Scripture: 2 Chronicles 24.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

2 Chronicles 24:17-20 (NLT)

17 But after Jehoiada’s death, the leaders of Judah came and bowed before King Joash and persuaded him to listen to their advice.

18 They decided to abandon the Temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and they worshiped Asherah poles and idols instead! Because of this sin, divine anger fell on Judah and Jerusalem.

19 Yet the Lord sent prophets to bring them back to him. The prophets warned them, but still the people would not listen.

20 Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, “This is what God says: Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands and keep yourselves from prospering? You have abandoned the Lord, and now he has abandoned you!”

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

Jehoiada had been a very dedicated and loyal high priest to King Joash and his ancestors, having just restored the temple before his death. After his death, King Joash listened to the wishes of the leaders of Judah, who abandoned the Temple and returned leading the people back to worshipping Asherah poles and idols instead. I thought that verse 19 reflected the love of my God in such a powerful way, for it says that in spite of the people turning away from worshipping the one true God, yet He loved them enough to still send prophets to warn them and give them another opportunity to see their sin, turn from it, and return to worshipping Him. After seeing their stubbornness, God sent Zechariah to warn the people that because they had abandoned God, He would now abandon them. Oh my, I hope that in all the years that my Lord might bless me to remain here on this earth, that I would never see such a disaster – for the love of God to be withdrawn from my daily life. I would encourage all that may read this devotional today to step back and try to count the endless blessings that God showers on us each day. There is so much that we take for granted – good health (compared to many), a loving family (blood family and church family), a job (yes even the job that we despise waking up to go to, but would we rather be on the unemployment lines or the social services lines?). Friends, we are a blessed people and the sooner we stop and realize that and learn to give God thanks for that the better off we will be. Please don’t tempt God to withdraw His watchful eye on you and His protective hand upon you. A good old traditional hymn is entitled “I Need Thee Every Hour”, and the sooner I realize and accept that this means every hour – whether I have a job or not and whether I am in good health or not, the better off I will be. Thank God that He sends his messengers to remind me and warn me, as He did with sending His prophets to King Joash, the leaders of Judah and the people who abandoned Him.

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, I truly do need You every hour. I pray that You will constantly remind me when I stray. I pray that You will redirect me when I follow paths that will weaken my witness for You, but most of all I pray that You will keep me in the center of Your will so that I may never be abandoned by You. You are my Rock and my steadfast Hope oh God. Thank You for loving me so much that You gave everything just so that I may have eternal life with You and witness Your love every day.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
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