2 Chronicles 21

20 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He passed away, to no one’s regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

This verse really made me say, WOW!  We've read about a lot of kings and how they ruled.  Some were following God, and probably more were not.  I can't remember every reading the end of a chapter that had this tone.  Do you remember this type of wrap-up?  I think they were all buried in the tombs of the kings.  It says a LOT about Jehoram and how he ruled, and how God viewed him.
Lesson for me, is to keep my eyes focused on God, and not worry about all the shennanigans happening in this world.  

short today

2 Chronicles 20

35 Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, whose ways were wicked. 

Well it took more chapters than I thought, but here it is he's making a big mistake.  I was looking for something positive to write about in this chapter but this little verse just was catching my eye.  I'm thinking after all he's been through how stupid can he be at this point to align with a wicked man.  Then as I make judgment I think about after all the blessings God has given me how quick am I to rely on myself rather than him especially when things seem to be going well.  Then I hit a bump in the road and I come back.  I'm certainly no smarter than Jehoshaphat.

knut

2 Chronicles 19

10 In every case that comes before you from your people who live in the cities—whether bloodshed or other concerns of the law, commands, decrees or regulations—you are to warn them not to sin against the Lord; otherwise his wrath will come on you and your people. Do this, and you will not sin.

This wouldn't fly in the US these days.  Separation of church and state has grown to mean something never intended.  It seems we as society are trying to redact God from existence. Well it doesn't work that way, he is always present.  It doesn't matter how we structure our laws his laws are above anything society dreams up.  Even more reason we have to be in the word daily, society is not going to help us understand his ways and in many cases may steer us wrong.

knut (back on CST time!)

2 Chronicles 18

Wouldn't it be great if there were prophets around today, that we could go to and ask questions?  Someone that you know would speak the truth of God, and not be swayed by the world.  I guess God wants us to have a close relationship with him.....that would make US the prophets.  What do you think about that?  I do find it interesting that Jehosaphat was seen as a very Godly man.  Yet he was obviously very reliant on the prophets for confirmation of things. hmmmm.

6 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no longer a prophet of the Lord here whom we can inquire of?”

Where does that leave us?  I think I have an answer, but want to hear your thoughts.

tp

2 Chronicles 17

Jumpin' Jehoshaphat!
Ok, now that I got that one out of my system.....

11 Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought him flocks:seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred goats.


Why is it always 7 days, or 70 times 7 forgiving someone, or 7 thousand 7 hundred rams.....the number 7 is everywhere in the bible.  What do we draw from that?  I have no clue.

I do love reading thru these chapters when we come to a King that follows God.  It has such a different feeling.  Everything goes well for them; their enemies practically lay down.....or bring them gifts.  When they have other idols, their enemies swamp them.  Their life is terrible.  Things go horribly wrong.

I wonder which way I should live?  Based on this input......its really a tough call. =)

tp

2 chronicles 16

“Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. 8 Were not the Cushites[b] and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen[c]? Yet when you relied on the Lord, he delivered them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.”

This passage makes me think 2 things.
1.  If we keep our eyes and hearts focused on God and his direction, everything goes much better.  He sees your intent and blesses you.
2.  It seems like it was simpler back then.  Doesn't it?  It seems like it was more cause and effect.  Now it seems to be gray.  Maybe I'm just making excuses.  If I have God truly in my heart, and I ask him to do something.....will he really do it?  Maybe the key is truly have him in your heart.

Deep thoughts, by Todd Parker

tp

2 Chronicles 15

“Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.

This is a sort of "drop the mic" moment.  He sums it all up in one line.
In my mind, this is still true.

Asa’s heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life.

Very short today, and very simple.
But, perhaps the most profound direction we've read in a long time.

tp

2 Chronicles 14

2 Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. 3 He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles.[b] 4 He commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his laws and commands. 

I think its great that Asa put them back on track...but, its like a yo-yo.  Kings seem to bounce from being faithful to God, and not, and to, and not.  If you asked me to tell you the leaders of Israel that followed God, and which ones led the people astray....I couldn't do it.  There have been too many on both sides.  
I think the best thing to take away from all the flip flopping is that when the people were following God, great things happened.  When they didn't, awful things happened.
Yesterday, in our service the question was posed; "what are you doing to advance the kingdom today?"  
That's what it come down to for me.  Am I part of his plan today?  Or am I putting up my own golden calf?
tp

2 Chronicles 13

18 The Israelites were subdued on that occasion, and the people of Judah were victorious because they relied on the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

Talk about faith.  Their down two to one in man power 800k to 400k and they call out to their foe and say you better give up God is with us.  Its not surprising Jeroboam did not listen to the warning.  His faith must have been low to all but gone at this point.  He must have almost scoffed at the idea that they would run from this battle.  But as we see he should have, God can do anything if we just rely on him.  \

Repeated lesson throughout the bible.  I know you and I both say all the time we need to rely on Gd but struggle to act like the people of Judah.  I want to really try to note the times during the day when I have the opportunity to rely on God--then take even 5 seconds to call upon him to direct me.  Thats my challenge to myself--being aware of when I can talk to him during the day and get direction and support.

knut

2 Chronicles 12

14 He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord.

Well you were right.  It was a setup for something, Rehoboam gets firmly in power then turns from God completely then he gets the message he will be destroyed an he repents and humbles himself and God goes easier on him.

Why does Rehoboam struggle so much, well this simple verse says it all does evil because he is not seeking the Lord.  In the absence of being focused on seeking to God and following him our sinful nature will lead us astray.  It says his heart was not set on seeking--not his heart had not be set on the Lord.  For me the message is that its not a one time act.  It is not set it and forget it.  

Seeking to have God deep in my heart needs to be a way of life.

knut

2 Chronicles 11

4 ‘This is what the Lordsays: Do not go up to fight against your fellow Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.’” So they obeyed the words of the Lord and turned back from marching against Jeroboam.

This chapter confused me.  It appears early on that Rehoboam makes some better decisions by listening to God and not fighting against Israel.  He is blessed  by this obedience.

17 They strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon three years, following the ways of David and Solomon during this time.

So the Levities were removed from priesthood but helped strengthen Rehoboam by moving back in to Judah and helping the econcomy.--seems wrong.  Rehoboam was making his own idols.  But they followed the ways of David and Solomon--seems good.

'ok I'm lost'--no good take today.

my work schedule may get rough beginning this weekend as we go live in Australia.  I will work Australia time and probably some of US time.  my posts may be even more erratic than the last few weeks but I will do my best.

knut

2 Chronicles 10

I did a little research into the unrest in Israel.  It sounds like it all goes back to unrest among the different tribes.  Isn't it funny how we can have the same unifying beliefs, we can look and act like each other...but if we belong to a different group it immediately puts us at odds with others.  I sounds a little like the Muslim tribes in the middle east countries.  They are factions within the same religion, but have deep rooted hatred for each other.

I'm also reminded this morning to be careful who I take advice from.  Rehoboam  probably did a smart thing by asking multiple sources, their opinions on the situation.  But, he chose poorly (as they say in the Indiana Jones vernacular)

This is the first time we see Solomon in any sort of negative light.  The people saying the yoke he put on them was heavy.  Up to this point, I was under the assumption that everything was hunky dory in his rule.

enough rambling
tp

2 Chronicles 9

I hope for her sake its the latter and that she really does love God and not some other god.  I also noted the 666 just because of relation to the devil that the number represents--there is a lot written on that as I tried to research specific to Solomon but found no actual connection that was verifiable.  I did check and found that line was repeated in Kings--you have a mind like a steel trap!

6 But I did not believe what they said until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half the greatness of your wisdom was told me; you have far exceeded the report I heard.

This one caught my eye because she is like me and her need to see to believe.  Solomon was not God so I don't think it was necessarily wrong for  her to need a little verification of what she was hearing although presumably she was getting info from trusted sources.

But for me and my faith it is probably a dangerous thing that I sometimes feel the need for physical proof to validate my faith in God.  I have plenty of examples of his greatness and what I am capable of understanding is so small compared to his greatness there really is no amount of seeing that could answer all my questions.  So I need to have faith and not always need to see with my own eyes expressions of his greatness.

knut

2 Chronicles 9

8 Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on his throne as king to rule for the Lord your God. Because of the love of your God for Israel and his desire to uphold them forever, he has made you king over them, to maintain justice and righteousness.”

I'm intrigued by her response to what she found when visiting Solomon.  She simultaneously seems to be giving God the credit for all that splendor that she sees, and acknowledging that the God responsible, isn't her god.  That's crazy to me.  How can you understand God's power, and not follow him?  In this paragraph she keeps referring to "your" God.  Maybe that is just being polite, and she really does see God as the true God?  I'm not sure.

the second thing that caught my eye was the number of talents of gold that she brought to Solomon.   666, of course.  I think we may have read the same story in Kings.  It seems familiar.

2 Chronicles 7-8

I kept reading this morning.  Enjoying reading about the temple, and the unbelievable dedication celebration, and all of the animal sacrifices done at that event.  But, I really didn't take much new from it.  So, I kept reading into chapter 8.  Then I saw this little paragraph.

11 Solomon brought Pharaoh’s daughter up from the City of David to the palace he had built for her, for he said, “My wife must not live in the palace of David king of Israel, because the places the ark of the Lord has entered are holy.”

I didn't remember that Solomon married one of Pharaoh's daughters....I found this reference to her.

• 1 Kings 3:1 says,

"And Solomon became allied to Pharaoh king of Egypt by marriage, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the Lord, and the wall of Jerusalem round about."

The fact that Pharaoh's daughter has been singled out in the accounts of Solomon is significant as similar treatment is not given to his "seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines" (1 Kings 11:3). Some scholars believe this unique example was because this marriage in particular "demonstrates the wealth and power of the Hebrew monarchy, for Pharaoh's daughters did not ordinarily marry outside of their own family, and perhaps indicates the weakness of the Egyptian kingdom at this time."^[1] Another scholar points out that marrying Pharaoh’s daughter is significant in light of the story of Exodus, "A descendant of former Egyptian slaves now became Pharaoh's son-in-law".^[2] Most scholars believe the alliance was a result of the reputation of Solomon's father, "Under David, Israel had become a factor to be reckoned with in Eastern politics, and the Pharaoh found it prudent to secure its friendship."^[3] The marriage alliance is seen by scholars as the reason for the reported increase in trade with Egypt at 1 Kings 10:28-29.^[1]

2 Chronicles 5-6

7 “My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 8 But the Lord said to my father David, ‘You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name.

This is further evidence that God is more interested in what's in our hearts, than even our actions.  I believe it speaks closer to who we really are.  You can keep yourself from doing something....but can you keep yourself from thinking it?  I think that works for the positive side of things as well as the negative.

I can't help but have an Indiana Jones type visual when I read all about the Ark, and the ceremony that goes along with it.  It must have been quite a deal to finally bring it into the temple.  And then when the cloud appeared......WHOA!

tp

Happy Birthday, btw!
I hope you had a great one!