2 Chronicles 23 -- After A Long Hard Night...

“In the seventh year, Jehoiada decided to DO something.”

He and his wife had hidden the king’s son for six years from his evil grandmother, who’d killed every other heir to the throne.  People were therefore fearful of her and did not want to cross her.  But Jehoiada trusted God and stepped out to do something.  He put together a plan under God’s guidance and protection and brought the young princess to the throne.  And the evil queen mother was executed.

My commentary ended the chapter saying, “God could do it then, and He can do it today – but we must trust Him to have HIS way.”

Father, I’ve been going through some very tough times yesterday and today.  I do trust You.  I pray that You will direct me to do something.  Help me, Father!  I love You and trust You.  That’s all that matters.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

2 Chronicles 21-22 God Disposes Of Those Who Fight Him

God had promised that David’s dynasty would continue, but once Jehoshaphat died, the marriage of his son Jehoram to Ahab’s daughter threatened that.  My commentary said, “The wall of separation was gradually crumbing between David’s dynasty in Judah and the descendants of Ahab in Israel.  The future of God’s great plan of salvation depended on the continuation of the Davidic dynasty, so Jehoram was playing right into the enemy’s hands.  By compromising with the evil rulers of Israel, Jehoram displeased the Lord and weakened the nation… Jehoram followed the example of Jezebel and murdered all his brothers and anybody who might threaten his authority … The Philistines and Arabs invaded Judah, robbed the palace of its treasures, and took Jehoram’s wives and sons, except for young Ahaziah, also known as Jehoahaz.”  Jehoram died soon after when his intestines came out of his body!

Ahaziah wasn’t any better.  He colluded with his uncle Joram, who’d become king of Israel.  But God had called up Jehu, and a prophet had secretly anointed him as king.  He killed both Joram and Ahaziah then called on loyalists to help.  The tossed Ahaziah’s mother out of a high window and Jehu ran over her with his chariot until he was certain she was dead. 

Some may not like the violence of these chapters, but God certainly did not like the sin that was destroying the two nations.  Each of those who died were sinning against a flood of light.  They’d chosen sides against the Lord, and that is never a winning proposition. 

Father, I know that I cannot fight You and win.  You are the sovereign ruler of the universe.  At times when I am tempted to disobey, remind me of the foolishness of such action and bring me humbly back to You.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

2 Chronicles 19-20 A Good King, But A Nagging Failure

God had saved Jehoshaphat from death in battle, and when he returned, Jehu asked him, “Why did you help evil people?  Why do you love those who hate the Lord?  That is the reason God is angry with you.  But there is some good in you.”  There’s no mention of Jehoshaphat responding.

Jehoshaphat appointed judges and warned them to be fair and that they were judging for the Lord.  They were to warn the people not to sin against the Lord, and he promised that if they failed in that duty, God would be angry with them.  But they would not be guilty as judges if they warned the people not to sin.

This chapter contains the awesome story of Judah being attacked by the very people they’d sold arms to!  Jehoshaphat cried out to God and God caused the three armies to turn on each other!  All their soldiers died and the army of Judah simply walked in and gathered the spoils!  This caused other nations to fear God.

Unfortunately, Jehoshaphat kept making poor decisions.  He still wanted an alliance with Israel, and he agreed to help fund a merchant fleet, but before they could set out, they were all wrecked.  God did not allow Jehoshaphat to sin successfully.

Verse 33 in chapter 20 said a lot about the nation of Judah itself.  Despite having a good king, their problem was “the people did not really want to follow the God of their ancestors.”  That’s also a big problem in America today.

Father God, please remove the blinders Satan has placed on so many of our people.  They’ve bought the lies of Satan and don’t know the truth about You.  Please cause our nation to turn back to You and to see the importance of obeying Your commands.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

2 Chronicles 17-18 A Good King Who Didn't Listen

“Jehoshaphat, Asa’s son, became king of Judah … The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he lived as his ancestor David had lived when he first became king … He obeyed God’s commands … He wanted very much to obey the Lord … Jehoshaphat sent his officers to teach in the towns of Judah … They took the Book of the Teachings of the Lord and went through all the towns of Judah and taught the people.”

Again, a good start.  But according to my commentary, he made three costly compromises:  He married his son to Ahab’s daughter, he went to battle with Ahab, and he foolishly joined with Ahab’s son, trying to get rich by importing foreign goods.

Jehoshaphat was disobeying God.  “He should have never allowed the Davidic line to mingle with that of Ahab … If Jehoshaphat had died, then his son would have taken the throne and Ahab’s daughter would have been the Jezebel of Judah,” my commentary said.  Ahab could have then united the two thrones.  “But God is sovereign in all things and protected Jehoshaphat, while at the same time allowing a random arrow to hit an opening in Ahab’s armor and kill him.”

Jehoshaphat had wisely asked for a prophet of the Lord, but then did not follow what that prophet said!  He also allowed Ahab to make him a target in the battle – the only one wearing royal clothes!

The prophet Micaiah even told Ahab that a deceiving spirit had been sent to him.  My commentary says, “God deals with people on the basis of their character.  ‘With the pure You will show Yourself pure; and with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd (Ps. 18:26).”  God warned Ahab, and by not listening, he lost his life.

Father, I want my character to reflect You and Your Son.  Please help me to be pure in character.  Show me anything within me that doesn’t reflect You, and change me to be more like You.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

2 Chronicles 14-16 Starting, But Not Finishing Well

“Asa did what the Lord said was good and right … Asa called out to the Lord his God …”  He started well.

But then God sent him a message by Azariah:  “The Lord is with you when you are with him.  If you obey Him, you will find Him, but if you leave Him, He will leave you … You should be strong.  Don’t give up!”

During the last five years of his life, Asa seemed to forget that message:  “You depended on the king of Aram to help you and not on the Lord your God … The Lord searches all the earth for people who have given themselves completely to Him.  He wants to make them strong.  Asa, you did a foolish thing …”

My commentary divided his life into three periods:  Peace and victory, reformation and renewal, and relapse and discipline.  At first people were drawn to Asa because it was so obvious that the Lord was with him.  He led the nation to renew its commitment to the Lord.  “They sought the Lord with all their hearts and He heard them.”

“A perfect heart isn’t a sinless heart but a heart wholly yielded to the Lord and fully trusting Him,” by commentary said.  Asa had made a good beginning, but he didn’t finish well.

Father, please soften my heart and help me to be wholly yielded to You.  I want to fully trust You in everything.  Don’t let me fall away.  Hold me tightly in Your arms and help me to renew my commitment to You.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

2 Chronicles 13 -- God Uses Imperfect People

The prophet Shemaiah had told Rehoboam and the entire Southern kingdom, “The Lord says you must not go to war against your brothers (the Northern Kingdom).”  But in this chapter we read, “And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.”  Chapter 15 says Abijah was not a godly man.  He gained the throne after the death of his father, Rehoboam.  My commentary said, “He may have had David’s blood in his veins, but he didn’t have David’s perfect heart beating in his breast.”  He’d kept up a running war with Jeroboam the way his father had done.

Abijah did try persuasion, reminding Jeroboam that God had ordained that David’s sons rule the kingdom and that Aaron’s sons must serve as priests.  Jeroboam had scrapped all that when creating a religion that was convenient, to keep his subjects from traveling to Jerusalem to worship.

Jereboam sent part of his army to attack Abijah’s army from the rear while Abijah was focused on Jeroboam’s threat from the front.  But upon discovering this subterfuge, Abijah and his army literally cried out to God.  The Lord responded, sending immediate victory.

Abijah wasn’t a godly ruler, but he did understand God’s truth.  He had faith in God’s power.  “God uses imperfect people to do His will, if only they will trust Him,” my commentary added.

Father, I’m far from perfect, but I trust You.  Please use me to do Your will.  Please enable others to see that my heart is fixed on You and show them how to trust You, too.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

2 Chronicles 12 -- God Won't Put Up With It For Long

Verses 1-2 say that Rehoboam “Did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord.”  It sounds like it’s never enough to simply read God’s Word.  We need to start with heart preparation, which might include prayer and confessions plus a willingness to hear and obey what God has to say.

Rehoboam led well for several years, but then “he allowed and encouraged the building of idolatrous shrines … Idolatry and immorality go together, and it wasn’t long before the pagan sins condemned by the law became commonly accepted practices in Judah.  (Sounds like America today!)  The Jewish people were no longer a light to the Gentiles; instead, the darkness of the Gentiles had invaded that land and was putting out the light,” my commentary said.

We usually dislike the term loving discipline because any discipline that seeks to reign in our actions doesn’t feel like love.  God had been patient for a year, but “the longsuffering of God had come to an end.”  God brought the king of Egypt in to discipline His people, and He had the prophet Shemaiah deliver the message.  “Whenever God’s people experience discipline because of their sins, they can make a new beginning by hearing the Word of God and humbling themselves before the God of the Word,” my commentary said.  “God’s people discovered that their freedom to sin brought them into painful and costly bondage to Egypt, for the consequences of sin are always costly.”

As Charles Spurgeon said, “God does not allow His people to sin successfully.”

Father, please show me each day what I need to do to prepare my own heart to seek You.  Show my boys this too, Father.  Keep us ever mindful of the costliness of sin and make sure we remember that You do not allow Your people to sin successfully.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

2 Chronicles 11 -- God Accomplishes His Purposes Despite Our Failures

In the last chapter, Rehoboam listened to the wrong advisors and Jeroboam worked to overthrow the king of Israel.  My commentary had some great insight on it all:

“Though what happened was the consequence of Rehoboam’s foolishness and Jeroboam’s aggressiveness, it was God who had ruled and overruled to bring about the division – thus fulfilling Ahijah’s prophesy.  Each man had acted freely and so had their counselors, yet the Lord’s will was DONE.  Our sovereign God is so great that He lets people make their own decisions and yet accomplishes His purposes … It was God’s plan there be two kingdoms, and that settled the matter.”

Rehoboam did do some things right.  God blessed his fortification projects, and at first his following of God’s will brought priests and Levites from Israel to Judah, which enriched the now smaller kingdom.  Though Rehoboam also disobeyed God’s Word by taking many wives, he did distribute his sons across the now smaller nation and put them to work, something Solomon had not done.

Father, I love Your power and sovereignty to rule and overrule the acts of men.  No one but You could accomplish everything He desires to do utilizing both our good decisions and our sins.  I’m so glad that I serve a God who is not defeated when I fail, but One who can use my failures to accomplish His will despite me!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

2 Chronicles 10 -- The Third Generation Curse?

My commentary spoke about what usually happens with third generations:  “So often it’s the third generation that starts to tear down what the previous generations have built up … The founders worked hard and sacrificed much to start the business or the church, and the second generation was faithful to the examples and beliefs of the founders.  But when the third generation arrived, they inherited everything without working for it, and they tore down what others had worked so hard to build up … If the second generation doesn’t teach the third generation the ways of the Lord, or if they won’t receive the teaching, it’s no wonder the new generation goes astray.”

That was happening in spades in this chapter.  David (1^st generation) had fought and sacrificed to build the nation.  Solomon (2^nd generation) had built the Temple and the nation’s reputation.  But he’d also failed to properly prepare his son to rule.  Rehoboam (3^rd generation) had not sacrificed, but had led a life of privilege under his father, and now his rash decisions, made apparently without consulting the Lord, would tear the nation apart.

Father, give me the wisdom I need for my generation.  Guide me to always seek Your will and to train up my sons in Your ways.  I need You now, Father.  Help me to listen and to obey.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

2 Chronicles 9 -- Where Is That Wisdom?

Solomon’s great wisdom was not paired with great judgment, and as a result, he made many poor decisions that led the nation to the brink of disaster.  God intended for Jerusalem to be a city on a hill, shining the light of God’s glory to draw other nations to Him.  Yet the Jews were also to be separated from the sins of those nations.

Despite knowing the restrictions God had placed on Israel’s kings, Solomon dove right in, collecting horses, chariots, and wives from Egypt.  In this, my commentary said that he disobeyed God’s Word.  He then ignored God’s warning.  He resisted God’s discipline, and he opposed God’s servant.  “Solomon didn’t have David’s sincere heart and broken spirit of repentance.  The grandeur of the kingdom and not the glory of the Lord was what motivated Solomon’s life … Solomon imported the wives, the wives imported the gods; Solomon tolerated it, encouraged it, built places of worship for these idolaters.  What can you expect the people to do but follow along?”

Father God, help me not to do the same.  Don’t let me tolerate wrongdoing.  Give me strength and wisdom to step up and speak out.  Forgive me for times I’ve failed to do this.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

2 Chronicles 8 -- Solomon's Character Changes Are Starting To Show

I agreed with what my commentary said about what I was reading in this chapter.  Something just wasn’t ringing true:  “These activities also reveal Solomon’s character and expose some of the areas of weakness that later produced a bitter harvest.  Gradually, Solomon became more interested in prices than in values, and in reputation rather than character, and in the splendor of the kingdom rather than the good of the people and the glory of the Lord.” 

It also appears that Solomon may have needed to borrow gold from Hiram for his palace and gave him 20 cities as collateral.  “Apart from the fact that Solomon shouldn’t have been so extravagant in building his palace, he didn’t have the right to give twenty cities away just to pay his debts.  All the land belonged to the Lord and could not be deeded away permanently … But Hiram didn’t like the cities that Solomon gave him, calling them good for nothing.  Solomon must have paid back the loan because Hiram returned the cities to him …”

“Solomon exhibits in the incident some character traits that disturb us, including the extravagant cost of the palace that necessitated a loan, and then giving a friend poor collateral that wasn’t even his to give away.”

Father, I don’t want my character and my decisions to ever reflect poorly on You.  Please give me the wisdom and discernment I need to ensure that You are honored by all that I do.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

2 Chronicles 7 -- A House of Praise, Fellowship, and Responsibility

My commentary said that Solomon dedicated a house of God in chapter 5 and a house of testimony and prayer in chapter 6.  Now in chapter 7, it was a house of praise, fellowship, and responsibility.

Regarding praise, “Solomon reviewed the history of the Jewish nation, and his conclusion was that the promises of God had never failed, not even once … Solomon especially emphasized one promise that God gave to the patriarchs and repeated often in Jewish history, that the Lord would not leave His people or forsake them … He also asked God to help him and his people to have hearts that were inclined to the Lord and eager to obey His commandments.”  In Deut. 5:29, God says, “Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!”  That’s the heart He has for us!

Regarding fellowship, my commentary talked about our own worship times:  “Such meetings are occasions for both joy and solemnity.  ‘Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.’ (Psalm 2:11)  When the Holy Spirit is in control, both rejoicing and reverence will characterize the gathering.”

Regarding responsibility, in verses 11-16 “the Lord promised to answer every request.  He was willing to forgive his people when they sinned if only they would humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from their sins.”

Father, thank You for Your promised forgiveness when I do sin, if I will humble myself, pray, seek Your face, and turn from my sins.  Let me never put it all on You, for You have given me responsibility in this process.  Thank You for Your grace, for I have no right to even ask You to forgive me!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

2 Chronicles 6 -- Prayer

Solomon prayed that God would now come to dwell with His people in the completed Temple, but he also wondered how God could dwell in such a small space, having dwelled in heaven.  My commentary said, “There is a mystery about God that humbles us, because we don’t always understand Him and His ways, but this mystery also encourages us to trust Him and rest upon His Word.”  “Solomon realized that God’s willingness to dwell with His people was wholly an act of grace.”

Solomon also knew that Israel was to be a light to all nations, and one purpose of the Temple was to draw Gentiles to God.  My commentary added, “God blesses us that we might be a blessing, not that we might hoard the blessing and boast.  The Jews prayed, ‘God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, that You may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.’  The church today needs to pray that prayer and keep that purpose in mind.”

One final quote in my commentary caught my attention.  Andrew Bonar said, “Let us be as watchful after the victory as before the battle.”

Father, I noticed that Solomon used the word “I” a lot in this chapter.  It almost sounded like bragging.  Please keep me humble, knowing that without You my life would have amounted to nothing.  And help me to be most watchful after spiritual victories, because that is when Satan will try his hardest to bring me down.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

2 Chronicles 5 -- The Temple Is Inhabited

With the Temple completed, Solomon called the elders together and the priests and Levites relocated the ark from the older part of the city where David had left the tabernacle set up to the new Temple.

“The ark was but a symbol of the throne and presence of God; it was the actual presence of God that was important.  Once Solomon and the people had honored God and placed His throne in the Holy of Holies, the glory of God came and filled the house of the Lord.  The glory cloud had guided Israel through the wilderness, but now the glory came to dwell within the beautiful temple Solomon had built,” my commentary said.

Father, this does so much to describe what happens when Your Spirit inhabits us when we accept Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf.  Without You, we are simply a shell, but once Your glory inhabits us and Your presence is within us, everything changes.  Thank You for the sure knowledge that Your Spirit lives within me and guides me every day!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

2 Chronicles 4 -- Though Extravagant, This Cost Was Nothing

Reading of all the utensils and washing systems in the new Temple, it’s easy to get the idea that this beautiful building may have smelled and looked like a butcher shop made of gold.  The smell of fresh blood was surely inescapable and a constant reminder of the continuing commission of sins by every person.

This imagery drove Warren Wiersbe to write in my commentary, “Without clean hands and a pure heart, we can’t approach the Lord and expect Him to hear and answer our prayers.”  He also reflected, “How painful it is to realize that Solomon, the man who constructed the Temple, was the man who married a multitude of foreign wives and encouraged idolatry in Israel, the very sin that turned the nation away from God and brought upon them the fiery judgment of the Lord.”

Father, I must realize that my sin alone would have required every bit of this structure under the old law, and my sin alone necessitated the death of Your Son on the cross so that I might live with You.  That sacrifice makes the cost of this Temple pale in comparison to what it cost You to save me!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

2 Chronicles 3 -- Something Beautiful From Something Ugly

As Solomon began to build the Temple, my commentary said that it is important to note that “God took the consequences of David’s two worst sins – a piece of property [that he’d purchased after he’d wrongly counted the people, where God had stopped the death angel] and a son [Solomon, born of David and Bathsheba after they lost their first son who had died after their adultery] – and built a Temple!  … This isn’t an encouragement for us to sin … but it is an encouragement to us to go on serving God after we’ve repented and confessed our sins.  Satan wants us to think that all is lost, but the God of all grace is still at work.”

Father, thank You for building on my own repentance and confession and allowing me to serve You at a time when I did not deserve Your grace, too.  Please allow me to continue doing what You’ve allowed and enabled me to do – serving You through teaching and telling others about what a mighty and loving God I serve!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford