Psalm 1:That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, whatever they do prospers. Pslam 1

Psalm 1:1-6

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—  whatever they do prospers.

Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

Why?

Walk in step with the wicked will fall, but those who meditate on God's word day and night will be like a tree planted by streams of water. For he can get the strength and warning from God's word.

How?

May my mind and my heart be with the Lord forever in my life.

I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you

 Haggai 2:10-23

This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Ask the priests what the law says: If someone carries consecrated meat in the fold of their garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, olive oil or other food, does it become consecrated?’” The priests answered, “No.”

Then Haggai said, “‘So it is with this people and this nation in my sight,’ declares the Lord. ‘Whatever they do and whatever they offer there is defiled.

From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought to the day when the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid. Give careful thought: Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit.

The word of the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: “Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.

‘On that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

Why?

Ancient kings used signet rings to designate authority, honor, or ownership. A signet contained an emblem unique to the king. Official documents were sealed with a dollop of soft wax impressed with the king’s signet, usually kept on a ring on his finger. Such a seal certified the document as genuine, much like a notary public’s stamp today.

How?

All of us, Christians are the chosen ones by the Lord, Do not give up or frustrate, stand up for the Lord is my fortress, my savior.

I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come

Haggai 2:1-9

But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’

 I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

Why?

Be strong: Zerubbabel, Joshua,  the high priest. Do not fear.

Go to rebuild the Holy Temple, the silver is mine and the gold is mine declares the Lord Almighty. Don't worry about the material and financial support to build the house of the Lord. 

I need to pray to follow closer to the Lord and walk with the Holy Spirit. 

How?
Pray to the Lord for the Lord caring about me, what I need is faith and heart with the Lord. Be strong! God is with me.

You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm.

 

哈該書 1:1-15

Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”

Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the message of the prophet Haggai, because the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord.

Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave this message of the Lord to the people: “I am with you,” declares the Lord. So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month.

Why?

We care for our living needs but do not care what the Lord likes and what the Lord likes us to be.

The Temple of the Lord is ruined, so as our worship center, and the church, do I care about it?

How?

Rebuild the church and preach the word of the Lord, let the church be the home of the Lord.

On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame for all the wrongs

 Zephaniah 3:1-20

Of Jerusalem I thought, ‘Surely you will fear me and accept correction!’ Then her place of refuge would not be destroyed, nor all my punishments come upon her. But they were still eager to act corruptly in all they did.

I have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out my wrath on them—   all my fierce anger. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger.

On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to me, because I will remove from you your arrogant boasters. Never again will you be haughty on my holy hill. But I will leave within you the meek and humble. The remnant of Israel will trust in the name of the Lord. They will do no wrong; they will tell no lies. A deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid.”

On that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp.
17 The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Why?

The Lord punished the corrupt men in all they did. But the mercy of the Lord comes upon the remaining people, remove them from their arrogant boasters.

The punishment comes upon God's people for they are eager to act corruptly. But the Lord will remove the deceitful tongue from his people.

How?

Keep reminding me, and pray for the Holy Spirit to come upon me. Fo I need the Holy Spirit to serve the Lord.

Seek 1) the Lord, 2)righteousness, and 3) humility

Zephaniah 2:1-15 

before the day of the Lord’s wrath comes upon you. Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility;  perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger.

I have heard the insults of Moab and the taunts of the Ammonites, who insulted my people and made threats against their land. Therefore, as surely as I live,” declares Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, “surely Moab will become like Sodom, the Ammonites like Gomorrah— a place of weeds and salt pits, a wasteland forever. The remnant of my people will plunder them; the survivors of my nation will inherit their land.”

He will stretch out his hand against the north and destroy Assyria, leaving Nineveh utterly desolate and dry as the desert. 

Why?

Judah and all God's people must seek 1) the Lord, 2)righteousness, and 3) humility. All three are the roots of our faith in the Lord.

Perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord's anger. The choice is in the hands of the Lord.

Moab, Ammonites, Cush, and Assyria were strong and attacked many countries, but under the anger of the Lord, these nations would be ruined.

How?

What I should fear and obey. Fear the Lord is wisdom and obeying the word of the Lord is a blessing. Seek three goals.

Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath

 Zephaniah 1:1-18

During the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah.

Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near. The Lord has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited.

On that day I will punish all who avoid stepping on the threshold, who fill the temple of their gods with violence and deceit.

At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent,  who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, ‘The Lord will do nothing, either good or bad.’

Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath.” In the fire of his jealousy the whole earth will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live on the earth.

Why?

The Lord declared the "Great day of the Lord" would come up in Jerusalem, Judah. People in Jerusalem did not sense that the end of their lives was coming.

At that time is the day God defined or decided. We don't know when or how? It is in the hands of the Lord. Usually, we might think it won't happen, "The Lord will do nothing, either good or bad." like people of Judah though.

How?

The word of the Lord will come truth, the Lord is full of mercy and gives us the time to repent. At that time is not chance to repent for our sins.

The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah

 2 Chronicles 36:1-33

Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. The king of Egypt dethroned him in Jerusalem and imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. The king of Egypt made Eliakim, a brother of Jehoahaz, king over Judah and Jerusalem and changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. But Necho took Eliakim’s brother Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt.

Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God. 

Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked him and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar also took to Babylon articles from the temple of the Lord and put them in his temple there.

Jehoiachin was eighteen[e] years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days.

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke the word of the Lord.

He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his successors until the kingdom of Persia came to power. The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah.

Why?

The word of the Lord never fails. from beginning to forever.

All of us are sinners, if anyone can repent and turn to the Lord through Jesus Christ, then has the chance to survive and may enter heaven.

What we can do and live in peace full of love, and trust in the Lord and Jesus Christ is our only way to get eternal life

How?

History is the story of the Lord, we are sinners, we have to keep walking in faith and live out the word of the Lord.

Josiah, however, did not listen to what Necho had said at God’s command

2 Chronicles 35:1-27

Josiah celebrated the Passover to the Lord in Jerusalem, and the Passover lamb was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month. He appointed the priests to their duties and encouraged them in the service of the Lord’s temple. He said to the Levites, who instructed all Israel and who had been consecrated to the Lord: “Put the sacred ark in the temple that Solomon son of David king of Israel built. It is not to be carried about on your shoulders. Now serve the Lord your God and his people Israel. Prepare yourselves by families in your divisions, according to the instructions written by David king of Israel and by his son Solomon. 

The musicians, the descendants of Asaph, were in the places prescribed by David, Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun the king’s seer. The gatekeepers at each gate did not need to leave their posts, because their fellow Levites made the preparations for them.

So at that time the entire service of the Lord was carried out for the celebration of the Passover and the offering of burnt offerings on the altar of the Lord, as King Josiah had ordered. The Israelites who were present celebrated the Passover at that time and observed the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. The Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah, with the priests, the Levites and all Judah and Israel who were there with the people of Jerusalem. This Passover was celebrated in the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign.

But Necho sent messengers to him, saying, “What quarrel is there, king of Judah, between you and me? It is not you I am attacking at this time, but the house with which I am at war. God has told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or he will destroy you.”

Josiah, however, would not turn away from him, but disguised himself to engage him in battle. He would not listen to what Necho had said at God’s command but went to fight him on the plain of Megiddo.

Jeremiah composed laments for Josiah, and to this day all the male and female singers commemorate Josiah in the laments. These became a tradition in Israel and are written in the Laments.

Why?

One more example of Josiah he lost his life. Josiah insisted on fighting with Necho, and Necho didn't want to attach Judah.

Even though we obey the word of the Lord, we need to listen to the word and message from the Lord, before getting out of the fight with Necho, Josiah did not ask the Lord but decided on his own idea.

How?

So am I, I like to make decisions by myself, if I stop for a while think about it, and ask the way of the Lord I won't waste too much effort and time.

Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God

2 Chronicles 34:22-33

Hilkiah and those the king had sent with him[b] went to speak to the prophet Huldah who was the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the New Quarter.

She said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people—all the curses written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah. Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all that their hands have made, my anger will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched.’ Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord. Now I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place and on those who live here.’”

Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge themselves to it; the people of Jerusalem did this in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors.

Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites, and he had all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God. As long as he lived, they did not fail to follow the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

Why?

Josiah is a good king in Judah before the disaster comes upon their land. Because a king repents and confesses their sins, the Lord delays the disaster poured upon them for God is love.

Let my heart come closer to the Lord and imitate and pray the Lord to show me the way and the word that I can say to serve the Lord.

How?

May my heart and my mind come closer to the Lord and may the Holy Spirit of the Lord show me the words to witness the glory of the Lord. For I am nothing.

When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes

2  Chronicles 34:8-21

In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, to purify the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah and Maaseiah the ruler of the city, with Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the temple of the Lord his God.

While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the temple of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord that had been given through Moses. Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.” He gave it to Shaphan.

 When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes. He gave these orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: “Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that is poured out on us because those who have gone before us have not kept the word of the Lord; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book.”

Why?

They found the words of the Law from the repair work of the Temple of the Lord. When we want to see the Lord, be closer to the Lord and listen to the word of the Lord. The Lord will give us the way and right person to know the Lord.

Let the Lord gives me the Spirit and the word and let me live more like Jesus, and knowing the living way in my limit life.

How?

May the blessing and the way of the Lord in front of me could be found and walking on it.

Josiah was eight years old when he became king, He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord

 2 Chronicles 33:21-34:7

Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done. Amon worshiped and offered sacrifices to all the idols Manasseh had made. But unlike his father Manasseh, he did not humble himself before the Lord; Amon increased his guilt.

Amon’s officials conspired against him and assassinated him in his palace. Then the people of the land killed all who had plotted against King Amon, and they made Josiah his son king in his place.

Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.

In the towns of Manasseh, Ephraim and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins around them, he tore down the altars and the Asherah poles and crushed the idols to powder and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout Israel. Then he went back to Jerusalem.

Why?

The evil one is always killed by evil men, like Amon and his officials.

Joasia walked on the right way and followed the ways of his father David. He cut down the idols in Judah and throughout Israel.

Because of these a few good kings the Lord let Judah stand longer than Israel.

How?

Why a man or a king walked in the right way or evil way, depends on his heart. Everyone has to face the Lord one day.

ManassehManasseh was twelve years old when he became king, was twelve years old when he became king,

2 Chronicles 33:1-20

Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had demolished; he also erected altars to the Baals and made Asherah poles. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them.

But Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites.

God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart

2 Chronicles 32:24-33

In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. He prayed to the Lord, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign. But Hezekiah’s heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown him; therefore the Lord’s wrath was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem. Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the Lord’s wrath did not come on them during the days of Hezekiah.

 It was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Gihon spring and channeled the water down to the west side of the City of David. He succeeded in everything he undertook. But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart. 

Why?

People during peace and everything that goes well easily fall in pride, which may induce the wrath of the Lord.

Even during peace and great times under the Lord's blessings, God may have left us to test us and to know everything in our hearts. So some troubles and fails warn us that we depend on the Lord instead of on ourselves.

How?

Be humble at any time any period, even under difficulty my hope my heart, and my way rely on the Lord.

 

Don't be cheated by what we see; what we do not see is more important.

2 Chronicles 32:1-23

After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself. When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to wage war against Jerusalem, he consulted with his officials and military staff about blocking off the water from the springs outside the city, and they helped him.

He appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in the square at the city gate and encouraged them with these words: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.

How then can your god deliver you from my hand? Now do not let Hezekiah deceive you and mislead you like this. Do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or the hand of my predecessors. How much less will your god deliver you from my hand.

King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to heaven about this. And the Lord sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the commanders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons, his own flesh and blood, cut him down with the sword.

So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all others. He took care of them on every side. Many brought offerings to Jerusalem for the Lord and valuable gifts for Hezekiah king of Judah. From then on he was highly regarded by all the nations.

Why?

Hezekiah had faith in the Lord, he knew the Lord is greater than any other enemies. And Hezekiah prepared some defending business and prayed to the Lord. So the Lord listened to their prayer and sent an angel who annihilated all the fighting men and the commanders of the Assyrian king.

Don't be cheated by what we see; what we do not see is more important.

How?

My God is greater than any other. Trust in the Lord. My Lord is full of love and righteousness. What we need is to obey God's word and honor God's Holy name.

He sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.

2 Chronicles 31:1-21

When all this had ended, the Israelites who were there went out to the towns of Judah, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. They destroyed the high places and the altars throughout Judah and Benjamin and in Ephraim and Manasseh. After they had destroyed all of them, the Israelites returned to their own towns and to their own property.

The king contributed from his own possessions for the morning and evening burnt offerings and for the burnt offerings on the Sabbaths, at the New Moons and at the appointed festivals as written in the Law of the Lord. He ordered the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion due the priests and Levites so they could devote themselves to the Law of the Lord. As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, olive oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything. The people of Israel and Judah who lived in the towns of Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things dedicated to the Lord their God, and they piled them in heaps. 

Hezekiah gave orders to prepare storerooms in the temple of the Lord, and this was done. Then they faithfully brought in the contributions, tithes and dedicated gifts. Konaniah, a Levite, was the overseer in charge of these things, and his brother Shimei was next in rank.  

In addition, they distributed to the males three years old or more whose names were in the genealogical records—all who would enter the temple of the Lord to perform the daily duties of their various tasks, according to their responsibilities and their divisions.

This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.

Why?

Not only attended the Passover but also took action to get rid of the high places and the altars.

Hezekiah 1)get rid of detectable idols and high places throughout Judah, in his territory 2) did what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. 3) obey the law and the commands of the Lor 4) The Sought is the Lord and worked wholeheartedly.

The above 4 actions are the principles for every Christian to prosper.

Share the duties in the Temple of the Lord in divisions. Sharing the responsibility may work joyfully. The same work in the church now needs many brothers and sisters to share the jobs.

Keep the tithe is a blessing principle for every Christian.

How?

Don't worry about what we eat or what we have, all of these are the gift from the Lord. For the Lord cares about those who care about the Lord and are faithful to the Lord. God's word never fails.

信心與講道

 老闆問以後會怎麼樣?不重要。應該問以後三年10年後不會變的? 上帝的話

吳勇長老的生命分享 Youtube 3

神創造人因為要人氣分享神的愛

與主一起面對風暴

長進與悔改同時進行

在(神)光中見(己)光：愈靠近神愈看清自己的光景

講道不是依靠自己的才能、口才、智慧，而是依靠神、依靠聖靈

耶穌寶血責備我： 神藉著試練教我們成為潔淨合用的器皿，靠主得勝：患難來臨時，我們會如施洗約翰一樣信心軟弱，懷疑信仰。

講道： 內容、大綱 全部都在聖經

例如保羅書信的問候文相同與不同的比較。信心、愛心和盼望

我們從耶穌有所得，耶穌是我們的救主

耶穌從我們身上有所得： 見證行為榮耀主

方法：聖經每個章節深入的看、清楚的看

Enjoy with the Lord *

2 Chronicles 30:1-27

Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, inviting them to come to the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel. The king and his officials and the whole assembly in Jerusalem decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month.

At the king’s command, couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and from his officials, which read: People of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that he may return to you who are left, who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria.

Do not be like your parents

Do not be stiff-necked, as your ancestors were

The couriers went from town to town in Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun, but people scorned and ridiculed them. Nevertheless, some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem. Also in Judah, the hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following the word of the Lord.

But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the Lord, who is good, pardon everyone who sets their heart on seeking God—the Lord, the God of their ancestors—even if they are not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary.” And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people.

The priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, his holy dwelling place.

It is sad that Hezekiah was the last king in Judah to obey the word of the Lord. He restored the celebration of Passover in Judah and remained Israelites.

Because the worship concept and ceremony were dismissed many years ago, many people have forgotten how to celebrate Passover.

Religion is not a ceremony but is our lifestyle and is part of our life in our daily lives.

How?

Don't keep our daily life as a regulation, but keep a close relationship with the Lord, like a friend, like our lover, like our master, and make our master joy, then we will enjoy with the Lord either.