TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
2 Chronicles 24:1-25:28
Romans 12:1-21
Psalm 22:19-31
Proverbs 20:8-10
2 Chronicles 24:7 — We think of the destruction of the Temple in 586 BC as disgraceful, yet when we realize that the descendants of Solomon (the sons of Athaliah would have also been the sons of Jehoram), the very builder of the temple’s descendants until the 6th generation “had broken up the house of God.”
2 Chronicles 24:10 — One of the few times you see “all the people” rejoicing about a mandatory tax, perhaps because the people realized that there was a king focused on eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse in this building project!
2 Chronicles 24:17 — Can one man make a difference? Let’s see … when Jehoiada is not around, they kill his son (2 Chronicles 24:21) for speaking the words of God (2 Chronicles 24:20)! Interesting that Joash’s slaying of a priest is avenged by an Ammonite and a Moabite (2 Chronicles 24:26). They possibly had good intentions (avenge their friend), but God says it’s better to let a bad king be in power than to bring a better king (2 Chronicles 25:2) in the wrong way (see 1 Samuel 24:6).
2 Chronicles 25:4 — We’ve read of Moses prohibiting human rulers from punishing the children for the sins of their fathers (Deuteronomy 24:16). In other words, human vengeance is prohibited, but God can and does judge the children for the sins of their fathers (Exodus 34:7).
2 Chronicles 25:6 — National unity was the goal of Jehoshaphat as exemplified in the wife of Jehoram, and the fault of Amaziah. Separation is required from those who are not followers of our LORD (2 Chronicles 25:7). We can’t say “But I’ve already spent …” Whether its money spent on things that God warns us against, e.g. alcohol (Proverbs 20:1), drugs, pornography, etc. But “… the LORD is able to give thee much more than this.” Be willing, able, and ready to take a radical stand for God.
2 Chronicles 25:14 — “My God beat your god … so I will serve your god!” Honestly, I’m struggling to follow Amaziah’s logic here! The prophet will echo this struggle in 2 Chronicles 25:15. Speaking of bad logic, why pick a fight with a stronger nation (2 Chronicles 25:17)?
2 Chronicles 25:27 — The front gate of Lachish:
Romans 12:1 — Now that we have called upon the name of the LORD, what should we be doing? Serving Him! Put our all on the altar!
Another encouraging song from Earl Martin that can help us memorize Scripture:
Let’s put together a quick list:
- Give your body to God (Romans 12:1)
- Reject this world’s form (Romans 12:2)
- Renew your mind in the Word (Romans 12:2)
- Be humble (Romans 12:3)
- Be sober (Romans 12:3)
- Use our gifts (Romans 12:6)
- Love one another (Romans 12:9-10)
- Choose good over evil (Romans 12:9)
- Prefer one another (Romans 12:10)
- Serve the LORD (Romans 12:11)
- Rejoice (Romans 12:12)
- Be patient (Romans 12:12)
- Pray (Romans 12:13)
… and we have 8 more verses to go! Make your own list of what a follower of Christ looks like!
Psalm 22:22 — Here’s what David says he will do following his salvation by the LORD. He will testify to the goodness of the LORD (Psalm 22:23, Psalm 22:25).
Proverbs 20:10 — Psst … don’t tell your atheist friends, but the State of Wisconsin conducted 315,166 inspections at 6,830 business locations in 2021 to make sure that Wisconsin merchants were not committing abominations to the LORD.
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