II Kings 11
Joash hid in temple for six yearsverses 1-3
And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead
she arose and destroyed all the seed royal
BUT Jehosheba the daughter of king Joram – sister of Ahaziah
took Joash the son of Ahaziah
and stole him from among the king’s sons
which were slain
and they hid him – even him and his nurse
in the bedchamber from Athaliah
so that he was not slain
And he was with her hid in the house of the LORD six years
and Athaliah did reign over the land
Jehoiada invites soldiers to meet Joashverse 4
And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched
the rulers over hundreds with the captains and the guard
and brought them to him into the house of the LORD
and made a covenant with them
and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD
and showed them the king’s son
Jehoiada presents a plan to make Joash kingverses 5-8
And he commanded them
saying
This is the thing that you shall do
a third part of you that enter in on the Sabbath shall even be
keepers of the watch of the king’s house
a third part shall be at the gate of Sur
a third part at the gate behind the guard
so shall ye keep the watch of the house
that it be not broken down
and two parts of all you that go forth on the Sabbath
even they shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD
about the king
And you shall compass the king round about
every man with his weapon in his hand
and you that comes within the ranges – let him be slain
and be ye with the king as he goes out and as he
comes in
Soldiers worked the plan of Jehoiadaverses 9-11
And the captains over the hundreds did according to all things that Jehoiada
the priest commanded – and they took every man his men
that were to come in on the Sabbath
with them that should go out on the Sabbath
and came to Jehoiada the priest
And to the captains over hundreds did the priest give king David’s spears
and shields – that were in the temple of the LORD
And the guard stood – every man with his weapon in his hand
round about the king – from the right corner of the temple
to the left corner of the temple
along by the altar and the temple
Joash anointed king by Jehoiadaverse 12
And he brought forth the king’s son – and put the crown on him
and gave him the testimony – and they made him king
and anointed him – and they clapped their hands
and said
God save the king
Athaliah doesn’t approve of action of Jehoiadaverses 13-14
And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people
she came to the people into the temple of the LORD
and when she looked – BEHOLD
the king stood by a pillar as the manner was
and the princes and the trumpeters by the king
and all the people of the land rejoiced
and blew with trumpets
and Athaliah rent her clothes and cried
Treason – treason
Soldiers take Athaliah out of the templeverses 15-16
BUT Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds
the officers of the host
and said unto them
Have her forth without the ranges
and him that follows her kill with the sword
For the priest had said
Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD
And they laid hands on her – and she went by the way by the which
the horses came into the king’s house – and there was she slain
Temple of Baal destroyedverses 17-18
And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD
and the king and the people
that they should be the LORD’S people
between the king also and the people
And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal
and brake it down his altars
his images brake they in pieces thoroughly
and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars
And the priest appointed officers over the house of the LORD
Joash occupies the throne at seven years oldverses 19-21
And he took the rulers over hundreds – and the captains
and the guard and all the people of the land
and they brought down the king
from the house of the LORD
and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the
king’s house
and he sat on the throne of the kings
And all the people of the land rejoiced – and the city was in quiet
and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king’s house
Seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal. (6 “destroyed” [’abad] means perish, killed, cause to perish, exterminate, blot out, cause to vanish, or annihilate)
DEVOTION: This is the daughter of Ahab. She didn’t want anyone else to reign over the nation of Judah. She killed all the descendants of her son-in-law she could find. She placed herself on the throne thinking that there was no one else to reign over the tribe of Judah.
The LORD had promised David that he would have a descendant on the throne of Judah because of his faithfulness to the LORD. It seemed like this wasn’t going to happen with what she had done.
However, the LORD is always faithful to HIS promises to HIS people. HE spared a baby from death. The baby was hidden for six years by the High Priest of the Temple.
Sometimes we think that God is not in control of a situation when in reality HE is. HE is never out of control of what is going on here in our world. Doubt comes from the enemy.
We are not to give in to the enemy by doubting the power of the LORD over all situations of life. HE will honor HIS name when we want to glorify HIM in our lives.
The nation of Israel was not without hope and we should feel the same today about our nation. The witness of the LORD is still in every nation of the world. HE will honor that witness.
It seems that it is impossible for us to get the message of Jesus Christ out in our world but it is not. Each one of us has a voice that can rejoice in the LORD even in dark times. We need to use that voice and share our witness with those around us.
The enemy wants to kill all those who believe in Jesus Christ but that will not happen even in the Tribulation time period. There will always be a witness in our world for the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Don’t be discouraged by the times we are living in. Trust in the LORD. Be a witness even in dark times in dark places. Jesus is still the Light of the World.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 4 And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the LORD, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD, and showed them the king’s son. (1285 “covenant” [beriyth] means cutting, compact, confederacy, or league)
DEVOTION: The nation of Judah was in disarray. The king was killed by Jehu because he was related to Ahab. All the descendants of Ahab needed to be killed. With the throne empty the queen mother decided she should be the ruler of the nation. She ruled because she killed all but one of the descendants of the king. These were her grandchildren. There was only a one year old baby, that lived through this massacre.
The kingdom of Judah had a woman as ruler for six years. She had set up worship of Baal again. God had ordained male leadership but she wanted to rule.
For six years, Joash was hidden in the temple. Jehoiada was a priest with a mission. He was protecting the rightful heir to the throne. He had to wait six years. When it was time to act, he did. He contacted “the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard.” He brought them into the temple of the LORD and showed them the rightful king. He found people who were willing to make a compact with him to protect the rightful heir to the throne. He asked that they protect him. They did. They anointed him as king. They celebrated so loud that the Queen mother, Athaliah, came to see what was happening.
When they followed, they ended her life and the life of her priest of Baal. They destroyed the temple of Baal. The city rejoiced over the new seven year old king.
It is hard to wait on the LORD. We have to remind ourselves often that our timing and God’s timing are not the same. It took six years for Jehoiada to establish Joash as king. He was faithful.
CHALLENGE: When the time is right, God works HIS work. Are we willing to wait for HIS timing?
: 12 And he brought forth the king’s son, and put the crown on him, and gave him the testimony, and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king. (5715 “testimony” [‘eduwth] means witness, legal provisions, a precept, witness, revelation, warning sign, reminder, or statute)
DEVOTION: Each king of Israel was supposed to write out his own personal copy of the Word of God. Here we find that this six year boy that was going to become king was given a copy of God’s laws to read and understand.
The High Priest Jehoiada had the responsibility to train the young king in the Word of God. He was to make sure that the king understood what the LORD expected of him while he ruled over the land.
Today we have the Bible in many translations that can be read and understood. However, many people allow the Bible to be in their homes without ever reading it. It sits on a shelf somewhere and collects dust. This is not what the LORD expects of those who are going to reign with HIM during the Millennium.
We should all read and understand the Bible. It might even be good to write out the Bible on the computer to understand it better. As you type it out you will also have a chance to read and put it in your mind to study.
Whatever way you need to learn what the Bible has to say it should be done to help you live a life that is pleasing to the LORD. The king was supposed to honor the LORD by his understanding of the Word of the LORD he had in the Old Testament times.
If you don’t have a Bible that you can read and understand please find one at a local Christian book store or online. Your understanding of the Bible helps you rule your life well in the eyes of the LORD. Remember if you have any questions please write me and I will try to direct you in the right direction.
CHALLENGE: Meditate on the Word of God daily!!! It will end ignorance of the blessings of HIS standard for us today.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 14 And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets: and Athaliah rent her clothes and cried, Treason, Treason. (8056 “rejoiced” [sameach] means happy, filled with joy, full of or producing joy, glad, merry, merry hearted, or delighted)
DEVOTION: Isn’t it amazing that those who kill everyone they can to gain a throne would shout Treason when another group establishes a ruler without killing everyone in sight.
Here is a relative of Ahab who killed all the royal descendants but one crying out “Treason” when there is the only remaining descendant of David put on the throne of Judah. God had promised this would happen but she had in mind to go against the plan of the LORD. She wanted to reign instead of someone from the family of David. She wanted to break the promise of God to HIS people. This was not going to happen. God always keeps HIS word to HIS people.
The people were rejoicing but she was angry. She knew her days were numbered and she was killed for her actions. The LORD allowed her to reign for six years while the baby was growing old enough to understand what his responsibility was to be with the help of the High Priest.
One of the great things that happened was that the people went into the house of Baal and destroyed it and killed Mattan the priest of Baal that was located in the city of Jerusalem.
The relatives of Ahab had established the worship of this false god wherever they had any power. Now the city of Jerusalem could look to the Temple of the LORD for direction in the life of the nation.
We need to make sure that we rid ourselves of any false gods in our life and in our home. Make sure there is only one God in the life of our homes. Keep the Word of God central in your home not the television or computer.
: 20 And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet, and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king’s house. (8252 “was in quiet” [shaqat] means quietness, still, settled, be tranquil, be undisturbed, to be at peace, or grant relief)
DEVOTION: When things are not right with the LORD there is no peace. Now the people had relief from Queen Atholiah. She was a wicked leader of the nation. She was one who brought the nation down into false worship.
Now the people had something to be happy about. They were back serving the LORD who gave them the land. They were not worshiping Baal but the LORD. The broke down the altars of Baal. They killed the priest of Baal named Mattan.
The people were happy again. They were worshiping the LORD. They were giving to the LORD. They knew that false worship of a false god was not getting them anywhere.
Today we have many false gods in our world. Most people are worshipping the false gods of our society but they are not happy as well. They seem to be happy but down deep they know something is missing in their life and that is a belief in the LORD Jesus Christ.
Once this commitment is made there can be internal joy that the world cannot give. It is something that is hard to explain but it happens to those who are genuine believers.
I am not talking about religious people because the children of Israel were religious but they were not happy. They knew that they needed to return to the LORD and once they did, they could have genuine joy in their lives.
We need to ask ourselves if we have genuine joy now or if it is not really joy because we have not given ourselves over to the LORD fully. To be a genuine believer is not something that can be done half-way. It is either a full commitment or not a commitment at all.
CHALLENGE: Have you made a genuine commitment to the LORD and not turned back to your own religion? Man-made religion is not Christianity but a false religion that leads to eternity in hell.
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)
Joash – hid in temple for six yearsverse 3
Jehoiada the priestverses 4-17
Showed the kings son
Commanded soldiers to guard Joash
Commended captians to put Athaliah
out of temple
to kill her with their swords
Made a covenant between LORD and people
House of the LORDverses 4, 7, 15
Sabbathverses 5, 7, 9
Templeverses 11, 13
People of the landverses 14, 17-20
Rejoiced
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Testimonyverse 12
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verses 3, 4, 7, 10, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19
House of the LORDverses 3, 4, 7, 15, 18, 19
Temple of the LORDverses 10, 13
God – Elohim (Creator)verse 12
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)
Killing of royal seedverse 1
Baal worshipverse 18
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Covenantverses 4, 17
Oathverse 4
Sabbathverses 5, 7, 9
Anointedverse 12
Rejoicedverses 14, 20
LORD’S peopleverse 17
Quietverse 20
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Athaliah kills royal seedverses 1, 3, 13-16, 20
Reigned over the land seven years
Heard noise in Temple
Rent her clothes
Cried “Treason, Treason”
Killed outside the Temple
Jehosheba – daughter of king Joramverse 2
Took Joash the son of Ahaziah
Hid him from Athaliah in house of the LORD
Joashverses 2-21
Guarded by soldiers in house of the LORD
Joash – anointed king in Temple
Seven years old when he began to reign
Jehoiada the priestverses 4-17
Ordered soldiers to protect Joash
Ordered Athaliah killed
King David’s spears and shieldsverse 10
Given to soldiers to guard Joash
People shouted: God save the kingverses 12-20
Clapped their hands
Covenant made
LORD’S people
Went into house of Baal and broke it down
Killed Mattan – priest of Baal
Took King Joram to king’s house sat him on the throne
Rejoiced
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
11:1–3 Meanwhile, an extraordinary thing occurs in Judah. A usurper replaces David’s descendants on the throne in Jerusalem, which is the only time such an event happens. Even more unusual is the fact that it is a woman, Ahaziah’s mother, who seizes control. Of course, queen mothers are prominent in 1, 2 Kings, since each one in Judah is named with two exceptions, but no other woman formally rules the nation. This daughter of Ahab (2 Kgs 8:18, 27) certainly imitates Jezebel’s decisiveness, cruelty, and sheer pluck. She thinks she has all heirs to the throne killed and assumes power. For six years she rules, never discovering that one of her grandsons, Joash, has escaped the cold-blooded coup. Only a baby (cf. 2 Kgs 11:3, 21), Joash is hidden by a nurse. God’s promise of an eternal kingdom for David is kept alive, but just barely. (House, P. R. (1995). 1, 2 Kings (Vol. 8, p. 297). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
2–3 As in other desperate times, a godly woman would be used of God to stem the tide of apostasy. This ninth century “Jochebed” was named Jehosheba (v.2). A princess in her own right—being the daughter of Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah—she was also the wife of the high priest Jehoiada (2 Chronicles 22:11). Conspiring with her nurse (and doubtless the high priest as well), Jehosheba hid the baby, at first in one of the palace chambers, then subsequently smuggled him into her temple quarters where she managed to conceal him for six full years (v.3). (Patterson, R. D., & Austel, H. J. (1988). 1, 2 Kings. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job (Vol. 4, p. 216). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
11:2–3. Jehosheba, a daughter of Athaliah’s husband King Jehoram (though perhaps not Athaliah’s own daughter), was a sister of King Ahaziah of Judah. She took one of Ahaziah’s sons, Joash, and hid him so that he was not put to death with the other children. During Athaliah’s six-year reign (841–835 b.c.) this aunt kept the prince safe by hiding him in the temple of the Lord where her husband, Jehoiada, served as high priest (2 Chron. 22:11). (See the chart “Genealogical Table of Queen Athaliah.”) Joash was a one-year-old when he was taken by Jehosheba because he was hidden for six years and then was made king at the age of seven (cf. 2 Kings 11:21). (Constable, T. L. (1985). 2 Kings. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 560). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
When wicked Athaliah killed the heirs to David’s throne, the faithful remnant in Judah must have wondered where God was and what He was doing. Why would He make a covenant promise to David and not keep it? How could He allow the queen mother to do such an evil deed and jeopardize the future of the messianic line? But God was still on the throne and had His servants prepared to act. In a world that seems to be controlled by deceit and selfish ambition, there are still people like Jehoiada and Jehosheba who have faith in God’s Word and courageously do His will. (Wiersbe, W. W. (2002). Be distinct (p. 78). Colorado Springs, CO: Victor.)
11:2 Jehosheba. She was probably the daughter of Jehoram by a wife other than Athaliah, and so a half-sister of Ahaziah, who was married to the High-Priest, Jehoida (2Ch 22:11). Joash. The grandson of Athaliah who escaped her purge. bedroom. Lit. “the room of the beds.” It was either the palace storeroom where servants kept the bedding or a room in the living quarters of the temple priests.
11:3 in the house of the Lord. The temple in Jerusalem. six years. 841–835 b.c.
11:4 seventh year. The beginning of Athaliah’s 7th year of reign, 835 b.c. Jehoiada. The High-Priest during Athaliah’s reign (see note on 2Ch 24:15, 16). He was the husband of Jehosheba (v. 2; 2Ch 22:11). captains of hundreds. These were the commanders of each 100 soldier unit; 2Ch 23:1, 2 names 5 of these commanders. The bodyguards were “Carites” associated with the Pelethites (2Sa 20:23), who were mercenary soldiers serving as royal bodyguards. The escorts, lit. “runners,” were probably another unit of royal bodyguards who provided palace security (see 1Ki 14:27). Jehoiada received an agreement of support from the royal guards, sealed with an oath of allegiance, and then presented Joash to them. The military leaders supported the plan to dispose of Athaliah and make Joash king. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (2 Ki 11:2–4). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 3. And he was with her hid in the house of the Lord six years, &c.] In the temple; not in the holy of holies, as Jarchi, but in a chamber of the priests and Levites, of which there were several in a temple, as Kimchi, and others; and the husband of Jehosheba, being high-priest, had one of them for his own use; and here the child was hid six years, so that he was but a year old when be was first taken and preserved, for he was made king when seven years of age, ver. 21. and Athaliah did reign over the land; the only instance we near of a woman reigning in Israel, and this was not by right, but by usurpation; and so, according to the Jewish canons, a woman might not rule; which thus runs, they don’t set a woman in the kingdom, as it is said, Deut. 17:15. a king over them, not a queen; and so, in all places of power and authority in Israel, they put in them none but a man. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 806). 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!!)
TEN TESTS: TESTS 4-6
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16
Fourth, I have a sense of sins forgiven. I do not understand it, but I am aware of it. I know that I have sinned; “my sin is ever before me” (Psalm 51:3), as David says. I remember my sins, and yet the moment I pray, I know my sins are forgiven. I cannot understand it, I do not know how God does it, but I know He does it, and that my sins are forgiven.
A sense of sins forgiven leads me to the fifth test: a sense of gratitude and thanksgiving to God. No one can believe that God sent His only begotten Son into the world to die on the cross without feeling a sense of praise and thanksgiving. Think of Saul of Tarsus there on the road to Damascus. The moment he saw and understood something of what had happened to him, he said, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6). That is, what can I do to repay You “how can I show my gratitude? Do you feel a sense of gratitude? Do you want to praise God? A sense of gratitude and a desire to praise is further proof of the knowledge of God.
Then sixth, there is an increasing hatred of sin. I sometimes think there is no better proof of a knowledge of God and knowledge of the love of God than that. You know, if you hate sin, you are like God, for God hates it and abominates it. We are told that He cannot look upon iniquity (Habakkuk 1:13); therefore, whatever your feelings may or may not be, if you have an increasing hatred of sin, it is because the love of God is in you—God is in you. No man hates sin apart from God.
A Thought to Ponder: No man hates sin apart from God. (From The Love of God, pp. 151-152 by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones.)
God miraculously parts the Jordan River for the people of Israel to cross over.
INSIGHT
There are two times in history when God parts water for the Israelites-once at the Red Sea as they flee from the Egyptian army and again at the Jordan River as they enter the Promised Land.
The Red Sea experience receives more acclaim, but the Jordan River experience is just as miraculous. The water parts for a distance of almost 20 miles as the nation passes over on dry ground during the flood stage.
God is faithful to accomplish His good purposes for His people.
ACCEPTING AND SUBMITTING
The common people heard him gladly. Mark 12:37
If it were a matter of understanding and abstract reasoning, then this Gospel of the New Testament and salvation would just be for a handful of people in this world. You would have to be an expert philosopher; you would have to go to colleges and universities to be trained in philosophy. So there would be no gospel for the common, ordinary man. But thank God, here is a Gospel that tells us that “the common people heard him gladly.”
Philosophers cannot preach to the poor; the poor could not follow them, and all the Greek philosophers have nothing to say to such people. But the Gospel is preached to the poor. Here, then, is a proof of the whole thing. It is not understanding that is essential—it is accepting and submitting; it is giving yourself to Jesus Christ.
So we see that the message of the Gospel is that if you are in trouble and in difficulty about Him, don’t stop with arguing and going around in circles. I say this with feeling because I have known myself what that means. I did it for years, arguing and reasoning, and you come back exactly to where you began. I do not hesitate to say that if you persist in trying to understand the essence of this Gospel, you will die in the same position as you are now—you will never understand. Do what John the Baptist did—go to Christ as you see Him in the Gospels.
That is why, by the grace of God, the Gospels have been written. We cannot go see Christ in the flesh, but we can go to the Gospels and have a look at Him. And this is what we see: We are struck by the way He expounds the Scriptures in a way no one ever did before.
A Thought to Ponder: It is not understanding that is essential—it is accepting and submitting; it is giving yourself to Jesus Christ.
(From The Heart of the Gospel, pp. 20-21, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
God Is Love
“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love.” (1 John 4:16)
It is said that the most quoted verse in all the Bible is the passage in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Surely that is a magnificent testimony to the love God has for us, and without it none of us would know God. “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
But God “loved righteousness, and hated iniquity” (Hebrews 1:9). How is it that God “commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8)? “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10).
Human love is usually reciprocal. That is, we love if and when we are loved in return. Yet, those of us who are twice-born are commanded to love each other, and the godly husband is expected to love his wife like the Lord Jesus unilaterally loved the church. But that kind of love is not normal—it is God’s love in us. “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God” (1 John 4:7).
The English word “love” in its various forms appears over 700 times in the Bible. The vast majority of those references do not attempt to describe God’s love. They focus either on our responsibility to “love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deuteronomy 6:5) or “to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God” (Micah 6:8).
Evidently, we experience God’s love when we are saved and are under obligation to show it as we “work out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).
(HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
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