I warned you when you felt secure, but you said, ‘I will not listen!’ his has been your way from your youth; you have not obeyed me.

2 Kings 24, 2 Chronicles 36, and Jeremiah 48-49, 22

I warned you when you felt secure, but you said, ‘I will not listen!’ his has been your way from your youth; you have not obeyed me. Jeremiah 22:21

Day 219 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as I return to Jeremiah with additional historical context provided from 2 Kings 24:1-6 and 2 Chronicles 36:8.  My commentary* describes how "Jehoiakim has the audacity to rebel against Nebuchadnezzar. Fortunately for Judah, Nebuchadnezzar does not react with immediate military force, at least not directly. However, he may well be the motivating force behind the attacks against Judah by several of its neighbors over a four-year period of inconclusive war. Jehoiakim is destined to live his last days in wearying conflict." My commentary* also describes how God rises up Judah's neighbors to harass Judah (2 Kings 24:2-4).  Jeremiah then pronounces judgment Judah's enemies, including Moab, Ammon, Edom, Damascus, and Kedar and Hazor.

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

Jeremiah 22 details God's Word regarding Jehoiakim's impending death, while 2 Kings 24:5-6 and 2 Chronicles 36:8 records Jehoiakim's death. God's message to Jehoiakim in Jeremiah 22:21 is convicting for those who have or continue to refuse to heed God's Word during times of peace, prosperity and security. 

We must worship God during both

I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”

Hosea 10-14, 2 Kings 14-15 and 2 Chronicles 25-26 

I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” Psalm 16:2

  

Day 169 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) wraps up my study of Hosea, as Hosea predicts both Israel's captivity and her ultimate deliverance from bondage to Assyria as Israel will repent and God will forgive her. Meanwhile, my commentary* indicates that Judah, "though affected less than Israel, has problems of its own".  Judah's king Amaziah is assassinated (2 Kings 14, 2 Chronicles 25) and Uzziah is made king.  Like Amaziah, although Uzziah "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord" (2 Kings 15, 2 Chronicles 26), "[t]he high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there".

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) . Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

A few highlights from Hosea's closing words from God to Israel:

Because you have depended on your own strength and on your many warriors, the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be devastated[.] Hosea 10:13-14

Ephraim [Israel] boasts, “I am very rich; I have become wealthy. With all my wealth they will not find in me any iniquity or sin.” Hosea 12:8

"When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me". Hosea 13:6

“I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them". Hosea 14:4

Today, I am reminded that we must remain close to God and call upon Him not just in bad times when we feel our needs are more desperate, but that we need God ALL of the time - good and bad times.  God is our Creator and Sustainer, and without Him we have no good things.  

My Prayer: Jesus, You are my All in All, My Everything, everything that I am and everything that I have is from You.  I am blessed that You adopted me into Your family.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  I worry and my sin continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.

1 Samuel 30

David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God. v6

There will be days when it seems the world is against you and it can be overwhelming.  David, from his days as a younger man when he slayed Goliath, finds his confidence in the Lord, not in others, and not in things of this world.  

You are my strength, I sing praise to you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely. Psalm 59:17

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

 

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. Ephesians 1:18-21

 

See also post here. 

 

Lord Jesus, help me stay near to You in good times and bad so that when the bad times do come - and they will - I can find my strength in You alone.

 

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who strengthens me daily through Your Word, the Holy Spirit, and through others where You work in them - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth how You love me - I am broken and my sin continues.  I am often harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and others as You do. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”

1 Samuel 1

I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” v15-16

God wants all of us - during good times and bad times.  We must remember him in good times - knowing that God produces the harvest and all of its blessings.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  James 1:17

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17

Once we recognize and live with this in mind - we can also recognize that He is all we need.

Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. Psalm 16:5

We can come to Him during the bad times once we know who He is during the good times.  This is our faith - that God exists and is always there for us.  Hannah knows this.  We should too.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what a great God You are - You provide for all things in my life and I am not in want.  Thank You Jesus.  Yet I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind, and love others as You do. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

A Saving Voice Needs a Willing Mind
Philippians 4

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. v8

Today's devotional triggers thoughts about how I came to be a believer....many people come to believe in Jesus through crisis and by seeing how God rescues them grow in their relationship with Jesus.  Yet I came to Jesus not so much through crisis but through a desire to live with a higher purpose...I was doing OK but felt God's hand.  Unfortunately, even with crisis in my life I never REALLY got to know Jesus (see also yesterday's post).  I am extremely grateful for Christ's patience with me as I got to know Him better by trying to make "every effort".  

We MUST be rooted in Christ during all times to be prepared for the times when we are tested.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what a great God You are that You are my protector and I can trust in You to protect me in all things at all times.  You are for me and jealous FOR me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a God - I fail to be bold in Your service in many ways - including sharing the Good News of You to others...forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and all side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin and serve You! Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.