Category: 2 Chronicles

Gifts, God and Glory

1 Kings 10-11
2 Chronicles 9

There are simply some things you have to see with your own eyes to understand what all the hype is about. To stand at the edge of the Grand Canyon or to gaze from the helm of a ship in the middle of the ocean are images that have been perpetuated as pinnacle experiences through pop culture. While it’s possible to be in awe while reading a description or gazing at a photo, the real deal—being present in these places—has left me in wonder at the work of the Almighty.

In a similar manner, the stories of Solomon’s wisdom had spread like wildfire, reaching as far as the Horn of Africa—which, in ancient historical terms, was viral. The tale of a singularly wise leader whose work had led Israel into a time of ultimate prosperity made all the hype seem too good to be true. The Queen of Sheba, having received these reports, had to hear and see for herself. What she found was that the blessings were abundant and beyond even what was reported. The sights and sounds of Israel were breathtaking, but none more than the wisdom of King Solomon. After taking it all in, the Queen acknowledged that the sovereign God of Israel had placed Solomon on the throne to rule at such a time.

“Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice and righteousness.”
—1 Kings 10:9

In contrast, in the very next chapter of 1 Kings, we watch the eyes of Solomon shift—from service of the Most High to service of his own flesh. From my own speculations, taken from the perspective in Ecclesiastes, it seems that for a season Solomon focused more on the gifts of God than on his relationship with Him. Israel began looking more like the king and less like its God under Solomon’s direction. He established altars for the gods of his wives and concubines, reshaping not only the physical locations but also the worship of the people. The evidence was in: the splendor of this kingdom, which once pointed to the protection of an undefeated Most High God, was now showing signs of the waning wisdom of a compromised king calling his own shots.

As we read these contrasting moments in Solomon’s life, we should turn and reflect on our own. We may not have the accolade of being the “-est” of anything, but there are tales that could be reaching far and wide about us. When we are visited, our “place settings inspected,” and people look at our sacrifice, what does all our effort and show point to? Are we encouraged—or offended—by those who look at the catalogue of our life’s work and give God the credit?

When God has His hand upon us, it can be recognized and sought by strangers from a distant land who hunger or thirst for answers to their questions. The truth is, sometimes from the outside looking in, the beauty of God’s hand in our lives is more clearly seen. Conversely, from the inside looking out, we may gaze upon the gifts of the Lord and mistakenly see them as our own handiwork, when it is by God’s glory that we are richly blessed. The warning given to us by Job is that the One who gives and multiplies can also take away and divide.

The hype of God has been—and will continue to be—acknowledged by those who look at it from afar in awe. However, the goodness of God is best experienced firsthand, through encountering Him with every thought and action. Let us not forget that He is the provider of grace and the bestower of the fruits of His Spirit; we could never attain these through our own effort. Don’t be so entangled in the blessing that you forget the intention with which it was given: to demonstrate the glory of our Heavenly Father.

-Aaron Winner

Reflection Questions

  1. What thoughts, feelings, desires, or motives do you think led Solomon astray? Which of these same thoughts, feelings, desires, or motives do you see in yourself?
  2. In what ways would you like to be like Solomon? In what ways will you work at not being like Solomon?
  3. Are there gifts God has given you that you have mistakenly viewed as your own handiwork? What happens when we focus on the gifts rather than the Gifter? How can we better see what God has given and in return give to Him the credit, thanks and glory for all His wonderful gifts.
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2 Viewpoints

1 Kings 9 & 2 Chronicles 8

1 Kings 9:1-7(NLT) So Solomon finished building the Temple of the LORD, as well as the royal palace. He completed everything he had planned to do. 2 Then the LORD appeared to Solomon a second time, as he had done before at Gibeon. 3 The LORD said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your petition. I have set this Temple apart to be holy—this place you have built where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.4 “As for you, if you will follow me with integrity and godliness, as David your father did, obeying all my commands, decrees, and regulations, 5 then I will establish the throne of your dynasty over Israel forever. For I made this promise to your father, David: ‘One of your descendants will always sit on the throne of Israel.’ 6 “But if you or your descendants abandon me and disobey the commands and decrees I have given you, and if you serve and worship other gods, 7 then I will uproot Israel from this land that I have given them. I will reject this Temple that I have made holy to honor my name. I will make Israel an object of mockery and ridicule among the nations

2 Chronicles 8:12-15(NLT) Then Solomon presented burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar he had built for him in front of the entry room of the Temple. 13 He offered the sacrifices for the Sabbaths, the new moon festivals, and the three annual festivals—the Passover celebration, the Festival of Harvest, and the Festival of Shelters—as Moses had commanded. 14 In assigning the priests to their duties, Solomon followed the regulations of his father, David. He also assigned the Levites to lead the people in praise and to assist the priests in their daily duties. And he assigned the gatekeepers to their gates by their divisions, following the commands of David, the man of God. 15 Solomon did not deviate in any way from David’s commands concerning the priests and Levites and the treasuries.

A great question we can ask about Kings and Chronicles is “why were the histories of the children of Israel recorded twice?”

I think that the answer is in the perspective of the leaders and kings actions in the books of Samuel and Kings where the perspective is that of God and how He sees what the kings and men do, and where their hearts are.  In Chronicles it is much more the picture from the historical standpoint of man to the things that the kings do.  When we read, we see motive from God’s viewpoint in the Samuel and Kings records. We see more of a historical view in Chronicles.  I am not a student of who wrote down the Chronicles, but scholars who are think that maybe one or two men wrote down the book after the return from Babylon, perhaps Ezra.  They wrote because it would give their people a history that maybe they did not know. And also to help to give legitimacy to their present kingdom after the captivity.  By emphasizing the faithfulness of God they were giving hope to the people that God would reestablish them in the land and as a kingdom.

Are you inspired by this history to be more trusting of God and His Word?

Kings has unique information that is not in Chronicles, and vice versa.   The information and perspective are different, and we need to read both books.  Also the Chronicles are considered to be the last books added to the Hebrew cannon of scripture and are last in their scrolls of books.  The reason for the first and second books of both is related to the size of a scroll that could be produced at that time, not to a discontinuity between the first and second books. 

-Tom Siderius

Reflection Questions

Do you feel it is important for us to read these records?

What perspective should we have on these historical records?

I hope and pray today that God is giving you more confidence in His faithfulness and care as we read through these OT records.

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God’s mercy (hesed) endures forever!!

2 Chronicles 6-7

Psalm 136

Psalms 136:1-9(NKJV) Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
2 Oh, give thanks to the God of gods!
For His mercy endures forever.
3 Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!
For His mercy endures forever:
4 To Him who alone does great wonders,
For His mercy endures forever;
5 To Him who by wisdom made the heavens,
For His mercy endures forever;
6 To Him who laid out the earth above the waters,
For His mercy endures forever;
7 To Him who made great lights,
For His mercy endures forever—
8 The sun to rule by day,
For His mercy endures forever;
9 The moon and stars to rule by night,
For His mercy endures forever.

(I quoted the above section in the NKJV version because of the familiarity of the phrase “His mercy endures forever” but encourage you to read it in a different version as the word “mercy” is translated many ways.)

The Hebrew word “hesed” is found about 250 times in the Old Testament.  It is translated “love and faithfulness,” “unfailing love,” “faithful love,” “steadfast love,” and “loyal love,” depending on the Bible version used.  It has a bigger concept than just God’s love or mercy.  His love for His people is an central and essential part of God’s character.  The core idea of this term communicates loyalty or faithfulness within our relationship. Hesed is closely intertwined with God’s covenant with His people Israel in the OT.  

We see this in our section of reading from 2 Chronicles today where Solomon is dedicating the Temple.  The Temple in the OT is the dwelling place of God, specifically at the holy of holies, in the ark of the covenant.  God’s “hesed” is in the perfect performance of His commitments expressed by the tablets that God gave Moses on Mt Sinai. 

2 Chronicles 6:7-11(NLT) Then Solomon said, “My father, David, wanted to build this Temple to honor the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 8 But the LORD told him, ‘You wanted to build the Temple to honor my name. Your intention is good, 9 but you are not the one to do it. One of your own sons will build the Temple to honor me.’ 10 “And now the LORD has fulfilled the promise he made, for I have become king in my father’s place, and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised. I have built this Temple to honor the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 11 There I have placed the Ark, which contains the covenant that the LORD made with the people of Israel.”

After a dedication service in Chapter 6, in Chapter 7 we see where God approves and accepts the sacrifices made there by the people.  He does this by sending fire down, which we see as God’s approval of the sacrifice.  God’s fire and presence are put in this Temple building giving His presence to that place.

2 Chronicles 7:1-3(NLT) When Solomon finished praying, fire flashed down from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple. 2 The priests could not enter the Temple of the LORD because the glorious presence of the LORD filled it. 3 When all the people of Israel saw the fire coming down and the glorious presence of the LORD filling the Temple, they fell face down on the ground and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying, “He is good! His faithful love endures forever!”

Think about the day of Pentecost at the start of the church that we are part of.  God’s fire came down and rested on each of the apostles showing God’s approval and acceptance of the sacrifice of Christ.  The holy spirit is given to those that follow Christ from that day.  We are the Temple of God’s building, the church of the body of Christ.  God’s enduring love is given to us with the same commitment and intensity as He has shown Israel in the OT.  Our relationship with God is based on the covenantal sacrifice of the blood of Christ which allows us into the place and presence of Him. 

Have a great day today with the mighty hesed of God watching over and keeping you in all you do!

-Tom Siderius

Reflection Questions

  1. What verses of Psalm 136 really stand out to you? Are there any surprising verses? What do you notice about God’s character?
  2. Where have you seen God’s hesed in Scripture? Where have you seen it in your lifetime? Are you confident it will endure forever?
  3. Are you living in the place and presence of God?
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A People for God

1 Kings 8 & 2 Chronicles 5

God’s covenant with His people is a continued theme throughout the Bible. It is confirmed with some of the greatest Old Testament leaders, such as Abraham, Moses, and David. Generations have been taught about God and all He has done for them. Though they have some faults, they have remained faithful to God as His people. The completion of the temple by Solomon further signifies a desire to worship God and be His people. After years of planning and construction the temple is finally used for its intended purpose and the glory of God fills the temple. In dedication, Solomon offers a prayer and addresses the people of Israel regarding the relationship between God and the people.

His prayer is a powerful plea for the LORD to remember His people and be their God. He begins by praising God and thanking Him for keeping His promises. Solomon prays that God will remain with them and hear their prayers. More importantly, he urges God to forgive them when they mess up. Solomon was wise enough to know that even if they tried their best they would sin and require God’s forgiveness. This applies to a variety of situations Solomon covers in his prayer, such as drought, famine, plague, war, and captivity. He argues that they have been God’s people for years and that He should continue to remember them for God’s glory. 

Then Solomon turns to the Israelites with him and requests that they keep their side of the covenant. Speaking to the people, Solomon says, “may your hearts be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by His decrees and obey His commands” (1 Kings 8:61). God has fulfilled his agreement of the covenant in the past, so it is up to the Israelites to follow the covenant they agreed to. They must remain faithful to God to enjoy the benefits of being God’s people and having a hope for the future. There are many false gods that can be worshiped, but Solomon’s desire is that the LORD who brought their ancestors out of Egypt remains their God. 

That is easy to agree to in good times, but history has proven that is not always the case. There are numerous examples of the Israelites turning away from God for a period of time. Although Solomon’s reign was successful for the Israelites, they would not enjoy the same prosperity and unity for long. Solomon prayed that God be with them in all situations and advised the people to remain faithful to God. No matter what happens, wisdom suggests making a conscious decision to develop a relationship with God and be a people for Him.

-Josiah Railton

Reflection Questions

  1. What do you find in Solomon’s Dedication Prayer that would be wise to add into our prayers today?
  2. When did you last make a conscious decision to develop a relationship with God and be a person for Him? How is it going?
  3. Solomon was wise to know we would and will all need forgiveness. When have you veered off the fully committed and living by his decrees path? Have you experienced His forgiveness? What did that look like?
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Solomon’s Wealth

1 Kings 7, 2 Chronicles 4

1 Kings 7 briefly pauses the narrative on the construction of the temple and describes the palace buildings Solomon built for himself. These were designed with similar grandeur as the temple built for God. It is apparent Solomon was very wealthy based on the resources required for the temple and his own personal projects. This initially might seem contradictory to the thirty wise sayings in Proverbs that teach to “not wear yourself out to get rich” (NIV, Proverbs 23:4). However, it is evident that wealth was not Solomon’s primary goal as his focus was mainly on God—at least at this point in his life.

Earlier in the story, in 1 Kings 3, God appeared to Solomon and told him to “ask for whatever you want me to give you” (1 Kings 3:5). Solomon was given the opportunity to ask for anything, but he did not choose wealth. He did not “trust [his] own cleverness” (Proverbs 23:4) as the eighth saying in Proverbs 23 warned against, but rather desired wisdom from God to govern the people. God rewarded Solomon by granting him a “wise and discerning heart” as he asked for (1 Kings 3:12). Further, because God was pleased with Solomon’s wish, He also gave him “both wealth and honor” (1 Kings 3:13). Solomon sought wisdom, and wealth was generously provided to him by God. He did not sacrifice wisdom to pursue a love for money, and didn’t hoard his wealth for himself either. He chose to build a house for God before building his own palace. Although he was very wealthy, Solomon’s life aligns with the proverbs arguing against chasing money. 

The rest of Saying 8 in Proverbs 23 depicts the temporary nature of materialistic wealth. It states, “cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone” (Proverbs 23:5). No amount of wealth is permanent, and it can be removed or destroyed at any given time. Even with the significant amount of resources used to build the temple and palace they would not last forever. The Babylonians and King Nebuchadnezzar plundered the temple treasures (2 Kings 24:13), and eventually all the great structures Solomon constructed with his wealth were destroyed with the rest of Jerusalem in 586 BC (2 Kings 25:8-10). 

Solomon was wise in seeking wisdom first rather than riches, and he understood that money is not worth pursuing. Any resources given by God can then be dedicated back to Him and used for righteous purposes. Although Solomon was rich in resources, he was wealthy with wisdom too.

-Josiah Railton

Reflection Questions

  1. Is having wealth good or bad? Why? or When?
  2. What is the problem with chasing after money and wealth? Have you seen anyone get further and further from the Lord as they chased after money?
  3. What might it look like to put your trust in God and not in your finances?
  4. What do you want to be known for being rich in? (Money, wisdom, kindness, etc… – HINT: Money is not the correct answer.) What steps will you take today to make an investment towards that end?
  5. Why do you think Solomon built the temple before his palace structures? How could we follow his example? How can we use the resources God gives for righteous purposes?
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Application of the Wise Sayings

1 Kings 5-6, 2 Chronicles 2-3

Yesterday’s passage of Proverbs 22-24 offered thirty sayings of the wise to learn from and apply in life. As discussed in the devotion, it is a condensed list of rules to guide life. It was written through wisdom gained by experience of the author, or authors. The author of any guidance is important to consider as it would not be too wise to follow advice from someone if he or she did not live a life worth following in some way. Therefore, the source of the proverbs and wise sayings should be analyzed to determine if they are credible. The author of Proverbs is often largely attributed to Solomon, though he likely had input from others. Fortunately, Solomon is known for his wisdom, and some of his life stories are described in the books of Kings and Chronicles. These stories can be read and analyzed to see how Solomon might have developed his wise sayings, how he applied them in his life, and if he is a good example to follow. 

The chapters for today focus on Solomon building a temple for God. Although this is just a glimpse of Solomon’s life, there are still aspects of the thirty wise sayings included. While several of the sayings are at least a little relevant, two of the sayings are most prominent in these chapters: Saying 6 and Saying 21. 

Saying 6 in Proverbs 22:9 describes how skilled workers work for kings. This is directly demonstrated in the construction of the temple, as King Solomon uses the help of Huram-Abi who is described as “a man of great skill,” and “experienced in all kinds of engraving and can execute any design given to him” (NIV, 2 Chronicles 2:13-14). The temple design was elaborate and Solomon wanted the best for God. Even getting the wood for the temple required workers “skilled in cutting timber” (2 Chronicles 2:8). It is no surprise that kings want the best and have the resources to get it. Therefore, this saying is valid and reputable. Developing a skill is beneficial to the contribution of society and can help increase one’s influence. 

The second saying relevant to the building of the temple refers to building a house. The temple is designed as a house for God, though He does not physically dwell in it as people do in a home. Proverbs 24:3-4 states, “By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures”. Solomon was able to use the wisdom he received from God to build a great house for God. It is a house filled with the most beautiful treasure imaginable to those with the knowledge to seek it—God. A meaningful relationship with God can only be attained by gaining wisdom as Solomon suggests. 

Building a temple for God was one of Solomon’s greatest achievements in his life. This project alone demonstrates his wisdom and credibility along with many other parts of his life. With Solomon’s experience, and the wisdom he received from God, his written guidance in Proverbs should be followed.

-Josiah Railton

Reflection Questions

  1. How wise are you? What evidence in your life would support your answer?
  2. How is wisdom gained?
  3. What wisdom from Proverbs stands out to you as something you would benefit from listening to and following better?
  4. How can you work at applying what you read in Scripture to your own life?
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A Discerning Heart

1 Kings 3-4, 2 Chronicles 1, Psalm 72                                   

In these accounts (1 Kings 3 & 2 Chronicles 1), we see Solomon following the LORD and God coming to him in a dream to ask him whatever he wants.

In the start of his reign here, Solomon presents himself with humility before God in his answer.

1 Kings 3:7-9 says

7 “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

He could have so easily asked for more, yet what he wanted was to be able to do the job that God had appointed to him well.  I really appreciate this and want it to be an example to me to want to do my job(s) well.  I am thankful that for the most part, I enjoy my job, which makes it easier to work hard at it.  But I know that is not always the case.  For those jobs that I am maybe not fully equipped for, or maybe especially in the ones I think I am, I want to be reminded to ask God for wisdom in how I work or lead so that I can do it well.

As we continue reading, we see the wisdom of Solomon here, and we see how he became a great king, but seeing this positive start here also saddens me when we read how he fell and how he turned away from the God who gave him this great wisdom, wealth, and honor.  You’ll read about that later, but I just wanted to note that again (from earlier in the week), we can’t let pride get in the way – even those viewed as some of the “greats” have fallen when led astray.

~Stephanie Fletcher

Reflection Questions

  1. How would you define wisdom?
  2. What is one decision you have made that showed a lot of wisdom? What is one decision you have made that lacked wisdom?
  3. In what jobs/roles/areas of your life should you pray for a more discerning heart to distinguish between right and wrong?
  4. How does pride mess with wisdom?
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Where God Lives

Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 20

Poetry: Psalm 99

New Testament: 1 Timothy 3

Did you go on vacation this summer?  Where did you go?  Perhaps you’re planning a late summer getaway before the arrival of Labor Day.

Whether you travel to a new destination or a familiar cabin on a lake, it is good to get away and take a break from work and school.  Time away can be refreshing and often you gain a new perspective on life.

But, vacations don’t last forever.  All too quickly, it’s time to come home.  The closer you get, the faster you want to arrive.  Finally, your home appears.  Carrying suitcases, backpacks, and bags of “stuff”, you walk through the door.  Big exhale!  You’re home!  Oh, it’s so good to be home.

Hopefully, when you think of your home, you think of comfort, security, safety, enjoyment.  It’s where you can be yourself, where you can relax.

Does God feel that way about His home?  Yes, He is in heaven, and yes, someday He will dwell with man on earth.  (Revelation 21:1-3) But, the Bible mentions another HOME for our Father God.  PRAISE.  God is “at home” in our praises. 

Psalm 22:3 KJV says, “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.”  The NASB version says simply, “Yet You are holy, O You are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.”

Jack R. Taylor says this in The Hallelujah Factor— “Praise is where God lives.  It is his permanent address.  While God is everywhere, he is not everywhere manifested.  He is at home in praise and, being at home, he manifests himself best as God!  When you or I choose to make God at home through praise, we invite him to act ‘at home.’  He is enthroned and liberated to act mightily in praise.”

One of the best examples of this in Scripture is our OT reading for today, II Chronicles 20. 

The sons of Moab and Ammon came to make war against Jehoshaphat, King of Judah.  Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he proclaimed a fast throughout Judah.  Then all of Judah gathered as Jehoshaphat addressed the Lord.  He recounted God’s power and previous protection.  Then Jehoshaphat stated the current problem, (vs 10-11), the powerlessness of the people, (vs 12a), and their concentration on God—“our eyes are on you.”  (vs. 12b)

The Spirit of God, through Jahaziel, gave God’s answer to Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah.  “Don’t fear, the battle is not yours but God’s.  You need not fight.  Stand and see the salvation of the Lord.”

The next morning, singers went out before the army, singing, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his lovingkindness is everlasting.”  WHEN they began singing and praising, the enemy was ambushed by one another.  No one escaped.  Jehoshaphat and his people found goods and garments among the enemies, and it took them 3 days to retrieve it all. 

The people’s praise prompted God to act.  No other recorded military battle compares to the miracle that happened that day. 

Psalm 8:2 says, “Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.”

How marvelous is our God.  He hears us.  He fights for us.  He rewards us.

Did you start your morning in praise to God?  What a difference it can make.  God desires to move in your life, to guide you, to comfort you, to defend and protect you. 

Allow Him to reside each day in your praises.  And discover the joy He has planned for your life.

-Paula Kirkpatrick

Reflection Questions

  1. Is praise a regular part of your prayer life?
  2. Meditate on this phrase from II Chronicles 20:12b—“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”
  3. When things seem insurmountable in your life, will you begin your appeal to God with praise?
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Will You Stand Firm or Topple?

Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 13-14

Poetry: Psalm 95

New Testament: 2 Thessalonians 2

            Psalm 95 encourages praise and worship to the LORD with joy and thanksgiving. When I was in upper elementary school, I was challenged to make note of three things I was thankful for every day. I gave the same challenge to those who attended Family Camp at the end of my sermon Sunday night. I challenge you today to find at least three things you are thankful for and lift them up to the LORD in praise. 

            In 2 Chronicles 13 and 14, you read about the reign of Abijah and Asa, kings of Judah. Unlike King Rehoboam who did evil in the eyes of the LORD, these two both pointed the people back to God, but in different ways. Abijah focused on the fact that the Levites were still faithfully serving and teaching in the temple. He recognized the faults of the king of Israel for having false priests who were not faithful to the LORD most high. King Abijah recognized who God was and the implications that had on the people of Judah. King Asa went farther than King Abijah by removing anything that was meant for idol worship. He also commanded the people to seek God and follow His law. Under both these kings, the nation of Judah was prosperous and had great success when defending their land. They recognized and encouraged truth among the nation. 

            2 Thessalonians 2 warns against a man of lawlessness who will say he is higher than God as well as encourage lawlessness and wickedness. This man is not like the kings you read about in 2 Chronicles. He will lead people away from God instead of towards God. Paul writes in verse 15 “So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.” The way to combat this lawlessness is to stand firm in what you have been taught. Abijah stood firm in what he had been taught about God being with the people of Judah. Asa stood firm in what he had been taught by pointing people back to following God’s commands. Both successfully and literally fought off those who were against God. 

            This is going to look different within your own life. Instead of fighting a nation, you are fighting on an individual level. 1 Peter 5:8-9 says “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (NIV). Temptation will come your way. Lawlessness approaches. Luckily, the Bible warns against that happening so you can be prepared to stand firm in your faith just like Abijah and Asa. One way you can be prepared to stand firm is doing what I challenged you to do at the beginning of this devotional. Finding the good in life that you can praise God for doing. Recognizing His presence and work within your life helps combat against the negativity of the world.

            Judy Hopps, from the movie Zootopia, is a good example of how your mentality can help you stand firm or be swayed. Judy is a small bunny whose childhood dream was to become a cop. She worked her hardest to pass from the police academy. She continued to work towards her strong desire to do good even when everyone around her didn’t think she could do it. When she ended up as a meter maid, she still tried to keep a positive attitude about her situation to stand firm in her convictions of doing good as a police officer. If you’ve seen in the movie she doesn’t always have that attitude and when she doesn’t, it doesn’t go well for her. Her joy and determination were completely gone so she ended up giving up. Judy lost her strong stance and fell. 

            The same can be true within our own lives. Not only should we know and understand the scripture in order to be firmly rooted in truth, we must also be firmly rooted in thanksgiving and praise. Recognizing God’s work in your life will help you stand firm. Having both knowledge and an attitude of thanksgiving, your foundation will be deeply rooted and ready for whatever comes. Like Paul warned against, a lawless one will come. He will spread lies and try to topple believers. You must stand firm in your faith like the good kings of 2 Chronicles. Knowing what is within the Word will help you stand firm, but having a heart of praise will keep you close to God and your attitude in a positive place. 

-Makenna Landry

Reflection:

1 – What are three things you can praise God for today?

2 – How has thankfulness helped you stand firm when the world seems bleak?

3 – What stood out to you the most in the lives of King Abijah and King Asa? 

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Your Perfect Parent

Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 11 & 12

Poetry: Psalm 94

New Testament: 2 Thessalonians 1

Key verses: Psalm 94:18-19 – “If I should say, “My foot has slipped,” Your lovingkindness, O LORD, will hold me up. When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.”

            Psalm 94 uses some harsh language at the start of the Psalm. To start, the psalmist calls God “God of Vengeance” and is asking God to let His vengeance come down on the wicked. The psalmist also calls upon God to have judgment upon those who are proud. This Psalm calls upon God’s justice against the wicked. It even ends with saying that God will destroy the wicked because of their sin. This paints a rather harsh and commanding picture of God’s character. This is similar to Psalm 7 where it displays that God will sharpen His sword against those who do not repent. In today’s reading from 2 Chronicles, it shows that God sent Egypt to rise up against King Rehoboam due to his sinful ways.  

We like to focus on viewing God as our compassionate father who is loving and overflowing with grace, but in the Psalm you read today and in 2 Chronicles 12 that isn’t the same picture. How can both be true?

You can understand this through the fact that God’s perfect plan for each of us is that we choose to dedicate our life to Him. He desires our hearts and calls us to be faithful to His teachings. God has laid out a clear way of how we can live righteously. In Old Testament prophets, you can see God calling His people to follow Him with their full hearts time and time again. Then again in the New Testament He sent His son to teach us the same lessons of following God with our hearts and our lives. Just like any parent, God has set boundaries for His children to follow. When those boundaries aren’t followed, there will be punishment. You saw that today in 2 Chronicles 12. Rehoboam turned away from God and did evil, so Egypt came as a punishment for the choices Rehoboam made. In Psalm 94, the psalmist calls upon God to judge those who are not following the boundaries God has set for His people. 

As new parents, my husband and I have started to navigate what it means to correct a child when they make the wrong choice or push the boundaries we have set. With a two year old, every day is a constant battle of learning that he can’t be independent like he wants to be and he can’t have his way all of the time. It’s a tough lesson for a two year old to learn! That lesson is taught by Cameron and I as his parents. Sometimes it means gentle reminders while other times he ends up in time out or losing a privilege that was about to happen. We as parents would be failing him if we didn’t stick to our clear boundaries and allowed him to do whatever he wanted. He would end up running into the street, not being buckled in his carseat, or trying to drink vinegar! All of those things would cause him harm and so as parents we must help guide and protect him from that harm. God is doing the same thing with His people. He has set boundaries that will allow people to have the gracious gift of eternal life. His justice is enacting the rules He has put in place like any parent should do for their child. 

You might be wondering why I have the key verses as something seemingly different from the theme of this devotional. Those two verses are the hope we as believers have because God is our gracious and loving father. The psalmist went into what happens when we don’t follow God’s rules and boundaries but there’s hope for those who do. You have someone to run to when times get tough. When it feels like the world is trying to pull you down, you have a great God who is ready to lend you a hand. Yes you should recognize that choosing to not follow God will have bad results, but when you actively dedicate your life to Him, what a great hope you can have. He will be present with you as you walk along in this life and He has promised the return of His son to usher in an eternal and perfect kingdom for you to partake in. 

-Makenna Landry

Reflection:

  1. What do you know about the God of justice and vengeance? What do you know about the God of love? How do these both work together from the same Almighty and Sovereign God?
  2. Describe what you have learned from your parents’ parenting style. Did you have a compassionate father who disciplined? Why would a compassionate Heavenly Father discipline? How did your parents comfort you?
  3. What is one way that God has brought you comfort when the world tries to get you down?
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