God Speaks
The Reigns of Ahaz King of Judah and Hoshea the Last King of Israel
Verse of the Day: [Instead of trusting and fearing the LORD, Ahaz did a very foolish and God-dishonoring thing.] And Ahaz took the silver and gold found in the temple of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace and sent it as a gift to the king of Assyria. (2 Kings 16:8 NIV 2011)
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Watch TBR Day 196
We Respond
Reflection
Consider the following questions regarding 2 Kings 16-17, 2 Chr. 28
> 1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
> 2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
2 Kings 16-17, 2 Chr. 28
1. God
2. People
Prayer
> 3. How might I pray regarding 2 Kings 16-17, 2 Chr. 28?
Action (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
> 4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to 2 Kings 16-17, 2 Chr. 28?
With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
I will
I will
I will
I will
Share
I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding II Kings 16-17 and II Chronicles 28:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
II Kings 16
1. God was silent as He observed the actions of Ahaz which totally destroyed the economy, the international standing of Judah, and the God-ordained worship in the Temple.
2. Ahaz is a perfect example of how a person behaves who has only a sinful, human worldview and no “fear of the LORD.”
II Kings 17
1. Although He is angry at the actions of His people, God instructs them as to what they must do to please Him again.
2. This chapter summarized what happened when a whole society abandons the LORD God and His commands to become a pluralistic culture based on only human reasoning.
II Chronicles 28
1. God will humble and discipline all the people of a nation because of the actions and attitudes of their rulers.
2. Common people suffer because of the wicked actions and decisions of their leaders, but there may still remain a remnant who show caring and compassion.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding II Kings 16-17 and II Chronicles 28?
All-knowing, Almighty God, You know the motives and aspirations of every person and will hold everyone accountable for their actions and attitudes; however, in Your mercy and grace, You have provided humans a way to escape Your just judgment, if we will turn back to You in repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Thank You, Jesus, for Your loving sacrifice. From these passages I see that the seminal sin is seeking to do things according to our own desires and perceptions without even consulting or considering Yours. This is how both rulers and common people bring much grief upon themselves and other people. I confess that I, my rulers, and the people have sinned against You. Many times every day, one of the eight billion people on the planet breaks one or more of Your commandments, specifically: We fail to thank You for creating us and setting us free from captivity to sin, self, and Satan (through Christ Jesus). We put other people, objects, or ideologies ahead of You and love and serve them instead of You. We misrepresent You and misuse Your holy name. We fail to rest in and with You daily or on the one day in seven You prescribed. We do not honor our parents (in so doing, we have failed to learn to respect authority). We murder each other: either our pre-born children through abortion, our teenagers through gang shootings, mass murders, lethal drug use (such as fentanyl), or suicide, and our older adults by legalizing medically assisted suicide. We commit either mental, emotional, or physical adultery. We steal either someone’s money, physical or intellectual property, dignity or reputation or body (kidnapping). We lie, give false testimony, or exaggerate about nearly everything, especially in politics or advertising, to the point where we ourselves are not sure what is true. We have not treated marriage and family life as sacred. Coveting is so common that it is considered normal and capitalized on in marketing. LORD, on behalf of myself and my nation, I repent and confess that we are truly sinners. We cannot save ourselves. Only You, LORD and triune God, have the ability to turn this nation (and world) around. Only Your Holy Spirit working in our minds and hearts can enable us to humble ourselves and pray and seek Your face and turn from our wicked ways. When we do so (as individuals or as a nation), You promise to hear from Heaven, forgive our sins, and heal our land. When that happens, it will result in our good and Your glory, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to II Kings 16-17 and II Chronicles 28? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any unconfessed and/or unresolved sin in my own life so that I have the right motives for God to use me in the lives of others.
- I will ask the LORD to show me an appropriate way for me to respond when I observe the leader(s) of my nation taking ungodly attitudes and actions, then do it.
- I will plead for the LORD’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness for the wrongful actions in my community, county, state/province, or nation.
- I will join an organization like the Salvation Army that is showing compassion to the poor and needy.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.