Daily Bible Devotionals

“Have you not cast out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made for yourselves priests, like the peoples of other lands, so that whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams may be a priest of things that are not gods? But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken Him; and the priests who minister to the Lord are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites attend to their duties. And they burn to the Lord every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense; they also set the showbread in order on the pure gold table, and the lampstand of gold with its lamps to burn every evening; for we keep the command of the Lord our God, but you have forsaken Him. Now look, God Himself is with us as our head, and His priests with sounding trumpets to sound the alarm against you.  O children of Israel, do not fight against the Lord God of your fathers, for you shall not prosper!”  2 Chronicles 13:9-12 (NKJV)

Jeroboam was in big trouble, although I am confident nobody in his army thought so at the beginning of today’s chapter.  Jeroboam had sought worldly counsel, adopted the values of the pagan nations he aspired to be like, and now was scornful toward pious Judah to the point where he wanted to annihilate them!  In following after idols (and enticing others to follow him), Jeroboam literally followed the pattern of cursing that King David had described in Psalm 1.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2 (NKJV)

Judah’s king Abijah, on the other hand, had kept the Lord’s Word with its priesthood intact.  Unlike Jeroboam, who walked by sight and not by faith, Abijah walked by faith, believing God’s promises to all who seek Him as He prescribes.  Notice how Abijah’s warning to Jeroboam has nothing to do with how large his army was.  (He was outnumbered.) Instead, his warning to Jeroboam consisted of knowing he had the most important plot of land on any battlefield: The Moral High Ground.  He did not have a made-up priesthood.  He had the legit one!

“The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and these shall be to you as an ordinance forever throughout your generations.  When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the Lord your God, and you will be saved from your enemies.” Numbers 10:8-9 (NKJV)

Did you know that all followers of Jesus have legitimately entered His priesthood?

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10 (NKJV)

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of 2 Chronicles 12. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“Now when Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled from the house of Judah and Benjamin one hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.  but the Word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, ‘Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, “Thus says the Lord: You shall not go up or fight against your brethren!  Let every man return to his house, for this thing is from Me.”’ Therefore they obeyed the words of the Lord, and turned back from attacking Jeroboam.” 2 Chronicles 11:1-4 (NKJV)

God is not a pacifist.  God is a perfectionist.  But He is not a perfectionist in the obsessive “can’t see the big picture” sort of dysfunctional meaning that our culture has attached to perfectionism.  He is perfect in that while His process of drawing glory out of every circumstance seems chaotic and random, all things eventually work together for good, according to His purpose.  (Romans 8:28)  He is both Author and Perfector.  (Hebrews 12:2)

That being said, there are times when followers of Jesus may assume they know God’s will, so they will set forth to accomplish something for His glory that He never wanted to be done.  They literally, for seemingly well-meaning reasons, begin moving in the opposite direction of His will!  That’s why it’s so important to seek the Lord in prayer and faithfully obey His leading, which may make no human sense!

“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 (HCSB)

Modern Christianity carries this notion that God is always against war or physical violence of any kind.  But that notion is ignorant of God’s Word.  God is SOMETIMES against war and SOMETIMES for it.  We must trust His wisdom, that He knows the appropriate times for both peace and warfare.  There is a time forthcoming when His judgment will eclipse His Grace, and it will happen in His perfect timing.

“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up…A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”  Ecclesiastes 3:1-3; 8 (HCSB)

“Then the children of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until evening, and asked counsel of the Lord, saying, ‘Shall I again draw near for battle against the children of my brother Benjamin?’ And the Lord said, ‘Go up against him.’” Judges 20:23  (NKJV)

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained.  He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”  Acts 17:30-31 (NKJV)

“Then the king answered them roughly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders, and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!” So the king did not listen to the people; for the turn of events was from God, that the Lord might fulfill His word, which He had spoken by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.” 2 Chronicles 10:13-15 (NKJV)

Jeroboam was an evil king. He was the one who instituted the worship of two golden calves in Bethel and Dan to keep Israel from worshipping in Jerusalem. His rational? Jeroboam believed that the people’s hearts would turn back to the Lord if they worshipped God as He prescribed, in the place where He caused His Name to dwell. (1 Kings 12:35-33)  When you worship together in the temple Solomon built, it is difficult to hate Solomon’s son (along with your own Judean and Benjamite Jewish cousins). Question: If Jeroboam was so evil, why would the Lord give Jeroboam His word that he would rule Israel? First, let’s look at a portion of the Lord’s declaration to Jeroboam.

“‘But I will take the kingdom out of his [Solomon] son’s [Rehoboam] hand and give it to you—ten tribes. And to his son I will give one tribe, that My servant David may always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen for Myself, to put My name there. So I will take you, and you shall reign over all your heart desires, and you shall be king over Israel. Then it shall be, if you heed all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build for you an enduring house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you.  And I will afflict the descendants of David because of this, but not forever.’ Solomon therefore sought to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam arose and fled to Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.” 1 Kings 11:35-40 (NKJV)

Because of his righteousness, Jeroboam did not rule the ten tribes of Israel (aka the Northern Kingdom). He ruled because God punished the House of David for its idolatry and the people of Israel for their rebellious hearts. Both sides of the conflict underwent God’s punishment, so neither lived victoriously. Jeroboam could have followed God’s Word; God promised him success if he would. But in the end, Jeroboam chose idolatry, which led Israel into a burden far greater than Rehoboam threatened: Assyrian captivity! Rehoboam’s harsh response to Israel’s request for a lightened burden is in direct opposition to Jesus’ promise.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

“The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold, besides what the traveling merchants and traders brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon. And King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels of hammered gold went into each shield. He also made three hundred shields of hammered gold; three hundred shekels[c] of gold went into each shield. The king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold. The throne had six steps, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne; there were armrests on either side of the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the armrests. Twelve lions stood there, one on each side of the six steps; nothing like this had been made for any other kingdom.  All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Not one was silver, for this was accounted as nothing in the days of Solomon.” 2 Chronicles 9:13-20 (NKJV)

I don’t have ESP, but I know what you are thinking. You can’t get over that number, “six hundred and sixty-six,” and you’re wondering if it has any relevance to the infamous “666” in the book of Revelation. I believe the answer is “yes”; God is making a statement about Solomon’s kingdom. “Six,” the number of creations, is prominent in today’s chapter.

“This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666.” Revelation 13:18 (NKJV)

“666” is not arbitrarily disclosed here, any more than the story of Melchizedek in Genesis 14 is arbitrary, although Melchizedek seems an arbitrary character until Hebrews 7. We are supposed to scratch our heads when we see that “666” pop-up again in The Revelation. We are intended to ask, “Where did I see that number before…?” as we do when we hear mention of Melchizedek in the New Testament.

So, what is the significance of “666,” and how does its mention in Solomon’s kingdom relate to the end times? While the Lord promised to establish Solomon’s kingdom, its success depended on Solomon’s seeking His Word and obeying it. The acquisition of wives and wealth directly opposed God’s requirements for kings. God is not listing His blessings as much as He is listing the setup for downfall.

“And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.” Deuteronomy 17:17 (ESV)

What we learn about in 2 Chronicles 8 & 9 are Solomon’s so-called “accomplishments,” apart from following God’s Word. “666” is an unholy trinity, where man becomes his own judge and savior and determines his own truth. God is saying Solomon’s kingdom looks impressive, but it will not stand, as in the end times. Do you see it?

“Now all the work of Solomon was well-ordered from the day of the foundation of the house of the Lord until it was finished. So the house of the Lord was completed.” 2 Chronicles 8:16 (NKJV)

Oh, the glory days of Jerusalem! It must have been fantastic to walk through the temple complex and smell fresh paint still lingering alongside the fragrance of incense & lamb roasting on the altar. Israel’s enemies were subdued, and the children of those enemies (left unconquered by Israel’s forefathers) were pressed into the service of the kingdom. You can almost hear wise Solomon sighing to his friends, “Breathe in the goodness, exhale and relax!”  All was well, or was it? In the midst of all the progress reporting of chapter 8, one sentence seems out of place.

“Now Solomon brought the daughter of Pharaoh up from the City of David to the house he had built for her, for he said, ‘My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places to which the ark of the Lord has come are holy.’” 2 Chronicles 8:11 (NKJV)

Like I tell my children, “Never date someone you would be embarrassed to take to church.”  Solomon had entered into compromise. It didn’t seem like a big deal; a political marriage (or several) may ensure peace. After all, don’t we need separation of church and state?

“A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” Galatians 5:9 (NKJV)

A little leaven and a lot of time are enough to bring down an entire kingdom. While I do not want our current government teaching my children their opinions of what the Bible says, it is safe to say that God does not want to separate from ANY aspect of human involvement! Eventually, disengagement leads to disenfranchisement.

“For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father. Then did Solomon build a high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods. And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the Lord commanded.”  1 Kings 11:4-10 (KJV)

A kingdom may be God-originated, but once it becomes man-centered, it ends up God-forsaken. I am awaiting the place the Son of David is preparing. (John 14:2b-3)

“When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the Lord, saying: ‘For He is good, for His mercy endures forever.’”  2 Chronicles 7:3 (NKJV)

There is a lot of talk in our Christian culture these days about God’s GRACE.  His grace is a good thing, indeed.  By His grace, we are saved when we faithful place our trust in Jesus’ atoning work instead of our own.  (Eph 2:8-9)  Often, we hear the words “grace & mercy” put together.  They go well together, but they are not the same thing, as if they were twins.  Grace and mercy are more like cousins.  GRACE is when we get something we do not deserve.  If I gave you a fancy watch, that would be gracious.  Mercy is when we don’t get what we do deserve.  For instance, if you stole a fancy watch, the owner would show you mercy by not calling the cops.  So, our salvation is a combination of both God’s grace and His mercy towards us.  When we enter into salvation, we 1) do not get what we deserve (eternal separation from God) for falling short of God’s perfect standard, while, at the same time, we 2) receive the gracious gift of atonement purchased by Jesus’ righteousness.

When the Temple was dedicated, the people did not sing of God’s grace.  They sang of His goodness and mercy.  Why?  They knew their guilt; each fell short of God’s perfect standard.  And when they saw that fire fall and consume the animal sacrifice (representing their sin, which leads to death), they knew that only His mercy could have redirected that fire from them to the sacrifice.  You know, sometimes people get roasted when God’s fire falls!  (Leviticus 10:1-3; 2 Kings 1:10)

God, in His grace, allowed the Temple to be built.  In His mercy, He allowed people to make right their relationships with Him.  The Lord knew on the day the Temple was dedicated that Israel would eventually forsake His grace and need His merciful reparation.  Immediately after confirming His satisfaction with the Temple and affirming His willingness to be met there, God gave the people very clear terms of how they must return to Him after rejecting His Word.  It is like receiving a new car as a gift for finishing rehab and immediately being told how to get it back after it is impounded when you drive drunk again.

“Then the Lord appeared to Solomon by night and said to him: ‘I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up heaven, and there is no rain, command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways.  I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.’”  2 Chronicles 7:12-15 (NKJV)

Take heed, America!  We have despised God’s grace.  I hope people will seek His mercy; it may endure forever, but it is only offered for a limited time.  (Isaiah 55:6-9)

“Moreover, concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for the sake of Your great name and Your mighty hand and Your outstretched arm, when they come and pray in this temple; then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name.” 2 Chronicles 6:32-33 (NKJV)

There is an idea popular among Christians today that puts forth that because of Jesus’ resurrection, Gentiles (non-Jews) can now have a personal relationship with God, whereas it was impossible before.  That idea is simply wrong, and today’s passage is yet another Old Testament example of how God has always allowed Gentiles to enter into a personal relationship with Him.  So, for a fun review of Gentiles who turned to the Lord, let’s begin with a little Moabite girl named Ruth.  

“But Ruth said: Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.” Ruth 1:16 (NKJV)

Isaiah spoke about God’s acceptance of anyone (regardless of ethnicity) who would turn from foreign idols and choose to follow Him.  He even promised that God would not exclude the repentant foreigner from being counted among His people, even stressing that the redemption of ALL MANKIND was the mission of the Messiah.

“Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants - everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My covenant - even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer.  Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” Isaiah 56:6-7 (NKJV - see also: Matthew 21:13)

“Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’” Isaiah 49:6 (NKJV)

The apostle Paul, preaching at Athens’ Mars Hill, underscored how God is Lord-of-all and that all of earth’s inhabitants are both 1) subject to Him and 2) can be saved through receiving Messiah Jesus, by grace through faith.

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained.  He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” Acts 17:30-31 (NKJV)

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of 2 Chronicles 5. Click the links below to watch or listen now!