Prayer: Father, there is so much to learn about Your ways, Your judgement, and Your discipline. Help me to understand and apply. Amen.
Reading: 2 Chronicles 28 key: vs. 22-25 “In his time of distress, this same King Ahaz acted even more unfaithfully to Adonai. He even sacrificed to the gods of Damascus after he had been defeated, for he said, “Because the gods of the kings of Aram helped them, I will sacrifice to them and they will help me.” But they caused the downfall of him and all Israel. Ahaz even collected the utensils of the House of God and cut the utensils of the House of God into pieces. He shut the doors of the House of Adonai and made himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem. In every town of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods—provoking Adonai, the God of his fathers.” TLV
Attention: Have you ever witnessed someone who makes poor choices, receives discipline or judgement from God and instead of running back to God, they double down and go further away from Him? That is what Ahaz does. We read that from the beginning of his reign, he chose to walk in the ways of the kings of Israel (the northern part after the division), and not in the ways of David. His father’s name is not mentioned, but the king’s name with which God struck His covenant, David.
We must understand that judgement and discipline are corrective actions from God. They are not meant to drive us further away, but to bring us back to Him. Ahaz chooses to take Judah further from God by desecrating the Temple and willfully giving the furnishing of gold and silver to the king of Assyria. He thought it would help him avoid the wrath of a king. It brought the wrath of God.
He also built alters and high places in “every corner of Jerusalem” to “other gods.” He provoked Adonai as a husband would be at his wife’s actions if she went elsewhere.
We always have a choice with God, obedience or judgement, submission or discipline, repentance, or rebellion. Ahaz chose rebellion and went further from God. We must understand that God’s judgement or discipline are corrective actions. Yes, they are punitive, but God is full of grace and mercy for those who will humble themselves unto Him.
Action: I choose to submit to the supremacy of Adonai and see judgement or discipline as corrective.
Yield: I choose to yield my life and will to the sovereignty of God.
Engage: I choose to engage with the Holy Spirit in living a life in submission to Adonai.
Relationship: I choose to live in holy, intimate, obedient, relationship with God.
Prayer: Father, help us all to understand that Your actions are corrective, and You do not wish to destroy us. It is our sin which has brought Your correction. Help us to turn from our evil ways, repent, and embrace You as Lord of our lives. Amen.
Memory Verse: 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 “If I shut up heaven that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, when My people, 0ver whom My Name is called, humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” TLV
Music Video: Citizen Way—I Will
https://youtu.be/k_bHd2-QhuQ?si=eCQbOT7QS2f46rD6
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”