February 4, 2022

Passage Read: 2 Kings 12-15
Meditation Verses: 12:2-3

Thought

Even with a priest guiding him, Joash didn't know to remove the high places. This same thing is said of every king of Judah, even those who did well. The Lord had told the Israelites that they were to worship in Jerusalem only, all high places were to be destroyed. But no one so far got it, even when guided by a priest. Did he not know what the Law said? He gave a copy to the king at his inauguration! They had the book of the Law. Did they not read it? Did they rely on the example of those who came before, and not read the Law for themselves? Such a thing shouldn't be. Someone in authority should be reading it and making it known to all. This was the breakdown. This obviously want happening.

Application

It is not enough to rely on tradition alone to know how to walk and please the Lord. I can't expect others to do the work, I need to take responsibility for myself knowing God and doing what He desires. Whether I am great or small, important or insignificant, I will stand before God and be judged. Did I do no better than those around me? Then I'll probably do pretty poorly in His eyes, because today we are casting off so much of what He says. But if I read His Word, I had better be ready to do what it says, even if no one else does it, even if other believers mock me for obeying it. God is my judge, He alone is who I need to please.