241st Week, II Chronicles Chapters 34-36 & Proverbs Chapters 20 & 21 (Click on Title for Video Introduction)

 Click on title for Video Intro

Monday, II Chronicles Chapter 34

II Chronicles 34

Verse 31

Jeanie Boldt

Verse 31:  The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord - to follow the Lord and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book.

THOUGHT

When Josiah read the book that Hilkiah discovered, he responded with repentance and humility and promised to follow God’s commands as written in the book. The Bible is God’s Word to us “LIVING AND ACTIVE”.  We cannot know what God wants us to do if we do not read it.  We then must be willing to do what it says. Let’s devote our thoughts to God’s Word today.

FIND THE BOOK:  The greatest treasure you have is not money but the Word of God, which too often is “lost” amid the “rubbish” you can easily accumulate. Do you treasure God’s Word? Is it buried somewhere?

READ THE BOOK: God’s Word is not a relic to admire in a religious museum. They did not put the Book back in its niche in the temple. Rather, they read it publicly and honored it as the living Word of God.

OBEY THE BOOK: The king trembled at God’s Word (lsa.66:2) and immediately sent for God’s message. There is always a fresh word from the Lord as you read the Bible and seek His will.

SHARE THE BOOK: The king gathered the people to the temple to hear God’s Word. It is good to be a receiver of the Word, but it is also good to be a transmitter and share it with others.

STAND FOR THE WORD: The king and the people made a covenant with the Lord and took their stand publicly. After all, the result of Bible knowledge ought to be obedience and service, a living commitment to the God of the Word.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the inspired Word of God. May we not only keep it in handy reach but may it continually fill our hearts each day as we meditate on it. Help us to make the passages more familiar to us so that we can share them with others. May we each take a stand on the Word of God for if we don’t - we will not stand at all. Bless each Salt Shaker who does hold me accountable to being there each day. We Love You Jesus!! AMEN

PS: Salt Shakers, Hug your Bible tonight.

Tuesday, II Chronicles Chapter 35

II Chronicles 35

Verse 16

Jeanie Boldt

Verse 16:   So at that time the entire service of the Lord was carried out for the celebration of the Passover and the offering of burnt offerings on the altar of the lord, as King Josiah had ordered.

THOUGHT

Passover is the great feast of Jewish liberation, when the nation recalls its deliverance from Egypt. Following the example of godly Hezekiah, Josiah held a feast and called the people to praise God. As in the days of Hezekiah, the spiritual leaders had to be encouraged to do their jobs.  There was so much to do. The temple had to be prepared with the special elements in place. People made special animal sacrifices for the Passover offerings. The service had to be arranged with everyone in their special places. Passover Lambs were slaughtered and priests sprinkled with the blood. The musicians took their place. Gatekeepers were at their location.  All the Israelites who were present celebrated the Passover at that time and observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days.

At Easter time, we prepare the way for the Lord with the Palms and sing praises to Hosanna. Then we bow in reference and love as we partake of the Lord’s Supper just as Christ dined for the last time with the disciples. On Good Friday, we follow the Lord to the Cross and cry as we watch His blood shed for each one of us. And finally, we all sing praises to our God and King for the Resurrection of His Son. We do not need to be ordered by anyone to love and praise the Lord. Our heart leads us to the celebrations of the week. Jesus, we thank You!!!

PRAYER

Jesus, You love each of us. You can say each of our names for that is why You were nailed on the cross. Be with each of us as we worship You in our own way.  Please be with Your chosen people.  In the Blood of Jesus. AMEN

Wednesday, II Chronicles Chapter 36

II Chronicles 36

Verse 16

Jeanie Boldt

Verse 16: But they mocked God’s messengers, despised His words and scoffed at prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against His people and there was no remedy.

THOUGHT

Second Chronicles opens telling how the temple was built. It closes telling how and why the temple of God was destroyed. First the enemy robbed the temple taking the treasures of the Lord to their pagan temple in Babylon. You expect the enemy to do this, but you do not expect the priests and people to defile their own temple. While Nebuchadnezzar was taking Jerusalem to Babylon, the Jewish leaders were bringing Babylon to Jerusalem!!! Will we ever learn?

The next step was the death of the temple. The people fled to the temple, hoping for God’s protection, but it was too late. The house of prayer had become a den of thieves. Finally, the temple was destroyed, just as Jeremiah had warned. The nation had disobeyed the Word of God in many ways. Eventually the situation was beyond remedy. Beware of harboring sin in your heart. The day will come when remedy is no longer possible and God’s judgment replaces His mercy. Is there anything to nail on the cross this very weekend? For tomorrow is when the cross is completely empty, and we celebrate the risen Lord!!!!

I couldn’t help thinking about Jeremiah as I read this chapter and the verse that I chose today. I can understand more fully why Jeremiah was called the Weeping Prophet. In people’s eyes he was a miserable failure. For 40 years he served as God’s spokesman to Judah, but when he spoke, no one listened. Consistently and passionately he urged them to act, but nobody moved. He was poor and underwent severe deprivation. Throughout his life, Jeremiah stood alone, declaring God’s messages of doom and weeping over the fate of his beloved country. In God’s eyes Jeremiah was a successful, obedient faithful servant.

Salt Shakers, as we have read the rising and fall of so many Kings, please may we not grow weary with encouragement and affirmation of our faith and our God. HE IS THE GOD HE SAYS HE IS, AND HE DOES THE THINGS THAT HE SAYS HE CAN DO. Nothing is impossible for us. May we be successful in the eyes of God. May HIS KINGDOM be supported by all of us.

PRAYER 

Our Faithful Father and King of all, it is with love and honor that I bow before You at this time. Keep us strong in our faith - never rejecting You or growing weary at proclaiming Your Love. Thank You for Your ever loving mercy just as was given to Your people for they were able to rebuild again.  Keep us from making the same mistake. Our praises You will hear!!  AMEN

Thursday, Proverbs Chapter 20

Proverbs 20

Verse 20

Matt Strayer

Verse 20:  If a man curses his father or mother, his lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.

THOUGHT

I chose this verse because over the past year God has really opened my eyes to parents and parenting. This verse also parallels one of the Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” I guess I just wanted to take the time to point out that God commands us to respect our parents in a Godly way. There have been times when I have failed to do that, but I hope as each day passes I learn to do a better job. 

I would challenge each one of you that have parents still here on earth, to be conscious of the way you treat them at your next encounter.  I’m not trying to say any of you do a bad job, but I think reminders like this verse really bring to life the way we should treat them. And if your parents have passed on into heaven, say a prayer thanking them today for everything they did for you. I love my parents as you all do.  Let’s show them.

PRAYER

God, thank You for our fathers and mothers. Help us each day to honor them in a respectful and Godly way. You have commanded us to do this, and it is our desire to follow Your rules.  In Jesus Name.  AMEN

Friday, Proverbs Chapter 21

Proverbs 21

Verse 31

Matt Strayer

Verse 31: The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.

THOUGHT

As we move through life, we face little battles, and we face a few big battles. Many of these battles God allows to prepare us. He relies on us to do our part and prepare ourselves for the challenges we face. I think of Heather, my cousin, as she heads out east to New York. She has done her part and prepared herself for the move. The Lord has worked in her life over the past few years in MN. Now with God by her side, He will accomplish His purpose for her in New York. I just think this verse states that we must ask God to be on our side.  However, He expects us to do our part and prepare ourselves.  It is then that His purpose will be accomplished.

PRAYER

God, we pray that You give us the ability and the wisdom to prepare ourselves for the battles that we will face in the future. We are all so thankful that we know You, God, and that You are by our side as we go into battle.  In Jesus Name.  AMEN