Before I read about how Israel returns to the promised land, I want to make sure I understand what caused them to leave in the first place. Then, if I can apply that to my life, I will not have to worry about having to leave at all, when it comes to the presence of God in my life.
I start with King Josiah. It was a simple life – he came to cleanse the land and then he died. I am not too sure why his journey to death is so detailed in 2 Chronicles 35:20-27 I can only imagine that it was the method of his death that mattered. For a king to die of sickness or disease or to be murdered by a servant or family member would not be honourable, but to die, with honour on the battlefield, there is some glory in that for them.
Lastly and most significant is the last chapter leading up to the exile and so descriptive of God’s perspective and I read those words here in 2 Chronicles 36:11-21
Right now I just want to preach at myself, to get it out of my voice box. There is only one claim of God on me and that is simply this – to worship and glorify Him. The honoured word “worship” is too often dishonoured when I do not keep in my vivid memory what it is. This is what it is – “to love supremely, to obey perfectly, to serve perpetually, to express praise and render homage intelligently, and to say without a reserve that all this is the simple due of the object adored.”
There is something to the word “eternity.” I think the word to best describe it is “immortality.” There is immortality to honour and there is honour of immortality itself. My lesson, my takeaway, is along those those lines – Judah never learned that she was not her own. I need to ensure that I do not forget this lost lesson.
I rarely define what happiness is, but I know that I am happy when I am full of life, patience, strength, and confidence knowing that when I am on my journey in this life that I am not my own. I do not belong to sin or Satan either, but rather am the property of God and I am loved, adored, and prized by that God! The only time that is not true is when my gift of free-will becomes infatuated will, perverse will, self-will – there is no glory there.
It is my turn to do what Judah could not – I will be studious in remembering that I am God’s and belong to Jesus – I am not my own, to do with myself, my lifetime, my powers, my heart and my tongue whatever I like.
Father, thank You for these powerful words and expressions of what it means to be walking with You. No confusion here.
Erwin (evanlaar1922)
Sixty-six books in a year 