The Lord is God of all the Nations of the Earth - Ruminating in the Word of God

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 35:21-22,

"'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."

Josiah was Judah's last good king. He had turned the nation from idolatry, repaired the temple and reestablished the temple worship in Jerusalem. However, following those things, we see Josiah engaging in a military action against the Lord's wishes. It cost Josiah his life.

What is interesting in this account is that we see the Lord's hands in the affairs of nations outside of God's chosen people. Egypt went up to attack Assyria at God's command and Josiah of Judah intervened as a vassal of Assyria. Necho, king of Egypt told Josiah to back off, that the Lord had sent him on this military incursion. The Scripture says, "He [Josiah] would not listen to what Necho had said at God's command but went to fight him on the plain of Megiddo."

Here we see God's involvement in nations outside Israel (Egypt and Assyria), and his actions to bring about his desires for that part of the world.

Some have a mistaken notion that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is only concerned with Israel and the church. Nothing could be further from the truth. All nations belong to the Lord and all nations are impacted by God's agenda - God is involved with all the nations of the world. This is why Psalm 47 speaks not to just the future, but also to the place God holds among the nations today:

"God has ascended amid shouts of joy,
    the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.
Sing praises to God, sing praises;
    sing praises to our King, sing praises.
For God is the King of all the earth;
    sing to him a psalm of praise.

God reigns over the nations;
    God is seated on his holy throne.
The nobles of the nations assemble
    as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings of the earth belong to God;
    he is greatly exalted." Psalm 47:5-9.

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!

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