian captivity and eventually completely destroyed. This provides the backstory for Hezekiah.

Hezekiah

Chapter 29 provides a brief introduction for Hezekiah’s reforms and good deeds:

So the service of the temple of the Lord was reestablished. Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced at what God had brought about for his people, because it was done so quickly. 2 Chronicles 29:35-36

From the ashes of the northern kingdom and corruption of Ahaz, we are treated with an extensive narrative about a king who did well. Turning around the kingdom at this point must have been quite a difficult task. It’s one thing to relaunch a church, this is restarting and entire kingdom as they watch their brothers and sisters (i.e., Israel) get carted off to oblivion.

It is encouraging to think that one man can provide a pivot point for a nation. The featured image on this post represents one man, one starfish, in an ocean that is otherwise empty. I’m sure he was supported by a large group of those unnamed, but he stood as the leader that changed the course of history and extended the kingdom of God’s chosen for another 100+ years. That is significant!

It’s intimidating to think about changing an entire country, even to the point of paralysis. Lord, help us to see this good example and not try to solve the entire problem; rather, show us how to have an impact on the few around us. One at a time, we can change history, though we might not see it in our lifetime. Help us to do this with humble hearts, showing the love of Christ to those we meet. Help us to be content to be one of the many whose names are not listed, yet are in fact the ones that did the work.

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