Daily Bible Devotionals

“Hezekiah did this throughout all Judah. He did what was good and upright and true before the Lord his God. He was diligent in every deed that he began in the service of God’s temple, in the instruction and the commands, in order to seek his God, and he prospered.” 2 Chronicles 31:20-21 (HCSB)

There is much confusion in the Church at large these days concerning the Old Testament. Some Christians believe there is not much value in reading it, while others place too much emphasis on living out the Law to the letter. We know we are saved by God’s grace, through our faith, whenever we make the object of our faith Jesus and His atoning work (on our behalf) on the cross. Since our salvation is by Grace, through Faith, there is no worth to our “good works” concerning our salvation. (Ephesians 2:8-9)  But is there any merit to living according to God’s Word? Absolutely! The Apostle James (James 2:14-26) had much to say about that. I recall a pastor saying, “We are not saved by faith and works. Rather, we are saved by faith that works!”  If you have genuinely placed your faith in Jesus, you should desire to live according to the Word. He is the “Word made flesh.” (John 1:14)

Hezekiah fully understood that it is not just enough to be God’s “chosen.” You must also choose to live for God. Salvation may be by grace through faith, but blessing follows obedience. Hezekiah followed the command of Deuteronomy 6:1-7, to wholeheartedly seek the Lord.  

“Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the Lord your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, that you may fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as the Lord God of your fathers has promised you—‘a land flowing with milk and honey.’ Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:1-5 (NKJV - See also: Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

Having begun with exhorting the people to observe the Passover (remember God’s miraculous deliverance and provision in times past), Hezekiah then fast-tracked Biblical literacy, which started the chain reaction of revival. Interestingly, when Jesus was asked about the greatest command, He answered with the same passage:

“‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?’  Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Leviticus 19:18) On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.’” Matthew 22:36-40 (NKJV)

Is obeying God’s Word important to Christians? Just ask “the Word made flesh”:

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” Luke 6:46 (NKJV)

“Then they slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought the burnt offerings to the house of the Lord.  They stood in their place according to their custom, according to the Law of Moses the man of God; the priests sprinkled the blood received from the hand of the Levites.  For there were many in the assembly who had not sanctified themselves; therefore the Levites had charge of the slaughter of the Passover lambs for everyone who was not clean, to sanctify them to the Lord.  For a multitude of the people, many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, ‘May the good Lord provide atonement for everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he is not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.’  And the Lord listened to Hezekiah and healed the people. So the children of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great gladness; and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day, singing to the Lord, accompanied by loud instruments.  And Hezekiah gave encouragement to all the Levites who taught the good knowledge of the Lord; and they ate throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings and making confession to the Lord God of their fathers.” 2 Chronicles 30:15-22 (NKJV)

I was recently discussing a potential business venture with a friend, and as we tried to figure out the logistical details, he wisely said, “A good plan today is better than a great plan tomorrow.” His point was clear: You can’t always have every base covered at the time of launch. Some details have to be worked out as you go, and some opportunities can be lost due to “paralysis-by-analysis.”  Today’s passage is an excellent snapshot of God’s mercy, grace, patience, and longsuffering in the Old Testament. The people chose to worship the Lord, even though they weren’t quite sure how to worship Him.

Thanks to Hezekiah’s leadership, the call to worship the Lord in Jerusalem went out to not only Judah but also those Israelites living in the idolatrous Northern Kingdom. How were they to worship Him? By remembering the Passover, the miraculous deliverance of God’s people from Egyptian bondage when they obeyed His Word. Everything was against them. The priests and the people were not sanctified. It wasn’t the Biblically prescribed time to observe Passover, and the nation was divided politically. It sounds like the United States today!

But the encouraging message today is how God overlooked all of those factors and decided to honor their faith, by His grace, despite their absence of good works. It is Ephesians 2:8-9 in action, smack in the middle of the Old Testament! (combined with 2 Chronicles 7:13-14)  God weighs the heart, not strictly the actions.   Messiah Jesus cleans His “fish” AFTER He catches them. And that is comforting to those of us whose prayer of salvation consists of, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)

“So the service of the house of the Lord was set in order. Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, since the events took place so suddenly.”  2 Chronicles 29:35b-36 (NKJV)

When it comes to decisions where faith in God’s Word must be employed, I follow a simple rule: Work as if it all depends on me, knowing that it all depends on God. That seems to be the overriding principle of today’s passage. After all the hard work that Hezekiah, the Levites, priests, and the people put forth, Hezekiah still gave the credit to God. He understood that God’s Spirit works through the diligent efforts of His people but that He doesn’t need our works to accomplish His plan on earth. Suppose we let that idea settle in on our operational theology (how we live out our faith). In that case, we can find joy in the fact that the God of all creation chooses not only to declare us co-inheritors but also co-laborers with Messiah in the outreach & salvation of lost people, Him working through us as we work.

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.  For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.  According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-11 (NKJV)

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”  2 Corinthians 5:20-21; 6:1-2 (NKJV)

Notice the progression of Hezekiah’s righteous upbringing, which leads him to make the faithful decision to restore the doors of the Temple. Then Hezekiah recruits faithful men to clean-out the Temple, consecrate themselves, and minister to others on behalf of the Lord. It is the same process concerning our personal salvation. It all begins at the “door” of our hearts and our choice to follow Jesus, followed by our being filled with the Holy Spirit, Who sanctifies our hearts & actions. That leads to co-laboring with other believers in effective evangelism & discipleship.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock….” Revelation 3:20a (NKJV)

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (NKJV)

“Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord, as his father David had done. For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made molded images for the Baals. He burned incense in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and burned his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.  And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree. Therefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria. They defeated him, and carried away a great multitude of them as captives, and brought them to Damascus. Then he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who defeated him with a great slaughter.”  2 Chronicles 28:1-5 (NKJV)

In today’s chapter, we get to peer under the “hood” of God’s rebuke and see the mechanics of chastening from every angle. We begin with a young king, not quite old enough to buy beer. Age, in & of itself, is not a problem, but Ahaz’s admiration for the sophisticated choices of worship in the Northern kingdom led him to imitate his cousins. A little leaven spoils the whole lump, and King Ahaz’s personal choice to compromise spreads throughout the entire kingdom. Speed of the leader, speed of the team. The problem was that the very culture Ahaz sought to imitate was the one that defeated & took him captive, along with his people, the tribe of Judah.

“And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand women, sons, and daughters; and they also took away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.” 2 Chronicles 28:8 (NKJV)

But all is not lost! God sends His Word to Judah’s Israelite brothers/captors. He lets Israel know that their defeat of Judah is not because of His blessing. They themselves were idolaters. No, God had been using the Northern Kingdom of Israel to teach Judah a lesson: If you worship their idols, you will suffer their fate. It was a forecast, not only to Judah but also to Israel, as to what Assyria would shortly do to them for the same sins. NOTE: Just because the Lord is using you to rebuke someone else does not mean that He condones your sin any more than theirs.

“But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded; and he went out before the army that came to Samaria, and said to them: ‘Look, because the Lord God of your fathers was angry with Judah, He has delivered them into your hand; but you have killed them in a rage that reaches up to heaven.’” 2 Chronicles 28:9 (NKJV)

WHY? The sad truth of today’s chapter is that the rebuke from the Lord was all avoidable. We must commit to seeking God’s Word, obeying & sharing it with others.

“For the Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had encouraged moral decline in Judah and had been continually unfaithful to the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 28:19 (NKJV)

“Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok. And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Uzziah had done (although he did not enter the temple of the Lord). But still the people acted corruptly.” 2 Chronicles 27:1-2 (NKJV)

The story of King Jotham is short and relatively straightforward. He honored the Lord, and the Lord responded to Jotham’s faithfulness by securing his kingdom. Perhaps you were wondering (as was I) how a king could be pleasing to God yet not enter the Lord’s temple for the entire duration of his reign. The answer to that question is found in the story of Jotham’s father, King Uzziah, at the end of yesterday’s chapter.  

King Uzziah who also did well in the sight of the Lord, but toward the end of his reign, Uzziah grew proud and began to take his worship of the Lord less seriously (and himself too seriously). Uzziah’s pride culminated in entering the temple and trying to participate in activities that the Lord had set apart exclusively for the priests He had chosen.

“But when he (Uzziah) was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. So Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him were eighty priests of the Lord—valiant men. And they withstood King Uzziah, and said to him, ‘It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed! You shall have no honor from the Lord God.’ Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the incense altar. And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and there, on his forehead, he was leprous; so they thrust him out of that place. Indeed he also hurried to get out, because the Lord had struck him.” 2 Chronicles 26:16-20  (See also: Leviticus 10:1-3) (NKJV)

So, with the memory of how his father’s spotless reputation became spotted with leprosy still fresh on his mind, Jotham decided not to tempt his own fate by standing before the Lord. It was an overreaction. And that’s a shame because God’s Word is clear that children are not to be punished for the sins of their fathers. (Ezekiel 18:20)  Furthermore, God’s testimony of blessing in response to Jotham’s faithfulness was clearly displayed, to the point where Jotham should not have been afraid of Him.  (2 Chronicles 27:6)  Perhaps Jotham’s lack of faithful public worship aided the people’s apostasy and his own son’s idolatry.

Aren’t you thankful that, through Jesus, we may boldly approach the Throne of Grace? (Hebrews 4:16)

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of 2 Chronicles 26. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“Now it was so, after Amaziah came from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the people of Seir, set them up to be his gods, and bowed down before them and burned incense to them. Therefore the anger of the Lord was aroused against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, ‘Why have you sought the gods of the people, which could not rescue their own people from your hand?’ So it was, as he talked with him, that the king said to him, ‘Have we made you the king’s counselor? Cease! Why should you be killed?’ Then the prophet ceased, and said, ‘I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.’” 2 Chronicles 25:14-16 (NKJV)

Smoking is a terrible habit. Not only is it expensive, but it always leads to lung damage, hastening the demise of its victims. Sure, smoking looks cool, everything from how a person holds a cigarette, clips off the tip of a cigar, or lights a pipe, slowly dragging and releasing the smoke. But imagine feeling like you are drowning, 24/7, unable to get a full breath of air. No, not for me.  

Am I the only one who finds it difficult to watch those TV commercials where people who’ve had their voice boxes removed (because of lung cancer surgery) are talking through those vibrating devices pressed against their throats? And what is their message? “THIS is where smoking leads!”  I feel sad to see kids smoking, and I wonder if they have ever considered that “cool” can have tragic consequences.  

Want to know what really confuses me? Every time I visit a hospital, I see nurses and doctors standing outside, smoking!   I can understand kids or foreigners (whose culture may be void of lung cancer awareness), but healthcare professionals?? Unbelievable, and yet, there it is. It is precisely how we feel when we read about a king of Judah who heeds a prophet’s warning to rid his army of idolatrous Israelites, sets out on a quasi-righteous battle against idolatrous Gentiles, yet secretly practices idolatry himself! And it sickens us to the point where we ask, HOW CAN THIS BE? God is showing us what happens to a king (or anyone for that matter) who “kind-of” follows Him, whose devotion is half-hearted.

“Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a loyal heart.” 2 Chronicles 25:1-2 (NKJV)

Just as the man who unwraps a new pack of cigarettes glances at the “Smoking Causes Lung Cancer…” warning, then jokes to his friend, “These things will kill you,” before he sparks up, so many people read the Bible with the same attitude toward sin. There are two things that confound a fool: How slow God is to judge and how quickly He shows up! Learn Amaziah’s lesson, but not how Amaziah learned it. Learn it in the manner God intends for you to learn so that you will seek His Word and obey it wholeheartedly.

“Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem.  His mother’s name also was Zibiah of Beersheba. And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest.” 2 Chronicles 24:1-2 (NKJV)

When I was 17 years old, I packed up my ’72 Chevelle convertible, drove out of Fort Smith, Arkansas, and headed for college.  Those post-high school years are so refreshing because you finally get the chance to put all of your theories of life to the test.  That season reminds me of the bumper sticker that reads, “Hire a college student while they still know everything!” Yes, happiness was Ft Smith in my rearview mirror, and I was ready for a fresh start.  I wish I had been more pious as a kid, but I pretty much stopped going to church during my first year of college.  Seriously, up to that point, I had really just gone to church because my parents made me.

If you can relate to that story, you can understand what was going on in Joash’s head once Jehoiada, the priest, died.  

“But Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and he died; he was one hundred and thirty years old when he died. And they buried him in the City of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God and His house.  Now after the death of Jehoiada the leaders of Judah came and bowed down to the king.  And the king listened to them. Therefore they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers and served wooden images and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass. Yet He sent prophets to them, to bring them back to the Lord; and they testified against them, but they would not listen.  Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, ‘Thus says God: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper?  Because you have forsaken the Lord, He also has forsaken you.’ So they conspired against him, and at the command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the Lord. Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son; and as he died, he said, ‘The Lord look on it, and repay!’” 2 Chronicles 24:15-22 (NKJV)

In today’s chapter, we find an important lesson for the Church today.  You can mandate that people act like fully devoted disciples of Jesus, but how will they act when nobody is looking?  (Of course, God is always watching.)  

What happens when the charismatic authority figure is removed from the scene?   More importantly, what is the difference between acting like a disciple and being a real one?  It is the same difference between your reputation and your character.  Your reputation is the side of you that everyone sees, but your character is the side of you that only God may see.  Keep seeking Him in His Word, determined to live as He requires, and share His Word with others so they can live for Jesus, too!

“Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, the people, and the king, that they should be the Lord’s people. And all the people went to the temple of Baal, and tore it down. They broke in pieces its altars and images, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. Also Jehoiada appointed the oversight of the house of the Lord to the hand of the priests, the Levites, whom David had assigned in the house of the Lord, to offer the burnt offerings of the Lord, as it is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was established by David. And he set the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the Lord, so that no one who was in any way unclean should enter. Then he took the captains of hundreds, the nobles, the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from the house of the Lord; and they went through the Upper Gate to the king’s house, and set the king on the throne of the kingdom. So all the people of the land rejoiced; and the city was quiet, for they had slain Athaliah with the sword.”  2 Chronicles 23:16-21 (NKJV)

Yesterday, it looked as if the spirit of the antichrist would prevail in its attempt to utterly destroy the kingly line of Judah. And why is that a terrifying notion? Because the royal line of David was to be the birth line through which Messiah (the “Son of David” – Matthew 1:1) would come.  

“Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal heirs of the house of Judah. But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were being murdered, and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the sister of Ahaziah), hid him from Athaliah so that she did not kill him. And he was hidden with them in the house of God for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land.”  2 Chronicles 22:10-12 (NKJV)

While we may be terrorized by people and world systems that operate (often unaware) under the influence of the spirit of the antichrist, it is important to remember that for every “Athaliah,” the world throws at you, God has reserved a “Jehoshabeath” to harbor you. There is no panic in heaven, only planning.

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 (NKJV)

Today’s narrative reminds us of a similar plot to kill God’s “anointed” when God proved that His deliverance could reach even beyond the grave to rescue His people.

“Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!”  Luke 24:5-6a (NKJV)