II Chronicles 11
Rehoboam mobilizes the troopsverse 1
And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem
he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin an
hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men
which were warriors – to fight against Israel
that he might bring the kingdom
again to Rehoboam
LORD tells him not to fight Israelverses 2-4
BUT the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God
saying
Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon – king of Judah
and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin
saying
Thus says the LORD – You shall not go up
nor fight against your brethren
return every man to his house
For this thing is done of ME
And they OBEYED the words of the LORD
and returned from going against Jeroboam
Rehoboam strengthened his kingdomverses 5-12
And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem
and built cities for defense in Judah he built even Bethlehem
Etam – Tekoa – Beth-zur – Shoco – Adullam
Gath – Mareshah – Ziph – Adoraim – Lachish
Azekah – Zorah – Ajalon – Hebron
which are in Judah and in Benjamin
fenced cities
And he fortified the strongholds – and put captains in them
and store of victual – and of oil and wine
and in every several city he put shields and spears
and made them exceeding strong
having Judah and Benjamin on his side
All priests and Levities moved to Judahverses 13-14
And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel
resorted to him out of all their coasts
For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession
and came to Judah and Jerusalem – for Jeroboam and his sons
had cast them off from executing the priest’s office
to the LORD
Jeroboam made priests for false worship centersverse 15
And he ordained him priests for the high places – and for the devils
and for the calves which he had made
LORD worshiped in Judah onlyverses 16-17
And after them – out of all the tribes of Israel
such as set their hearts to SEEK the LORD God of Israel
came to Jerusalem
to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers
So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah
and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong – three years
for three years they walked in the
way of David and Solomon
Rehoboam marries and has three childrenverses 18-19
And Rehoboam
took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David
to wife – Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse
which bare him children
Jeush – Shamariah – Zaham
Rehoboam marries many womenverses 20-21
And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom
which bare him Abijah – Attai – Ziza – Shelomith
And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his
wives and his concubines (for he took eighteen wives
and threescore concubines – and he begat
twenty and eight sons and threescore daughters)
Rehoboam appoints leadersverses 22-23
And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief
to be ruler among his brethren – for he thought to make him king
And he dealt wisely – and dispersed all his children throughout
all the countries of Judah and Benjamin – unto every fenced city
and he gave them victual in abundance
And he desired many wives
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 4 Thus says the LORD, You shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: return every man to his house: for this thing is done of ME. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam. (8085 “obeyed” [shama] means to listen, pay close attention to, conformity, understand, to hear with attention or interest, or give heed)
DEVOTION: The division of the nation was part of the plan the LORD had for the nation of Israel because they were not worshiping HIM properly. Rehoboam was about to go to war with the ten tribes of the Southern kingdom because wanted to have a United Kingdom like his father Solomon.
However, Solomon stopped worshiping the LORD alone because of the false gods he allowed his wives to bring with them from the nations they were from. He had made a treaty with other nations to assure that they would not fight against him during his reign but this caused religious problems for the nation.
They were supposed to only worship Jehovah the one True God of the children of Israel. This was not happening and the LORD was not pleased with the way the life and reign of Solomon ended.
HE organized the rebellion of the ten tribes to cause the nation to return to true worship of HIM. This happened for a time period as the Southern Tribes set up false worship centers and told the Levitical priests they were no longer needed in their nation of Ten Tribes.
So the Levitical priest and all those who genuinely wanted to worship the LORD moved to Jerusalem. Jerusalem became the center of true worship again for at least three years.
There are many churches today in some cities. Some of the churches are not worshiping the one true God of the Bible. They are religious places but not true worship places where Jesus Christ is preached as the only way to heaven. Also the standards set by the LORD in the Bible are not obeyed.
So we have to make sure that we attend only the churches that preach Jesus Christ and obey HIS commands. Disobedience is not preached or taught in these churches that are true to the Word of God.
Today it is unpopular to say there is only one way to heaven and that is through the blood of Jesus Christ alone. Even though this is unpopular it is true and we need to stay true to the Word of God no matter what society wants to hear from those who present the Word of God faithfully and correctly.
Remember God had a plan for the nation of Israel and was working HIS plan.
CHALLENGE: HE has a plan for us and HE is still working HIS plan. HE is on the Throne no matter what happens around us. Remember this FACT!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 14 For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest’s office to the LORD. (3547 “executing” [kahan] means to act as a priest, perform the duties of a priest, adorn like a priest, or minister in a priest’s office)
DEVOTION: Rejected! That was the status of those who were faithful to the LORD. The new division of the nation of Israel was only interested in worshiping false gods. They wanted nothing to do with the one true God that brought the children of Israel out of Egypt into the Promised Land.
They wanted to set up a religious nation but not a Biblical nation. They caused those who wanted to be faithful to the LORD to move out of their nation, so that, there was no competition regarding which beliefs were right or wrong. They only wanted wrong beliefs because that meant that they could do as they pleased and their thoughts were that there would be no consequences to the actions.
So those who were faithful to the LORD had to give up their land and possessions and move to Jerusalem to have freedom of religion. It had to be hard for some to give up everything, in order to, worship the LORD faithfully.
This is happening today in many countries of the world. New powers that don’t want anyone worshiping the true God of the Bible are killing those who believe in Jesus Christ. They are forcing these individuals to run for their lives with nothing but the clothes on their backs for possession. They are also running away so fast that they have no food to eat. It is sad to see this happen today but that is what the LORD is allowed to show that the war between HIM and our enemy the devil is real even today.
Our nation is religious but not Biblical in many ways. Our nation used to protect those who claimed Jesus Christ as Savior no matter what land they lived in but that is not true today.
We have too many in this country who are more concerned with being politically correct than being Biblically correct in their actions. Biblical believes would be protecting those who are being killed or enslaved because they are Christian.
The LORD is still on the throne even during dark days in many countries for those who claim Jesus Christ as their Savior.
CHALLENGE: Those who are rejected by their nation are still accepted by HIM on the basis of their personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
: 16 And after them, out of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers. (1245 “seek” [baqash] means to search out in worship and prayer, to strive after, ask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, request, or make inquisition)
DEVOTION: Rehoboam wanted to fight for with Israel to get the ten tribes back. He had his army ready but the LORD sent word for him not to go. He listened to the LORD.
This division was of the LORD. HE knew it ahead of time because HE lives outside of time. HE knew it before the foundation of the world.
The division of the nation caused many spiritual problems as well. Those who wanted to be faithful to the LORD left their lands behind and moved to Jerusalem. So the ten tribes had no priests or Levities living in them. Therefore Jeroboam set up false religion in the ten tribes with his own men as religious leaders. He set up groves for the people to worship in. He set up places for the worship of demons, which are, fallen angels. The chief fallen angel was the devil. However, there is only one of him and therefore when it says “devils” it is talking about those who followed him out of heaven. He also set up calf worship. He had the example of the golden calf in the wilderness.
There is a big difference between religion and the worship of the ONLY TRUE God of the Bible. There are many who attend religious services that don’t honor the God of the Bible each Sunday.
All the appointed leaders of God went to Jerusalem. All those who wanted to search out God went to Jerusalem to have proper worship of God. There was a separation between those who worshiped false gods and the ONE TRUE God.
There are many individuals who attend churches that don’t believe the Bible or follow its teachings and think they are worshipping God. Only those who are Biblical in their worship and teachings are worshipping the God of the Bible. Let’s attend the right places that worship Biblically.
A second warning can be that there are those who think they are Biblical but are Pharisees in their worship of the LORD. They worship only with outward appearance and not with the heart. Our hearts need to desire the LORD!!!
Only you know your own heart. If there is a crisis here and you are asked if you are a follower of the God of the Bible, what would you do? Pick up and leave or stay where you had to worship false gods?
CHALLENGE: Remember that all false gods are not just idols made with hands.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon. (1980 “walked” [halak] means to live or behave in a specified manner, proceed, manner of life, or go about doing certain actions in a regular or more or less consistent manner.)
DEVOTION: At the start of his reign as king Rehoboam did things that pleased the LORD. He was following the example of his grandfather and father at the start of their time a king of Israel.
However, everything changed when it came to this point in his reign as king of Israel. There was a time of questioning and he chose to follow the advice of the younger men who didn’t want to follow the example of David and Solomon.
It is good to start in obedience to the LORD and to end our ministry or responsibility being obedient to the LORD. It is not easy but it is one that will be blessed of the LORD. HE wants us to be obedient and HE will bless us if we remain obedient to HIS commands.
This is not easy. The ministry is challenged by the enemies of every believer which are the world, the flesh and the devil. We can’t fight these enemies on our own we need the help of the LORD every moment of every day.
To have a proper relationship with the LORD is so important and that only happens as we spend time in HIS Word the Bible and in prayer. Our world doesn’t like us doing it and so it will challenge us all the time.
We have to realize that it is a battle and we can only win with the help of the Holy Spirit. Daily confession of sin and study of the Word of God.
CHALLENGE: Many leaders have fallen into the traps of the world, the flesh, and the devil. We shouldn’t think we can conquer them without a close relationship with the LORD.
: 23 And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he desired many wives. (7592 “desired” [sha’al] means claim, demand, ask, seek, inquire, wish for or want)
DEVOTION: Rehoboam had eighteen wives and sixty concubines. He wanted to make sure that his kingdom was secure so he dispersed his sons to different locations to protect the kingdom but also to make sure they didn’t get together and rebel against him.
He made sure that his children had an abundance of food supplies to keep them in their location to protect the nation. He also provided wives for his sons to keep them from moving to other locations to find wives.
He acted wisely from a human point of view. He had a secure nation with only his son Abijah with him in Jerusalem to reign with him. It was a good way to protect himself and the nation.
Here is a father making sure that his family is well taken care of and that his future was sure with their protecting him from his enemies should they come from any direction.
We need to secure our heritage with the wisdom that comes from the LORD. We need to know what our children need and help them receive it to the best of our ability.
This takes planning on the part of parents. Here is a parent that planed wisely and acted on his plan. We need to do the same with our families. The first genuine need of any child of a believer is to make sure that they hear the gospel and ask the LORD to help them to respond to the message and become a follower of the LORD. We should not want our children to be rebellious and this is what motivated even Rehoboam.
He wanted a nation that was secure and one that he didn’t have to worry about his children rebelling against him and causing the nation to be taken from him and his family.
CHALLENGE: What are we providing for our children, so that, the next generation is serving the LORD faithfully?
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Priests and Levitesverses 13-17
Came to Jerusalem
Left their suburbs and possessions
Offer sacrifices to the LORDverse 16
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of the LORDverses 2, 4
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God – Elohim (Creator)verses 2, 3, 16
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verses 2, 4, 14, 16
Priests of the LORDverse 14
LORD God of Israelverse 16
LORD God of their fathersverse 16
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Cast off priestsverse 14
Worship in high placesverse 15
Worship of devils (demons)verse 15
Worship of golden calvesverse 15
Ordained priest to false godsverse 15
Multiply wives and concubinesverse 21
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Shemaiah – man of Godverse 3
Obeyedverse 4
Hearts that seek the LORDverse 16
Offer sacrifices to the LORDverse 16
Walkverse 17
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Rehoboamverses 1-23
Built cities for defence in Judah
Fortified strong holds
Put captain in each
Store of victual
Oil
Wine
Shields and spears
Strengthened the kingdom of Judah
Three years walked in the way of David and Solomon
Children of listed
18 wives
60 concubines
28 sons
60 daughters
Abijah – chief to be ruler of his brethren
Jerusalemverse 1
Judah and Benjamin gatheredverses 1, 12
180,000 troups
Shemaiah the man of Godverse 2
Solomonverses 3, 17
Jeroboamverses 4, 14
Cast off priest from executing their office
Ordained priests for high places and for the devils
Calves he had made
Davidverse 17
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
3. LN 25.1–25.11 (qal) want, desire, wish, i.e., have a feeling or attitude of longing to have or experience something (Dt 14:26; 2Ch 11:23; Ecc 2:10); (Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.)
11:22–23 Like his father, Solomon (1 Kgs 4:11, 13), Rehoboam placed his sons in strategic centers. He planned ahead by appointing Abijah chief prince among his brothers with a view to his becoming king. Other sons he dispersed throughout the districts of Judah and Benjamin and to all the fortified cities. With wide dispersal of his sons, he could maintain his own position and guard against disloyalty, thus reducing the risk of a coup d’état. (Thompson, J. A. (1994). 1, 2 Chronicles (Vol. 9, p. 256). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
and dispersed of all his children … unto every fenced city—The circumstance of twenty-eight sons of the king being made governors of fortresses would, in our quarter of the world, produce jealousy and dissatisfaction. But Eastern monarchs ensure peace and tranquility to their kingdom by bestowing government offices on their sons and grandsons. They obtain an independent provision, and being kept apart, are not likely to cabal in their father’s lifetime. Rehoboam acted thus, and his sagacity will appear still greater if the wives he desired for them belonged to the cities where each son was located. These connections would bind them more closely to their respective places. In the modern countries of the East, particularly Persia and Turkey, younger princes were, till very lately, shut up in the harem during their father’s lifetime; and, to prevent competition, they were blinded or killed when their brother ascended the throne. In the former country the old practice of dispersing them through the country as Rehoboam did, has been again revived. (Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (2 Ch 11:23). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.)
2 Chron. 11:23. And he did wisely, and dispersed of all his sons in all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, i.e., dispersed all his sons so, that they were placed in all parts of Judah and Benjamin in the fenced cities, and he gave them victual in abundance, and he sought (for them) a multitude of wives. שָׁאַל, to ask for, for the father brought about the marriage of his sons. He therefore took care that his sons, by being thus scattered in the fenced cities of the country as their governors, were separated from each other, but also that they received the necessary means for living in a way befitting their princely rank, in the shape of an abundant maintenance and a considerable number of wives. They were thus kept in a state of contentment, so that they might not make any attempt to gain the crown, which he had reserved for Abijah; and in this lay the wisdom of his conduct. (Keil, C. F., & Delitzsch, F. (1996). Commentary on the Old Testament (Vol. 3, p. 608). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson.)
11:18–23 A summary of Rehoboam’s life is given with special emphasis on succession to the throne. This is not a commendation of polygamy or concubinage, which violated God’s law for marriage (cf. Ge 2:24, 25) and resulted in severe trouble and disaffection toward God. Never is polygamy commended in Scripture, and usually its tragic results are recorded. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (2 Ch 11:18–23). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
11:18–23. In keeping with the chronicler’s purpose to magnify the Davidic dynasty, it is interesting that he, unlike the author of 1 and 2 Kings, related that Rehoboam’s wife was a descendant of David from two sides (2 Chron. 11:18–19). Her father Jerimoth is otherwise unknown but here is identified as a son of David. Her mother was Abihail, daughter of David’s brother Eliab. (So Jerimoth married his cousin Abihail.)
Rehoboam’s second wife, Maacah, was a daughter of Absalom (v. 20). This may not be David’s son Absalom, however, for he apparently left no children who achieved adulthood except a daughter Tamar (cf. 2 Sam. 14:27; 18:18). Moreover, Maacah’s father is otherwise named Abishalom (1 Kings 15:10) and Uriel (2 Chron. 13:2).
By this second wife of Rehoboam, Abijah was born. Rehoboam loved his second wife more than any other of his.… 18 wives and 60 concubines (11:20–21). Like his father Solomon and his grandfather David he was guilty of polygamy (cf. Deut. 17:16–17). Abijah was his father’s choice to succeed him as king so Rehoboam made him crown prince (cf. 2 Chron. 13:1). To palliate the other sons, however, Rehoboam gave them political appointments, with handsome remunerations (11:23). (Merrill, E. H. (1985). 2 Chronicles. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 629). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Ver. 23. And he dealt wisely, &c.] Acted a prudent part, in order to execute his scheme, and particularly by disposing of his other sons in different parts of his kingdom, as follows: or he made him his son Abijah to understand; he taught and instructed him in the art of government, took a particular care of his education, that he might be fitted for it; and he might instruct him how to behave towards his brethren, for the present and hereafter, as well as towards all the people in general: or he (Abijah) understood; had more understanding and wisdom than all the children of Rehoboam; though it seems best to interpret it of Rehoboam himself, since it follows: and disposed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city; to be governors thereof, in whose hands he could better trust them than in any other; or else, by thus separating them, they would not be able to enter into combination against Abijah; but then he must at the same time appoint some persons to watch and observe them; or otherwise, having such strong places in their possession, they might rebel against him; the Targum is, “he built and repaired the cities, and appointed of all his children throughout all the countries of the house of Judah, to all the fortified cities;” that is, to have the command of them: and he gave them victual in abundance; that they might have no reason to complain, and might be able to hold out a siege against an enemy, should they be invested: and he desired many wives; either for himself, or rather for his son, since he himself had many; or Abijah desired, or asked many wives of their parents, or of those who had the dispose of them, in imitation of his father. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 3, p. 55). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
The Christian church has seen this kind of false teaching before. William Miller and his Adventist followers (known, surely enough, as Millerites) believed that Christ would return on March 21, 1844. In the 1970s, popular Christian preachers and writers predicted that Christ would return on various dates now long in the past. All this is embarrassing enough, but now we have the teachings of Harold Camping to deal with. Given the public controversy, many people are wondering how Christians should think about his claims. …..
To state the case plainly, these two verses explicitly forbid Christians to claim the knowledge of such dates and times. Jesus clearly taught that the Father has not revealed such dates and timing, but has reserved that knowledge for himself. It is an act of incredible presumptuousness to claim that a human knows such a date, or has determined God’s timing by any means. (AlbertMohler.com) [Please check out this website]
“And of his fulness have all we received.”
—John 1:16
These words tell us that there is a fulness in Christ. There is a fulness of essential Deity, for “in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead.” There is a fulness of perfect manhood, for in him, bodily, that Godhead was revealed. There is a fulness of atoning efficacy in his blood, for “the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” There is a fulness of justifying righteousness in his life, for “there is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.” There is a fulness of divine prevalence in his plea, for “He is able to save to the uttermost them that come unto God by him; seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” There is a fulness of victory in his death, for through death he destroyed him that had the power of death, that is the devil. There is a fulness of efficacy in his resurrection from the dead, for by it “we are begotten again unto a lively hope.” There is a fulness of triumph in his ascension, for “when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and received gifts for men.” There is a fulness of blessings of every sort and shape; a fulness of grace to pardon, of grace to regenerate, of grace to sanctify, of grace to preserve, and of grace to perfect. There is a fulness at all times; a fulness of comfort in affliction; a fulness of guidance in prosperity. A fulness of every divine attribute, of wisdom, of power, of love; a fulness which it were impossible to survey, much less to explore. “HE pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.” Oh, what a fulness must this be of which all receive! Fulness, indeed, must there be when the stream is always flowing, and yet the well springs up as free, as rich, as full as ever. Come, believer, and get all thy need supplied; ask largely, and thou shalt receive largely, for this “fulness” is inexhaustible, and is treasured up where all the needy may reach it, even in Jesus, Immanuel—God with us. (Spurgeon, C. H. (1896). Morning and evening: Daily readings. London: Passmore & Alabaster.)
“But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.”
—Luke 2:19
There was an exercise, on the part of this blessed woman, of three powers of her being: her memory—she kept all these things; her affections—she kept them in her heart; her intellect—she pondered them; so that memory, affection, and understanding, were all exercised about the things which she had heard. Beloved, remember what you have heard of your Lord Jesus, and what he has done for you; make your heart the golden pot of manna to preserve the memorial of the heavenly bread whereon you have fed in days gone by. Let your memory treasure up everything about Christ which you have either felt, or known, or believed, and then let your fond affections hold him fast for evermore. Love the person of your Lord! Bring forth the alabaster box of your heart, even though it be broken, and let all the precious ointment of your affection come streaming on his pierced feet. Let your intellect be exercised concerning the Lord Jesus. Meditate upon what you read: stop not at the surface; dive into the depths. Be not as the swallow which toucheth the brook with her wing, but as the fish which penetrates the lowest wave. Abide with your Lord: let him not be to you as a wayfaring man, that tarrieth for a night, but constrain him, saying, “Abide with us, for the day is far spent.” Hold him, and do not let him go. The word “ponder,” means to weigh. Make ready the balances of judgment. Oh, but where are the scales that can weigh the Lord Christ? “He taketh up the isles as a very little thing:”—who shall take him up? “He weigheth the mountains in scales”—in what scales shall we weigh him? Be it so, if your understanding cannot comprehend, let your affections apprehend; and if your spirit cannot compass the Lord Jesus in the grasp of understanding, let it embrace him in the arms of affection. (Spurgeon, C. H. (1896). Morning and evening: Daily readings. London: Passmore & Alabaster.)
Never thought about this before:
I have always thought that Noah was safe inside the Ark because he built it according to God’s specifications. I thought that perhaps it was the strength of the gopher wood and the soundness of the architecture that ensured that the waters of the flood would not come into the Ark.
But today I encountered a verse that shifted this whole paradigm.
Let’s read what Gen 7:16 says ..” The animals going in were male and female of every living thing as God had commanded Noah..
THEN GOD SHUT HIM IN….
Don’t miss this…. even after Noah had built the Ark, it was God Himself who shut him in, in order to shut out the waters of the flood… In other translations this verse says “The Lord sealed them inside.”
May the Almighty God seal us inside His Ark of protection through this last 7 months of 2021.
It is not the fact that you have locked your house that keeps you safe at night, it is not your good driving skills that keeps you safe on the road, neither it’s your healthy eating habits that keeps you healthy – only God can shut you in and shut out the devil that is seeking to devour you.
Father we pray that in this last 7 months of 2021 as we walk into the streets and as we drive on the roads, Oh God shut us in. Father we pray for our children that in the midst of dangers and molesters… You will shut them in, keep out the flood waters of abuse, rape, murder, accidents, diseases and untimely death… Oh God shut us in, shut us in your Ark of protection, into your Ark of compassion..
May GOD SHUT US IN AS WE OBEY HIM AND TRUST IN HIS WORD. Amen!!
(Phillip Byrd)
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