KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Monday, June 26, 2017
Chapters: I Kings 16-17, II Chronicles 17
Message: Being Godly In An Ungodly Nation
Hello My Friend,
A country is only as great as the leader who runs it, when it has a Godly leader it is prosperous, the people are blessed and protected by God, but if it has an ungodly leader it becomes destitute, the people are oppressed and it is judged by God. The droughts, the floods, the fires, the wars, these all play a part in God’s judgment, He gives ample warnings through these disasters to try and stop the corruption, but there will come a time when there will be no more warnings, and the only ones who will be safe from judgment are those who were faithful to Him. “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” – I Thessalonians 5:3-4.
When God split the nation of Israel He knew both sides would eventually fall into sin, but He refused to destroy both for the sake of the promise He made with David. While the Southern Kingdom had its ups and downs with Godly and ungodly kings, the Northern Kingdom kept getting worse, within the time that Asa was king in Judah, Israel went through six kings, each one becoming more corrupt then the last. An account is given of the last five during that time, some merely spent days as king, the longest was Ahab, who was the most corrupt of all.
“And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of the LORD against Baasha, and against his house, even for all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD, in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam; and because he killed him. In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years. And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah. In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines. And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp. In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah. But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all that were before him. And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years. And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.” – I Kings 16:7-9,15-16,23,25,29-30.
“above all that were before him.” Ahab was a ruthless and very corrupt king, all done under the influence of his wife, Jezebel. While we cannot do anything to stop judgments from God when a leader turns the entire nation against Him, we can find safety by getting under His wings, we may have to deal with some repercussions of their sin, but we will be protected from any immediate danger. This was confirmed when God sent a drought to the Northern Kingdom for Ahab’s sins, he sent the prophet Elijah to warn the king and used a widow to prove that God is always with those who are faithful to Him, even if they get discouraged sometimes.
“And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.” – I Kings 17:1,8-9,12-16.
“that we may eat it, and die.” Discouragement, we all get discouraged when it seems that nothing will ever change for us, but a little bit of faith goes a long way. God saw something in the woman, she had to have a little faith for Him to send Elijah to her in the first place. While we cannot avoid being in the judgments of the world as a result of our leaders provoking God, we do not have to fear nor worry what will come of us because He always provides for and takes care of us for our faithfulness, and let me tell you, even when we mess up sometimes. “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” – I Peter 4:14-16.
Now, since Asa was Godly for the most part of his life, he must have brought up his son to be that was as well, after he did, Jehoshaphat reigned, and he did even more than his father to rid the nation of all its corruption.
“And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel. And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken. And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim; But sought to the LORD God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance. And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.” – II Chronicles 17:1-6.
“Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand;” Jehoshaphat made sure everything he did reflected God, from his own life to his family, and even business affairs, the people knew that God was a big part of his life. God blesses us when we are faithful to Him, being faithful to God does not mean we are not going to mess up from time to time, it mean He will always be there for us. Because Jehoshaphat ran a Godly kingdom it prospered greatly and was protected the entire time he reigned.
“Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah. And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests. And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the LORD with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people. And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat. Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats. And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store.” – II Chronicles 17:7-12.
“And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms” We can deny it all we want, but the success or failure of a nation comes directly from the leader, and their faith in God. Famines, poverty, and even crazy people attacking innocent people are the result of a leader who does not recognize Jesus as their King, and this includes leaders who claim to know Him, but their actions prove otherwise. Jesus will judge every nation that mocks, ridicules, and shames His name, especially if the leader is the one doing it. “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:” – II Peter 2:1,4,8,9.
Jesus Christ Magnified: Today, Jesus is revealed through Elisha when God raised the widows son from the dead (I Ki 17:22). When Jesus returns, every body that received Him as their Saviour will be raised from the dead to rejoin their soul in a glorified body. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:” – I Thessalonians 4:16.
Today’s Prayer: God, As I try to live my life the way You want me to live in an ungodly nation, there are many difficulties, people, challenges, and struggles that are constantly trying to discourage me. I know that all things will come to pass and that You will lead me to great things as I remain faithful to You. Lord, lead me and guide me, give me Your strength, wisdom, and guidance to get through this day trusting, believing, and knowing that You will give me everything I need and desire. Watch over me, and protect me in this corrupt nation, and let me be the example You need me to be to reach those who need to know Your Son. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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