Week 26 Devotions

June 25 - - It is amazing how many times when we are not happy, that we blame others for our discontent and look outside ourselves to find that happiness. King Ahaz of Judah was an evil king. Not only had Ahaz been unfaithful to the Lord, but he also encouraged the people whom he ruled to sin, as well (II Chronicles 28:19; Romans 1:32). And instead of looking within himself and repenting for his non-existent relationship with the Lord, Ahaz assumed there must be other gods more powerful than the God. “Why, look at the success that King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria has had against us and others! Why not worship his gods instead of our God?” (II Kings 16:10-18; II Chron.28:22-25). How many times have husbands or wives become dissatisfied with their spouses and instead of looking within themselves to see how they might need to change, had an affair with someone else who temporarily made them feel better? For that reason, God told Hosea to marry a prostitute. “Some of her children will be born to you from other men. This will illustrate the way my people have been untrue to me, openly committing adultery against the Lord by worshipping other gods” (Hosea 1:1&2). Gomer was the wife of Hosea. Her first child was Hosea’s (1:3). No mention is made of the father of Gomer’s next child, which leads us to wonder if even Gomer knew who the father was (1:6). There was no doubt that the third child Gomer gave birth to, was not Hosea’s (1:8-10). Only by placing ourselves in Hosea’s position and imagining what he must have felt like when his wife kept whoring around, can we even remotely imagine what God feels when we abandon Him for some other god, some other lover, something or someone else to fill the void in our hearts that only He can. Only God can save us (Isaiah 17:10). We would be wise to imitate the example of King Hezekiah of Judah. “There was never another king like him in the land of Judah, either before or after his time. He remained faithful to the Lord in everything, and he carefully obeyed all the commands the Lord had given Moses. So the Lord was with him, and Hezekiah was successful in everything he did” (II Kings 18:5-7). Hezekiah’s predecessors, peers, and successors were afraid of the king of Assyria and found them-selves oppressed by the many pagan nations around them because of their love affair with these pagan nation’s gods. But, because of his love affair with the One, True God, King Hezekiah successfully revolted against the king of Assyria and refused to pay him tribute. King Hezekiah conquered the Philistines and more (II Kings 18:5-7). Why would we leave our first love for someone else that only seems more attractive in the moment? And why would we forsake our love of God for other pagan idols that can really give us nothing? Consider your answer the next time you are tempted to commit adultery against God by committing sin. June 28 - - The debate between Christians over whether consuming alcohol is a sin or not, has been going on for centuries. One thing is for sure, drunkenness is never permitted in scripture. “Don’t let the sparkle and smooth taste of wine deceive you. For in the end it bites like a poisonous serpent; it stings like a viper” (Proverbs 23:31&32). “Destruction is certain for the city of Samaria - - the pride and joy of the drunkards of Israel.... Destruction is certain for that city - - the pride of a people brought low by wine.... The proud city of Samaria - - the pride and joy of the drunkards of Israel.......Israel is being led by drunks” (Isaiah 28:1-3,7; see also Isa.5:11,22). No matter how many prophets God sent to Judah and Israel; no matter how many times God pleaded with Judah and Israel to turn from their wicked ways; and no matter how many times Judah and Israel were warned what would happen should they not repent, they persisted in their evil and ignored the pleas of a loving and graceful God. “They refused to listen to the Lord their God” (II Kings 18:12). Both would be defeated by their enemies and eventually many of their people were deported to other lands. Israel was the first to fall (II Kings 17:23; 18:11). The King of Assyria transported many Israelites to other lands and brought many foreigners to live in Israel. It was a common method for victorious kings in crushing the nationalistic pride of their defeated foes. But still, God pleads. “Give up your wicked ways. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the orphan. Fight for the rights of widows.....No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you as white as wool. If you will only obey me and let me help you.....” (Isaiah 1:16-20). How blessed we all are to have a God whose love for each of us, and whose love for all of us; is wider, higher, deeper, and longer than any of us can comprehend, or any of us deserves (Ephesians 3:17-19).