2 Chronicles 34/Ephesians 2
Blessed to those who obey the Bible by faith. Woe to he who throws away the Bible and worships other gods
2 Chronicles 34/Ephesians 2
2 Chronicles 34/1-7: Do right things, seek God and get rid of idols all over the place.
King Josiah did what was right in the eyes of God. He looked for the Lord. He got rid of every other gods or idols in the Holy Temple and in the land of Judah.
What are idols? Psalm 135/15 said, “The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.” It is so easy for Christians to ignore the Bible and to admire or worship some people, some things or material goods as gods just like the non-believers. When we think of some programs at church by our human brain, our hands or our own effort, we are cast idols at church. It is just as Aaron casting the golden calf for the Israel. For example, some people do business at church. Or some set up daycare centers at church. Some play games for fellowship meetings at church. All of these kinds of activities are made by the hands of men. They are as idols at church in the eyes of the Lord.
Sometimes, people stress on partial truth more than the Lord Himself. There are times people misunderstand the original meaning of God’s words. Many even worship image of sun as an idol. The sun is created by God, but people worship and admire it as a god. In Poland, Mary has been worshipped as a popular idol.
But King Josiah burned all these terrible idols into ashes. He did the same all over Israel.
Ephesians 2/1-5: We are saved by grace and alive from death.
We were dead in our transgressions and sins. We used to live according to the ways of this world. All of us only wanted to satisfy our desires of sinful nature. We used to live according to what our flesh wanted and what our sinful minds desired. We were by nature objects of anger of God. But because of His great love for us and His rich mercy, He made us alive with Christ when we were dead in sins.
In comparison: Get rid of terrible idols and be alive from death.
We should follow the example of King Josiah to seek God and remove all the terrible ways of the world. We used to live according to our sinful nature before we believe in Jesus. We worshipped our flesh and desires as gods. We also worshipped men created by God as gods. All of these must be burned by the Holy Spirit to ashes forever. Then, we will truly experience alive from death. We are connected to God.
2 Chronicles 34/8-13: God blessed Josiah when he repaired the Holy Temple.
King Josiah ordered people to repair the temple of God. They gave money that had been collected from people to the high priest. Then they gave the money to the men appointed to supervise the work. These supervisors then gave money to all kinds of gifted workers to buy materials for the repair of the temple of God. All of the workers were honest and faithful.
Ephesians 2/6-9: No one can boast because this kindness is a gift from God.
God’s salvation raised us up with Christ and seated us with God in heavenly realms in Jesus. He has shown His kindness to us in Jesus Christ so that He can show it to the coming ages. It is by grace through faith that we have been saved. This is the gift of God, not by works. This is not from ourselves, so that no one can boast.
In comparison:
It is God’s grace that we can be alive with Jesus Christ. We must think of things of heaven. To repair the temple of the Lord means to repair the church of our times. When Josiah saw God’s abundant grace that many people offered money for it, he should boast nothing but His grace. God also provided all kinds of gifted workers and lots of materials for the repair of the temple. There workers worked honestly and faithfully. There were supervisors. There were men to direct the work of repairing. There were secretaries, scribes and doorkeepers. All the blessings and provisions were gifts of God, not by works. They were not from themselves. No one could boast of it.
2 Chronicles 34/14-28: Josiah repented completely because of God’s words so he would not have disasters. Woe to those who forsake the Lord to worship other gods.
The high priest found the words of the Law. He gave it the secretary. The secretary then read it before the king. When the king heard the words of the Law, he cried. He ordered people to pray to God. He knew that God was angry with them because their fathers had not kept the word of the Lord. The prophetess told them the message of God. God would bring disasters on this place and its people because they had forsaken God and worshipped other gods. But the king would have peace because he humbled himself before the word of God.
Ephesians 2/10-19: Preach gospel widely so that many people will receive promises and become one new man in the Lord.
Remember when we were separate from Christ; we had no part in the covenants of the promise. We were without hope. We were without God in the world. But now we have been brought near to God through the blood of Christ. The Jews and the Gentile become one new creation in Jesus Christ. We no longer are foreigners and aliens. We are members of God’s household. We missionaries are responsible to preach this gospel to those who are far away and to those who are near.
In comparison: How important the word of God—the Holy Bible is!
Whoever humbles himself and repents completely because of the word of the Lord will not have disasters. He will receive great blessing promised by God. If anyone forsakes the Lord and worship other gods, he will make God angry. Then disasters will come on him. Therefore, we must preach gospel widely and lead people to obey God’s words by faith. Then they will receive blessing rather than disasters. Gospel is about the truth and great love of God.
2 Chronicles 34/29-33: The leader first keeps God’s words and the covenant by himself. Then he can lead his people to get rid of idols and turn to God forever.
Then the king called together all the people to go up to the temple of the Lord. He read all the words of the Book of the Covenant to the people. The king first renewed the covenant with God by himself. He would keep all of God’s commands with all his heart and all his soul. Then he had everyone to obey God’s words and put them into practice. He got rid of all the terrible idols from all the land of the Israelites. He made everyone worshipped the only true God. They always followed the Lord when the king lived.
Ephesians 2/20-22: Build up and join together in the Lord. God will live with man.
Church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Jesus Christ himself, which is God’s words, is as the cornerstone. In Him the whole church is joined together and become a holy temple. We become a dwelling in which God lives by the Holy Spirit.
In comparison:
We see that when God’s workers start to keep God’s words by themselves, they can bring every church to get rid of all of the terrible idols. All the churches will keep God’s words forever. Everyone will not have disasters but receive great blessings promised by God.