The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Chronicles 23:16,
"Jehoiada then made a covenant that he, the people and the king would be the Lord's people."
Jehoiada was an amazing man. As priest, he took it upon himself to rectify a wrong that had taken place in Judah. When King Ahaziah (a bad king) died, his mother, Athaliah, seized the throne of Judah for herself and began killing off the rest of the royal family in Jerusalem. One son of Ahaziah, Joash, was spared when he was hidden from Athaliah at the temple. The remaining heirs were all slaughtered by Athaliah.
After seven years Jehoiada took action that resulted in the enthronement of the remaining rightful heir to the throne, Joash. Joash was a good king (not a perfect king) that sat on the throne for forty years.
I say that Jehoiada was an amazing man. He is amazing to me because he exercised his own free will to do the rightful thing. Strategic, tactical and cunning were traits he exhibited when he made his move to do that rightful thing with the Scripture casting it this way, "In the seventh year Jehoiada showed his strength." Verse 1.
That strength of Jehoiada was only latent ability and capacity until Jehoiada chose to make his moves. It was the choice that made things happen, Jehoiada's choice.
Some struggle with the concept of free will. Many are very confused when it comes to understanding free choice in a cosmos dominated by our sovereign God. For some reason they struggle with these concepts and back themselves into a theological corner that only understands mankind as being a race of marionettes that are manipulated by God.
A proper concept of mankind being empowered with self will, self determination is not just an important issue for us. It is every thing for us. A proper reading of the Scriptures informs us that we have arrived in this world to do one thing: exercise our free will that God has given us to choose him. All who do so are given a place in his family for eternity. Jesus told Nicodemus, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God."
"Jehoiada then made a covenant that he, the people and the king would be the Lord's people."
Jehoiada was an amazing man. As priest, he took it upon himself to rectify a wrong that had taken place in Judah. When King Ahaziah (a bad king) died, his mother, Athaliah, seized the throne of Judah for herself and began killing off the rest of the royal family in Jerusalem. One son of Ahaziah, Joash, was spared when he was hidden from Athaliah at the temple. The remaining heirs were all slaughtered by Athaliah.
After seven years Jehoiada took action that resulted in the enthronement of the remaining rightful heir to the throne, Joash. Joash was a good king (not a perfect king) that sat on the throne for forty years.
I say that Jehoiada was an amazing man. He is amazing to me because he exercised his own free will to do the rightful thing. Strategic, tactical and cunning were traits he exhibited when he made his move to do that rightful thing with the Scripture casting it this way, "In the seventh year Jehoiada showed his strength." Verse 1.
That strength of Jehoiada was only latent ability and capacity until Jehoiada chose to make his moves. It was the choice that made things happen, Jehoiada's choice.
Some struggle with the concept of free will. Many are very confused when it comes to understanding free choice in a cosmos dominated by our sovereign God. For some reason they struggle with these concepts and back themselves into a theological corner that only understands mankind as being a race of marionettes that are manipulated by God.
A proper concept of mankind being empowered with self will, self determination is not just an important issue for us. It is every thing for us. A proper reading of the Scriptures informs us that we have arrived in this world to do one thing: exercise our free will that God has given us to choose him. All who do so are given a place in his family for eternity. Jesus told Nicodemus, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God."
Jesus told Nicodemus that some will come into the light, will embrace the Lord because they choose to do so. Others choose to cling to their sin. It is all about choice. It is all about exercising our own free will. Whether we are heaven bound or facing eternal destruction, either destination is ordained for us based on how we exercise our free will. This is why the exercise of our free will is not just important, but that it is everything.
Jehoiada made his choice and chose wisely. How will we exercise our free will?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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