PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: 2 Chronicles 33-34
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Because you humbled yourself before me… I have heard you.” (2 Chronicles 34:27)
Manasseh was a very bad king (33:1-9); Josiah was a very good king (34:1-7).
Both of them humble themselves before God, though for very different reasons.
Manasseh was taken as a prisoner by Assyria, and was utterly humiliated (33:10-11).
Josiah wants to follow God, but discovers through the Moses Law how bad they were (34:19)
Manasseh had his robes torn from him, while Josiah tore his own robes.
In both cases God responds to the humility that is shown to him.
Why is this; is it because God loves it when people grovel in their shame?
Or is it because God really really hates the way our sin hurts the world and people.
God is not a tyrant, seeking to squish people into miserable wretches.
God is extremely patient, and sadly lets us have our own way, and its results.
God wants us to see how hurtful sin (selfishness, deceipt, lust, violence etc) is.
God is happy when we repent (truly understand) because it means we will want to change.
God wants the best for us, but we can’t find that it if we refuse to live God’s way.
Where in your life do you need to humble yourself before God, so that you can be helped?
PRAYER
Lord, you do not want me to feel worse than I am but to be honest about what/who I am, and how it is worse than I realize. Humble me in the right way, so that with your help I can change for the better.
How critical leadership is. More importantly how well is the leadership connected to the Lord? When Manasseh humbled himself when he was in distress – he turned to the Lord and Lord had compassion on him and restored him. Josiah, his grandson, also sought the Lord. He submitted himself to the Lord – and when he discovered the book of the Law – he was humbled and he knew his people were subject to punishment – so he consulted a prophet and yes learned that punishment would be coming – but because of his sincere desire to seek the Lord – not in his time: “Now I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place and on those who live here.’” In my life, when I take charge or make plans without consulting the Lord – I too can deviate from a life lived following the way of Jesus. Then I too need to be humbled and fall under God’s compassion and grace!
All for Jesus.
All of my life I need to serve the living God. It is only He who can make me strong. He I must serve. He has given His word and that word must guide me how I live for Him this day. I am always in His presence. I need to walk daily in His SonShine. Lead me and guide me Lord. All for Jesus.
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
All my being’s ransomed pow’rs;
All my thoughts and words and doings,
All my days and all my hours.
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
All my days and all my hours.
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
All my days and all my hours.
2
Let my hands perform His bidding;
Let my feet run in His ways;
Let mine eyes see Jesus only;
Let my lips speak forth His praise.
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
Let my lips speak forth His praise.
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
Let my lips speak forth His praise.