SUNDAY SCHOOL FALL QUARTER, Sow the Wind Reap the Whirlwind. A Study in 2 Kings 21 23; 2 Chronicles 33 35; Zephaniah, Lamentations, Habakkuk

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2 Adult Quarterly SUNDAY SCHOOL FALL QUARTER, 2007 Sow the Wind Reap the Whirlwind A Study in 2 Kings 21 23; 2 Chronicles 33 35; Zephaniah, Lamentations, Habakkuk QUARTERLY AIM: The student will learn that God s love is strong and His forgiveness is complete, but that never prevents Him from dealing with sin in the lives of His people. SEPTEMBER 2 The Foolishness of Idolatry The Word of God Discovered The Word of God Applied God s Judgment on Judah God s Judgment on the Nations OCTOBER 7 God s Blessing and Restoration The Wondering Prophet The Watching Prophet The Worshiping Prophet NOVEMBER 4 Desolation of Jerusalem God s Just Judgment God s Faithful Mercy Prayer of Lamentation ADULT QUARTERLY, Sunday School, Vol. 94, No. 4, issued September 1, 2007, is published quarterly. Prepared by David Robinson; cover design by Jeff Allen; Larry E. Clements, Editor in Chief, <larryclements@abaptist.org>; Wayne Sewell, Business Manager, <wsewell@abaptist.org>. Copyright 2007, BAPTIST SUNDAY SCHOOL COMMITTEE of the American Baptist Association, 4605 N. State Line Ave., Texarkana, TX

3 American Baptist Association Through-the-Bible Series Sunday School Lessons Winter Spring Summer Fall Isaiah Chronicles Kings Nahum Ephesians John Daniel Ezekiel Zechariah Genesis Romans Acts 1 14 Mark 9 16 Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon Isaiah Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Ezra; Nehemiah Habakkuk; Haggai Malachi; Esther Revelation 1 11 Matthew 1 13 Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Acts Samuel Chronicles Kings 1; 2 Galatians Luke 1 13:21 Philemon Philippians Colossians Jeremiah Lamentations 2 Kings 24; 25 2 Chronicles 36 1 Peter 2 Peter Revelation Matthew Hebrews 1 Samuel 2 Samuel Chronicles 1 10 James 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Kings Chronicles Kings 1 13 Joel; Obadiah Luke 13: Kings Chronicles Zephaniah Habakkuk John , 2, 3 John Jude Genesis 1 11 Job Exodus Joshua Judges Ruth Mark 1 8 Psalms Corinthians Hosea; Amos; Micah; Jonah; 2 Kings 14 16; 2 Chronicles 25 28

4 1 September 2, 2007 The Foolishness of Idolatry Text: 2 Kings 21:1-26; Focus: 2 Chronicles 33:1-7, 2 Chronicles 33: Key Verse: So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel. 2 Chronicles 33:9 Sunday Devotional: Do Not Follow Bad Examples! Deuteronomy 12: Application: If God s people turn from worshiping Him, He will pursue and chasten them as He seeks to bring them to repentance and restoration. A FIRST LOOK Today we begin a study in one of the often neglected corners of the Old Testament. The names of the kings of Judah and the prophets Zephaniah and Habakkuk do not leap immediately to most minds. The book of Lamentations is not often read, and, when it is, it is seldom understood. Yet, these books are as much a part of the Word of God as the more familiar parts of the New Testament. They hold many valuable lessons for us today. As we go through them, we are getting fresh water from an old well, and it will offer us learning for our minds and refreshment for our hearts. We begin with a study of the life and reign of Manasseh. One of the strange facts of life is that truth and goodness are one generation thick. Often the children of a good man will be moral failures and the children of evil men will turn out to be godly. We see this pattern repeated often in the Old Testament. Daily Devotionals M. Amon the Idolator, 2 Chronicles 33: T. Flagrant Idolatry, 2 Kings 21:1-22. W. Things To Avoid, Deuteronomy 18:9-14. T. Israel s Snare, Psalm 106: F. The Way of Repentance, Luke 15: S. The Blessing of Humility, Luke 18:

5 4 The Foolishness of Idolatry Manasseh was one of the worst kings of Judah, but he was the son of one of the best. His father was Hezekiah, the good king of the days of Isaiah the prophet. Hezekiah was a reformer, and he led in tearing down the false gods of the people and in leading the people to a right way of worship. Manasseh undid all the reforms of his father and had to learn the difficult way that his father had been right all along about idols and false worship. A CLOSER LOOK I. A Reign of Evil 2 Chronicles 33: Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem: 2. But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. 3. For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. 4. Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever. 5. And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. 6. And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. 7. And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever: Manasseh began to reign when he was only twelve years old. For the next fifty-five years he was king in Judah, ruling

6 Text: 2 Kings 21:1-26; 2 Chronicles 33: from David s throne in Jerusalem. We must be careful not to read too much into his youth, when he became king. It is possible that he was unduly influenced by evil men; yet, his son, Josiah took over the throne when he was very young and went on to become one of the greatest kings of Judah. Young or old, each one of us makes his own decisions, and he must live with the choices that he has made. With Manasseh, the choice was an evil one. Manasseh made two mistakes that haunted him throughout his life. First, he did evil in the sight of the Lord. No doubt the things he did seemed right to him, but they were wrong in the sight of God. No man has the ability or the privilege of determining for himself what is right and what is wrong. It is horribly arrogant of any of us to assume that position. Right and wrong have been set forth for us in the Word of the Lord. It is not our business to advise and consent with God on morality; it is our business to trust and obey the revealed truth of the Bible. The primary sin of Manasseh was to set aside what God had said was right and to do what seemed right in his own eyes. The second sin he committed was to desire to be like all the other nations around him. The failed societies of the heathen around could offer no real hope to Judah; yet, time and again the peer pressure of those nations led God s people into abominable idolatry. Satan often uses this tool to lead men astray. We do not want to be different and unpopular and so if everyone else is doing it, then we think we must do it, too. That kind of thinking is a sure road to spiritual disaster (Prov. 14:12). Specifically, Manasseh rebuilt all the altars that his father had broken down. He once again turned the people to worship Baal. He made groves for public worship and led the people to worship all manner of created things in ignorance of the true worship of the Creator. He even set a carved image of a false god in the Temple in Jerusalem. Note that people will seldom outrun their leader. Righteous leaders make for a righteous nation. The people of Judah followed Hezekiah in reform and they also followed Manasseh back into sin. Either way, the leader bore a great responsibility.

7 6 The Foolishness of Idolatry But Manasseh was not through. Not only did he erect worship shrines to false gods, he actually erected these altars in the house of God in Jerusalem. He profaned the same building Solomon had built as a place of worship for the one true God. This king of Judah did what no heathen invader could possibly have done. The men of Judah would have fought to keep others out of their Temple, but their own king placed altars to false gods there and few seem to have objected. How low can you go? We find some of the answers in the fact that Manasseh actually practiced a strange ritual in the valley of Hinnom outside the city in causing his children to pass through fire. Does this sound familiar? Such things are still practiced today and are often held up as signs of the power of a false religion. Read the rest of this list. It is contemporary. He dealt with familiar spirits. Sounds like séances and spiritualists, does it not? He observed times. He used enchantments and wizards. His conduct led others to make the same mistakes. In the end the people of Jerusalem had become worse than the heathen people that God had driven out when the people of Israel were established in this land. This is a sad and sorry commentary on the power of evil men to lead others astray. II. A Time of Repentance 2 Chronicles 33: So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel. 10. And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken. 11. Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. 12. And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, 13. And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God.

8 Text: 2 Kings 21:1-26; 2 Chronicles 33: But in spite of all this, God was not through with Manasseh and Judah. God abides faithful to His promises whether we behave or not. First, God spoke to Manasseh and to the people of Judah. No doubt this was the message of the prophets who were extremely active in Judah at this time. The message of the prophets was clear and certain. There is only one God and He will not tolerate the sin of idolatry. But this message was not heard. Manasseh and the people of Judah ignored the message God had sent to them. So God took more drastic action. God raised up the army to the north, the Assyrians, and they took Manasseh captive. They found him hiding among the thorns and bound him like a criminal and carried him away to Babylon. This man who had no time for God when he was king now found plenty of opportunity to turn to the Lord. Now he humbled himself and prayed that God would deliver him. Here on the earth and for a while, men can ignore God, but eventually we must admit the truth, and the truth is that there is only one God, and we need His help every day. By the grace of God, Manasseh was saved from Babylon, brought back to Jerusalem, and his kingdom was restored to him. When this happened, Manasseh knew for certain the Lord was God. There is much about this account that we do not know, but the central facts are clear. God is in control of the nations of the world. Men may think that they control things, but, behind the scenes of history, God stands to work His will. For a season men may have their way, but, in the end, the will of God will be done on the earth as it is in Heaven. III. Reform and Restoration 2 Chronicles 33: Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah.

9 8 The Foolishness of Idolatry 15. And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city. 16. And he repaired the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed thereon peace-offerings and thank-offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel. To his credit, Manasseh was truly changed by this experience in Babylon. He made reforms in his later life and reign, but in many ways, it was too little and too late. Remember, he was not undoing the harm that others had done to Judah. He was trying to undo the harm he himself had inflicted on his people. He began by taking care of the immediate threat the Assyrians and other nations posed to Jerusalem. He built a great wall around the city and stationed his army in strategic locations throughout the land. This was to help defend the nation against its enemies. This was a partial lesson. It is good to be as prepared as we can be against the threat of attack. But, ultimately, our security is in our relationship with the Lord. When God is on our side, we cannot lose, and if we oppose the Lord, we can never ultimately win. Manasseh then took away all the altars and false gods that he had set up including the idols in the Temple and threw them out of the city. Note that he threw them out of the city; he did not melt them down and destroy them. He repaired the house of the Lord, restoring the damage done by the idolatrous worshipers and restored the correct worship in this holy place. He then commanded the people of Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel. But there was something vital that was missing here. He led the people in worshiping idol gods, and the people willingly followed him. But now he commanded them to worship the Lord. The people did not heed his commandment and continued to sacrifice in the high places. Only now they claimed to be worshiping the Lord and not the idols.

10 Text: 2 Kings 21:1-26; 2 Chronicles 33: A FINAL WORD The life and reign of Manasseh offer many lessons. First, we should know that we must live with the choices we make, even though we are young when we make them. No one forced Manasseh to be an idolatrous worshiper. Certainly his father, Hezekiah did not teach him these things. You may sow your wild oats, but you will also have to harvest them and bring the harvest home. If you do not want the bitter fruit of sin, then do not commit the sin in the first place. Then we should learn that we should heed the warnings God gives us. When God speaks, we should listen. We should pay careful and strict attention to the men God has called to preach His Word to us. And, we should learn that no amount of repentance, no matter how sincere, will substitute for righteous conduct in the first place. Others are following us. Your life is the only Bible some others will ever read. What you are doing is shouting so loudly that no one can hear what you are saying. There can be no compromise between good and evil. One will win and the other will lose. Ultimately, the truth of God will prevail in all the affairs of men, The wise will learn this and live accordingly. FOR CLASS DISCUSSION 1. Why do you think good people often choose to follow bad examples? 2. After all the evil Manasseh caused, why do you think God really forgave him? 3. Did God s forgiveness remove the consequences of his sin? why or why not? 4. Does God s forgiveness remove the consequences of our sin? why or why not?

11 2 September 9, 2007 The Word of God Discovered Text: 2 Kings 22:1-20; Focus: 2 Chronicles 34:1-4, 8, 14, 2 Chronicles 34: , Key Verse: For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images. 2 Chronicles 34:3 Sunday Devotional: Remember Thy Creator, Ecclesiastes 12:1. Application: If we seek God with our whole hearts and obey the teachings of His Word, our lives will reflect His presence and power. A FIRST LOOK The sin of Israel in the north was idolatry. The sin of Judah in the south was spiritual adultery. There is an important difference in these two sins. Idolatry makes an outright substitution of man-made idols for the one true God. Spiritual adultery attempts to worship God and worship idols at the same time. Both sins are equally deadly. Israel in the north was destroyed in 722 BC and Judah in the south was taken away captive in 586 BC. Both of these national disasters were brought about by the sins of the people and the subsequent judgment of God on this nation. But there were seasons of repentance in Judah. If the people had kept on in the right course charted for them by leaders like Hezekiah and Josiah, perhaps the nation could have been spared the judgment of God. However, a pattern emerged of one king re- Daily Devotionals M. The Prophecy of Huldah, 2 Chronicles 34: T. The Work of Scripture, 2 Timothy 3: W. Reasons for Separation, Deuteronomy 7:1-6. T. Kings and God s Word, Deuteronomy 17: F. Promises About God s Word, Joshua 1:8. S. Reasons To Seek Him! 2 Chronicles 15:2. 10

12 Text: 2 Kings 22:1-20; 2 Chronicles 34: forming and tearing down the idols and another king building them back again. Josiah was a reformer king who began to rule in Judah when the nation was steeped in idolatrous worship. He was instrumental in restoring a right way of worship. One thing that must be emphasized is that people will follow their leaders. No doubt there were many men in Judah who knew the truth and worshiped God in the right way. But these righteous men could not set the policy for the entire nation. It was the responsibility of the king to lead the people in a right relationship to God. When the king was right, the people followed him, and, when the king was wrong, the people did wrong as well. A CLOSER LOOK I. The Idols Were Destroyed 2 Chronicles 34: Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years. 2. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left. 3. For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images. 4. And they brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the images, that were on high above them, he cut down; and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust of them, and strowed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them. Josiah began to rule in Judah when he was only eight years old. He reigned for thirty-one years. Generally, he was a good king, but his life was cut short when he meddled in a war that was none of his business. He was wounded in battle

13 12 The Word of God Discovered and went home to die in Jerusalem. Josiah was the last truly good king of Judah before the Babylonian exile. No doubt for the first years of his reign, he merely allowed the policies of his father to continue. As a young boy, he would have little chance of knowing or implementing reforms in his nation. But, even as a youth, he was aware that he had a heritage that went back beyond his father and grandfather. He knew that he was of the house and lineage of David. So he did two important things. First, he did the things that were right in the sight of the Lord. Second, he walked in the ways of his great ancestor, King David. Here we see two great influences for good in any life. The way of the Lord will always lead in the right path and following these men God has directly and specifically approved in His Word will do the same. Josiah could have chosen many examples from the rich history of his nation, but he wisely chose a man after God s own heart as his role model. The boy king grew and in the eighth year of his reign he realized the relationship David had with God was based on true and right worship of God. He also could easily see the idolatrous temples and groves all around Jerusalem were not leading men to a right relationship with God. So he began a long process of purging the idols out of his land. An important difference should be noted in what Josiah did and what the converted Manasseh did. Manasseh removed the idols, but did not destroy them. Josiah actually destroyed the idols and the places that were used to worship them. Specifically, he broke down the altars in the presence of the idols that were worshiped on them. Baal did nothing to stop him. These idols were powerless to help themselves because they did not exist beyond the perverted minds of the men who worshiped them. Remember that idolatrous gods are lies. They are not gods at all. They have no power, and they can only influence us in our imaginations. Josiah destroyed the temples and then the gods that were in them, reducing these false gods to dust and no hand was raised against him. There can be no compromise between light and dark (2 Cor. 6:14-17). One or the other must prevail. Josiah did not preserve these idols for their artistic worth or the quality of their construction. He recognized them for what they were

14 Text: 2 Kings 22:1-20; 2 Chronicles 34: and he destroyed them. No matter how precious it may be to us or to others, anything that stands between us and the right worship of God must be taken away. This is harsh, but necessary truth. Anything less is compromise, and, when light compromises with darkness, darkness wins every time. II. The Temple Was Rebuilt 2 Chronicles 34:8, 14, Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land, and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God. 14. And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the LORD given by Moses. 15. And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan. The elimination of the idolatrous gods took six years. It began in the twelfth year of Josiah s reign and continued until the eighteenth year. This suggests that idolatrous worship was deeply ingrained in the lives of these people. There were many idolatrous temples and groves and every one of them had to be rooted out and destroyed. Josiah persisted and eventually the job was done. We do not live in a vacuum. When evil is removed, we must be careful or an even worse evil will move in to take its place. Jesus taught something about this in Matthew 12: The elimination of evil is a vital first step, but it must be immediately followed by the presence of good. Men will worship something, and, if they are not shown the truth, then the only thing left to worship is error. So Josiah sent Shaphan, the governor of Jerusalem to repair the Temple. Evidently, over the many years of worshiping idols, the Temple had fallen into a state of disrepair. We do not know all the things that needed to be done, but the maintenance and upkeep had been neglected and repairs were needed. Note that the lack of will on the part of the people and their leaders was the only thing that kept these repairs from

15 14 The Word of God Discovered being made. The money was available. Each tribe sent money each year for the support of the ministry and the worship at the Temple. The money had been collected, but the repairs had never been made. There had not even been an accounting of the money, simply because everyone trusted those who were in charge (2 Kings 22:7). There is nothing to suggest that any of this money had been misused in any way, but the repairs on the Temple had not been made. Now Josiah ordered the Temple to be restored and worship to be resumed there. People need a place to worship. We also need the order and structure that go along with right worship. We read in 1 Corinthians 14:40, Let all things be done decently and in order. This is directly referring to public worship in the church at Corinth, and it applies to our worship today. An indecent and disorderly worship service is in direct contradiction to the Word of God. For worship to be conducted properly in Judah, the Temple needed to be in good repair. So the necessary repairs were made and right worship was resumed. The various parts of the worship services in the Temple were designed to teach Israel some extremely important lessons. These lessons could not be learned while the people were foolishly worshiping at the altars of Baalim. There was another important component to worship at the Temple. When the money that had been collected was brought to Hilkiah, the high priest also discovered a book containing the Law of Moses. This book was delivered to Shaphan and so the Law was rediscovered and made a part of the public life of Judah. Note that the Law had never been destroyed or set aside. It was still there, but the people did not know about it, mainly because they were worshiping false gods in other places. Now these guiding principles could once again be applied to the daily lives of the people of Jerusalem and Judah. III. The Word Was Discovered 2 Chronicles 34: Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.

16 Text: 2 Kings 22:1-20; 2 Chronicles 34: And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes. 20. And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king's, saying, 21. Go, enquire of the LORD for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book. Evidently Josiah did not know what the book Shaphan discovered was. Shaphan read it in front of King Josiah and the impact of this long forgotten book was immediate. Josiah realized what he and his people had been missing and he tore his clothes. The tearing of garments was an outward sign of grief or misery in Israel. When someone did this, they had gone through some severe emotional trauma. This specific expression is used fifteen times in the Bible. Realizing the importance of this book of the Law, Josiah immediately sent for the high priest and ordered him and the scribe and others in his service to join him in prayer. He prayed that those who were left in Judah could understand these words and that the wrath of God could somehow be averted for his nation. When he read the Law, Josiah realized how far his nation had gone away from the revealed will of the Lord. He saw that sin had gone on for generations and that little had been done to obey the will of God. The Law was specific and direct. It prescribed several rituals and sacrifices and Judah had not kept these for years. Some of them had never been observed at all. A FINAL WORD With prayer concerning the Word of the Lord, the reforms of Josiah were complete. Notice the progression. He first had destroyed the idols and their places of worship. He had taken

17 16 The Word of God Discovered away all the things that would keep men from worshiping in spirit and in truth. Then he had resorted and repaired the only place on the earth where the people of Israel were asked to worship God. The glory of the Lord appeared when the blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant and this was a literal physical place. It was inside the Holy of Holies in the Temple in Jerusalem. There is a great lesson here. If we worship God at all, we must worship Him in the specific way He has taught us in His Word. There are many ways of worship that might please men, but they will not please God. The Word of the Lord was restored and given its proper place in the affairs of this nation. The Word of God is the rule and guide for our faith and practice. We need no other, and no other will provide us the guidance we need. When these things were completed, all had been done that could be done. These reforms did not guarantee future success. Truth is one generation thick. When Josiah perished, his spirit of reform perished with him. The future generations of Judah quickly returned to worship idols and rebuilt the groves and idols he had destroyed. Yet, the truth that he found and restored remained and eventually all Israel knew the simple truth that there was only one God, and that he must be worshiped in spirit and in truth. FOR CLASS DISCUSSION 1. Discuss the difficulties of taking a strong public stand for godliness, the way Josiah did. 2. Discuss the effect of having to live daily without access to a Bible. Do you know anyone who has had that experience? 3. Have you ever lost your Bible? How much time elapsed before you knew you had lost it? 4. Does the reading of Scripture have a convicting effect upon you as it did upon Josiah? Why or why not?

18 3 September 16, 2007 The Word of God Applied Text: 2 Kings 23:1-30; Focus: 2 Chronicles 34:29 2 Chronicles 34:29 35:27 35:6, 18 Key Verse: And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book. 2 Chronicles 34:31 Sunday Devotional: Effects of the Word Applied, Nehemiah 8:1-12. Application: The Word of God unapplied is no more effective than the Word of God uninspired. With God s help we must apply biblical principles to everyday life. A FIRST LOOK There is a great difference between a desire and decision. We all have many desires both good and bad that we never act on. And there is a great gulf between a good intention and a change in behavior. In Luke 18:18-30, we read about a young man who came to Jesus seeking eternal life. Jesus answered his questions, but he was sorrowful when he learned that he would have to make decisions that involved sacrifices and changes in his life to follow Jesus. His desires and intentions were right, but he was not up to the challenging decision that would lead to eternal life. In the lesson today we find that King Josiah not only made a decision to reform his nation, but he actually took the steps necessary to bring about posi- Daily Devotionals M. The Greatest Passover, 2 Chronicles 35:7-19. T. Josiah s Great Mistake, 2 Chronicles 35: W. Choose To Serve the Lord, Joshua 24: T. Hide It in Your Heart! Psalm 119:11. F. Apply the Scriptures! Romans 15:4-6. S. Lay Hold on the Hope, Hebrews 6:

19 18 The Word of God Applied tive changes in the lives of his people. No matter how well meaning it may be, a decision that does not produce change is useless. Remember that one of the sins of Judah was spiritual adultery. They were willing to worship the one true God as long as they could also worship at the idolatrous temples that were all around them. Josiah destroyed the idolatrous temples and the false gods, but it was equally necessary that he establish the positive truth of God s Word in the hearts of the people of Judah. We will not live long in a spiritual vacuum. We will either believe the truth or we will be turned to falsehood. The path to blessing is to honor and apply the Word of God in every part of our lives. A CLOSER LOOK I. The Word Was Read 2 Chronicles 34:29, Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30. And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD. Last week we learned how King Josiah had discovered the lost books that contained the Law of Moses. These books were never really lost. God had preserved them through the generations of Israel. But they were ignored and set aside as the people worshiped false gods. Now that Josiah had discovered them, he wanted all Judah to hear these wonderful truths. One of the characteristics we observe in those who are newly saved is that they usually want to share the gospel with their loved ones. When we hear really good news, we want others to know. And so Josiah went to the Temple and gathered everyone and ordered that all the book of the covenant be read publicly in the ears of the people.

20 Text: 2 Kings 23:1-30; 2 Chronicles 34:29 35:27 19 Notice two things were emphasized. The book was read for all people, regardless of their background or social standing. The great men in Judah needed to hear these words and so did the least in the kingdom. There is no human being so smart, rich or powerful that he or she does not need to hear the gospel of Christ. Note also that all of the book was read. There is no part of the Bible that is not needed. The Bible is a lean book. There is no filler material in it. Every word of every book is important for our spiritual development. It is all good and it is all needed (2 Tim. 2:16). Note also that the people were taught before they were told to actually resume their worship of the true God. If we do not know what is right, there is a great possibility that we will do wrong. The hours we spend in the study of the Word are not wasted. If we are to be approved workmen, we must be informed workmen (verse 15). There was no debate about this book or its meaning. This was exposure to the truth and the truth did its work in the hearts of the people. There is no greater need among the people of God than the need to be exposed to the Word of God on a consistent basis. The opinions and theories of men are interesting and often valuable, but nothing will ever substitute for knowledge of the Bible. When all else fails, read the instructions. This is what we are doing when we read our Bibles. The Word of God is literally the instruction book for life on earth. II. A Covenant Was Made 2 Chronicles 34:31, And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book. 32. And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. Knowledge always involves responsibility (Luke 12:48). Once the people of Judah had heard the Word of God, they

21 20 The Word of God Applied had a decision to make. They could either accept the truth they had heard or they could reject it. King Josiah did a wise thing in providing the people an example to follow. He did not tell them to go home and think about what they had heard. Instead, he pledged himself to obey God and then challenged the people to follow his lead. Note that the king made the covenant first. He did it without any coercion and without any demand that any other person do as he had done. Even though revival can be nationwide and even worldwide, it has to be individually applied to each heart. What your dearest loved one believes will not change your heart unless you believe it for yourself. Josiah did not make some vague promise or simply pledge to try to do better. He was specific in his dedication. He pledged to do four things. 1. He pledged to walk after the Lord. This is an interesting metaphor that appears throughout the Bible, all the way from Enoch to the book of Revelation. To walk together, we have to be agreed. We have to be in step and we have to be going in the same direction. Josiah was not asking God to walk with him; rather he was pledging to change his ways and walk with God. 2. He pledged to keep the commandments of God. The commandments are not suggestions that we can take or leave as we wish. They are given so that they can be obeyed. The most sincere evidence we can give that we trust the Lord is in obeying His commandments (John 14:15). Added to the commandments were the testimonies. 3. Josiah learned by example. The Old Testament contained many testimonies of those who had followed the Lord. This good king wanted to learn from the experiences of others and apply these lessons to his life. 4. Finally, he pledged to keep the statutes. This may refer to the many details of the Law. The commandments are the skeleton of the Law, but the statutes are the details. Often this is where we bog down. Many believers think that they have some kind of exclusive agreement with God that allows them to obey in great matters and ignore what they think are small things. This is never the case. Those who are not faithful in the least matters will not be faithful in the greatest (Luke 16:10).

22 Text: 2 Kings 23:1-30; 2 Chronicles 34:29 35:27 21 Having made his personal commitment and made it publicly, Josiah then asked the men of Judah to follow him and they did. In this way the nation was turned away from idols and turned to God. III. Obstacles Were Removed 2 Chronicles 34: And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the LORD their God. And all his days they departed not from following the LORD, the God of their fathers. Another step is necessary in the road to revival. The abominations that were present in Judah had to be removed. The land contained many idols and images. Idolatry had been present for years. It had penetrated and perhaps permeated the daily lives of nearly all of the people of Israel. Idolatry would be a constant threat to the new covenant that the people had made to walk after the Lord. So Josiah took away all these false gods. Everything, small or great, that would keep the men of Israel from serving the Lord was removed. This may sound harsh, but remember there is no communion between light and dark. One must go if the other is present. If we want it dark, we can have no light at all, and, if we want it light, then the darkness has to vanish. In the world there are many similar impediments in the service of the Lord and the wise Christian will simply remove them from his life. Christians should not involve themselves or pay attention to anything that has to do with superstitions. The devil is far more subversive than these obvious things. Many simple things can come between us and our service for the Lord. The simple truth is anything that is more important to us than the Lord is an idol, at least in that individual s heart. Please understand that eventually every obstacle that stands between you and Christ will be removed. This will happen no matter what you do. If you are wise, you will remove the obstacle yourself and make a straight path between you and the Lord.

23 22 The Word of God Applied IV. The Passover Was Kept 2 Chronicles 35:1-6, Moreover Josiah kept a passover unto the LORD in Jerusalem: and they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. 2. And he set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to the service of the house of the LORD, 3. And said unto the Levites that taught all Israel, which were holy unto the LORD, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; it shall not be a burden upon your shoulders: serve now the LORD your God, and his people Israel, 4. And prepare yourselves by the houses of your fathers, after your courses, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon his son. 5. And stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the families of the fathers of your brethren the people, and after the division of the families of the Levites. 6. So kill the passover, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare your brethren, that they may do according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses. 18. And there was no passover like to that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. When all these things were done, Josiah ordered the Passover to be resumed in Israel. The Passover was the first and in some ways the most important ritual in Israel. It commemorated the peoples release from Egypt and was observed by Jesus on His last night on earth. In observing it, Jesus instituted the Lord s Supper, which will be observed new with Him in His coming kingdom (Matt. 26:29). The observation of the Passover was a public testimony to the influence of the truth of the Word of God and its impact on these people. Public rituals are always demonstrations of inner change. They will never produce the change, but they allow us to show others that change has taken place. Now

24 Text: 2 Kings 23:1-30; 2 Chronicles 34:29 35:27 23 instead of going up to the house of Baal, the people of Judah were serving the Lord. A FINAL WORD The application of the Word of God must be made in a specific order. The order cannot be reversed, and no parts of it can be eliminated. First, we must have a personal understanding of the Word of God. Faith comes by hearing and hearing is by the Word of God. Then, the Word must be mixed with faith in the hearts of those who hear it. This faith will bring a believer to a covenant relationship with God. A true believer will not be ashamed of what he believes. He will make a personal covenant to walk with His Lord. In support of this, he will put away everything that would interfere with his faithful practice of the Word he has learned. And, finally, public service and obedience in the commands of Jesus will be a part of a true believer s daily life. When these things have happened, then the revival will be complete. FOR CLASS DISCUSSION 1. Is it good to make a public confession of allegiance to God as Josiah did? Discuss the implications of making such a public confession. 2. What difference would it make in your life, your class and your church, if you and others applied the principles of Scripture in your everyday life? 3. Why does it seem so difficult to put Scripture into practice? 4. Discuss the specific effects of putting the Word of God into practice in your life.

25 4 September 23, 2007 God s Judgment on Judah Text: Zephaniah 1:1 2:3 Focus: Zephaniah 1:1-9, 14-18; 2:1-3 Key Verse: The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. Zephaniah 1:14 Sunday Devotional: Seek the Lord Quickly, Isaiah 55:6, 7. Application: God will always judge and correct us for our own good when we disobey Him and abandon His worship. A FIRST LOOK Today we begin a study of the book of Zephaniah. All we know of Zephaniah is what we read in the first verses of this book. His name literally means, hidden by Jehovah, and, since he was born during the atrocities committed by Manasseh, it may be that he was hidden and thus prepared to be a prophet. We do know when he prophesied because he declared that it was during the reign of Josiah. As we have learned before, Josiah led Judah in a season of revival, and this revival may have been prompted by the preaching of Zephaniah. We know that Zephaniah was a direct descendant of Hezekiah. Hezekiah was his great-great grandfather. This links his prophecies with those of Isaiah. Isaiah prophesied in the days of Hezekiah. Zephaniah got right to the point in this book. His message was about the coming day of the Lord and the judgment that was impending on Judah. Remember the day of the Lord is not a twenty-four 24 Daily Devotionals M. Only Follow God, 1 Kings 18:21. T. Attempting the Impossible, 2 Kings 17: W. Only Serve One, Matthew 6:24. T. He Will Come in Power, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9. F. The Great Day of His Wrath, Revelation 6: S. Seek the Lord and Live,Amos 5:4-6.

26 Text: Zephaniah 1:1 2:3 25 hour period. Instead, it is a season when God will execute His wrath on the earth because of the sins that men have committed. Generally, Zephaniah prophesies of the wrath of God directed to Judah and then to the Gentiles or nations. The wrath of God is not a kind of cosmic temper fit where God has had enough and rains judgment down on men. The wrath of God is simply the law of inevitable consequence. When we sin, something has to be done about the sin. If we do not repent and find forgiveness for our sins, then the inevitable consequence is punishment for sin. A CLOSER LOOK I. The Promise of God s Judgment Zephaniah 1: The word of the LORD which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah. 2. I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD. 3. I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD. 4. I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests; 5. And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham; 6. And them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him. In these opening words, Zephaniah got right to the point of this message. God was going to destroy those who opposed Him. This destruction was the consequence of the decisions that men have made. It is never the consequence of decisions that God has made. God is not willing that anyone should perish (2 Peter 3:9). However, this does not mean that no one will perish. Men perish because of their own folly, not because of God.

27 26 God s Judgment on Judah For instance, if you walk off a high place, you will fall. If you touch a live electrical wire, you will be shocked. Others may take great precaution to prevent your actions. They may put a fence on the cliff and insulation and warnings on the wire. But, if you persist in ignoring the warnings and engage in harmful behavior, you will be hurt and perhaps killed. This illustrates the way the wrath of God works. Judah had been a spiritually adulterous people since the days of Solomon. There were temples and groves around the land that were used to worship man-made gods. These gods had no power at all, but men worshiped them as if they did. These choices were what God was punishing. No one was forced to worship a false god. Judah had deliberately chosen to ignore the truth and worship idols. The haunting question remains, If you don t believe the truth, what do you believe? The people of Judah had believed lies, and now they would pay for their folly. God promised to destroy and consume this land. In other words, He would make the land uninhabitable. Only a small portion of the surface of the earth is suitable for human habitation. Much of the world is barren and inhospitable to us. It is God who makes the world a good place to live, and when the protecting hand of God is withdrawn, then evil will follow. The first promise Zephaniah gave was that this land would be a wilderness. Then he specified why this would happen. The physical desolation was the result of the sins of the people of Judah. The specific charges included Baal worship and Chemarims. The word Chemarims refers to the idolatrous priests who led the false worship. These false priests had led the people to worship all the host of heaven. They worshiped all manner of things, no doubt including the stars and the planets. The reference to worship on the housetops may be a suggestion that these people went out at night to observe the heavens and to worship the lights in the sky. Sadly, this is still occurring. There are still deceived people who look to fortune tellers and other such nonsense for guidance. Remember the question is not whether or not these things work; the question is whether or not a child of God should participate in false worship.

28 Text: Zephaniah 1:1 2:3 27 We also have a reference here to a kind of false harmony that existed between true worship and idolatry. The people would swear by the Lord and also swear by Malcham. Malcham was the fire god of the Ammonites, and children were sacrificed to this horrible statue. How sad for a man to pray to the Lord, who made Heaven and earth in one breath and then turn with the next breath to this abomination of the imagination of fools. But perhaps worst is that simple fact that they had not repented or turned back and sought the Lord. When it was obvious the false gods could not help these people, they still did not turn to the Lord. When one behaves in this manner, the judgment of God is inevitable. II. God s Reasons for Judgment Zephaniah 1:7-9, Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests. 8. And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD'S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel. 9. In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold, which fill their masters' houses with violence and deceit. 14. The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. 15. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, 16. A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. 17. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. Regardless of the occasion for the wrath of God and regardless of the severity of that wrath, God does not punish men in their ignorance. A part of the message of the prophets