Passage Read: 2 Kings 24 - 1 Chronicles 2
Meditation Verses: 2 Kings 24:2-4
Thought
It has not been that long since the northern kingdom was wiped out. How did all Judah not take warning? How could any king arise and not fear the Lord? Was it because of the confusing testimony of Josiah, who loved the Lord and cleansed the land and was killed by the king of Egypt? Kings were being captured and replaced by foreign powers, and no one seems to be asking why! Did they think it had nothing to do with God's judgment? Did they think God was sometimes strong and other times other gods were stronger? Better, then, to have a multitude of gods, so that whoever was strongest could defend them. So gods weren't rulers who directed the lives of their people, but powerful beings who could be manipulated into serving the interests of the country, if given the right motivation or sufficient gifts. These people had no fear of God, nor does it seem they were afraid of any other god. Gods weren't worshiped because they were worthy, but because that was how you tried to get them and keep them on your side. They didn't care about people, but they could be used to serve the interests of the rulers and kingdom.
Application
Worship any god, worship every god! The more the better! What are gods anyway? Eventually someone sees through them and recognizes that all the gods are false, figments of someone's imagination. Not to control people, but to give hope and encouragement for victory, safety, success. That what sets our God apart from all the rest. Our God has expectations for how His people are to live, and if I get that wrong, if I see Him as something to be manipulated or used to secure my wants and wishes, I'm nothing but an idol worshiper. I don't fear God, I fear losing out on His help to get what I want. That's entirely backwards. That's not who God is, but it's what every other counterfeit god is, all meant to distract and obscure and frustrate the truth about God. God is the Lord and I am His servant. I exist to carry out His will, not my own. I exist to serve His purposes, not He mine. Until and unless I get that straight, I'll never learn from the discipline He brings into my life, because I'll never recognize what is discipline and what is satanic attack for doing what is right. I'll never understand God or His Word because I don't recognize how careful I'm to be in following it. God has definite expectations for me and how I use and live my life, and I need to listen to them and follow them. He has every right to interfere with my life because it's not mine to begin with. I was created by Him and for Him, not for myself and my own ideas of what would make me happiest. I serve Him, not the other way around, so I'd better make it my biggest priority to know and do as He desires.