00:00 Introduction and Special Announcement
00:17 Pastor PJ's 40th Birthday and Fun Facts
02:14 1 Kings 15, 2 Chronicles 13-16
03:30 The Reign of Abijah and Asa
08:41 Lessons from Asa's Reign
13:26 Concluding Thoughts and Encouragement
Well, welcome to Tuesday, June 25th, 2020
fours edition of the daily Bible podcast.
2
:Now today's edition is a special one.
3
:And I'm going to tell you
why in just a quick moment.
4
:Okay.
5
:You ready?
6
:Today.
7
:Is pastor DJ's birthday.
8
:And how fitting is it that he's not here?
9
:It's totally not fitting.
10
:Right?
11
:He should be here.
12
:He should be talking to you.
13
:Sharing the wisdom and the
understanding that he's attained
14
:at these 40 years of life.
15
:But sadly, he's not here.
16
:But did you know.
17
:There are a few people you might know
who share a birthday with pastor PJ.
18
:In fact, one of them.
19
:Is George Michael.
20
:Uh, I don't really know a whole lot
about him except for the song faith.
21
:I think, that's the only
song that he's done.
22
:He probably has a few more.
23
:Uh, but pastor PJ in light
of the fact that you share a
24
:birthday with George, Michael.
25
:I'd like to encourage
you to keep the faith.
26
:You got to have faith, faith, faith.
27
:Faith faith.
28
:You also share a birthday
with George Orwell.
29
:Um, Uh, and that's the guy who
wrote, but:
30
:a couple other books out there.
31
:I know he's got a couple of, but 1984 is
probably the most, the most famous right.
32
:Yeah.
33
:So 1994, perhaps a day, pastor
PJ, you can listen to George
34
:Michael's faith while reading.
35
:1984 by George Orwell.
36
:In fact, what year were you born, buddy?
37
:I wonder if he's 40 today and today's,
you know, that's when you go, oh, no.
38
:Is it possible?
39
:Hold on.
40
:I'm going to do some quick math here.
41
:Oh, you were born.
42
:1980.
43
:Okay, this just got better.
44
:I had no idea when I brought that up, but
know, dude, you have to read:
45
:Listening to George Michael's Bape.
46
:Please do that today.
47
:All of us would be so much
happier if you did that.
48
:Okay.
49
:And we have one more, uh,
one more surprise for you.
50
:Okay.
51
:Uh, for those of you listening.
52
:I would like you to go
to best pastor ever.com.
53
:Okay.
54
:Best pastor ever.
55
:Dot com.
56
:I trust you'll enjoy that.
57
:I sure do.
58
:Hey.
59
:In all seriousness.
60
:Happy birthday, pastor BJ.
61
:We love you.
62
:Okay.
63
:Let's jump into the
Bible reading for today.
64
:We're looking at first Kings chapter
15 and second Chronicles 13 through 16.
65
:Now in first Kings chapter 15, we
do have four Kings listed here.
66
:Yep.
67
:1, 2, 3, 4.
68
:Uh, but we're really only focusing
on two of those Kings today.
69
:So in chapter 15, we begin
with a bijum or again Abijah.
70
:If you're looking at second Chronicles.
71
:He reigned says here in verse
two for three years in Jerusalem.
72
:And his mother was Mecca.
73
:Um, it's pronounced differently.
74
:It's spelled differently in second
Chronicles, but there you go.
75
:A note here, his heart was
not wholly true to the Lord.
76
:And that's what you find
out about his rain here.
77
:His reign is not a good one
because he's not wholly true.
78
:The there's something about having
a whole heart before the Lord.
79
:So many times we're divided.
80
:We just have divided hearts.
81
:I can't help, but think of the song.
82
:Unite my heart to fear your name.
83
:The division and our hearts are often
at war it's like we have to fight.
84
:Often.
85
:To make our hearts United before the Lord.
86
:But even though.
87
:We struggle with this.
88
:And even though a bijum didn't have
a United heart before the Lord, God
89
:still blesses the Southern kingdom
for the sake of David, his father.
90
:That's what you see in verse three, there.
91
:We'll come back to him in a few moments.
92
:We're going to jump to EISA and
the second half of chapter 15
93
:and the book of first Kings.
94
:We learned that EISA is a good king.
95
:He verse 11 did what was right in the eyes
of the Lord as David, his father had done.
96
:So he already has a positive verdict.
97
:In fact, Most of what we're going to read
in second Chronicles is going to be the
98
:Chronicles of EISA a lot of ink spilled
on him because he's such a good king.
99
:It says here in verse 14.
100
:Uh, the high places were not taken away.
101
:At least not all of them.
102
:We see in second Chronicles
that he does do something.
103
:But it's not a full eradication.
104
:We see in the second half of verse
14 here, the heart of EISA was
105
:wholly true to the Lord all his days.
106
:And so he's kind of a contrast
to who you see in a bijum Abijah
107
:Abijah halfhearted at best.
108
:EISA even though he's a mixed figure and
we're going to see some of those here.
109
:He's still fully devoted to the Lord.
110
:And I want that to be your commendation.
111
:Wouldn't that be so good to
have that about your life?
112
:Matt pastor Ron wholly devoted to
the Lord all the days of his life.
113
:Pastor PJ.
114
:Uh, Jeff, Joe, Rameen Steven fully devoted
to the Lord all the days of his life.
115
:And that's what I'm going for and
hope for the same is true for you.
116
:So EISA he rules in the second
half of chapter 15 here.
117
:We find that he's at war
with bay Isha, bearish.
118
:She is going to be one
of the Northern Kings.
119
:We'll learn about him in a few moments.
120
:Um, But Basha begins this.
121
:It's kind of a it's aggressive act.
122
:He's settling a city.
123
:He's reinforcing a city.
124
:That's on the very Southern
tip of the Northern kingdom.
125
:And perhaps even on the Northern
tip of the Southern kingdom.
126
:So as an act of aggression, At
least that's how ACS sees it.
127
:But much.
128
:To our dismay.
129
:EISA doesn't go to the Lord.
130
:In fact, he goes to Ben, Hey dad,
the king of Syria in Damascus.
131
:And instead of asking the Lord for
help, he asks Ben, Hey dad, for help.
132
:And he says, here's some money.
133
:Why don't you break your covenant with the
Northern kingdom and instead of working
134
:for them, how about you work for me?
135
:And you attack the Northern kingdom.
136
:And that's exactly what Ben,
Hey dad, does he listens?
137
:And he attacks the Northern kingdom
takes away a few of its cities.
138
:And then while bay shows
preoccupied, With that offensive.
139
:EISA goes and takes all of the
fortification that was begun in
140
:the city of Ramah, which is where
they were doing the work there.
141
:So that's not a good thing.
142
:Even though his heart
was devoted to the Lord.
143
:He still had a pretty significant misstep.
144
:There we'll come back
to him in a few moments.
145
:We see in the last.
146
:The last part of chapter 15 may dab.
147
:And bay Usha, nade dab.
148
:And.
149
:Misha or nursing Northern Kings.
150
:Maybe I'm doesn't rule for very
long, but he does rule evil.
151
:He wrote a rule of evil
he's there for two years.
152
:Does what's evil on the side of the Lord.
153
:God, doesn't like it Basha
comes out of the woodwork.
154
:Now, remember Nate dabs,
one of, uh, One of.
155
:Jeroboam as kids.
156
:So Basha.
157
:Issues a coup.
158
:Kilz name dab and everyone
else in Jera Balaam's house.
159
:This actually fulfills one
of the prophecies given by,
160
:uh, Hijah the Shiloh night.
161
:This is in chapter 14,
verse 10 in particular.
162
:And so this is God's will.
163
:At work?
164
:No God does not command evil.
165
:God does not issue commands to murder.
166
:But God is sovereign behind all
things and he can use sin sinlessly
167
:and that's what happens here.
168
:And verse 33 in the final few verses of
chapter 15, we learned about bear show.
169
:And the third year of EISA king of Judah.
170
:So there's a time marker for us.
171
:Bear show, the son of a hijab
began to reign over Israel at
172
:Tirzah and he rained for 24 years.
173
:You'll notice here that tourism.
174
:Is listed as the capital or at
least where he's ruling from.
175
:There's going to be a few places
that end up kind of functioning
176
:as a Northern kingdom's capital.
177
:You'll see, check them
function as a capital tears.
178
:And then of course, some Marriott.
179
:.
Second Chronicles 13 then.
180
:We see the other side of the
story of Abijah Abijah, who
181
:was also known as a bijum.
182
:And this one, you see that
there's war between Abijah and
183
:Jeroboam Abijah the Southern king.
184
:Jeroboam the Northern king.
185
:And in this particular battle,
Jeroboam uh, confronts them.
186
:He's seeking to do
something he should not do.
187
:And so a Biser responds and
says, did what you're doing.
188
:Is not good.
189
:He said, but as for us in
verse 10, the Lord is our God
190
:and we have not forsaken him.
191
:You guys need another, on the
other hand have done evil.
192
:He says at the end of his speech, oh, sons
of Israel do not fight against the Lord.
193
:The God of your fathers
for you cannot succeed.
194
:Jeroboam doesn't listen.
195
:He continues, his affront.
196
:And he is fully routed.
197
:God defeated.
198
:Euro BOMA says in verse 15.
199
:God gave them Israel
into the hand of Judah.
200
:He did this because in verse
18, Judah relied on the Lord,
201
:the God of their fathers.
202
:And so even no first Kings 15 says that
Abijah who is also known as a bijum.
203
:Isn't a good king.
204
:His heart's not fully true to the Lord.
205
:Part of, it was part of the heart.
206
:Was there.
207
:And this is one of those times
you didn't rain for very long.
208
:But in his reign, there was at least
one instance where he demonstrated
209
:trust in the Lord Yahweh way, and God
delivered him that second Chronicles 13.
210
:Second Chronicles, 14, 15, and 16.
211
:We'll take all these together.
212
:And chapter 14, we see ACEs rain in Judah.
213
:Now, this is interesting because
he says here, it says here in
214
:verse two, EISA did what was right
and good in the eyes of the Lord.
215
:His God.
216
:He basically cleans house takes away.
217
:The altars breaks down the pillars.
218
:He commands Judah to seek
the Lord has got him.
219
:He's just crushing it.
220
:This is exactly what God would want.
221
:And consequently God blesses him for this.
222
:Uh, he builds his kingdom.
223
:He builds his military.
224
:And then he's tested.
225
:Soon thereafter zero, the Ethiopian
comes out against him and EISA responds.
226
:Commendably look how he
responds here in verse 11.
227
:He says help us all Lord,
our God for we rely on you.
228
:And in your name, we have
come against this multitude,
229
:you know, we're defenseless.
230
:We need you God,
consequently, God answers.
231
:And he routes the Ethiopians.
232
:And, and AC and his team has his
military are able to plunder them.
233
:And it's a lot of plunder.
234
:After this victory and chapter 15
as Ariah, the son of Odette comes
235
:and meets him and says, look.
236
:Hear me EISA and all Judah and Benjamin.
237
:Remember those two tribes are
working together as kind of one tribe
238
:defacto and the Southern kingdom.
239
:He says the Lord is with
you while you are with him.
240
:If you seek him, he will be found by you.
241
:But if you forsake him, he will
forsake you for a long time.
242
:Israel was without a true
God without the true God.
243
:And without a teaching
priest and without law.
244
:But when in their distress,
they turn to the Lord, the
245
:God of Israel and sought him.
246
:He was found by them.
247
:I love that.
248
:They see Kim, God wants to be found.
249
:He's not hiding, trying to keep
himself from you playing hide and seek.
250
:God wants to be found by you.
251
:In fact we're told in the new Testament,
if you seek him, you'll find him right.
252
:To seek the Lord with all your
heart, soul, mind to drink.
253
:So he says, so you're look,
you're going to be blessed.
254
:They were, you're going to be blessed.
255
:Keep doing what you're doing, essentially.
256
:Don't let your hands be
weak for your workshop.
257
:You're awarded.
258
:That's the final words of
Azariah the son of Odette.
259
:And in verses eight and following.
260
:Uh, EISA hears it and he's
like, all right, let's do this.
261
:And so he gets really excited.
262
:He starts.
263
:He starts.
264
:Repairing what had been,
what had been lost.
265
:He renews the covenant.
266
:He gathered all the people of Judah and
Benjamin and get this people from Ephraim.
267
:Bria Manasseh and Simeon
who are residing with them.
268
:There's lots of people that,
that deserted the Northern
269
:kingdom when they went astray.
270
:They're now residing in
the Southern kingdom.
271
:And he says, all right, guys,
we're going to follow the Lord.
272
:And we're going to take this seriously.
273
:We're going to seek the Lord.
274
:And if you're not going to do
that, you're going to be put
275
:to death no matter who you are.
276
:All Israel, all Judah rather
rejoices at the heart and sought
277
:him with their whole desire.
278
:They sought the Lord
with their whole desire.
279
:And here you go.
280
:And he was found by them.
281
:And the Lord gave them rest all around.
282
:So EISA.
283
:Is is.
284
:Crushing it right now.
285
:He's got his he's riding on cloud nine.
286
:He's doing a great job, even deposes.
287
:Uh, miikka the queen mother
because of her idolatry.
288
:He's just doing a great job.
289
:It says here in verse 17,
nevertheless, the heart of EISA
290
:was holy true all his days now.
291
:This is not entirely true because
in the next chapter, we're going
292
:to see some qualifications to this.
293
:But I think the point here
is at ACEs rule as a whole.
294
:Looking at the broad scope
of it is, is mostly good.
295
:But it's going to end on a bad note.
296
:Let's look at chapter 16.
297
:This is the 36th year of his reign.
298
:After a long period of peace Basha king
of Israel comes up against, and we just
299
:read about this at camp, but now we have
a little more, a little more to this.
300
:We just learned that instead of
trusting the Lord, he trusted Ben.
301
:Hey dad.
302
:He gives him lots of money.
303
:Empties as treasuries and says, please go
against the Northern kingdom on my behalf.
304
:And that's what happens.
305
:But in verse seven, , the Sierra came
to EISA king of Judah and said, why
306
:have you relied on this other guy?
307
:He says, because he relied
on the king of Syria.
308
:And did not rely on the
Lord, your God, the army.
309
:Uh, of the king of Syria has escaped you.
310
:In other words, you would have not
only defeated the Northern kingdom, you
311
:also would have defeated the Syrians.
312
:You would have had full conquest.
313
:He says in verse nine.
314
:Uh, and nae nae.
315
:And I says in verse nine
for the eyes of the Lord.
316
:Run to and fro throughout the whole
earth to give strong support to
317
:those whose heart is blameless.
318
:That is.
319
:God is actively looking for
ways to support the righteous.
320
:And of course we know in the new
Testament, our righteousness is by Christ.
321
:He's made us righteous and we can
know with certainty, God is for us
322
:because of what Christ has done.
323
:And the final years of his life, EISA.
324
:Response poorly.
325
:In fact, uh, he says here.
326
:Eh, EISA was angry with the sear and
put him in the stocks and prison.
327
:For, he was in a rage, the, with him
because of this, because of what?
328
:Because of what And I said in
EISA inflicted cruelties upon
329
:some of the people at that time,
we don't know what that means.
330
:But clearly this is not a good thing.
331
:God gave EISA foot disease.
332
:And even then it says here yet, even
in the disease, he did not seek the
333
:Lord, but sought help from physicians,
nothing wrong with going to the doctor.
334
:But we don't put our trust in the doctor.
335
:We put our trust in the Lord.
336
:And that's not what he does.
337
:ACO slept at this.
338
:Father's dying in the
41st year of his reign.
339
:So even though predominantly
successful, he doesn't end well.
340
:I pray.
341
:That's not the case for you.
342
:And for, I let this be a reminder for
all of us that starting well doesn't
343
:mean finishing well, Finishing well
and starting, well, not the same thing.
344
:We have to be on guard a whole lives.
345
:We can't quit because we're tired.
346
:We can't quit because we're having
a bad day or a bad week or a bud bad
347
:month or a bad year or a bad season
of years, whatever that might be.
348
:We keep pursuing.
349
:We keep falling because he's worth it.
350
:And when the end of time comes,
we're not going to regret.
351
:Working hard and even spilling
our blood if necessary.
352
:We will regret Crump compromise.
353
:We will regret not giving our best.
354
:But we'll never regret serving the Lord.
355
:And that concludes today's reading.
356
:Hey, thank you so much
for joining me today.
357
:I really appreciate you joining us to
do the Bible reading program together.
358
:It's so good for you.
359
:It's good for all of us
as good for the church.
360
:Hey, if you're a member, pastor
PTO today, I'm sure he wouldn't
361
:mind a text message or two.
362
:So if you're thinking about him, text
him, maybe he needs that encouragement.
363
:Have a great day.
364
:I look forward to seeing you
all tomorrow for another edition
365
:of the daily Bible podcast.