Blessings By Seeking God First 05.30.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Friday May 30, 2008 and today we are continuing our studies on the book of II Chronicles. Please read Chapters 28-30 in your Bible or Click Here to read. biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Chronicles%2028-30&version=9

Today we will read and learn about the reign of Ahaz in Judah, thier destroying the Temple and worshipping other gods, Syria and Israel defeating Judah, the death of Ahaz, the reign of Hezekiah, and the restoration of the Temple. Today's message focuses on the importance of seeking God first. While we are faced with many struggles and needs in life God knows every one of them. Seeking Him first will not only help you through each anhd every struggle it will also bless you with all of your needs even more abundantly as you imagine.

Ahaz had the wonderful heritage of a godly father Jotham (II Chronicles 27:6), but Ahaz was one of the most wicked kings in Judah's history. "Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father: For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim. Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree." (II Chronicles 28:1-4).

Because of the great wickedness of King Ahaz, the kingdom of Judah continued to suffer serious losses of territory. They were defeated by Syria and Israel, the Edomites gained their independence from Judah on the southeast. The Philistines raided Judah's cities in the southwest and occupied them. Thousands of people were taken as slaves into other countries (28:5-18). Regrettably, the many defeats of Ahaz never caused him to humble himself and repent. He fiercely rejected the Lord and sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, "For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel. And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem. And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers." (28:23-25).

In this tragic account of Ahaz, king of Judah, the Lord is warning us of the awful fate of those who turn from Him. Just as Ahaz attempted to suppress the worship of the One True God, the unsaved world, with all of its deceptive attractions, attempts to suppress our loyalty and obedience to the Lord.

After his death, revival comes as godly Hezekiah who becomes king begins to restore the Temple. "Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done. He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them." (29:1-3). He recognized the blessings of God as of utmost importance and as most essential.

He repaired and cleansed the Temple and under extreme difficulty and danger. He was determined to do God's will and was blessed because of it. "Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us. My sons, be not now negligent: for the LORD hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that ye should minister unto him, and burn incense.....And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad into the brook Kidron." (29:10-11,16).

After the Temple was restored Hezekiah sent a letter to all of Israel and Judah encouraging them to observe the passover and return to God. "And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see. Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you. For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him." (30:7-9). They returned to God, repented, and were healed.

There is a strong spiritual link between our estimate of God and what we think is the most important to do first. Without exception, every Christian should seek the Lord first above all things. "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:31-33).

In today's reading Jesus Christ is revealed through King Hezekiah who offered an intercessory prayer for every one That prepares his heart to seek God (II Chronicles 30:18-19). Jesus Christ our King, now seated at the right hand of God, intercedes in prayer for all who continue to seek Him.

Today's Psalm: 119:34
"Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart."

Today's Prayer:

Dear Lord,
There are times when there are so many struggles that the incline may be so steep it forces me on all fours, but that's a posture in which I'm most humbled. It forces me to kneel down before You, the Lord my Maker. Your strength is perfect when my strength is fleeting. It is a place where I realize it is no longer my strength but it is in Your perfect strength that I walk. It is no longer my plan but Your perfect plan that I follow. It is no longer my wisdom but Your perfect wisdom that instructs me. You give perfect direction and adequate strength to walk the upward path that leads to life everlasting. Thank You that I will never walk the path of life alone, for You lead the way as You make my feet like hind's feet on high places. In Jesus' name......Amen.

Have a great and fantastic Friday and weekend.
God Bless,
Christina

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