Day 250 - 2 Chronicles 19-20 & Psalm 64

 Julie

In his fear, Jehosaphat turns to the Lord and prays for help in defeating the Ammonites and Moabites. In his prayer mentions God's promises to the Israelites and that it was agreed that they would trust him no matter what they are put through. They would continue to trust and pray. The Lord speaks to them and tells them, " Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's." God is asking them to stand firm in the midst of the battle and if they trust he will fight the battle for them. These words are comforting to me today in that I feel like I am in the middle of a battle that I don't know how to fight. I just need to have the strength and courage to stand my ground and trust that God will take care of everything. We need to also remember to, "Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever." There are multiple messages in Jehosaphat's prayer, but the outcome fits with what we are enduring today. 

Another psalm asking for God's protection from the enemy and the evil that surrounds them. Asking to not be sent down the same path as those that have done evil, but to emerge victorious over those that will be punished for the evil-doing because they have been faithful and trusting in God. 

 

Michelle

This passage was interesting in that Jehoshaphat follows God as his ancestors and tries to lead his people to the same.  In the battle we are to put it to God and allow him to work for us and guide us while we are in it.  Yet in the end, Jehoshaphat makes an alliance with a wicked king and God destroys what he has built.  That phrase, his love endures forever, continues to show up throughout our readings.  It seems a reminder as we continually are pulled away from God.  

The psalm does seem to be asking for protection from enemies and their influence.  It ends with taking refuge in the Lord, which is where we all need to be headed. 

Day 249 - 2 Chronicles 17-18 & Psalm 63

 Michelle

This passage takes us thru Jehoshaphat, King of Judah's time.  It says that he followed the Lord and was given much wealth by those around him.  He then is asked by Ahab, king of Israel, to aid him in attacking Ramoth Gilead.  Jehoshaphat agreed but first wanted council from God.  Many prophets were consulted and said to attack but he asked for another prophet of God, which leads me to believe he didn't trust these many prophets, or they weren't of God.   The one prophet he seemed to trust was not liked by the king of Israel because he didn't like what he was told by him.  This whole reading feels of deceit as the king of Israel, once they go to battle, he disguises himself, but ends up wounded anyway and dies.  It's interesting the way of Ahab, because many people are like this now.  They do not like what they are told and seek answers from others until they find the one that aligns with what they really want, so as to justify whatever it is they are doing.  It seems the many prophets of Ahab did this, to appease the king.  During this battle God protected Jehoshaphat.  

The psalms seems to be saying seek the Lord and you will be satisfied, and the mouths of liars will be silenced.  That last line stands out to me today.  Well the beginning and the end.  That we must first seek the Lord in all times and he will handle those that are against us. 

Julie

What struck me is that he was being tested because of his lack of trust. In that test he failed. He as purposely given false information from a prophet at the behest of God to see if he would follow and he did, even after he was warned. So God knew that Ahab would be deceitful and would try to have Jehoshaphat killed.

I agree and don't really have much more to say than that. It is something good to remember...as I continually say about a lot of these.

Day 248 - 2 Chronicles 14-16 & Psalm 62

 Michelle

This passage tells us of Asa, king of Judah, son of Abijah.  He starts out in God's favor, reforms the people and they all turn to God under his reign.  At the end of Asa's life though it takes a turn.  There's not really a good explanation though that I can see.  He makes a treaty with the king of Aram but then a seer comes to Asa saying he did not rely of God but instead relied on the king of Aram, so he was no longer in God's favor.  If I understand correctly it's because of his treaty and subsequent actions.  I am also confused about the seer.  This person is not called a prophet yet has the same knowledge of God and tells Asa that when he relied on God his enemies were given into his hands and that God sees everything and will strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. This makes it sound like Asa was not fully committed to God at this point.  The devotional talks about King Asa choosing to do what was good and right.  When he became king he made a deliberate choice that he and his people would seek the Lord and obey his laws.  The question asked is what will people remember about you?  Will they remember a woman who continued to do God's work until her last days?  Not sure why this stood out to me.  Maybe because I had a weird dream in which I was doing something very wrong and was being fired from work.  And it's not something I would do so not sure why I was participating.  

The psalm talks of finding rest in God in whom salvation comes, while being thrown down and cursed by those around you.  The last few psalms have had a theme of God being the rock and refuge, salvation and honor depend on God.  Trust in God at all times for God is our refuge.  

All kinds of things are running thru my head today and it's been hard to turn it off lately.  Today's reading seems to hit on all points without going into greater detail.  The message seems to be rely on God thru all of your trials, commit to doing what is right in the eyes of God all the days of your life, turn to him in times of trouble as he is the one constant.  

Julie

So, I was confused about the same thing and had to go back again. It's a bit obscure, but when he aligns himself with the king of Syria he gives him gold and silver that he took from the house of God. I think that is where God decides he has aligned himself in the wrong way.  Maybe out of fear he chose to trust in man instead of in God and that is why God decided that he would not be in his favor any longer. 

This psalm could tie into today's chapters as a prayer to commit ourselves to God and not man. We are tempted to do things that will test that commitment and while God doesn't punish as quickly as he did then we still have to realize if we have done something that we shouldn't and ask for forgiveness. In all things, yes, we should put all of our faith and trust in God and not in man.

Day 247 - 2 Chronicles 13 & Psalm 61

 Michelle

So it sounds like Abijah, who has become King of Judah, still follows the Lord and God is showing him favor during this battle with Jeroboam, who has not been following God.  It talks of the war between them and that when Judah cried out to God, God delivered Judah's opponents into their hands.  Again we will hear more about this king later on.

This sounds like he is praying to God and that his faithfulness is waning.  Yet he is trying to hang on as he is singing God's praises.

Julie

I am glad you started this one today. I read through this three times to make sure I wasn't missing something, but still wasn't grasping much. 

I wonder if "Lead me to rock" is his way of saying that God is the rock to lean on and since he is struggling with this faith that he needs to be reminded that God is there to lean on.

Day 246 - 2 Chronicles 10-12 & Psalm 60

 Julie

If I understood this correctly Rehoboam takes the advice of the wrong crowd and loses favor with God. Since his followers still believe God keeps them from total destruction. 

I am not sure again, but this psalm seems to be understanding that God has placed them in this place, but that they still have the faith in the fact that God will protect them from the foes that he has placed in their path.

 

Michelle

I think this is correct.  But it also seems toward the end that Rehoboam tries to redeem himself.  But again it sounds like we will hear more later on somewhere in the bible.  I don't understand why he chose to listen to the wrong people.  I guess it's a choice still, free will.  But when the people rebel against him it seems that should have been a sign.  Although some people don't handle their position well.  

I am getting distracted.  There is alot going on in the room right now and that is probably why.  I think your interpretation seems right.  It starts about God rejecting them yet at the end it says with God they will gain the victory.

 

Day 245 - 2 Chronicles 9 & Psalm 59

 Julie

Solomon talks to the Queen of Sheba and his wealth is explained. This is where the story of Solomon ends.

God is our protector and our fortress. He provides us strength in difficult times and protects us from our enemies. He provides the judgment for those that do evil to others.

 

Michelle

This talks about the Queen of Sheba and her interaction with Solomon.  She was amazed by his wealth and prosperity and wisdom that God had provided him.  She even at one point says, "Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on his throne as king to rule for the Lord your God....".  Solomon then gives her all she desired.  Unsure of the significance here.  We then hear about all his wealth, which I still don't know why we are constantly reading about the wealth of all these people, except that God is providing this wealth.  At the end it says we will hear about the rest of Solomon's life later on.  

I agree with your interpretation.  It seems like at points he is asking God to bring them down and then it then sounds like he is just going over the bad things they are doing.  At the end it reminds that God is refuge and to sing praise to God.  

Day 244 - 2 Chronicles 8 & Psalm 58

 Julie

Today's reading was about Solomon's accomplishments and the things that he did that his father had commanded. I didn't notice anything that stood out today. 

This psalm seems to be looking forward to the day that God judges those across the world that are doing wrong. 

 

Michelle

What stood out to me was regarding Solomon's wife, the daughter of Pharaoh, in which he moved her away from God's temple.  It's interesting because the devotional also speaks of this section.  It talks about if you live with an unbelieving husband or are surrounded by those that do not believe in God as you do.  Solomon recognized that God's holiness must take precedence over his wife's comfort, so he moved her and her household away from God's holy place.  It does question if she knew why she was being moved and if she resented it but it doesn't say anything about it in the reading.  It says we later find out that Solomon's heart was divided by the gods of his many wives and that he couldn't or didn't keep his heart from being corrupted.  Which leads me to believe that the wife may have been resentful.   It says to keep yourself faithful to God and in doing so those around you may be won over not with words but by your behavior.  And rest that you are in God's hands.  

I can see your interpretation in this psalm and agree.  It feels like they await God judging those that are wicked or wronging the writer in some way.