Israel seems like it's on a confusing teeter-totter.
Judah seems stable yet facing real struggles---but nothing like those who will not follow God's will. One of the commentaries said it is a far different deal looking at the imperfections of man versus the wickeness of those who will not repent.
These hearts of ours are deceitful and need "restraints." We need the Hand of the Lord this day to restrain us from evil temptations. Like a city without wall is the one with no restraints. May we beg God for another chance, another restraint, another healing.
Kings 15:1 - What is it that these kings continually failed to get rid of the sex-and-religion shrines that were popular with the people...wonder what these kings wanted more than the love of their God---their own popularity??
II Kings 15:16 - Menahem ripped open the pregnant women because the town didn't welcome him with open arms. II Kings 16:3 They even indulged in outrageous practices of burning their own children.
These are really bad people..."all kinds of things on the sly." They threw out everything their God had told them. In a lot of ways, it sounds familiar in some respects in our own country. How incredibly sad! II Kings 18:32 - "They honored God but not exclusively."
All I keep thinking about is the quote from 66 LL that says that in the midst of evil times, God's Plan is moving ahead. "Above all else, seek to know Me better and represent Me well in every circumstance, no matter how you feel...You must understand the deceptive nature of evil." [Evil today doesn't rear its head in outrageous practices in most Christian lives---it's more the deceptive evil that leads us astray. I will not be about burning my children but there's still cancer in my soul.) "Evil hides itself and does its destructive work slowly, beneath the disease of necessity, reasonableness, efficiency, pragmatism, even morality, even goodness." God has a Plan to restore the Beauty of Eden. God has a plan for each of you to create a life "in rhythm with His Holiness." He is a Beautiful God in charge and He chose you!
John 3:10. There was a master of Israel named Nicodemus. He was a Pharisee. But, he knew not the Christ. "Aren't you a master of Israel and you don't know these things." Friends, what are we a master of? Only Him. Know only Him.
PHOTO: Santa Rosa Island. The Sun of Righteousness rises with healing in its rays. New day. New slate. Clean hearts. Right spirits. Within. Without. We don't live perfect, we live forgiven. And we know Him!
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