2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles seems to be fairly similar to 2 Kings. They both gave a brief synopsis of each king and mentioned whether or not they obeyed the law. I did notice one difference in the last chapter today. 2 Chronicles ends with a message of hope for Israel because Cyrus of Persia announces that he will rebuild the temple in Jerusalem and let anyone who desires go back to Jerusalem. This announcement leads nicely into the next book of Ezra. 2 Kings didn't go over that, and just ended with Jehoiachin living in prison.
Luke
Luke 12:50-51 caught my attention. Jesus said "But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division."
First of all, the fact that Jesus was distressed until he completed his 'baptism' which I think refers to his death and resurrection. He doesn't always let us into his feelings about his task on earth. Usually, we just hear about all the wonderful things he did in ushering in the kingdom of God. But in this sentence, we find out just how much of an impact his ultimate goal had on him. It was truly difficult for him to follow through with the plan. We are privy to this struggle at one other point in scripture - his time in Gethsemane where he asks that God take 'this cup' from him, but also that God would have His will done. When we're struggling with a difficult task that God has given us, we can run to Jesus, because he certainly knows what we're dealing with.
Verse 51 is also interesting because it makes me think of another verse about peace. Luke 2:14 says "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests." Jesus' birth seems to usher in peace on earth, and yet later in his ministry, Jesus says that he didn't come to bring peace. Seems like somewhat of a paradox.
However, after reading Gill's Exposition on the Bible, I have found somewhat of an answer. God came to bring peace to men (as happened with Jesus' birth), but Jesus was not going to set up a political kingdom and solve the world's problems of peace or war. So these two different verses are really talking about two different kinds of peace - God's and man's. I think God's peace toward us is much more desirable and much longer lasting!
Showing posts with label 2 Chronicles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2 Chronicles. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
God will fight the battle
Key verses
Psalm 145:1-9 - I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
2 Chronicles
Jehoshaphat trusted in God, and God came through for him. I read the story about Jehoshaphat defeating Moab and Ammon, described in 2 Chronicles chapter 20. The people of Judah were wondering if they should attack Moab and Ammon, because these enemies were coming to their territory. The people of Judah inquired of God, and the Spirit of the Lord spoke through Jahaziel who told the people of Judah not to fear. The Lord was with them. They wouldn't even have to fight the battle, because the Lord would fight for them. So they went out to the place where their enemies were, and there were all the dead bodies. The Moabites and Ammonites had fought against the men from Mount Seir, and then they turned on themselves and everyone was slaughtered. The people of Judah didn't have to do a thing!
When you go into a difficult situation, trust in God and rely on him to come through for you (if you are in the will of God), and you will meet with success!
As a side note - what a legacy! Here is 2 Chronicles 2:20, commenting on Jehoram's reign as king of Judah. "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."
Psalm 145:1-9 - I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
2 Chronicles
Jehoshaphat trusted in God, and God came through for him. I read the story about Jehoshaphat defeating Moab and Ammon, described in 2 Chronicles chapter 20. The people of Judah were wondering if they should attack Moab and Ammon, because these enemies were coming to their territory. The people of Judah inquired of God, and the Spirit of the Lord spoke through Jahaziel who told the people of Judah not to fear. The Lord was with them. They wouldn't even have to fight the battle, because the Lord would fight for them. So they went out to the place where their enemies were, and there were all the dead bodies. The Moabites and Ammonites had fought against the men from Mount Seir, and then they turned on themselves and everyone was slaughtered. The people of Judah didn't have to do a thing!
When you go into a difficult situation, trust in God and rely on him to come through for you (if you are in the will of God), and you will meet with success!
As a side note - what a legacy! Here is 2 Chronicles 2:20, commenting on Jehoram's reign as king of Judah. "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."
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Repentance and the blood of Christ
Key verse
1 Thessalonians 4:7 - For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 7:13-14 - “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
God's love manifests itself in different forms. If we repent and obey, he is kind and compassionate and slow to anger. But if we have heard his commands and yet disobey, He will not hesitate to punish us. Not that we have to fear fire from God every time we do something wrong, but we can't rest on our laurels thinking that God has promised only to do good to us, even if we do bad. Look at King Solomon. God told him, right after verses 13 and 14, that yes, if they repented, he would save them. But, if Solomon did not respect God's law and instead followed pagan gods, God would certainly send Israel into exile and destroy the temple Solomon had just built for Him.
Our good deeds will never save us. Only the blood of Jesus, come with the new covenant, can cover our sin and intercede for us when we go off the trail.
1 Thessalonians 4:7 - For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 7:13-14 - “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
God's love manifests itself in different forms. If we repent and obey, he is kind and compassionate and slow to anger. But if we have heard his commands and yet disobey, He will not hesitate to punish us. Not that we have to fear fire from God every time we do something wrong, but we can't rest on our laurels thinking that God has promised only to do good to us, even if we do bad. Look at King Solomon. God told him, right after verses 13 and 14, that yes, if they repented, he would save them. But, if Solomon did not respect God's law and instead followed pagan gods, God would certainly send Israel into exile and destroy the temple Solomon had just built for Him.
Our good deeds will never save us. Only the blood of Jesus, come with the new covenant, can cover our sin and intercede for us when we go off the trail.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Glory in a cloud
2 Chronicles
Whenever I read about the glory of God physically appearing before man, I'm impressed. It sounds so wonderful and amazing! In 2 Chronicles 5:13-14, it says that when Solomon finished building the temple, the priests couldn't even perform their service because the glory of God filled the temple as a cloud. I've never seen the glory of God appear as such a cloud, but it sounds like quite the sight.
Whenever I read about the glory of God physically appearing before man, I'm impressed. It sounds so wonderful and amazing! In 2 Chronicles 5:13-14, it says that when Solomon finished building the temple, the priests couldn't even perform their service because the glory of God filled the temple as a cloud. I've never seen the glory of God appear as such a cloud, but it sounds like quite the sight.
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