He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, as his father Manasseh had done. – 2 Kings 21:20

Today's Scripture Reading (April 30, 2023): 2 Kings 21

Polycarp was the Bishop of Smyrna during the second century, but at the age of 86, the Bishop was arrested for crimes against the faith. The actual charge was that he was an atheist, a charge based on the fact that Polycarp refused to believe in the Roman pantheon of gods. Because of this atheism, the aged Polycarp was arrested and sentenced to death. But there is very little honor in executing an old man. So repeatedly, Polycarp was offered a chance to change his mind; all the aging church leader needed to do was curse Christ and swear allegiance to Caesar and the gods of the land. But every time his accusers broached the subject, the Bishop of Smyrna refused to recant his belief in Christ. His famous reply to his captors was, "Eighty and six years I have served him, and he has done me no wrong. How, then, can I blaspheme my King and Savior? Bring forth what you will." In the end, Polycarp was executed on Saturday, February 23, 156 C.E., in Smyrna, a port city in Modern Turkey.   

If there is a lesson to be learned from the life of Manasseh of Judah, it might be found in this passage. Manasseh's reign needs to be divided into two parts. For the first part of his reign, Manasseh was numbered along with the evilest kings that Judah had known. Rabbinic literature even credits Manasseh with the execution of the aging prophet Isaiah. Like the execution of Polycarp, it would seem that there would have been little honor in the execution. But complicating the issue even further is that Isaiah was likely related to Manasseh, possibly an older cousin (or, more precisely, a cousin of his grandfather or great-grandfather), and possibly even Manasseh's own grandfather.

But late in his life, there is a change in Manasseh. He stops worshipping at the altar of pagan gods. He repents of the things that he had done earlier in his reign. He takes down the worship sites and dedicates his life to the God of Israel. But apparently, the change comes too late for his son, Amon. Upon Manasseh's death, Amon takes his position as the King and follows the evil of the early part of Manasseh's reign rather than the good of the last portion of Manasseh's reign. The example set by Manasseh in the setting up of the altars for false gods and the execution of Isaiah seemed to be too much for Amon. Manasseh's son wanted to reflect the image of the King's early reign rather than the example he set later in his life. And while Manasseh recovered from his evil, his son did not.

Often in Western Christianity, we seem to conclude that as long as we repent before we die, that is all that matters. But that is not really true. Yes, like Manasseh, we can come to God late, and he will honor us. But for the sake of those around us, that example, late in life, might be too late to matter. For those who are watching us, there is a reason for us to live godly lives throughout the length of our lives. And there is nothing better than to have a testimony like that of Polycarp and say, "I have served him all of my life, and he has never turned his back on me. How can I turn my back on him?" It is this lifelong testimony that changes the world, and it changes the lives of our children, the ones who are watching and learning from the actions of our lives. While turning to Christ in the last moment of our lives will save us from any eternal punishment, turning to Christ early in our lives will change the lives of those around us, especially those closest to us. They need our example, and they need it now.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 33

See Also: 2 Chronicles 33:22

Are you better than Thebes, situated on the Nile with water around her? The river was her defense, the waters her wall. – Nahum 3:8

Today's Scripture Reading (April 29, 2023): Nahum 3

In 667, the Assyrians attacked Egypt. At that time, Taharqa, the Pharaoh of Egypt, abandoned Lower Egypt and took refuge in Thebes. Taharqa stayed in Thebes until his death three years later. His relative Tantamani replaced Egypt's Pharaoh, likely a nephew of Taharqa, the ruler of the Kingdom of Kush in Northern Sudan. While Tantamani would rule over Kush for another decade, his reign in Thebes would be short-lived. The Assyrian army would move against Thebes in the months following the death of Taharqa. When the Assyrians arrived at the city, Tantamani had already fled south. The Assyrians sacked the city, an event not mentioned in the Egyptian annals but is prominent in the Assyrian histories. They defeated the city and installed Psamtik I as the new Pharaoh of Egypt, ending the rule of the Kushite Kings over the African nation. Psamtik was a ruler who, at least in the early years, was willing to be subservient to the Assyrian rulers. As the years passed and Assyria became less powerful, Psamtik reunited Egypt as a nation and increased his authority over the country. But Thebes would never again regain its position of influence.

Nahum points to Thebes as an example for the Assyrians. Writing in the years immediately following the Sack of Thebes, Nahum reminds his readers that there was a time when the city of Thebes was thought to be impenetrable. No one believed that the Egyptian city could be defeated. In fact, Thebes was so secure that Egyptian Pharaohs like Taharqa ran to it as a place of safety. And then, one day, it wasn't. The Assyrians defeated the city and heavily plundered it, removing from the city both its wealth and its significance.

And so, Naham asks the Assyrians if they really think what happened to Thebes couldn't happen to them. And he points to the Assyrians to make his point. Do you believe that what you did to Thebes someone can't do to you? Because if you do, you are fools. You did what the world thought was impossible in Thebes. And someday, someone will accomplish the impossible and defeat Nineveh.

Thebes fell in 663 B.C.E. Nahum penned his prophecy a few years later when Assyria's decline began to become apparent. Nineveh, the largest city in the world, was sacked and defeated in 612 B.C.E., barely fifty years after the fall of Thebes, Nineveh was overthrown by a coalition of former subservient nations. And like Thebes, Nineveh lost its importance after the city was sacked, and that significance was never regained.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 21

An attacker advances against you, Nineveh. Guard the fortress, watch the road, brace yourselves, marshal all your strength! – Nahum 2:1

Today's Scripture Reading (April 28, 2023): Nahum 2

The Assyrian Kings brutally ruled over their Empire, even by ancient standards. The Assyrians loved torturing their enemies and practiced inflicting pain while keeping the subject alive. One of the tortures the Assyrians perfected was removing the skin off of a person without allowing them to die. It really is no wonder that Jonah balked at going to the Assyrian capital of Nineveh.

As a result of the nation's evil, God took a stand against the Assyrian Empire. Eventually, Assyria would fall to a coalition of countries, including Babylon and the Medes. But Nahum's point is that it is not really these nations that would defeat Assyria. God was tired of their way, and he was the attacker who mustered his focus against the Assyrians. And if God is the attacker, then the fourfold advice of the verse needs to be seen as irony. Nahum tells Nineveh that they should guard the fortress, watch the road, brace themselves, and marshal every bit of their strength against the coming attack. But if the attacker is God, then none of that truly matters. Regardless of how Nineveh decided to fight, they would be on the losing end of the struggle.

Scottish Theologian George Adam Smith wrote of the fall of the Assyrian Empire that "the Besieger of the world is at last besieged; every cruelty that he has inflicted upon men is now to be turned upon himself." It is sometimes fun to think about the list of possible nations arrayed against Assyria, but it is actually just an academic exercise. Looking at the Babylonian Empire, Jeremiah writes these words coming straight from the mouth of God.

"You are my war club,
    my weapon for battle—
with you I shatter nations,
    with you I destroy kingdoms,
with you I shatter horse and rider,
    with you I shatter chariot and driver,
with you I shatter man and woman,
    with you I shatter old man and youth,
    with you I shatter young man and young woman,
with you I shatter shepherd and flock,
    with you I shatter farmer and oxen,
    with you I shatter governors and officials.

 

"Before your eyes I will repay Babylon and all who live in Babylonia for all the wrong they have done in Zion," declares the Lord (Jeremiah 50:20-24).

God would use other nations to defeat Babylon, and Nahum uses a similar idea to say that God would be the one who would use the Babylonians and the Medes to defeat Assyria. And there is no defensive arrangement that can save the Assyrian Empire if God is besieging it.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Nahum 3

Personal Note: Happy Birthday to my grandson, James.

The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on his foes and vents his wrath against his enemies. – Nahum 1:2

Today's Scripture Reading (April 27, 2023): Nahum 1

Many years ago, I was included in a group conversation where one person brought up the concept that we serve a jealous God. The conversation advanced, but I could tell that one lady on the periphery of the discussion was not pleased. Afterward, she found me to press her opinion home. God is not and cannot be jealous. That is a human emotion that should never be connected with God.

Yet, the concept that our God is a jealous God is present in the Bible. In fact, it is a concept used eleven times in our Bibles, including once in the New Testament. Still, we have an adverse reaction to jealousy, and therefore, many of us likely agree with the lady who sought me out to assure me that our God is not jealous; a God of love just can't be.

So, what do we do with the idea of a jealous God? Can we assume it is a mistake in the biblical translation process that we can ignore, or is there something we need to understand about this jealous God? And for me, it is the latter. There is something that we need to understand before we try to write off this concept of a jealous God.

Part of the differentiation we need to make is that our jealous God is not jealous of something. He is not jealous of the other things that occupy our lives that just shouldn't be there. God is jealous for us. He wants the best for us and is upset when we give ourselves to things that make us less or cause us trouble. God always wants the best for us.

And therefore, what angers God are the things that hurt his creation. God will never blindly accept the things that bring us pain. Nor will he passively accept us when we do things that bring others pain. Our jealous God issues a warning to his creation; if we set ourselves up to oppose God, we will not prevail. If we fight the aims of God, or if we take advantage of God's people, we will experience God's vengeance. Because we serve a God who is jealous for his creation, it can't be any other way.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Nahum 2

Once more a remnant of the kingdom of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above. – 2 Kings 19:30

Today's Scripture Reading (April 26, 2023): 2 Kings 19

Everyone knows that fruits and vegetables are necessary for healthy living. Personally, that is not necessarily a good thing. I love fruit, but my love doesn't extend to their cousins, the vegetable. However, can you tell the difference between the two? Maybe, for me, it could be defined as things I like are fruits and things I don't like are vegetables, although I understand that isn't all that informative.

Botanically, the difference between a fruit and a vegetable is relatively simple. A fruit develops from the flower of the plant. Fruits begin their lives as a flower and become the thing that we eat. So, every spring, the apple tree in my backyard bursts forth into little white and light pink blossoms, which will be the delicious apples I love to consume by fall. If the food we eat comes from any other part of the plant, such roots, stem, or leaves, it is an evil vegetable.

From a culinary point of view, the difference between a fruit and a vegetable is based on taste. Fruits tend to be sweet or tart and can be used in desserts, while vegetables are savory and more often used as a side dish or as part of the main course, which carries us back to my definition of fruits as being things I like to eat.

Botanically, there are many fruits that we think are vegetables. The most famous of these mislabeled fruits are tomatoes. But tomatoes are not the only fruits that we call vegetables. Mislabeled fruits also include avocados, cucumbers, peppers, olives, pumpkins, and pea pods, among others. So maybe my definition of a fruit and vegetable isn't all that bad after all.

Here, the author of Kings is talking specifically of fruits, which is good news. But, of course, even fruits have roots, although we don't eat them. Returning to my apple tree, I know the tree's roots go deep into the ground, bringing nutrients up to the tree, the leaves, and the flowers, which will soon be apples.

And if all this sounds simple and normal, you are right. That is precisely the point the author of 2 Kings is attempting to make. The nation was entering a period of great stress. But the day was coming, and it was not far away, when everything in Judah would return to normal. The remnant, those who would survive this time of stress, would return to a state of normality. They would be able to put down roots and bear fruit. A time of health was coming. This message was intended to serve as a message of hope for those who heard the prophet's message. A struggle was coming, but so was a return to normalcy for the nation.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Nahum 1

Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain. – Psalm 48:1

Today's Scripture Reading (April 25, 2023): Psalm 48

If you have read this blog for a while, you might note that I believe we need touch to be healthy. Having said that, in a society that seems to have sexualized touch, touch has also become problematic. As a result, there is a division within our communities. Some of us are touchers. I tend to be gregarious, enjoying friendly hugs, usually an A-frame hug from the side, with friends willing to accept that kind of contact. But not everyone is willing. I had an associate pastor who was not a hugger. Which was okay; I get it, especially in our society. But I also remember the day I got word that my father-in-law had passed away. At the time, I was preparing for another funeral. The church was busy with the congregation arriving, the family was sequestered in a room just behind the sanctuary, and people were running in and out of my office as I received the news of his death. Honestly, I thought I was holding everything together quite well; I am usually pretty good at compartmentalizing things. Everything was fine until my associate hugged me; then, all of my walls began to crumble.

Two mountains are considered to be God's holy mountains. The first was Mount Sinai. It was the mountain where Moses met God and received the Ten Commandments. On this sacred mountain, only Moses was allowed to go. God told Moses;

Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, 'Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death (Exodus 19:12).

Mount Sinai was about exclusion. Unless you are Moses, if you touch it, you will die.

But there was a second holy mountain. The Psalmist says that the city of God was built on God's holy mountain; this one was called Zion. Mount Sinai was all about fear and terror, but Zion would one day be all about love and forgiveness. At Sinai, only Moses could come before God; at Zion, all of Israel could come before God, and one day Zion would be known for inviting everyone to come before God. Sinai was about exclusion, but Zion was about inclusion. Sinai was a cold shoulder, but Zion was a warm hug.

The author of Hebrews sums up the differences between the two mountains.

You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death." The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear."

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel (Hebrews 12:18-24).

Sinaia was the mountain of fear, but Zion was the mountain of joy.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 19

Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. – Psalm 47:1

Today's Scripture Reading (April 24, 2023): Psalm 46 & 47

How do you show your appreciation for someone? I think we have all grown up pretending to be in a situation where we can receive the cries of adoration from the crowd. However, as someone who is actually an introvert, there is a massive difference between the childhood dream and the adult reality. Even as an actor, I find that I am uncomfortable with that moment of applause at the end of a play. And yet, it is a common way for us to respond to something that has touched us and to give our appreciation to people who have done something well.

Psalm 47 is often regarded as an extension of Psalm 46. Both Psalms are written by "The Sons of Korah." But Psalm 47 is also an enthronement psalm, created to be used on festive occasions to remind people that God is still on the throne and reigns in our midst.

It is also a pointer toward worship. But it is worship that is different from what many of us witness on a Sunday morning. I have to admit that we have a divide in our worship practices. My brother-in-law refers to those who like to dance during worship, with or without the ribbons, as "vestal virgins." It is probably not a well-received description by those who want to dance during worship. But it points to our division. As I look out at my service on a Sunday morning, I often see the dancers over in one corner of the sanctuary. Overlapped with the dancers are the clappers, those who love to clap, often off-beat but sometimes not, and it really doesn't matter, to the song being sung. I see the diligent singers who concentrate on how the music is best sung and sometimes work on intricate harmonies that work for the song. And then there are sleepers and the grumpy. This last group can be hilarious to watch. Most stayed up way too late the night before and just can't be bothered to sing, stand, or do anything, and often seem to look down on those who do.

I must admit that I attended one church service several years ago at a conservative church, filled with hymns and a piano and organ. And I just decided that I was going to smile, stand, and sing during the service and see if anyone noticed. I had no official reason for being there, and I don't think anyone knew who I was. But I wasn't disappointed. After the service, the Worship Leader found me and called me an enthusiastic worshipper; I am not convinced that the description was supposed to be a compliment; maybe it was just his version of my brother-in-law's "vestal virgins."

But the worship described by the "Sons of Korah" is not the sleepy version I often see in our sanctuaries. It is the animated version of the enthusiastic worshippers and even the worship of our "vestal virgins." There, praises are shouted and filled with joy rather than whispered as if the worshippers were afraid of waking their neighbors up. You can look down on me all you want, but that is the kind of worship that God needs from all of us "enthusiastic worshippers."

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Psalm 48

And the LORD sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the commanders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons, his own flesh and blood, cut him down with the sword. – 2 Chronicles 32:21

Today's Scripture Reading (April 23, 2023): 2 Chronicles 32

Winston Churchill is often thought to have said that "History is written by the victors," although the actual origin of the saying is unknown. And in some ways, it is also incorrect, at least to a point. Maybe a more truthful way of phrasing it is that history is written by people who have a stake in what history tells those who come later. Losers also write history, but they write it from their own perspective and give their own reasons for what has happened. The bottom line is that conflict is recorded with a bias; therefore, the history we believe also reflects that bias.

So, in the end, what we think happened reflects the side of the story to which we are willing to listen. As the conflict in Ukraine continues, what is happening there depends on which version of history to which you are listening. For those inclined to believe the Russian version of events, the United States and the West are intruding on Russia's ability to run events within their own country. The Russian version of events insists that Ukraine was a threat that demanded a response, and Russia was entirely within its rights to do what they have done. If you listen to the West, Russia is the aggressor and already has a blueprint to re-establish the reign of the Soviet Union. The truth just might be somewhere in the middle.

Chronicles tells us that an angel was sent from heaven to interfere with the Assyrian military efforts at Jerusalem. Men and commanders died. The Assyrian history of the events concurs. Something strange happened in the Assyrian camp outside of Jerusalem. Modern experts have tried to explain what happened by talking about rats and diseases that quickly spread throughout the camp. But there is no question that soldiers died in what was then an unexplainable way.

But that is where the agreement ends. In reading Chronicles, you couldn't be blamed if you believed that Sennacherib went home, walked into the Temple, and was killed. But that is not quite true; twenty years are piled into this verse. Sennacherib went to his capital and ruled for another two decades. During those two decades, the King had resolved a problem that had arisen in Babylon, devoted significant time and assets to renovating the capital city of Nineveh, and struggled through two separate succession crises. The first crisis was with his eldest son, Ashurnadin-shumi, who disappeared mysteriously and is assumed to have been executed.   Arda-Mulissu, Sennacherib's eldest remaining son, replaced his brother as the heir apparent, but he too fell out of favor and was replaced by his younger brother Esarhaddon. As a result of the removal, the popular Arda-Mulissu led a revolt against his father. Sennacherib sent Esarhaddon into exile for his protection, and the King was killed by Arda-Mulissa and one of his younger brothers in a Temple in Nineveh. Unfortunately for Arda-Mulissu, the revolt seriously cut into the young prince's popularity, and most of his army defected to join Esarhaddon. Esarhaddon's forces came back to Nineveh and took control of the government. Was Sennacherib's failure and death a delayed response to the siege on Jerusalem? Many biblical scholars would say yes, but that conclusion isn't as straightforward as the writer of Chronicles might want us to believe.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Psalms 46 & 47

At this time Hezekiah king of Judah stripped off the gold with which he had covered the doors and doorposts of the temple of the LORD, and gave it to the king of Assyria. – 2 Kings 18:16

Today's Scripture Reading (April 22, 2023): 2 Kings 18

Paying tribute as an act of submission was an essential aspect of the political system of the ancient world. Powerful nations would demand that weaker nations would pay them for the privilege of letting them exist, usually with some sort of submissive act and a promise that they lived to serve the powerful. Often, that was all that was required. A payment, whenever it might be demanded, along with a symbol of subservience, would keep the relationship moving forward for both nations. But non-payment, or even payment that was not delivered in a submissive manner, would often mean dire consequences for the less powerful country. It was how the nation of Judah would end in the early years of the sixth century B.C.E. At that time, the Southern Kingdom would stop paying tribute to the Babylonians.

Isaiah had told Hezekiah that God would save them from the Assyrians. And he did. But that didn't mean that Hezekiah would trust God in the future. Instead, Hezekiah decides that he somehow dodged disaster with the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem. But what happens next probably caused Isaiah to stare in disbelief. The King decided that rather than risk the return of the Assyrian army, he would enter into a subservient tribute-paying relationship with the Assyrian Empire. Maybe paying tribute made Hezekiah feel safer than depending on God for the nation's defense. However, it also impoverished both Judah and the Temple to the point that even the gold covering the doors and the doorposts had to be removed to pay the tribute.

Did it work? Maybe, Assyria never did come back to threaten Judah again. They eventually had other problems and internal conflicts that weakened the nation's ability to sustain the Empire. Ultimately, the Assyrian Empire would succumb to the upstart Babylonian or Chaldean Empire.

But maybe that also isn't really the point. Hezekiah's decision to pay tribute meant that the nation would be set up to live in poverty. The sad part of the story is that it could have been different if only Hezekiah and Judah could have continued to trust in the God who had already promised to be their defense.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 32

"It is a simple matter for the shadow to go forward ten steps," said Hezekiah. "Rather, have it go back ten steps." – 2 Kings 20:10

Today's Scripture Reading (April 21, 2023): 2 Kings 20

I have admitted that I am going through my "country" phase of musical development. But I also must admit that my country phase doesn't extend much past liking Tim Hicks's music. And in late 2022, Hicks released what I think is his fifth studio album, Talk to Time. The title song talks about our struggle with the passing of time. The chorus of the song says.

If I could talk to time
I'd say, "Why you always flyin'?"
You say you're on my side
But you ain't no friend of mine
You don't do second chances
You don't like lookin' back
I blame it all on you
But it's me who's losin' track.

The chorus sums up some of the most precious and worst moments of our lives. The good moments pass by us too quickly, and in the bad moments, time allows us no do-overs. This is our world; this is where we live. We wish we could dwell in the good and have a chance to redo the bad, but time doesn't allow that. I wish time did, but that is the problem we all have with time.

Hezekiah is sick, but God has said he will heal the King. But Hezekiah wants a sign that this healing promise has come from God. Isaiah shrugs and offers Hezekiah the chance to have the shadow of the day move ten steps forward or ten steps back. Hezekiah lives in the same world I do; he would understand the sentiment of Tim Hicks's "Talk to Time." And so, he responds that making the shadow go ten steps forward is not a big thing. Time moves forward independently, whether we want it to or not. But moving backward ten steps is something that time doesn't do. If God could do that, it would be a powerful sign.

Hezekiah receives what the rest of us have only dreamed, a chance to move time backward, even if it was only a few minutes, and relive those minutes over again. For the rest of us, time is just a treasure that keeps seeping through our fingers.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 18

… and Azariah the chief priest, from the family of Zadok, answered, "Since the people began to bring their contributions to the temple of the LORD, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare, because the LORD has blessed his people, and this great amount is left over." – 2 Chronicles 31:10

Today's Scripture Reading (April 20, 2023): 2 Chronicles 31

Money. No matter the arena, money is a sensitive topic. I have friends who say that they love to talk about the subject; after all, it is one of the things that the Bible does talk about. And if there is anything that we need instruction on, it is the subject of money. If we are willing to live the way the Bible instructs, we might even have more of the stuff. But God's way is challenging. It involves living on what we have and not going into debt. That move alone would leave most of us financially in a much better place. The temptation to possess today rather than wait until we can afford the item is often too much for us. Don't get me wrong; debt is a necessary evil with some big-ticket items. But the ready availability of credit often invites us to bite off more than we can actually chew. We make purchases that are beyond what we need and can afford, and in the process, we ensure our poverty and become slaves (note to my computer: insensitive language intended) to the banks—but having someone tell us that is often insulting.

Another part of God's plan is to tithe and give ten percent of what we earn to the church so that it can function. But that is another sensitive topic, especially if the religious organization tends to waste money. I have to admit that I am sometimes embarrassed by how some organizations spend what has been donated to them. CEOs and pastors who direct massive amounts of funding to their own accounts and live extravagant lives are only one way that makes me more than a little self-conscious when I talk about money. And yet, I also know the blessing of using our money in the way God intends.

There is abundance in the House of the Lord, reflecting the abundance that God has given to the people. The people of Judah had been stingy with their giving, until Hezekiah talks to them about money. He reminds them that the duty to bring money into the storehouse belongs to everyone, not just a few. And the people respond. Finally, those who minister in God's house have enough to eat and no longer have to go hungry.

Sometimes, I think that part of our problem is that we don't recognize the blessings that God has given to us. Because our eyes have expanded our wants, we dwell on what we cannot afford rather than acknowledging all the ways that we are better off than people in other parts of the world. We have already received, so now it is time to give back so that there can once more be abundance in the House of God that will spill over to care for those in need, just as God intended it to be.  

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 20

People of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that he may return to you who are left, who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. – 2 Chronicles 30:6b

Today's Scripture Reading (April 19, 2023): 2 Chronicles 30

I have always been intrigued by French Resistance during World War II, and I don't seem to be the only one. Even the popular Science Fiction Television Series "Star Trek" paid homage to these freedom fighters when they called their freedom fighters "The Maquis" after those who fought in rural France. The country might have been under the control of Nazi Germany, but these brave men and women fought, and many died, to restore a France that, at that point, only existed in the minds of the fighters and other like-minded people.

As a result of the presence of the resistance in fighters in France, the Allied forces, led by Britain and later the United States, went to great lengths to try to communicate with these fighters. Even though part of the struggle with the resistance is that they seemed to often opt for splash, doing something that would get a lot of publicity, over substance, hitting military targets that might not get much fanfare but would advance the aims of the Allied military forces in their fight against the Nazi war machine, the resistance movement in areas occupied by the Nazi's played a significant role in the outcome of the war.

For the northern Kingdom of Israel, the war is over. Most of the people of substance have been exiled by their Assyrian conquerors. But there was still a remnant left behind in the land once ruled over by the northern tribes of Israel. They were most likely the poor and those who had never possessed any kind of power to shape their lives. But this northern remnant were still the descendants of Jacob and the cousins to their southern neighbors. And so, Hezekiah makes what might be considered a surprising move. Judah's great reformer demonstrates that he is worthy of the throne of David by not just considering the spiritual need of the Kingdom of Judah but also extending an invitation to the remnant in the Northern Kingdom still living in the land. The invitation was to attend the religious festival and repent of their sins to the God of both Judah's and Israel's forefathers.

Even after all that had happened in the Kingdom of Israel, Yahweh was still their God, and he was still calling them to return to him. And because Hezekiah was a servant of God, he understood that his invitation to worship was not just for his people but also for all the people that God loved.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 31

He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done. – 2 Chronicles 29:2

Today's Scripture Reading (April 18, 2023): 2 Chronicles 29

I am always intrigued by conversations about the "G.O.A.T." (Greatest of All Time). There are always so many things to consider, including the climate, and competition, when they were alive and engaged in whatever the pursuit might be that is under examination. For instance, in September 2022, C.B.S. News released a list of the best and worst Presidents of the United States. Who do you think should be listed as the G.O.A.T. regarding Presidents of the United States? I can almost hear the Maga World demanding that President Trump be listed as number one. But he wasn't. Trump didn't even make the top ten. Of the forty-five presidents to date, C.B.S. ranked The Donald as number 43. The current President came in at number 19, one position behind G.O.P. favorite Ronald Reagan (coming in at number 18). I know you're not asking me, but I think both might be ranked a little higher in this poll than historians will rank them when a few years have passed.

So, who is the G.O.A.T.? The top three presidents, according to the poll, are George Washington (#3), Abraham Lincoln (#2), and Franklin D. Roosevelt (#1). F.D.R. gets first place not just because of his incredible popularity, he is the only American President who was elected to four terms, but also because of the time in history during which he was the leader of the nation, which included the worst years of the depression and the entirety of World War II. But an argument could probably be made for any of the top three to be the G.O.A.T. It is important to note that each of the top three where in some way "War Presidents;" for Roosevelt, it was World War II, Lincoln was the President during the American Civil War, and Washington, while not technically a War president, was the first president of the United States and a product of the American Revolutionary war. World War I President, Woodrow Wilson, was ranked number 13 in the poll.

If you ask many people who were the Greatest King of Israel, the consensus might be that David was the greatest. But I believe that an argument could be made for Hezekiah. David was a great King, and in many ways, he set the standard for a good King of the descendants of Jacob. But Hezekiah came into a situation where he had to try to restore Israel to the place where God had designed the nation to be. Since the days of David, many good kings had not removed the High places. But Hezekiah took direct action against these popular altars, which God had prohibited. Neither Hezekiah nor David were perfect, but Hezekiah was a good King who likely owed much of his morality to the teaching of the godly mother who had brought him up. And as a result, Hezekiah shared what his mother had taught him with the nation, restoring God to the prime position of the country. And I think that should put Hezekiah at least in the conversation as the Greatest King of Judah/Israel of All Time.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 30

He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, but not like the kings of Israel who preceded him. – 2 Kings 17:2

 Today's Scripture Reading (April 17, 2023): 2 Kings 17

I have often heard of the proverbial "straw that broke the camel's back." It is a reminder that what brings us to the breaking point is often not the placing of the heaviest part of the load on us, but often it is something relatively small that carries us past our breaking point. Families probably know the reality of this proverb well. Many parents have had stressful days only to explode because something small went wrong when they arrived home. The saying has Arabic origins and comes from the practice of traders placing straw on the back of the camel to carry from place to place in their trading activities. The trick was to get as much straw on the back of the camel without passing the point where the animal would collapse under the too-heavy burden. And, apparently, the practice of having camels loaded with straw has cost more than one camel its life.

The earliest use of the expression in the precise way we have it was in the Australian newspaper "The Age" in 1854. However, Charles Dickens used the concept with slightly different phrasing six years earlier in his novel "Dombey and Son." In that novel, Dickens wrote, "As the last straw breaks the laden camel's back, this piece of underground information crushed the sinking spirits of Mr. Dombey" (Charles Dickens).

As the author of the Book of Kings begins the tale of the last King of Israel, he reminds us that Hoshea was an evil king, but not as bad as some of the kings of Israel who had preceded him, which is significant in and of itself. Hoshea was the straw, and not the full load that would cause the demise of the Kingdom.

The last time we saw Hoshea was in 2 Kings 15, as Hoshea led a conspiracy against Pekah, the previous King of Israel. Hoshea led a bloody revolt against Pekah and killed the King, yet the author of Kings says that even that was not enough to cause Hoshea to be listed among the most evil kings the nation had to offer. One note is that it does not seem that Hoshea either began or furthered practices that opposed the God of Israel.

But Hoshea was a continuation of other practices God had stated was forbidden for his people. Anglican theologian John Trapp (1601-1669) says that "It is not the last sand that exhausteth the hourglass, nor the last stroke of the axe that felleth the tree; so here" (Trapp). No one grain of sand takes longer to fall through the hourglass than any other, nor would the last stroke of the axe make the tree fall without all of the blows the tree received before it. So Hoshea is simply the last grain of sand, the final blow of the axe, and the proverbial last straw. He may not have been the worst of the Kings, but he also did nothing to give God pause concerning the fate of Israel. And so, Hoshea becomes the last King of the Kingdom of Israel. It wasn't supposed to end this way, and yet it did.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 29

In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, "This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover." – Isaiah 38:1

Today's Scripture Reading (April 16, 2023): Isaiah 38 & 39

Some people seem to be made for a particular moment in history. Winston Churchill was one such person. We still remember Churchill's words given on June 4, 1940, as Britain struggled with the potential loss of France to Germany, an event that would take place a mere three weeks later. But the reality, as Churchill gave his famous "We Shall Fight" speech, is that the British army had been chased from the European continent, and Germany's domination in Eastern France continued. The Battle of Dunkirk, which allowed soldiers to evacuate from France to Britain, had just drawn to a close. The casualties were enormous, and the mood in Britain was not very optimistic. And at that moment, Churchill gave a speech before the House of Commons. He admits the enemy's strength had overwhelmed what Britain could muster against them. He tells the nation's leaders of the German Airforce's strength and the English defenses' weakness. And yet, Churchill spoke these words in what became a defining moment for Britain in the war.

We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if … this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old (Winston Churchill).

Winston Churchill became a man of the moment, and if we are honest, he struggled to find his footing in times of peace. But we are thankful for his leadership during World War II. And we shudder to think what might have happened if Churchill had died in some accident in the years just before the war.

For both good and bad, Hezekiah was also a man of the moment. And Isaiah seems to pause from his prophecy here to remember back. Many experts accept a date of 703 B.C.E., just before the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem, for this prophecy. But the evidence strongly suggests that Hezekiah's sickness occurred a decade before the siege in 712 B.C.E. Isaiah's point is that Hezekiah almost didn't get to this point. He might be the man of the moment, but his death was scheduled many years before the Assyrian invasion. And this moment could have been left to Hezekiah's son Manasseh, the king who would eventually execute Isaiah. Isaiah likely believed that the reason God had agreed to extend Hezekiah's life was for this specific moment in the history of the nation so that it would be Hezekiah at the helm of the country and not his son.  

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 17

Isaiah said to them, "Tell your master, 'This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard—those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me." – Isaiah 37:6

Today's Scripture Reading (April 15, 2023): Isaiah 37

The month has become one of funerals and saying goodbye. It started with the death of my grandmother. On the way home from her funeral, I teased my wife that an era had ended. For a while, I was both a grandson and a grandfather. But now, with the death of my last grandparent at the young age of 107, I was no longer a grandson, just a grandfather. Then I was approached by a friend about doing a funeral for someone I didn't know but who had a connection with the church building. That funeral is taking place later this morning. And then another friend passed away. That funeral has been scheduled for the first part of May. Typically, we think of April as the month when spring finally arrives and life pokes through the formerly snow and frost-filled ground. But this year, it seems to be highlighted by death.

Death has a habit of sending me into torrents of remembering and waves of memory. The husband of my latest deceased friend passed away a couple of years ago. I know his wife, now also gone, has been mourning his death ever since he left us. And now, she is again where she wanted to be, by his side.

And then this torrent of remembering brings me back to the death of my friend a couple of years ago. His death caught him by surprise. He really believed that he would not die, that Jesus would return before his body finally wore out and ceased working. He had heard the words spoken by modern-day prophets that said the world was ending, not some years from now, but today. Every day he woke worried that this might be the day, although worried might not be the exact word needed here. But it is a strange paradox that we, as Christians, seem to have adopted. We have come to believe that the world will descend every day into more and more chaos until the moment when we are about to destroy the world ourselves, but instead, Jesus comes back and saves us from ourselves.

I am not convinced that is true. Are we living in the last days? Of course, we are. We have been for the last two thousand years. And Jesus will come back at a time of the Father's choosing. But most of the noise that I hear and that we accept as modern-day prophecy is nothing more than clatter that distracts us from what is essential.

Jesus instructed us to be salt and light. We are not supposed to be waiting for the world to end in chaos; instead, we should be making this world a better place. We are the salt that this world needs and the light that chases away the darkness and chaos. We must stop listening to the modern-day prophets and start being Christ with skin on for this world to see.

We need to hear Isaiah's words. Just as Hezekiah needed to ignore the words of Sennacherib's underlings and concentrate on what God wanted from him, we need to listen to the words spoken over our lives and situations. "Do not be afraid of what you have heard" (Isaiah 37:6); keep your eyes on Jesus and what he asks of you. And the end will take care of itself.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Isaiah 38 & 39