2 Kings 24

WEEK  14                                              2 Kings 24

MONDAY  Reflections

For this chapter, I'm going to give a history lesson.

 

1. King Jehoiakim- evil king- Judah is a vassal (under authority) of Egypt.  Babylon invades, and Judah becomes a vassal state. Captives were taken to Babylon (Daniel and others taken)

 

2. King Jehoiachin- evil king until exile - Jerusalem was besieged - the king was taken into captivity with others, including Ezekiel

 

3. King Zedekiah - evil king -Ezekiel begins to prophesy, but he doesn't acknowledge Zedekiah -God removes His presence from the nation. 

  2Ki 24:1-20
(1)  In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him.
(2)  And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servants the prophets.
(3)  Surely at the commandment of the LORD came this upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did;
(4)  And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon.
(5)  Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
(6)  So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.
(7)  And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his land: for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt unto the river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt.
(8)  Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother's name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.
(9)  And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done.
(10)  At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.
(11)  And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants did besiege it.
(12)  And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign.
(13)  And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said.
(14)  And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.
(15)  And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.
(16)  And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.
(17)  And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
(18)  Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
(19)  And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.
(20)  For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

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Ezekiel 19

WEEK  13                                        Ezekiel 19

SATURDAY  Reflections

The lioness in this parable is the story of the nation of Judah. First, Egypt came and took their king and made the nation a protectorate (2 Kings 23). The king following it fell into the hand of Babylon.  The problem is that both kings disobeyed God and did what was evil in God's sight. The later king didn't learn from the mistake of the previous king, and now the entire nation paid the price. What makes this a sad story, a lament, is that this didn't need to happen; they were the children of Josiah; they should have known better. If they had done what was right, they could have stood secure, a lion among the nations.  



Eze 19:1-14
(1)  Moreover take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,
(2)  And say, What is thy mother? A lioness: she lay down among lions, she nourished her whelps among young lions.
(3)  And she brought up one of her whelps: it became a young lion, and it learned to catch the prey; it devoured men.
(4)  The nations also heard of him; he was taken in their pit, and they brought him with chains unto the land of Egypt.
(5)  Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and made him a young lion.
(6)  And he went up and down among the lions, he became a young lion, and learned to catch the prey, and devoured men.
(7)  And he knew their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, by the noise of his roaring.
(8)  Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces, and spread their net over him: he was taken in their pit.
(9)  And they put him in ward in chains, and brought him to the king of Babylon: they brought him into holds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel.
(10)  Thy mother is like a vine in thy blood, planted by the waters: she was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters.
(11)  And she had strong rods for the sceptres of them that bare rule, and her stature was exalted among the thick branches, and she appeared in her height with the multitude of her branches.
(12)  But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up her fruit: her strong rods were broken and withered; the fire consumed them.
(13)  And now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground.
(14)  And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit, so that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.

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Habakkuk 3

WEEK  13                                          Habakkuk 3

FRIDAY  Reflections

The final chapter of Habakkuk is a prayer that could be sung. It recalls the faithfulness of God. God's faithfulness gives Habakkuk the faith to believe God will bring about His promised good for His people. This faith leads Habakkuk to utter the beautiful words of faith in verses 17 and 18.

 

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,

and there are no grapes on the vines;

even though the olive crop fails,

and the fields lie empty and barren;

even though the flocks die in the fields,

and the cattle barns are empty,

yet I will rejoice in the LORD!

I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

Hab 3:1-19
(1)  A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.
(2)  O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.
(3)  God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.
(4)  And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.
(5)  Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.
(6)  He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting.
(7)  I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.
(8)  Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation?
(9)  Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.
(10)  The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.
(11)  The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear.
(12)  Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.
(13)  Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah.
(14)  Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.
(15)  Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters.
(16)  When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.
(17)  Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
(18)  Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
(19)  The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

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2 Corinthians 9

WEEK  13                                        2 Corinthians 9

THURSDAY  Reflections

In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul continues to teach about generosity. God wants us to give faithfully, but some have used verse 6 as a way to motivate, or maybe I should say manipulate, people into giving more. Verse 6 says, "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." The logic of these manipulators is that if you want to get a lot from God, you had better fork up the money. The problem is that the next verse indicates we give from our hearts and not for wrong motives/gain. Yes, God bless those who give generously, but generosity is according to God's standards, not ours. As we recall the widow who gave 2 mites, Jesus said she gave more than anyone else. God's idea of generous giving or giving sparingly isn't based on the amount in the offering.

 

Give as God lays on your heart, not the preacher, your family, your bills, or your lifestyle demands.

2Co 9:1-15
(1)  For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
(2)  For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.
(3)  Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:
(4)  Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.
(5)  Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
(6)  But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
(7)  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
(8)  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
(9)  (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
(10)  Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
(11)  Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
(12)  For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
(13)  Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
(14)  And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
(15)  Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

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Psalm 105

WEEK  13                                            Psalm 105

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

Why do we celebrate Christmas and Easter (The Christian reasons, not Santa and a rabbit)? We do it to remember the great deeds of God. This is why this psalm was written to remember the great things God had done. We need to remember. Remembering gives us a point of reference. We see how God was faithful in the past; therefore, we can trust him in the future. Just like we know we can trust a friend because we remember they have been our friend in the past. Take time and remember what God has done for us all and what He has done for you specifically. 

Psa 105:1-45
(1)  O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.
(2)  Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.
(3)  Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
(4)  Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.
(5)  Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
(6)  O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.
(7)  He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth.
(8)  He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.
(9)  Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;
(10)  And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:
(11)  Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:
(12)  When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.
(13)  When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people;
(14)  He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;
(15)  Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
(16)  Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.
(17)  He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:
(18)  Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:
(19)  Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.
(20)  The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.
(21)  He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:
(22)  To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.
(23)  Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
(24)  And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.
(25)  He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.
(26)  He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen.
(27)  They shewed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.
(28)  He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.
(29)  He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.
(30)  Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.
(31)  He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts.
(32)  He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land.
(33)  He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts.
(34)  He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillers, and that without number,
(35)  And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.
(36)  He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.
(37)  He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.
(38)  Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.
(39)  He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.
(40)  The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
(41)  He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.
(42)  For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.
(43)  And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:
(44)  And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;
(45)  That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD.

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