Today’s Reading: Amos 8-9; Psalm 73

Then the Sovereign Lord showed me another vision. In it I saw a basket filled with ripe fruit. “What do you see, Amos?” he asked.
I replied, “A basket full of ripe fruit.”
Then the Lord said, “Like this fruit, Israel is ripe for punishment! I will not delay their punishment again. In that day the singing in the temple will turn to wailing. Dead bodies will be scattered everywhere. They will be carried out of the city in silence. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!” – Amos 8:1-3

As we read through the books of the prophets, we hear God consistently referred to as the Sovereign Lord. Judgment is being declared as the prophets recognize that the Lord has supremacy. He holds the power and is the ultimate authority over all of creation. It is time for all people to humble themselves and recognize that God is the Sovereign Lord, and we are unworthy of the mercy and grace He bestows on us.

“I will never forget the wicked thing you have done!
The earth will tremble for your deeds, and everyone will mourn…” – Amos 8:7b-8a

This was God’s response to a nation that continued to rebel against him generation after generation. Their sinful idolatry and religious complacency demonstrated their arrogance towards all of the Lord’s instructions.

THEY WERE LIVING AS IF GOD WERE SMALL RATHER THAN SOVEREIGN.

“The time is surely coming,” says the Sovereign Lord,
“When I will send a famine on the land —
not a famine of bread or water
but of hearing the words of the Lord.
People will stagger from sea to sea
and wander from border to border
Searching for the word of the Lord,
but they will not find it…” – Amos 8:11-12

God was sending a message through the prophet of Amos, but He was about to go silent for a time. They would not hear from Him during this coming season of punishment. Though they hungered for a word from Him, they would not receive it; though they searched for the voice of God in the midst of their suffering, they would not find it. Their irreverence towards the Lord had brought about a spiritual famine. But the God of mercy gave them a message to hold on to through the difficult days ahead.

I WILL RESTORE. I WILL REPAIR. I WILL REBUILD.

“I will bring my exiled people of Israel back from distant lands,
And they will rebuild their ruined cities and live in them again.
They will plant vineyards and gardens;
They will eat their crops and drink their wine.
I will firmly plant them there in their own land.
They will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the Lord. – Amos 9:14-15

We serve a God of restoration and redemption. Yes, He is a just God who punishes wickedness and withholds His blessings on nations who have abandoned Him, but the heart of God is still longing for His people to return to them so that He can restore, repair, and rebuild.

LORD, FORGIVE US FOR IGNORING YOUR SOVEREIGNTY BY DEMANDING OUR OWN WAY.

May our prayer this morning reflect the heart of Asaph as he repented of his foolishness, taking his eyes off people and focusing his heart on God. He turned his complaining and whining to praise, recognizing that the Lord is sovereign! Let’s give the Lord ultimate power and authority in our lives as we stop resisting the Lord who has done wonderful things for us. Let’s show our gratitude for the gift of His presence in our lives, recognizing the impact we experience when He speaks over our lives.

Then I realized that my heart was bitter,
and I was all torn up inside.
I was so foolish and ignorant—
I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.
Yet I still belong to you;
you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
leading me to a glorious destiny.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
I desire you more than anything on earth.
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart;
he is mine forever.
Those who desert him will perish,
for you destroy those who abandon you.
But as for me, how good it is to be near God!
I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,
and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do. – Psalm 73:21-28

Today’s Reading: Amos 4-7

The behavior of God’s people could be narrowed down to three words – arrogance, selfishness, and pretense. They put their own selfish desires for luxury before the needs of others around them. They were abusive and oppressive to those who had less than they did – the weak, the needy, and the poor. They ignored the needs of others and filled their hunger for earthly possessions. Because of this, God’s judgment was going to fall HARD on these people.

GOD IS PLEASED WITH HUMILITY, NOT ARROGANCE

This should be of significance for those of us who have been blessed with so much. God was clear in Amos’ prophecies that He was done with the arrogance of a nation who felt they were better than others. He was going to punish this selfish generation who put their own needs ahead of the needs of others. He was bringing judgment on those who continued to go through the motions of worship and the rituals of sacrifice but who were not living a lifestyle of sacrifice and worship.

God did not choose judgment before first drawing His people to Himself, but they would not listen.

“I brought hunger…but still you would not return to me…
I kept rain from falling when your crops needed it the most…but still you would not return to me…
I struck your farms and vineyards…but still you would not return to me…
I sent plagues…but still you would not return to me…
I destroyed some of your cities…but still you would not return to me…
THEREFORE I will bring upon you all the disasters I have announced.
Prepare to meet your God in judgment, you people of Israel!” – Amos 4:6-12

GOD IS LOOKING FOR A GENUINE HEART

God cannot be manipulated; the Lord determines how people can come to him. Attending church regularly, paying tithe, and going through the rituals of being a believer are not substitutes for a genuine heart.

“I hate all of your show and pretense – the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings. Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.” – Amos 5:21-24

“You sing trivial songs to the sound of a harp and fancy yourselves to be great musicians like David. You drink wine by the bowlful and perfume yourselves with fragrant lotions. You care nothing about the ruin of your nation. Therefore, you will be the first to be led away as captives. Suddenly, all your parties will end.” – Amos 6:5-7

GOD DECLARED – THE PARTY’S OVER!

God’s people had a false notion of privilege. They continued to live a life of self-indulgence and spoke of how they were looking forward to the day of the Lord but they did not realize the Lord was coming not to absolve their sinfulness but to punish them. They believed the covenant God had made with His people allowed them to live as they pleased, even if that looked like arrogance, selfishness and pretense. But God required righteous living. They lived as if God owed them salvation and eternal life because of a decision made a long time ago. But God does not ignore sin (7:8).

Lord, forgive us for our moments of arrogance when we think too much of ourselves and too little of others. Forgive us for living comfortably with all you have blessed us with while others around us are in need. Forgive us for our attitudes of privilege and expectations of rewards because of a decision we made a long time ago. Open our eyes and call us out of our own agendas for today. We desire to respond to your call on our lives and do whatever you are asking us to do. Thank you for being a God who loves us enough to draw us to yourself. Thank you for both your love and your justice. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Amos 1-3, Psalm 14

Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?
Does a lion ever roar in a thicket without first finding a victim?
Does a young lion growl in its den without first catching its prey?
Does a bird ever get caught in a trap that has no bait?
Does a trap spring shut when there’s nothing to catch?
When the ram’s horn blows a warning, shouldn’t the people be alarmed?
Does disaster come to a city unless the Lord has planned it?
Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything
until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets.
The lion has roared — so who isn’t frightened?
The Sovereign Lord has spoken —
so who can refuse to proclaim his message? – Amos 3:3-8

God used MANY prophets during the days of the kings to warn His people of what was ahead, an attempt to draw them out of their sin and back to Him. They knew that if they kept rebelling against God that they would be punished. They had been warned over and over again. They knew what was expected of them, and they knew that they were not living the way God had called them to. They could not claim ignorance because they were fully aware of their rebellion.

Not only did God use the prophets, he used anyone with a willing and obedient heart. Amos was one of those men. Amos did not consider himself a prophet; he was simply a shepherd with a heart open to doing anything God asked him to do, even if he felt unqualified.

“I’m not a professional prophet, and I was never trained to be one. I’m just a shepherd, and I take care of sycamore fig trees. But the Lord called me away from my flock and told me, ‘Go and prophesy to my people in Israel.’” – Amos 7:14-15

I’M JUST A SHEPHERD WITH A WILLING HEART.

I love how Amos was just minding his own business, doing his own thing, when God called him away to do His work and Amos responded with a willing heart. This is in direct contrast to how Jonah initially responded to God, and it was during a time when God’s people were ignoring the voice of God.

This is what the Lord says: “The people of Judah have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! – Amos 2:4a

The time had come for God to punish His people. He had warned them over and over again; the Lord had forgiven generation after generation. The heart of God was revealed even in this declaration of the coming destruction, for God had displayed His grace time and time again. He had patiently waited for His people to stop sinning and turn their adulterous hearts back to their Creator, but they refused.

The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. – 2 Peter 3:9

Even in the midst of judgment, God was calling His people to the covenant relationship He had created them for. If only they would cry out to Him with sincere repentance, He would have mercy on them. His desire was to draw them closer to Him, but it required them to choose Him — to run back into His loving arms.

“Come back to me and live!…
Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live!
Then the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed.
Hate evil and love what is good; turn your courts into true halls of justice.
Perhaps even yet the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will have mercy on the remnant of his people.” – Amos 5:4b,14-15

Is there an area of your life that you need to surrender to God? Has the Spirit revealed sin that needs confessed or disobedience that needs submission? Is it time for us to stop feigning innocence or claiming ignorance? He is calling you to run towards the life He designed for you; God wants you to trust Him through the struggles of life rather than pretend you do not know what to do next.

YOU DON’T GET TO CLAIM IGNORANCE.

Father God, we are listening to you this morning. May we hear your voice calling us back to a place of loving what is good and hating what is evil. May our hearts be fully devoted to you, and may we respond in obedience to anything you ask us to do. Thank you for your patience with us and for the mercy you so generously display. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Jonah 4; Luke 15:11-32

As Jonah promised, he obediently went to Nineveh and preached a message of judgment on the city. The people, including their king, started fasting and putting on burlap to show how sorry they were for their sins. God again changed the plan on Jonah. He forgave the people of Nineveh and chose to not destroy the city.

WHY DO WE WHINE, COMPLAIN & ARGUE WITH GOD IN OUR ANGER?

This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”

The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?” – Jonah 4:1-4

Once again, Jonah whined and complained and even argued with God, because he was not happy with God’s plan. He was more consumed with how this change in plans made him look and more disappointed that the people would not be punished than he was thankful for God’s redemption. He went outside of the city and waited to see what would happen to Nineveh.

What happened next tells us a lot about our Lord. He caused a leafy plant to grow and spread its broad leaves over Jonah, shading him from the sun. Jonah had already created a shelter of sorts, but God showed up for Jonah by providing this extra level of comfort and protection from the elements. Instead of responding in appreciation for all God was doing for him, Jonah chose to sit under God’s provision and pout. So God got Jonah’s attention by sending a worm, causing the plant to die, which angered Jonah. Then God sent a scorching hot wind to blow on Jonah while he sulked, until Jonah began to wish that he would die. God asked Jonah a question we should all consider:

Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?”
“Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die!”
Then the Lord said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?” – Jonah 4:9-11

WHILE WE ARE FEELING SORRY FOR OURSELVES, GOD’S HEART IS RESPONDING TO THE LOST.

It is so easy to be fatigued by the sin of this world. Our frustrations with the words and actions of unbelievers cause our hearts to harden towards them, and we forget that we were once sinners in need of a Savior. What a great reminder this morning that God loves the lost, that God cares about those who have bought into the lies of today’s culture.

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’

“But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.” – Luke 15:20-24

Oh the heart of a God who loves His creation! Oh the love of a God who would send His Son to die for us! Lord, fill us with this same kind of love for others. Bring us to our knees in prayer for those who are lost. Fill our hearts with your mercy. Get our attention. Forgive us when we whine and complain over your plan because we like our plan better. You are Lord and we have no right to be angry with you when we don’t get our way. Bring our hearts to a point of submission – your will, your way, in your time! We love you, Lord. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Jonah 3; Romans 6

The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” – Jonah 1:1-2

God cared enough about the people of Nineveh that he sent Jonah there to deliver a message — not a soft message of mercy and compassion, but a strong message of judgment and warning. The Lord could have simply administered the punishment they deserved, but He gave them another opportunity to turn from their sin and live the life He had instructed them to live.

Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.” – Jonah 3:1-2

Even though his initial response had been to run away from God’s plan, this time Jonah obeyed the Lord and went to Nineveh. He had his work cut out for him. It was a large city with a lot of ground to cover and a lot of people to reach. He could have let this overwhelming assignment paralyze him, but instead he started shouting the Lord’s message on day one!

“Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!” – Jonah 3:4b

FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH (Romans 6:23a)…

The people of Nineveh responded to Jonah’s message, fasting and dressing in burlap to show their heartfelt sorrow. It was not a soft message of acceptance and grace that brought the people to a place of repentance, but a message of impending judgment.

The king of Nineveh led the way by taking off his royal robes, dressing in burlap, and sitting in a heap of ashes. He sent out a message to all of the people to turn from their evil ways and stop their violence. He told them to pray earnestly to the Lord in hopes that He would change his mind and hold back his fierce anger (3:6-9).

“When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.” – Jonah 3:10

…BUT THE FREE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD (Romans 6:23b).

Jonah was frustrated with God’s response. He preferred the message of judgment over the gift of salvation God was extending to the people of Nineveh. Jonah was repulsed by the wickedness and violence of Nineveh, and his heart was out of tune with the heart of God.

“I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people.” – Jonah 4:2b

I think we have a lot to learn from Jonah. We often focus on our need for immediate obedience to what God is asking us to do, learning from Jonah’s unsuccessful attempt to run from God. But perhaps today it would help us to ask the Lord to reveal how we, too, may be struggling with our response to the sin of those around us.

It would be easy for us to celebrate the judgment of God on our enemies to the point that we no longer pray for their repentance. We are eager to tell them what they are doing wrong without providing the light of Jesus to help them find their way back to God. We turn our back in repulsion to the perversions of this world and forget that God’s heart is still FOR them.

But we must also remember that God did not send Jonah to Nineveh with a message of mercy and acceptance regardless of their sin. No, he sent them with a warning of the judgment that was to come because of their sin and violence. The Lord did not soften His stance or redefine righteousness in order to draw sinners to Himself, so why do we? We don’t get to redefine God’s mercy. In doing so, we are robbing sinners from the joy they can experience when they break free from the strongholds of sin.

WE KNOW THAT OUR OLD SINFUL SELVES WERE CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST SO THAT SIN MIGHT LOSE ITS POWER IN OUR LIVES. WE ARE NO LONGER SLAVES TO SIN. (Romans 6:6)

God’s unfailing love is present in His plan of salvation.Out of compassion, God is calling His creation away from the destruction of their sinful behavior. With a heart of mercy, God is giving us a second chance to turn from our evil ways and embrace the holy life He is calling us to live. One lifestyle brings death and one brings life, so why wouldn’t He move heaven and earth to encourage us to draw near to Him?

But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. – 2 Peter 3:8-10

Today’s Reading: Jonah 1-2

God used many prophets during the reign of kings over Israel and Judah, sending some of his prophets even to the enemy nations to preach repentance. Some prophets went willingly and some struggled to reflect God’s mercy toward sinners. One of those struggling prophets was Jonah.

The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish. – Jonah 1:1-3

WHY DO WE THINK WE CAN OUTRUN GOD?

How is it that we think we know what is best? God creates this perfect plan for our lives and we whine, complain and argue that there is a better way. We expect God’s plan to look one way, and then there is what seems to be a change of plans and we rebel. We were content doing what He had previously asked us to do, where He had asked us to do it, but now He is moving us to a new place or in a new direction. We hope to escape from what He is asking us to do but God pursues us because He loves us!

But the Lord hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart. – Jonah 1:4

WHILE WE ARE RUNNING, GOD IS INTERVENING.

God stood between Jonah and Jonah’s alternative plan. He got his attention — not in a quiet whisper but with a violent storm. After trying everything else, the crew on the ship threw Jonah overboard at his suggestion, for they knew Jonah was running from the Lord. God had a plan, God intervened in Jonah’s life, and now God had a way to get Jonah back on track. Granted this was probably not the way Jonah would have chosen, but he was the one who was on a side track from the Lord’s will and this new plan was a consequence of Jonah’s own willful disobedience.

Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights. – Jonah 1:17

Jonah recognized God’s intervention and prayed from inside the belly of the fish. Jonah was still not where he wanted to be and still not in a comfortable place in life, yet he knew God was at work and thanked Him for hearing his cry for help. He promised God that he would once more look toward God’s holy temple instead of running the opposite direction.

“I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me.
I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me!
You threw me into the ocean depths,
and I sank down to the heart of the sea.
The mighty waters engulfed me;
I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves.
Then I said, ‘O Lord, you have driven me from your presence.
Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.’
I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me.
Seaweed wrapped itself around my head.
I sank down to the very roots of the mountains.
I was imprisoned in the earth, whose gates lock shut forever.
But you, O Lord my God, snatched me from the jaws of death!
As my life was slipping away, I remembered the Lord.
And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple.
Those who worship false gods
turn their backs on all God’s mercies.
But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise,
and I will fulfill all my vows.
For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.” – Jonah 2:2-9

As a child, I pictured this story as if Jonah was immediately swallowed by what I was taught was a whale. I can still see the cartoonish drawing showing Jonah sitting and warming himself beside a fire inside of the belly of the fish. The whale spit Jonah out onto the beach and Jonah waved goodbye to his new friend. But Jonah’s prayer describes a horrifying struggle for his life as Jonah sank below the waves. This prayer describes what many have experienced — an unpleasant traumatic low before finally calling out to God for help.

Do you feel like you have been sinking? Are you drowning in your present circumstances, tangled in a mess you are unable to free yourself of? Perhaps even now you are crying out to God for salvation. I pray that today you will earnestly and passionately surrender your life to God, letting go of the struggle and allowing God to write the remainder of your story. Just like Jonah, God wants to place your feet on dry land because He has plans to use your story for His glory — to use your voice in the life of another individual. He is not finished with you yet, praise be to God!

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 28, 2 Kings 16-17

Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. He did not do what was pleasing in the sight of the Lord, as his ancestor David had done. Instead, he followed the example of the kings of Israel. He cast metal images for the worship of Baal. He offered sacrifices in the valley of Ben-Hinnom, even sacrificing his own sons in the fire. — 2 Chronicles 28:1-3a

Jotham was careful to live in obedience to the Lord his God, but his son did not follow the example he had set for him. Ahaz was so wicked that he was even willing to have his own sons thrown into the fire as a sacrifice to Baal. The Lord had finally had enough, and he gave the people of Judah over to their enemies.

THE BEGINNING OF THE END

As we read on, we can sense the coming fall of Jerusalem. Because His people had once again turned away from Him, God allowed Judah’s enemies to start chipping away at the strength of what had once been a great nation. The king of Aram defeated Ahaz and carried a large number of Jews away, exiling them to Damascus. The army of Israel defeated Ahaz, killing 120,000 Jewish warriors and carrying away over 200,000 women and children, along with all the valuable items they had plundered. But because they did not want to bring the wrath of God on themselves, the nation of Israel released the people of Judah, escorting them safely back to Samaria.

The Lord was humbling Judah because of King Ahaz of Judah, for he had encouraged his people to sin and had been utterly unfaithful to the Lord. — 2 Chronicles 28:19

Ahaz had the opportunity to repent and turn to the Lord. He was losing the battle and the nation of Judah was weakening. The Edomites attacked and took captives; the Philistines captured whole villages. But instead of turning to God for help, King Ahaz turned to the king of Assyria.

Even during this time of trouble, King Ahaz continued to reject the Lord. He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus who had defeated him, for he said, “Since these gods helped the kings of Aram, they will help me, too, if I sacrifice to them.” But instead, they led to his ruin and the ruin of all Judah. – 2 Chronicles 28:22-23

If Ahaz would have humbled himself, bringing the people of Judah back to the throne of God in repentance, maybe the Lord would have blessed the rest of his reign as king. But Ahaz had a hard heart and Judah’s enemies continued to chip away at what had once been a great nation.

Hoshea, king of Israel, also rejected the Lord. In the same way, God allowed the enemy nations to overtake the Israelite nation he had so consistently blessed generation after generation. For three years, the Assyrians invaded the land until Samaria eventually fell and the people of Israel were exiled to Assyria.

This disaster came upon the people of Israel because they worshiped other gods. They sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them safely out of Egypt and had rescued them from the power of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt…Again and again the Lord had sent his prophets and seers to warn both Israel and Judah…But the Israelites would not listen. They were as stubborn as their ancestors who had refused to believe in the Lord their God. They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors, and they despised all his warnings. They worship worthless idols, so they became worthless themselves. — 2 Kings 17:7-15

THE DEPRECIATION OF A NATION

Because of their idolatry and rejection of God’s covenant, the Lord swept them away from his presence. He punished them by handing them over to their enemies, banishing Israel from the presence of the Lord. So Israel was exiled from the Promised Land to the land of Assyria (17:23). God had made it clear generation after generation that He expected their loyalty and faithfulness, so they had brought this punishment on themselves.

“Do not worship any other gods or bow before them or serve them or offer sacrifices to them…Do not forget the covenant I made with you, and do not worship other gods. You must worship only the Lord your God. He is the one who will rescue you from all your enemies.” – 2 Kings 17:35b-39

It would be hard to miss the similarities between God’s people in the Old Testament and the United States of America today. This nation was built on the motto “In God We Trust” yet is now entertained by sexual perversions and addicted to physical pleasures. Even the Church stands divided on the issues of abortion and human sexuality, as our nation sacrifices its children in order to cave to our own arrogant notion of personal rights. God help us, for we are a sinful nation undeserving of your salvation.

Lord, would you reveal any sin in my own heart. Take away my desires for the things of this world so that my heart will forever remain loyal to you. Thank you for the ways in which you have blessed my life — for your provision and your protection. Continue to work in my life so that I only desire to obey you and serve you wholeheartedly. I long to dwell in your presence and worship you — the God who has brought me out of my Egypt with great strength and a powerful arm. Today, I choose to worship you and only you! Amen.

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 26-27, 2 Kings 15

After Amaziah died, his sixteen-year-old son was crowned as king. Uzziah was king for fifty-two years, and he was a good leader. He sought after God, allowing the prophet Zechariah to mentor him and teach him how to be a leader who fears God. And as long as the king sought guidance from the Lord, God gave him success (2 Chronicles 26:5b).

Declaring war on the Philistines, Uzziah broke down walls, restored cities, and built new towns. God helped him, which caused his name to become famous as far as Egypt. He grew more powerful as he successfully built the nation over which God had given him authority.

Uzziah built fortified towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the angle in the wall. He also constructed forts in the wilderness and dug many water cisterns, because he kept great herds of livestock in the foothills of Judah and on the plains. He was also a man who loved the soil. He had many workers who cared for his farms and vineyards, both on the hillsides and in the fertile valleys. – 2 Chronicles 25:9-10

Like his father, Uzziah built a strong army of well-trained warriors. 307,500 men were ready to assist the king against any of Judah’s enemies. With shields, spears, helmets, bows, and sling stones, Uzziah was equipped with a mighty army to protect the nation. With God’s help, they creatively came up with new methods for fighting off their enemies.

And he built structures on the walls of Jerusalem, designed by experts to protect those who shot arrows and hurled large stones from the towers and the corners of the wall. His fame spread far and wide, for the Lord gave him marvelous help, and he became very powerful. – 2 Chronicles 25:15

THE LORD GAVE HIM MARVELOUS HELP, BUT UZZIAH BEGAN TO SEE HIMSELF AS THE MARVELOUS ONE.

As leaders become more and more successful, it is easy for them to lose track of the source of their success. Authority becomes addictive and pride begins to bring down the success of leadership. You are probably already thinking of a leader who has fallen victim to their own arrogance.

But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the Lord his God by entering the sanctuary of the Lord’s Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar. Azariah the high priest went in after him with eighty other priests of the Lord, all brave men. They confronted King Uzziah and said, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord. That is the work of the priests alone, the descendants of Aaron who are set apart for this work. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have sinned. The Lord God will not honor you for this!” – 2 Chronicles 25:16-18

Uzziah was furious! He began to rage at the priests who stood before him. And as he threw his temper tantrum, leprosy began to break out across his forehead. The priests rushed out of the Temple, and King Uzziah also ran out of the Temple to get away from the Lord, for he knew it was God who had struck him down for his arrogance. He spent the rest of his life in isolation, and never entered the Temple of the Lord again.

WE CAN LEARN A LOT ABOUT LEADERSHIP FROM THE BIBLE — GOOD AND BAD.

As we read through the history of Israel and Judah’s kings, it is important for us to study what these leaders did right, but also to learn from what they did wrong. The most successful of these Old Testament leaders were those who humbly led with a heart for God. They recognized the supremacy of God and followed His instructions and commands. In the same way, we must protect ourselves from the kind of pride that starts to take credit for all that is going right under our leadership. We must keep our eyes focused on the God who wants to lead us each step of the way.

Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. Better to live humbly with the poor than to share plunder with the proud. — Proverbs 16:18-19

Uzziah died alone and his son, Jotham, became the next king. He did what was pleasing to the Lord and he reigned in Jerusalem for sixteen years. King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the Lord his God (2 Chronicles 27:6).

OBEDIENCE WAS THE KEY INGREDIENT OF JOTHAM’S LEADERSHIP.

As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. – James 4:6-10

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 25, Psalm 31

After King Joash was assassinated, his son Amaziah was crowned king (2 Chronicles 24:25-27). He was twenty-five years old and reigned for twenty-nine years. And although Amaziah did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, he did not follow Him with his whole heart.

Amaziah organized the army of Judah in order to fight their enemies, the Edomites. He counted the army and found he had 300,000 trained soldiers, but he went ahead and spent 7,500 pounds of silver in order to hire an additional 100,000 fighting men from the nation of Israel.

But a man of God came to him and said, “Your Majesty, do not hire troops from Israel, for the Lord is not with Israel. He will not help those people of Ephraim! If you let them go with your troops into battle, you will be defeated by the enemy no matter how well you fight. God will overthrow you, for he has the power to help you or to trip you up.”

Amaziah asked the man of God, “But what about all that silver I paid to hire the army of Israel?”
The man of God replied, “The Lord is able to give you much more than this!” So Amaziah discharged the hired troops and sent them back to Ephraim. This made them very angry with Judah, and they returned home in a great rage. – 2 Chronicles 25:7-10

THE LORD IS ABLE TO GIVE YOU MUCH MORE THAN THIS!

When God asks us to let go of something that we are convinced will make us happy or successful, we can trust Him to know what is best for us — even when it causes us to be the recipients of the negative emotions of those who disapprove of our decision. It is good to recognize that every good and perfect gift comes from above, and God is capable of making sure we either succeed or fail at what we are trying to accomplish. He has everything we need, so why don’t we trust Him?

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. – James 1:17

God is faithful. We can believe He will do what He promises to do, and we can be confident that He is who He says He is. In fact, He is more. God is beyond what we can comprehend, and He is able to bless us more than we can even imagine. If only we were as faithful to God as He is to us.

When King Amaziah returned home from winning the battle against the Edomite troops, he brought some souvenirs back with him. Even though God had given Amaziah victory over the Edomites, Amaziah collected the false idols that he had taken from the people of Seir. He decided they would be his own gods, and he bowed down and worshiped them. He offered sacrifices to the man-made gods, instead of remaining faithful to the God who made the universe.

This made the Lord very angry, and he sent a prophet to ask, “Why do you turn to gods who could not even save their own people from you?” – 2 Chronicles 25:15

How ridiculous to turn to what is incapable of protecting or providing true joy! If these false gods could not give the Edomites victory, then how could Amaziah think that they would do anything for him?

THE LORD IS ABLE TO GIVE YOU MUCH MORE THAN THIS!

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. – Ephesians 3:19-20

Father God, thank you for the reminder this morning that you are the Keeper of everything we need. You are able to answer our prayers and so much more! We choose today to put our hope in you alone, for you are good and you are great! Amen.

How great is the goodness
you have stored up for those who fear you.
You lavish it on those who come to you for protection,
blessing them before the watching world.
You hide them in the shelter of your presence,
safe from those who conspire against them.
You shelter them in your presence,
far from accusing tongues.
Praise the Lord,
for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love.
He kept me safe when my city was under attack.
In panic I cried out,
“I am cut off from the Lord!”
But you heard my cry for mercy
and answered my call for help.
Love the Lord, all you godly ones!
For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him,
but he harshly punishes the arrogant.
So be strong and courageous,
all you who put your hope in the Lord! – Psalm 31:19-24

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 13, Psalm 28

While King Joash was ruling over Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu was inaugurated king over Israel. He continued the evil practices that Jeroboam had begun, so the Lord allowed King Hazael of Aram and his son Ben-hadad to defeat the Israelites time and time again. Jehoahaz recognized his need for the Lord’s help and cried out for God to rescue Israel from the Arameans. God showed mercy on His people once again and they experienced a season of peace.

God was faithful, but this did not stop the Israelites from continuing in their sin. Jehoash succeeded his father as king, following his example of leading from a place of evil instead of following the commands of the Lord. Before Elisha died, King Jehoash visited him and their interaction is full of great application for us today:

When Elisha was in his last illness, King Jehoash of Israel visited him and wept over him. “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” he cried. – 2 Kings 13:14

It was significant that Jehoash would leave the palace and enter the home of Elisha. Recognizing all that Elisha had done for the nation of Israel, the king grieved the loss that would soon be felt by all. In respect, he repeated the same words Elisha had said when Elijah was suddenly carried away to heaven in a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:12). Just like Elisha had been distressed by Elijah’s departure, Jehoash was conveying his own concern that Elisha would soon be gone.

Elisha told him, “Get a bow and some arrows.” And the king did as he was told. Elisha told him, “Put your hand on the bow,” and Elisha laid his own hands on the king’s hands.

Then he commanded, “Open that eastern window,” and he opened it. Then he said, “Shoot!” So he shot an arrow. Elisha proclaimed, “This is the Lord’s arrow, an arrow of victory over Aram, for you will completely conquer the Arameans at Aphek.”

Then he said, “Now pick up the other arrows and strike them against the ground.” So the king picked them up and struck the ground three times. But the man of God was angry with him. “You should have struck the ground five or six times!” he exclaimed. “Then you would have beaten Aram until it was entirely destroyed. Now you will be victorious only three times.” – 2 Kings 13:15-19

HOW OFTEN DO I UNDERESTIMATE GOD?

This passage convicts me every time I read it. I look back and see patterns in my prayer life of asking for help during a difficult situation without asking God to remove the trial altogether. I ask Him to help me endure the pain without asking for complete healing; I ask God to get me through a situation without asking Him to show up in miraculous ways. We serve a BIG God who invites us to pray for Him to move in BIG ways, but our small faith often limits our experience of His power.

Then Elisha died and was buried. Groups of Moabite raiders used to invade the land each spring. Once when some Israelites were burying a man, they spied a band of these raiders. So they hastily threw the corpse into the tomb of Elisha and fled. But as soon as the body touched Elisha’s bones, the dead man revived and jumped to his feet! – 2 Kings 13:20-21

This is how BIG our God is! We serve a God who is able to raise the dead, yet we struggle to believe that He can remove our infirmities. We know what the Lord is capable of but we lack the faith to ask Him to move on our behalf. God wants to heal our relationships, to restore our health, and to provide for all of our needs — can you feel Him moving?

DON’T LET THE SIZE OF YOUR FAITH LIMIT YOUR EXPERIENCE OF HIS GREAT POWER!

In the spring of 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, Elevation Worship’s song Rattle reminded all of us that what we see as impossible has never stopped God. Thousands of people decided they were ready to live again — that God was NOT going to run out of miracles before He did something magnificent for His people. We sang out this declaration in determination to let God do something BIG in our lives:

My God is able to save and deliver and heal / And restore anything that He wants to / Just ask the man who was thrown / On the bones of Elisha / If there’s anything that He can’t do / Just ask the stone that was rolled / At the tomb in the garden / What happens when God says to move / I feel him moving it now / I feel Him doing it now /I feel Him doing it now / Do it now, do it now [Songwriters: Brandon Lake / Chris Brown / Steven Furtick; RATTLE! (Morning & Evening) lyrics © Bethel Music Publishing, Essential Music Publishing]

This is a song about Elisha’s bones, which means Elisha was no longer alive. Elisha died and was buried, providing an opportunity for God to do something magnificent in the lives of those who were grieving the death of their loved one. In their attempt to hide to flee from their enemy, they saw their friend resurrected from the dead. In a story that included death, we find the power of God revealed.

WHAT ARE YOU ASKING GOD TO DO FOR YOU TODAY?

I pray you have the faith to ask BIG during this season of your life. Step out of the grave and start believing that God has a miracle waiting for you. Shoot arrows into the ground that reflect what you believe God wants to do in your life. If the healing you ask God for ends up being an eternal healing, I pray He is able to use “your bones” to greatly impact the lives of others and increase their faith in Him.