Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Sunday May 10, 2009 and we are completing our studies on the book of II Kings. Please read chapters 22-25 in your Bible or Click Here to read them online. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Kings%2022-25&version=9

Today's Message: Lead The Way
Because we are Christians, there is no guarantee that our loved ones will be also. We must train them in the Word of God for them to know the way.

Josiah was the last godly king of Judah before the destruction of Jerusalem, "Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath.And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left." (II Kings 22:1-2).

Josiah was thorough in his efforts to restore true worship to the One True God. He found the book of the covenant and read it word for word to the faithful people of Judah and made a covenant with God. "And the king sent, and they gathered unto him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem. And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD. And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant." (II Kings 23:1-3). Josiah is an example to all Christian's to read and teach the Word of God. We all benefit from knowing God's Word personally and getting around those who can help us understand it.

Josiah destroyed all the idolatrous practices, the groves, buildings, in Jerusalem and Judah. "And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven. And he brought out the grove from the house of the LORD, without Jerusalem, unto the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and stamped it small to powder, and cast the powder thereof upon the graves of the children of the people. And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove. And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba, and brake down the high places of the gates that were in the entering in of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on a man's left hand at the gate of the city." (23:5-8). Josiah even went beyond Judah, into Bethel, and destroyed the groves and images.

Josiah was one of the best kings in the more than 450 year history of the monarchy. The death of Josiah ended the prosperity of Judah. Just three months after his death, the Southern Kingdom of Judah was defeated by the Egyptians. The last four kings who followed Josiah were all puppet-rulers, controlled first by Egypt and then Babylon.


The destruction of the once glorious kingdom of Judah and Solomon's Temple is a grim reminder that reformation alone will not bring lasting change in people; there must be repentance and renewal within the heart of a people, as well as a nation. Even the greatest present day nation on earth, with all its wealth, military might, and nuclear defense, cannot survive, regardless of how much the people may pray, if its people continue to ignore the Word of God.

Today's Psalm: 51:10
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
We are thankful that there is no one who comes to You through Jesus who goes away unable to find reconciliation with You, for You save completely and to the uttermost. Because Your Son lives and intercedes for us we have renewed hope daily for the circumstances of our lives and for the people that are dear to our hearts. Fill our hearts anew with hope, encouragement and endurance as we stand upon Your Word and fully trust You to guide our lives this day. In Jesus' Name.......Amen.

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night and week.
God Bless you,
Christina

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