Ezra 1-3 [The Message]

After their seventy-year exile into Babylon, Ezra led a 50,000 member entourage of Israelites back to Jerusalem to restore their civilization and worship. Having been in captivity and repressed by a foreign culture, they were surely cautious about making waves in their newfound freedom. Yet, Ezra records that they began burnt offerings again, ignoring their fear of what non-Israelite nations would say or think. They exhibited a boldness and desperation for God’s presence in their homeland again and ignored whatever apprehensions they possessed.

Daniel displayed this same grit as he ignored the threats of his despisers and kept up his routine of praying three times a day to the Lord. Even though he was cast into the den of lions, God preserved his life. Paul and Silas boldly and fearlessly lifted up their voices in prayer and praise at midnight in the jail at Philippi , after having been beaten and chained in stocks. Their faith was rewarded with an earthquake that shook them free. Peter and the disciples were severely threatened by Jerusalem’s religious leaders not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.

It seems that persecution of Christians is again amping up in our society. God help us to be bold and fearless in practicing and sharing our faith.

2 Chron. 35, 36 [The Message]

Sadly, there was a rapid succession of evil kings who followed Josiah in Judah. Nebuchadnezzar had taken control of Judah and set up puppet kings to rule under his thumb.

A puppet leader is a leader in name only. Someone else is pulling the strings. For whatever reason, this happens even today. What you see as a leader is not really what you’re getting. They are tools of someone else’s power.

God, however, rules over all. While the puppet king Zedekiah ruled Judah, God was actually giving the land a sabbath rest just as Jeremiah had prophesied. Although he wasn’t really in power, God was simultaneously accomplishing His Purposes in the land.

We may have our own theories about who is running our country, BUT GOD is having His way all the time. Don’t worry. Pray. Trust God.

2 Chron. 34 [The Message]

Today’s reading brought back a memory to me. May I share it?

Good King Josiah nobly ordered the Temple remodeled and shaped up to give God their best. The Levitical musicians even got their hands dirty and got involved with the project.

In the 70s, I was Minister of Music at Hope Temple in Findlay, Ohio. We were building a new sanctuary that would seat nearly 2000. I had experience doing painting and staining. I willingly worked my tail off painting the entire building with some helpers. It was a big labor of love for all involved. I respect church musicians who are not afraid to do some work and get their hands dirty. The church members take note and say, “He really believes in what we’re doing.”

Sadly, that building burned down in an hour in 1986. We all have some great memories though.

John 7:53-8:11 n [The Message]

Today we take a little NT break and focus on a passage/event from the Life of Christ.

Although this passage is noted as missing from the earliest Greek manuscripts of the NT, it includes some concepts that seem to be part of our understanding of Christ’s ability to forgive sin. It’s about the woman taken in the act of adultery … possibly Mary the sister of Lazarus …and how Jesus diverted the shame-aim from her to her accusers. He wrote in the dirt while the pious religious leaders taunted Him about what should be done to her. Jesus said, “Whoever of you is without sin, cast the first stone.”

He went on to announce to them that HE was the Light of Life. Was He focusing His Light upon their sin, maybe exposing them in the writing in the dirt?

Nothing is hidden from Christ’s Spiritual Searchlight. All is exposed. WE hide. He exposes. His exposure is not intended to destroy us but to eliminate through forgiveness the sins which so easily beset us.

He said, “Walk in the Light as I am in the Light.” [1 John 1:7]

2 Chron. 33 [The Message]

King Manasseh ruled Judah for 55 years, much of which was a disastrous reign. He did evil in the sight of God. However, after being hauled off in captivity to Babylon, he turned to the Lord in prayer and total repentance. Mercifully, God heard his prayer and restored him to his throne where he spent the rest of his days more uprightly. He purged the city and Temple of the idol worship images he had instituted.

At any time in the life of a sinner, one can turn to God and repent. There’s mercy at the altar for all. Total repentance involves acknowledgement of sin, confessing it, and turning one’s behavior around 180 degrees. Jesus said to the woman caught in the act of adultery, “Go and sin no more.”

2 Chron. 30-32 [The Message]

King Hezekiah had changed the nation from an apostate to a revived state. He reinstituted the worship and sacrifices given in the Law of Moses. The nation was enjoying its new-found spiritual life and blessing.

Trouble ensued. Evil King Sennacherib of Assyria attacked Judah bringing a fresh fear upon the inhabitants. Hezekiah wisely addressed his people by saying, “, “Be strong! Take courage! Don’t be intimidated by the king of Assyria and his troops—there are more on our side than on their side. He only has a bunch of mere men; we have our God to help us and fight for us!”

When our eyes are focused on our enemy, we fear. When our eyes are focused upon our God, we are encouraged and can begin marching into victory.

After Hezekiah’s pray requesting God’s help, He sent one angel who slaughtered the entire Assyrian army of “mere men.”

2 Chron. 29 [The Message]

To me, this is such a refreshing phrase! With the degradation of our culture happening right before our eyes, it’s heartening to know that King Hezekiah faced similar challenges in circa 700 B.C. He put his royal foot down and declared, “I have decided to make a covenant with the God of Israel and turn history around so that God will no longer be angry with us.”

His first order of business was to have the priests and Levites to clean out the Temple and restore rightful worship. WE are God’s Temple. OUR hearts need to be cleaned out. WE need to restore worship, living lives that bow down to God’s Holiness in every aspect.

If we want to see history turned around, it won’t be merely voting for the right political party. It will be the personal consecration of our lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ that will make the difference. The devil can’t control people that pray.

2 Chron. 28 [The Message]

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. It wears you out to read about the stupid things Judah’s kings did and how they suffered from them. It seems they didn’t learn by observing the devastation incurred by their forefathers. Such was Ahaz. Like his father Jotham, he reigned 16 years and did such abominable acts like forcing his children to walk into fire in the Valley of Hinnom. Because of his corrupt leadership, thousands of Judah’s inhabitants were kidnapped by opposing nations. Sad.

We learn from the lessons of life. Even Jesus had to learn from His experiences. “Even being God’s Son, He learned to obey by the things He suffered.” [Heb. 5:8 NLV]

The home is the best place for children to learn obedience. There they are corrected and chastened by parents who love them. Hence, the importance of both correction and chastisement. If disobedience is not lovingly dealt with, they will have to suffer at the hands of others who may not have the same investment of love.

2 Chron. 27 [The Message]

This is what was said about Uzziah’s son, Jotham. He lived a steady and determined life of obedience. What a great testimony. Some people are more “steady and determined” than others. If you are, apply it to your devotion to the Lord. If not, allow the Holy Spirit to lead you into such a life.

When I consider the following verse, I think of this discipline. It can be applied to your prayer with great results:

Confess therefore your sins one to another: and pray one for another, that you may be saved. For the continual [fervent, effectual] prayer of a just man availeth [accomplishes] much. [James 5:16 DRA]

2 Chron. 26 [The Message]

Uzziah did not end the way he started. Evidently his successes went to his head and he became presumptive and arrogant. Although he was forbidden by the Law, he arrogantly began burning incense on the altar in the Temple. This job was ONLY for the Levitical priests. They tried to warn and stop him, but he wouldn’t listen. God showed His disapproval by immediately striking Uzziah with visible leprosy on his forehead.

Sadly, he spent the rest of his days in isolation and quarantine. In effect, his pride robbed him of his ability to be an effective leader. Proud leaders can be taken down at any moment by a God Who demands humility and submission to Him.