2 Kings 25:1-30
The
Babylonians broke up the bronze pillars, the movable stands and the
bronze Sea that were at the temple of the LORD and they carried the
bronze to Babylon. They also took away the pots, shovels,
wick trimmers, dishes and all the bronze articles used in the temple
service.
There at Riblah, in the land of Hamath, the king had them executed. So Judah went into captivity, away from her land.
The city falls to the Babylonian army, is looted and utterly destroyed. All but the poorest people left under governor Gedaliah, are taken into exile. But Gadaliah is murdered and the people escape to Egypt to avoid the inevitable wrath of Babylon, taking the prophet Jeremiah with them. Under a new king in Babylon 35 years later, Jehoiachin, the deposed king of Judah, is released from prison and kindly treated.
After the days of Jeremiah the Ark disappears fro history. Most likely Babylonian soldiers destroyed it when they looted the Temple in 586BC. There was no Ark in the later Temple in Jerusalem.
But this is the stuff of which legends are made! Jewish tradition says Jeremiah hid it in a cave on mt Nebo, or King Josiah hid it in a cave beneath Jerusalem. Ethiopian legend claims that the son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba took it to Ethiopia where it is supposedly hidden in a church in Aksum. Ethiopian Christians carry boxes containing tablets bearing the Ten Commandments in procession. But this and other Jewish elements in their customs are less ancient.
Why?
All of Temple of God are lost, all symbol of the Lord in Jerusalem are carried away. When the Israelite did not serve the Lord, these articles are meaningless to them. So the Lord took all these away.
Christian is not a symbol or a religious ceremony, it is a heart belonging God and the trust in the Lord. God sees our heart deeper than man watch our position and prosperity.
How?
The Ark is disappeared, but the real new Ark is in my heart , and in my home, so I fear the Lord and obey his commandment in my daily life.
Friday, June 30, 2017
Thursday, June 29, 2017
Surely these things happened to Judah according to the Lord’s command
2 Kings 24:1-20
Surely these things happened to Judah according to the Lord’s command, in order to remove them from his presence because of the sins of Manasseh and all he had done, including the shedding of innocent blood. For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD was not willing to forgive.
Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah became king of Judah in Jerusalem for 11 years, 3 months and 11 years.
All of them did the evil before the Lord.
Nebuchadnezzar removed the treasures from the temple of the LORD and from the royal palace, and cut up the gold articles that Solomon king of Israel had made for the temple of the LORD. He carried all Jerusalem into exile: all the officers and fighting men, and all the skilled workers and artisans—a total of ten thousand. Only the poorest people of the land were left.
Judah remains a vassal of Nebuchadnezzar for three years, then defects to Egypt again, This brings ore attacks from the Babylonians, and repeated warnings from the Prophet Jeremiah.
The prophet Jeremiah pronounced God's judgment on Jehoiachin.
Why?
God's word is true and all his command will be done. His word existing for ever. Respect to the Lord and obey his word. For God is the Lord above all in the world.
Shedding innocent blood is the biggest sin, so the Lord will not to forgive.
Even Nebuchadnezzar is invaded Jerusalem, but he either is the tool of the Lord to implement God's word.
How?
Trust in the Lord and obey his word, God is my savior and my hope.
Surely these things happened to Judah according to the Lord’s command, in order to remove them from his presence because of the sins of Manasseh and all he had done, including the shedding of innocent blood. For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD was not willing to forgive.
Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah became king of Judah in Jerusalem for 11 years, 3 months and 11 years.
All of them did the evil before the Lord.
Nebuchadnezzar removed the treasures from the temple of the LORD and from the royal palace, and cut up the gold articles that Solomon king of Israel had made for the temple of the LORD. He carried all Jerusalem into exile: all the officers and fighting men, and all the skilled workers and artisans—a total of ten thousand. Only the poorest people of the land were left.
Judah remains a vassal of Nebuchadnezzar for three years, then defects to Egypt again, This brings ore attacks from the Babylonians, and repeated warnings from the Prophet Jeremiah.
The prophet Jeremiah pronounced God's judgment on Jehoiachin.
Why?
God's word is true and all his command will be done. His word existing for ever. Respect to the Lord and obey his word. For God is the Lord above all in the world.
Shedding innocent blood is the biggest sin, so the Lord will not to forgive.
Even Nebuchadnezzar is invaded Jerusalem, but he either is the tool of the Lord to implement God's word.
How?
Trust in the Lord and obey his word, God is my savior and my hope.
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
The clean-up extends beyond Judah to former Israelite territory
2 Kings 23:15-30
Then Josiah looked around, and when he saw the tombs that were there on the hillside, he had the bones removed from them and burned on the altar to defile ti, in accordance with the word of the Lord proclaimed by the man of God who foretold these things. (1 Kings 13:2)
Just as he had done at Bethel, Josiah removed and defiled all the shrines at the high places that the kings of Israel had built in the towns of Samaria that had provoked the Lord to anger. Josia slaughtered all the priests of those high places on the altars and burned human bones on them.
The king gave this order to all the people: "Celebrate the Passover to the Lord your God." Not since the days of the judges who led Israel, not throughout the days of the kings of Israel and the kings o Judah, has any such Passover been observed.
Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did - with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.
The clean-up extends beyond Judah to former Israelite territory. The neglected Feast of Passover is celebrated once more and private malpractices are deal with.
God's judgment is delayed but not reversed: the nation's heart is not changed by the king's reforms. Josiah dies in futile conflict with Pharaoh Necho, who was marching to join forces with Assyria after the fall of Neneveh the Assyrian capital, to the Babylonians.
Why?
King Josiah reform Judah and Israel and remove all the detestable things in his territory, but the heart of Judah and Israelite had been defiled and had turned away from the Lord.
God's judgment is delayed because of the behavior of Josiah, but the anger of the Lord is still existing for the sins of his forefathers.
How?
Even a righteous man do the right thing may get the mercy from the Lord, delay God's judgment a while but the way of the Lord will not changed.
Then Josiah looked around, and when he saw the tombs that were there on the hillside, he had the bones removed from them and burned on the altar to defile ti, in accordance with the word of the Lord proclaimed by the man of God who foretold these things. (1 Kings 13:2)
Just as he had done at Bethel, Josiah removed and defiled all the shrines at the high places that the kings of Israel had built in the towns of Samaria that had provoked the Lord to anger. Josia slaughtered all the priests of those high places on the altars and burned human bones on them.
The king gave this order to all the people: "Celebrate the Passover to the Lord your God." Not since the days of the judges who led Israel, not throughout the days of the kings of Israel and the kings o Judah, has any such Passover been observed.
Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did - with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.
The clean-up extends beyond Judah to former Israelite territory. The neglected Feast of Passover is celebrated once more and private malpractices are deal with.
God's judgment is delayed but not reversed: the nation's heart is not changed by the king's reforms. Josiah dies in futile conflict with Pharaoh Necho, who was marching to join forces with Assyria after the fall of Neneveh the Assyrian capital, to the Babylonians.
Why?
King Josiah reform Judah and Israel and remove all the detestable things in his territory, but the heart of Judah and Israelite had been defiled and had turned away from the Lord.
God's judgment is delayed because of the behavior of Josiah, but the anger of the Lord is still existing for the sins of his forefathers.
How?
Even a righteous man do the right thing may get the mercy from the Lord, delay God's judgment a while but the way of the Lord will not changed.
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Josiah renews the covenant
2 Kings 23:1-14
Josiah renews the covenant.
The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord - to follow the Lord and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, this confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.
Josiah loses no time in acting on God's message through the prophet Juldah. Public reading of God's law is followed by renewal of the convenant-pack with God.
Then comes a purge of public places, ridding the land of objects associated with pagan worship.
Why?
For Josiah follow the word of the Lord and do it in action, he did not lose any time to obey God's command.
Let people renewed the covenant, make this actions not only to the king and officials, but to all people of Israel.
King has the authority let people do what he said, so Josiah made the most influence to Judah, to honor the name of the Lord, renew the covenant of the Lord.
How?
Follow the Lord and keep the commands of the Lord with all my heart and all my soul.
Be aware that I have covenant with the Lord either. Do not forget the covenant with the Lord!
Josiah renews the covenant.
The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord - to follow the Lord and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, this confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.
Josiah loses no time in acting on God's message through the prophet Juldah. Public reading of God's law is followed by renewal of the convenant-pack with God.
Then comes a purge of public places, ridding the land of objects associated with pagan worship.
Why?
For Josiah follow the word of the Lord and do it in action, he did not lose any time to obey God's command.
Let people renewed the covenant, make this actions not only to the king and officials, but to all people of Israel.
King has the authority let people do what he said, so Josiah made the most influence to Judah, to honor the name of the Lord, renew the covenant of the Lord.
How?
Follow the Lord and keep the commands of the Lord with all my heart and all my soul.
Be aware that I have covenant with the Lord either. Do not forget the covenant with the Lord!
Monday, June 26, 2017
God is reign this world forever with great mercy
2 Kings 22:1-20
Josiah was 8 years old when he became king. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.
Great is the Lord's anger that burns against us because out fathers have not obeyed the words of this book.
Because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord. Therefore I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.
Josiah reigns 31 years.
The writer portrays him as the best of Judah's kings, loyal to God and his laws, and carrying out thorough-going religious reform. A book of the law is found in the course of repairing the Temple. Reading it reveals that the nation has broken covenant with God, incurring the statutory(法定的) penalties for such disloyalty. But the faithfulness of the king is taken into account
Josiah reigns 31 years
Why?
Josiah was young when he became a king, his mother, Jedudah, has more influence to him. Mother is important to a child growing up.
Even the destination of Judah has been made by the Lord, but when king turns to the Lord, God's mercy still come upon him. So the Lord blessed Josiah peace until end of his life.
A king turns to the Lord not only him but also his people be blessed by the Lord.
Before Joaish was born, God has chosen his to be a good king in Judah.
How?
Broken and wept before the Lord, God will see and listen. How great the the name of the Lord!
Josiah was 8 years old when he became king. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.
Great is the Lord's anger that burns against us because out fathers have not obeyed the words of this book.
Because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord. Therefore I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.
Josiah reigns 31 years.
The writer portrays him as the best of Judah's kings, loyal to God and his laws, and carrying out thorough-going religious reform. A book of the law is found in the course of repairing the Temple. Reading it reveals that the nation has broken covenant with God, incurring the statutory(法定的) penalties for such disloyalty. But the faithfulness of the king is taken into account
Josiah reigns 31 years
Why?
Josiah was young when he became a king, his mother, Jedudah, has more influence to him. Mother is important to a child growing up.
Even the destination of Judah has been made by the Lord, but when king turns to the Lord, God's mercy still come upon him. So the Lord blessed Josiah peace until end of his life.
A king turns to the Lord not only him but also his people be blessed by the Lord.
Before Joaish was born, God has chosen his to be a good king in Judah.
How?
Broken and wept before the Lord, God will see and listen. How great the the name of the Lord!
Sunday, June 25, 2017
敬畏主-迎接約櫃在我家
撒下6：1-12
劉富理牧師。 蘭雅禮拜堂。6／25／2017
序論：
大衛想把約櫃運進耶路撒冷。
烏撒的事件，大衛懼怕耶和華。
大衛不肯把約櫃運回來
耶和華賜福給俄別以東家和他全家。
認識約櫃：
是神吩咐摩西做的
我要在那裡與你相會
清晨起來讀經，神已經在等我們
1.領受神同在的祝福
約櫃是神同在的記號
2.時刻可以與神相會
3.領受神的話語
約櫃裏有十誡，在那裡有神的誡命
4.向神傾心吐意
可向神傾訴你的痛苦，神體恤我們的軟弱
你的神葉案成為你兒女的神
詩歌：耶穌恩友
帶到主恩座前求
不靠自己，只靠神
5.求問當走道路
二、約櫃在我家的提醒
1.時刻敬畏尊主為主
不能不理會，不能隨便
2.調整與神與人的關係
見證分享，父子，夫妻，母子關係
是實際在生活上的提醒
3.神同在家裡成為祝福
結論：
約櫃在我家，我心，我們的教會
劉富理牧師。 蘭雅禮拜堂。6／25／2017
序論：
大衛想把約櫃運進耶路撒冷。
烏撒的事件，大衛懼怕耶和華。
大衛不肯把約櫃運回來
耶和華賜福給俄別以東家和他全家。
認識約櫃：
是神吩咐摩西做的
我要在那裡與你相會
清晨起來讀經，神已經在等我們
1.領受神同在的祝福
約櫃是神同在的記號
2.時刻可以與神相會
3.領受神的話語
約櫃裏有十誡，在那裡有神的誡命
4.向神傾心吐意
可向神傾訴你的痛苦，神體恤我們的軟弱
你的神葉案成為你兒女的神
詩歌：耶穌恩友
帶到主恩座前求
不靠自己，只靠神
5.求問當走道路
二、約櫃在我家的提醒
1.時刻敬畏尊主為主
不能不理會，不能隨便
2.調整與神與人的關係
見證分享，父子，夫妻，母子關係
是實際在生活上的提醒
3.神同在家裡成為祝福
結論：
約櫃在我家，我心，我們的教會
Arousing God's anger
2 Kings 21:1-26
Manasseh did evil in the eyes of the Lord,following the detestable practices of nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites.
I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab. I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. I will forsake the remnant of my inheritance and give them into the hands of enemies. They will be looted and plundered by all their enemies.
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.
Why?
Manasseh did the evil before the Lord,even his father was obey God's word. This is the destination of God for many his forefathers,like Ahab, did not obey the commandment of the Lord. It is the consequence of the Israelites made covenant with the Lord.
Peace and prosperity may lead people forget that it is the blessing of the Lord.
How?
God's word is existing forever. His grace and judgement are existing forever.
Manasseh did evil in the eyes of the Lord,following the detestable practices of nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites.
I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab. I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. I will forsake the remnant of my inheritance and give them into the hands of enemies. They will be looted and plundered by all their enemies.
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.
Why?
Manasseh did the evil before the Lord,even his father was obey God's word. This is the destination of God for many his forefathers,like Ahab, did not obey the commandment of the Lord. It is the consequence of the Israelites made covenant with the Lord.
Peace and prosperity may lead people forget that it is the blessing of the Lord.
How?
God's word is existing forever. His grace and judgement are existing forever.
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