One Year Bible, June 29

2 KINGS 15:1-16:20                                                                                                           
UZZIAH (AZARIAH), KING OF JUDAH:  Reigned in Jerusalem 52 years. He was successful in warfare and commerce, defeating the Philistines and Ammonites. But his heart was lifted up with pride and he went into the Temple to burn incense, invading the priest's office. So GOD smote him with leprosy in the forehead, which he had until he died.

ZACHARIAH, KING OF ISRAEL, ETC. ETC. ETC. : He lasted 6 months and was assassinated by SHALLUM, who ruled in his stead - thus ending Jehu's dynasty.   SHALLUM ruled one month and was assassinated by MENAHEM, who then ruled in his place. MENAHEM was Israel's army general, and ruled in Samaria for 10 years and died a natural death.   PEKAHIAH , his son reigned 2 years and was assassinated by his captain, PEKAH, who ruled 20 years.  PEKAH was so evil that JEHOVAH GOD brought the Assyrians to carry parts of Israel into captivity. HOSHEA assassinated PEKAH and ruled in his place. He was the last of the 19 kings who misruled Israel. When Assyria came against him, he became a tributary.  He turned to Egypt for help and Shalmaneser of Assyria put him into prison! Assassinations and anarchy mark the last rebellious years of Israel's existence.

JOTHAM, KING OF JUDAH: (meanwhile, in the Southern Kingdom once again:)  Jotham was 20-years-old when his father was smitten with leprosy and became co-regent, then taking the throne when he was 25. He had a godly mother, but the people around him were corrupt.  He became mighty because "he prepared his ways before the Lord his God" (He established and ordered his business in alignment with the word of the Lord.)

AHAZ, KING OF JUDAH: VERY WICKED!!!  Began his reign at age 20.  He committed gross idolatry including human sacrifice.  He brought darkness to Israel.  People were carried away into slavery, some were slaughtered.  He himself cut up the vessels of the Temple, then shut the Temple doors, built his own altar, rearranged the Temple furniture, practice astrology, and worshipped the gods of Syria.

RESPONSE:   Never disregard the warning voices from God, whether they be friends, Scripture, television preachers, circumstances, the Holy Spirit inside you! God even used a donkey to speak to a prophet! Are we getting the message yet? Man cannot rule himself! It is a joke to say you are "self-ruled" or even "self-made".  There is no such thing! SELF, and the flesh are the arena where Satan rules.  So, if God is not ruling your life, then guess who is!  We think many times that we are "doing our own thing", but that's self-delusion.  There are only TWO WAYS TO DO ANYTHING: GOD'S WAY AND THE WRONG WAY!

ACTS 19:13-41                                                                                                          
See yesterday's blog.

PSALM 147:1-20                                                                                                      
NOTE: This Psalm begins and ends with "Praise ye the Lord."   Now we praise Him for His power and His great mercy and grace. "the outcasts of Israel" are those outside the Church, those without a covenant with God (Eph 2:12-13) which is not gentiles, by the way - but "outsiders".   We all know that "outcasts" are those that no one else wants. But here we see that God gathers up the outcasts, heals their broken hearts and binds their wounds! God does not delight Himself in the strong, the rich and the talented; "He takes pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy." God wants us to depend on Him! "His Word runs swiftly..." He speaks things into existence, and even inanimate objects obey His voice.

PROVERBS 18:4-5                                                                                                    
Understanding and wisdom are deep, not just on the surface for display, like the fool's words. Words of wisdom are ever-flowing, not at all like the fool's shallow knowledge.

As for Prov 18:5, we all know that there are no rich people on death row! In fact, I read somewhere that no one currently on death row ever earned more than $8000/year! You can't convince me that a rich man NEVER committed an offense that carries the death penalty.  In other words, if you are rich, you can beat the system - even though this verse says that is "not good".

RESPONSE:   Thank God He gathers up the outcasts!  And praise the Lord that He heals our broken hearts and binds our wounds. And hallelujah! I don't have to be good-looking, mighty, or athletic for Him to delight in me!   And according to Psa 147, as long as I am "meek" or flexible and teachable - willing to be corrected and willing to change - God will "lift me up".