Reading: II Chronicles 34 – 36
Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the Lord which he had hallowed in Jerusalem. And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy (II Chr. 36:14-16).
Once again, we have reached the bitter and heartbreaking end to the independent nation of Judah. Born of God’s promise, And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing (Gen. 12:2), her inability to uphold her end of the covenant had led to her expulsion from the promised land. The Lord shall bring thee, and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; and there shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone (Deut. 28:36).
From the time of her national division from Israel to the moment of her destruction and exile, Judah had 19 kings and one unofficial queen. Asa, Jehoshaphat, Uzziah, Jotham, Hezekiah and Josiah all followed the ways of the Lord and attempted to lead the people on the path of righteousness. Rehoboam and Joash both began their reigns in the Lord's service but succumbed to the pull of pagan ideology by the end. Manasseh was a truly evil king, but near the end of his reign repented of his sins. Abijah, Jehoram, Ahaziah, Queen Athaliah, Amaziah, Ahaz, Amon, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah all rejected God outright. Throughout the centuries, the people of Judah mindlessly followed their leaders. Right and wrong was determined by who was on the throne, and they worshiped whatever god was popular at that time.
Many of us today are following in the footsteps of the people of Judah without even realizing it. We identify with a particular denomination of the church, and then we allow our church leaders to direct our faith. As church politics and policies change, so to do our stated beliefs. We worship God regularly, but rarely if ever approach Him on a personal level. We carefully go through the approved motions almost as if we are afraid that we will place our salvation in jeopardy if we stray from the order of worship printed on the church bulletin. Just as did the biblical Judeans, we allow others to dictate the basis of our faith.
While Christian fellowship and shared worship are essential for our spiritual health, God requires much more from us than simply attending church. He does not add or subtract our name from Heaven’s roll based on our denominational choice, and He does not make himself known through church bylaws. He presents Himself to us directly, through Scripture and the Holy Spirit. He wants a personal relationship with each and every one of us, one that is fed by prayer and immersion in His Word. If we choose to ignore this most precious resource and rely solely on the teachings of man, then we may one day find ourselves suffering the same fate as the hapless citizens of Judah.
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ (Gal. 1:10).
Thought for Today: We are responsible for our own actions when we follow others away from God and into ruin; fortunately, if we keep our eyes open and upon God alone, then we needn’t fear being led astray.
Christ Revealed: Through the messengers of God who were rejected by His people (II Chr. 36:15-16; compare Is. 53:3; Mark 9:12). Jesus came unto His own (His own people), and His own received Him not (John 1:11; also Matt. 21:42; Mark 8:31; 12:10; Luke 9:22; 17:25; 20:17).
Word Studies: 35:13 sod = boiled; 36:3 put him down = deposed him; condemned = taxed; demanded tribute; 36:10 brother = uncle; 36:15 rising up betimes = early every morning.
Pray for Government Officials: Rep. Larry Bucshon (IN), Del. Madeleine Bor- dallo (Guam) • Country: Pakistan (193,238,868) Southern Asia • Major Languages: Punjabi, Sindhi, Urdu, English • There is no freedom to convert Muslims to Christ. Pakistan is an Islamic republic • 96.4% Muslim; 3.6% Other (Christian, Hindu, Parsi/ Zoroastrian, Baha’i, Sikh, Buddhist, Kalasha, Kihal, Jain) • Prayer Suggestion: Bless the Lord that His Word is absolutely trustworthy (I Kings 8:56).
Optional Reading II Corinthians 2.