Psalm 119:33-40 (Click to read NIV or select your preferred translation of the Bible. Please read the scripture first.)
What a wonderful passage. This does not need any explanation. It only needs to be made into the prayer of our hearts. I encourage my readers to read this scripture several times, and at least one of the times you read it, make it your prayer.
Copyright © 2008 by Janice Green
2 Chronicles 34:29-33 (Click to read NIV or select your preferred translation of the Bible. Please read the scripture first.)
King Josiah set his sights on following God with his whole heart. He called together all the people of Judah for them to hear all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had recently been discovered while restoring the temple of the Lord. Then the king renewed his covenant with the LORD to follow and obey his commands as they had been written in the Book of the Covenant with all his heart and soul. He then instructed all the people in Jerusalem and Benjamin to pledge themselves to the covenant as well. Then Josiah once more purged the Israelite territory of all idols.
Our national leaders are not permitted to make such covenants on behalf of our country in the United States. But wouldn’t it be a blessing if our spiritual leaders – those in authority over our denominations and our individual churches would lead with such devotion to God coupled with such courage.
I feel I keep repeating myself at times on this blog, but these are the things that continually stand out as I read these passages of scripture. If God can continue to give the same message, I guess it is permissible for me to give the same interpretation of what I feel he is saying. Let us covenant to pray for our leaders every day.
Father, forgive me when I let myself become too absorbed in my own daily activities to find the time to pray for the leaders you have given to us. Help us all as your children to pray faithfully for those who are responsible for the direction in which our churches and denominations are going. Bless these leaders by giving them new insights that are from you alone. Give them discernment to separate the wheat from the tares when they listen to the advice they receive from others, and may their decisions always bring glory to your name.
Copyright © 2008 by Janice Green
2 Chronicles 34:22-28 (Click to read NIV or select your preferred translation of the Bible. Please read the scripture first.)
God honors those who honor him. Josiah had chosen to honor God by removing the high places, and Asherah poles. He honored God by restoring the temple. And he honored God by reading the recently found Book of the Law. As he read the book he became keenly aware of the guilt of the Israelites and the many ways they had sinned against God. Josiah repented by tearing his robes and by seeking the Lord’s counsel.
Because of Josiah’s repentant heart, God chose to honor him in his lifetime and to postpone his wrath on the Israelite nation.
If there was ever a time when repentance was needed it is today. It is needed at every level from leadership to those in the upper, middle, and lower status positions in government and society in general – even in our churches and denominations.
As individuals, we must begin with ourselves. We must prayerfully reflect on our own lives and repent (agree with God about the sins in our lives and make the necessary changes) of any sins we see. Only then can we effectively pray for our churches, our society in general, and for its leaders.
Father God, you see our sins much more clearly than our clouded eyes are able to see. Help us to see through your eyes the things we need to repent of in our own lives. Give us willing hearts to address these problems and to deal with them in a Godly way ridding our lives of them completely. Then bring to mind the leaders that we need to be praying for on a regular basis. Lead us Lord, in the way you would have us to go.
Copyright © 2008 by Janice Green
2 Chronicles 34:19-21 (Click to read NIV or select your preferred translation of the Bible. Please read the scripture first.)
Josiah was receptive to the words of the Law as it was read to him. He was also grievously aware of how far the Israelite nation had strayed from God’s commands. He tore his robe in response to the anguish that was in his heart.
Josiah then sent a select group of men including Hilkiah his high priest to inquire of the LORD about what he had heard. He had suddenly come to fear God’s wrath because of the sins of his people.
Josiah was not a cowardly sort of person. He had struck down the priests of the high places as well as their idols and altars. He had embraced the challenge to restore the temple, and was eager to hear the word of God. But what a difference the hearing of the word had made in his life. He was suddenly aware of what God had demanded of his people and was immediately under conviction for them. Josiah had a receptive heart, and was both willing and able to hear what the Lord God wanted him to hear.
God was able to bless Josiah because he listened to God and was prepared to adjust his path accordingly.
Are we prepared to listen to God and to adjust our paths accordingly? It is the application of God’s Word to our hearts and lives that makes it possible for God to bless us. Consider James 22-25 which begins, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (NIV) The true benefit we receive from reading God’s word comes from applying it to our daily lives.
Father God, give us willing hearts to hear your word and to faithfully apply it to our lives. Teach us to see ourselves as you see us as we faithfully study your word.
Copyright © 2008 by Janice Green
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
2 Chronicles 34:8-18 (Click to read NIV or select your preferred translation of the Bible. Please read the scripture first.)
King Josiah didn’t stop with tearing down the evil high places where the people made sacrifices to foreign gods; he also had it in his heart to restore Solomon’s temple.
There had been so many wicked kings since the time of King David. Even King Solomon had allowed the high places to be established to please his foreign wives. The great temple that Solomon had built had long since become a pile of ruins.
Josiah chose three men to put in motion plans to restore the temple. The people had been taxed to fund the project, and willingly they brought all the funds needed for the restoration. The Levites supervised everything.
An important discovery was made while the temple was being built. Hilkiah, the priest found the copy of the Book of the Law that Moses had given to the Israelites. The men brought the book to King Josiah who was eager to hear what it said.
Josiah was sold out to God. Even as a youth he saw the evils in his day and set out with resolve to make changes. He saw what needed tearing down AND he saw what needed to be built up. It was in the process of building up – of restoring the temple – that the holy scriptures which had long since been forgotten were brought to light.
This is but one more example of God’s faithfulness to his promises. Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (NIV)
How close is your relationship with God? It is likely to be in direct proportion to the amount of effort you are putting into seeking him. Are you, like Josiah, sold out for God? Or have you pulled yourself into your own world with blinders firmly attached? Are you seeking a closer walk with God, or are you satisfied with lesser gods of busy-ness and wealth.
Almighty God, break down the barriers we have allowed to separate us from being sold out for you. Cause us to lose our desire for lesser things that push you out of our thinking. Awaken the hunger that you have placed in our hearts; make it gnaw away at us until we take definite steps to draw closer to you in daily study and prayer. Put new life into our daily walk that we may be salt and light that draws others around us to seek you.
Copyright © 2008 by Janice Green
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.