II Chronicles 31

Revival caused destruction of false gods verse 1

Now when all this finished

all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah

and brake the images in pieces – and cut down the groves

and threw down the high places and the altars out of

all Judah and Benjamin

in Ephraim also and Manasseh

until they had utterly destroyed

them all

Then all the children of Israel returned

every man to his possession – into their own cities

Hezekiah established full time priesthood verse 2- 4

And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites

after their courses – every man according to his service

the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings

to minister – to give thanks – to praise in the gates of the

tents of the LORD

He appointed also the king’s portion of his substance for the burnt offerings

to wit – for the morning and evening burnt offerings

and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths – new moons – set feasts

as it is written in the law of the LORD

Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the

portion of the priests and the Levites

that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD

Revival caused people to give tithe of all verse 5- 8

And as soon as the commandment came abroad

the children of Israel brought in abundance

the firstfruits of corn – wine –oil – honey

and of the increase of the field

and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly

And concerning the children of Israel and Judah

that dwelt in the cities of Judah

they also brought in the tithe of oxen – sheep

and the tithe holy things which were consecrated to the

LORD their God – and laid them by heaps

In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps

and finished them in the seventh month

And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps

they blessed the LORD – and HIS people Israel

Hezekiah was amazed at the giving of the people verse 9- 10

Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites

concerning the heaps – and Azariah the chief priest of the

house of Zadok answered him

and said

Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD

we have had ENOUGH to eat and have left plenty

FOR the LORD has blessed HIS people

and that which is left is this great store

Hezekiah ordered chambers prepared verse 11- 13

Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD

and they prepared them – and brought in the offerings and the tithes

and the dedicated things FAITHFULLY

over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler — and Shimei

his brother was the next – and Jehiel – Azaziah

Nahath – Asahel – Jerimoth – Jozabad – Eliel

Ismachiah – Mahath – Benaiah

were overseers under the hand of Cononiah

and Shimei his brother

at the commandment of Hezekiah the king

and Azariah the ruler of the house of God

Kore distributed all the tithes to the Levites verse 14- 18

And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite – the porter toward the east

was over the freewill offerings of God

to distribute the oblations of the LORD

and the most holy things

And next him were Eden – Miniamin – Jeshua – Shemaiah – Amariah

Shecaniah in the cities of the priests – in their set office

to give to their brethren by courses

as well to the great as to the small

besides their genealogy of males

from three years old and upward

even into every one that enters into

the house of the LORD

his daily portion for their service in their charges

according to their courses

Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers

and the Levites from twenty years old and upward

in their charges by their coarses

and to the genealogy of all their little ones

wives – sons – daughters

through all the congregation

for in their set office they

sanctified themselves in holiness

Priests were given from the tithes as well verse 19

Also of the sons of Aaron the priests which were in the

fields of the suburbs of their cities in every several cities

the men that were expressed by name

to give portions to all the males

among the priests and to all that were reckoned

by genealogies among the Levites

Hezekiah sought the LORD wholeheartedly verse 20- 21

And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah

and wrought that which was

GOOD and RIGHT and TRUTH

before the LORD his God

And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God

in the law – in the commandments – to seek his God

he did it with all his heart and prospered

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 10 And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store. (7646 “enough” [saba] means to be satisfied, be sated, be fulfilled, be surfeited, plenty or to have in excess.)

DEVOTION: Have you ever known a pastor to starve to death? Remember that if the church doesn’t give the pastor enough – they answer to the LORD. And if the pastor takes too much – he answers to the LORD.

The priests and the Levites were not being paid under the leadership of the kings before Hezekiah. They never had enough food in the house to eat properly. This was going to change.

There was a revival in the people of God and one of the signs was the destroying of the places of false worship. Another sign was that God’s people gave God’s portion.

The tithe was brought to the house of God and the servants of God had plenty to eat and live on. Hezekiah came to see the tithes that the people offered and he was amazed at how much the people had given. He ordered the storehouses in the Temple be cleaned up to help store the amount that was given.

When a revival hits, the people of God give and give and give in thanksgiving. One of the reasons the work of God is not going forward is that the people of God are not giving the portion of God to the work of God. Our checkbooks tell the true about our relationship with God. Some give to get or be recognized (wrong motives), but the real giving is to thank the LORD for what HE has done.

When giving is done with the right motive, the servants of God are blessed, the people of God are blessed and the worship of God is a blessing.

CHALLENGE: Give to the LORD with a cheerful heart. God knows our motives. If it is to be seen of men – HE doesn’t want it.

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 14 And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of the LORD, and the most holy things. (5414 “distribute” [nathan] means to give, to hand down, place, to transfer possession of something concrete or abstract to somebody, or bestow.)

DEVOTION: The love of money is the root of all evil. The Bible informs us that we are not to have money as our goal in life but the glory of the LORD. Money is necessary to a point. It is needed to purchase what is needed in a household, even the households of the servants of God.

Here we find that the offerings came to the Temple and there was a man who was to distribute the money faithfully to those who were supposed to be paid for their service to the LORD.

He was the treasurer of the payment of the tribe of Levi. He had to make sure that everyone had enough. There were large heaps of good given at this time to the Temple and they would have to be distributed quickly, so that, the products from the fields didn’t rot. It was an awesome responsibility.

Now we have to make sure that we are giving in proportion to our income to the work of the LORD. The tithe is just the beginning. Many churches are not going forward because there is not enough money to move forward. Without proper giving the ministry in any local church will suffer.

God wants us to give and when we give with a proper attitude HE will bless us for our giving. If we give willing mind, HE will bless us. It is our motive internally that the LORD looks at when we have given. Here we have the children of Israel giving because they want to honor the LORD.

Offerings need to be taken and God’s people need to support a ministry that is honoring to the LORD. This is God’s plan for the work of the ministry under the direction of the Holy Spirit. If you have any doubt as to what you should give go to the LORD in prayer and the Holy Spirit will give you direction through the Word of God.

The offerings given by God’s people in the Old Testament should be a good example for us to follow today. Our pastors need the support of the people both with words and actions.

Some churches have people who not only give to the church but give special gifts to the children of the pastor that help the children see that their father is fulfilling his ministry to the people.

CHALLENGE: Children of pastors need to see that the people love them and their family.

: 18 And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness. (6942 “sanctified” [qadash] means be set apart, to render holy or set apart by means of religious rites, consecrated, clean, be dedicated or to show oneself as or be treated as holy.)

DEVOTION: Hezekiah’s father had neglected the Levitical families. There was no care given to them and they were scattered throughout the land because he had closed the Temple down and made other places of worship during his reign.

Now Hezekiah his son was setting up the worship of Jehovah alone. He had celebrated the Passover over with the people of Judah and all those from the other ten tribes who came to worship and celebrate the cleansing of the land of false worship.

As they left the celebration they took down all the altars to false gods that were found everywhere they traveled. Also the people were given the command to give as the LORD instructed Moses during the wilderness travels and the people gave in abundance.

Now it was time for the Levitical families to finally have food again that the people provided. So people were assigned to distribute the food and there was an allotment for all those listed in the family.

This included not just the priests and Levites that were serving in Jerusalem but their families and the families of those who were not presently serving in Jerusalem. All were provided for by the proper distribution of the tithes and offerings that were given.

So we see that accurate records were kept as to who were the servants of the LORD in the families of the priests and Levites. The records were checked that included every baby that was born into the families. Also the names of the wives of the priests and Levites were in the record. And each of the children were listed to make sure that no one was left out in the receiving of the proper amount needed for each family to serve the LORD.

Those who are called to serve the LORD need to be supported by the local body to the point that all the members of the family can have a portion that is enough to keep them healthy.

I have always said that if the pastor takes too much from the church he will have to answer to the LORD and if the church gives too little to the pastor they will have to answer to the LORD. The motto in any church should NEVER be: “Lord you keep him humble and we will keep him poor.”

Sad to say sometimes the members of the church never really look at the genuine needs of their pastors and this can cause some pastor’s children to rebel against the church.

CHALLENGE: Meet the needs of the pastoral staff of your church!!!

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 20 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God. (571 “truth” [‘emeth] means firmness, trustworthiness, constancy, conformity to reality or actuality, stability, perpetuity, or faithfulness.)

DEVOTION: There was a new standard set for the people of Judah and for those who were to minister in the house of God. It was a standard that had not been kept for a while. Hezekiah wanted things to be different in Judah.

Now we find that he wanted to make sure that the LORD was honored in the worship in Judah. He wanted to make sure that there was a standard set that would be kept by the priests and Levities.

Today we need a standard set for those who want to honor the LORD in their personal lives and in the life of the church. The standard has not changed even when it seems that the church of today is not the same as the New Testament Church standard.

We need to make sure that we are worshiping the LORD in spirit and in truth. This can only happen if those who are in leadership are trying to live the life that is set forth in the Word of God.

No leader is perfect but every leader has to make sure that they are genuinely working with the help of the Holy Spirit to live a life that is pleasing to the LORD. This can only happen when there is confession of personal sin on a regular basis. This can only happen when there is a genuine study of the Word of God daily with prayer. This can only happen if the people of the congregation are praying for their leaders to be spiritual men. This can only happen if each worship service gives glory to God and not to those who singing up front for their own personal glory. Even the pastor has to make sure that he is not preaching in his own wisdom but in the wisdom of God.

If the truth is preached and practiced then those who come into the church that don’t know the LORD will know that there is genuine concern for their soul and will want to make a genuine commitment to the LORD.

CHALLENGE: Is this happening in your worship services each Sunday? Can we say that what was happening was good and right and truthful? Our worship needs to be genuine if our message is to be heard.

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: 21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered. (6743 “prospered” [tsalach] means bring to successful issue, to go on well, to finish well, or cause victory.)

DEVOTION: Motivation is important in the service of the LORD. Here is a king who wanted to please the LORD in everything he did.

His desire was that all the people of the Promised Land would come together to truly worship the LORD alone. He invited those from every tribe to come to the celebration of the Passover. It has been neglected for over two hundred years and even now it was going to have to be celebrated a month late because there were not enough priests and Levites sanctified to practice the offering of sacrifices to the LORD.

The people gathered together to worship and the celebration caused a revival in the land. The people no longer had a need to worship false gods when they could worship the ONLY TRUE God. They wanted to honor the LORD with their worship and with their income.

So they put into practice all the commandments of the LORD regarding the caring for and support of the Levitical priests and their helpers. The king gave his full support and even gave of his income to make sure he set the proper example of giving before the people.

Now after all this was done we find that the king prospered as well because of faithfulness to the LORD. He had given his whole heart to the LORD and the LORD blessed him for his actions.

We need to learn from his example and practice what is required of New Testament saints in their giving and service to the LORD. Success in the eyes of the LORD means that faithful service is practice from a genuine heart.

CHALLENGE: The nation prospered because the king set an example for them to follow. Are we setting a proper example for those around us when we celebrate our salvation in Jesus Christ?

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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Firstfruits brought for the priests and Levites verse 5

Tithe brought for the priests and Levites verse 5, 6, 12

All things

Oxen and sheep

Holy things

Laid them in heaps

Dedicated things faithfully

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

Priests verse 2, 9, 17- 19

Levites verse 2, 9, 17- 19

Burnt offerings verse 2, 3

Peace offerings verse 2

Minister verse 2

Give thanks verse 2

Praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD verse 2

Sabbath verse 3

New moons verse 3

Set feasts verse 3

Tithes and offerings given verse 5- 14

Tithe of oxen and sheep

Consecrated things

Laid them by heaps

Azariah – the chief priest verse 10, 13

House of the LORD verse 10, 11, 16

Cononiah the Levite verse 12, 13

Ruler

Shimei – brother of Cononiah verse 12, 13

Overseers listed verse 13

Kore – son of Imnah the Levite verse 14

Porter

Over freewill offering

To distribute the oblations of the LORD

Most holy things

Give their brethren by courses verse 15, 16

Daily portion for their service

All were to sanctify themselves in holiness verse 18

Twenty years old and upwards

Sons of Aaron the priest verse 19

House of God verse 21

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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

Law of the LORD verse 3, 4 , 21

Commandment verse 5, 21

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 16, 20

God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 6, 13, 14, 20, 21

LORD their God verse 6

House of the LORD verse 10, 11, 16

House of God verse 13, 21

LORD his God verse 20

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Images verse 1

Groves verse 1

High places verse 1

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Rid country of false worship and gods verse 1

Minister verse 2

Give thanks verse 2

Praise verse 2

Encouraged verse 4

Abundance of firstfruit verse 5

Tithe verse 5, 6, 12

Blessed verse 8, 10

Offerings to the LORD verse12

Faithfulness verse 12

Sanctified verse 18

Good verse 20

Right verse 20

Truth verse 20

Service verse 21

Seek the LORD with all heart verse 21

Prosper verse 21

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Israel verse 1

Brake the images in pieces

Cut down the groves

Threw down the high places

Threw down the altars

Children of Israel verse 1, 5

Returned every man to his possession

Brought in abundance firstfruits of

Corn,wine, oil, honey = tithe

Hezekiah verse 2, 8, 11, 13, 20

Appointed courses of the priests and Levites

Blessed the people

Commanded a chambers be prepared

Wrought that which was good and right

and truth before the LORD his God

People that dwelt in Jerusalem verse 4

Give portion to priests and Levites

Four months of giving to the LORD verse 7

Princes verse 8

Priests had enough and plenty to eat verse 10

Daily portions given to the priests verse 16

Whole Levitical families cared for by giving verse 18

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events)

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QUOTES regarding passage

31:14–21. As for the gifts made to the Lord Himself—a way of describing freewill (voluntary) offerings (cf. Lev. 7:11–21), these were the responsibility of Kore and his six associates. It was their duty to distribute them to the priests who lived in 13 towns outside Jerusalem (2 Chron. 31:14–15; cf. Josh. 21:13–19). Even the priests’ young boys three years old and above received freewill offerings for they would someday serve as priests (2 Chron. 31:16). The Levites, on the other hand, received their portions only if they were at least 20 years old (cf. 1 Chron. 23:24). Obviously there were many more Levites than priests. The families of both the priests and the Levites were, of course, supported similarly (2 Chron. 31:17–18) since the Law of Moses forbade the clergy from engaging in secular work to provide for themselves (cf. Num. 18:21–24). Finally, any priests or Levites who did not live in either Jerusalem or a designated priestly town were not to be overlooked (2 Chron. 31:19). All these things, the chronicler wrote, Hezekiah did wholeheartedly (a word used by the chronicler six times: 1 Chron. 29:9; 2 Chron 6:14; 15:15; 19:9; 25:2; 31:21) and in strict compliance with the Lord’s commands (31:20–21). (Merrill, E. H. (1985). 2 Chronicles. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 644). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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The freedom to study “the Law of the Lord” was not a matter of academic leisure for the priests; rather, it was crucial for the well-being of the whole nation that the clergy thoroughly understand what God requires (cf. Mal 2:6–7). Similarly, any church today that does not afford its pastor the opportunity for study and growth will suffer for it. (Thompson, J. A. (1994). 1, 2 Chronicles (Vol. 9, p. 358). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

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31:14–15 Kore the Levite, keeper of the east gate, an important official (cf. 1 Chr 9:18), had six helpers named. Their task was to arrange for the distribution of the freewill offerings made to the Lord and also the consecrated gifts to their fellow priests in the towns according to their divisions, with no distinction of age. (Thompson, J. A. (1994). 1, 2 Chronicles (Vol. 9, p. 359). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

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The apparently routine character of this chapter is deceptive, for it deals with two principles of first importance. The first is that worship cannot be left to the ‘professionals’. The latter must certainly fulfil their God-given roles, but direct participation by the people is equally crucial (cf. 1 Cor. 14:26). For that reason, it was not only the inhabitants of the towns of Judah (v. 6) as well as of Jerusalem (v. 4) who made their contributions, but possibly also migrants from the north (vv. 5, 6). However, the most distinctive feature of the people’s support is not the fact of it but its generosity. They gave ‘in abundance’ (v. 5, nrsv, rsv) and brought a great amount, a tithe of everything (v. 5), with their gifts standing in piles or heaps (vv. 6, 8, 9). As a result, Judah enjoyed a double blessing: recognizing that the Lord had blessed his people (v. 10), the leaders blessed the Lord and his people Israel (v. 8).

The second principle is the care needed to ensure that Israel’s worship is carried out ‘decently and in order’ (cf. 1 Cor. 14:40). Good planning and the implementation of adequate supporting structures provide a framework in which wholehearted and meaningful worship can take place. Hezekiah therefore prepared storerooms to receive the gifts, and various officials were appointed to collect and distribute them (vv. 11–19). The key characteristic of this administrative work is that it was done faithfully (vv. 12, 15; cf. v. 18). The Hebrew word (’ĕmûnâ) which this translates is always used in Chronicles of the Levites’ carefulness over financial matters (1 Chr. 9:22, 26, 31; 2 Chr. 19:9; 34:12) and illustrates that right attitudes are essential to make any structure function effectively. In this case, the Levites’ faithful observance of their duties enabled the maximum number of people to benefit from God’s blessing.…..

The pattern of daily, weekly, monthly, and annual offerings is often repeated in Chronicles (v. 3; cf. 1 Chr. 23:31; 2 Chr. 2:4; 8:13; 13:11), and was clearly of great importance. It indicates that God must be worshipped at all times, and that worship was not to be subject to the whims of human circumstances and emotions. The underlying authority for this was written in the Law of the Lord (v. 3; cf. Num. 28–29), a phrase which was often quoted in the context of reforming sacrificial worship (1 Chr. 6:49; 16:40; 2 Chr. 8:13; 23:18).….

Certainly, in Israel as well as the church, adequate ministerial leadership cannot be sustained without regular structured support by the people, with the tithe as a minimum requirement (cf. Matt. 23:23). (cf. Prov. 28:20; Matt. 25:21, 23). (Selman, M. J. (1994). 2 Chronicles: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 11, pp. 522–523). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)

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Micah and Isaiah (Isa 13–27 applies particularly to Hezekiah’s reign between the years 728 and 712). They were respected by the kings (32:20; cf. 2 Kings 19:2; Jer 26:18–19), and their writings illumine the entire period (cf. Isa 22:1–14; 24:1–13). (Payne, J. B. (1988). 1, 2 Chronicles. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job (Vol. 4, p. 538). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)

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7 The Israelites began bringing their contributions “in the third month” (May/June), the time of the Feast of Pentecost and of the Palestinian grain harvest (Exod 23:16a); and they finished in the seventh month (Sept./Oct.), the time of the Feast of Tabernacles and of the ingathering of the fruit and vine harvests at the end of the agricultural year (23:16b). (Payne, J. B. (1988). 1, 2 Chronicles. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job (Vol. 4, p. 539). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)

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FROM MY READING:

(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)

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Faith in All the Ages

“And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets.” (Hebrews 11:32)

Hebrews 11 is a thrilling catalog of the faithful servants of God in all the ancient ages. There were Abel, Enoch, and Noah before the Flood; then Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph in the patriarchal age; followed by Moses, Joshua, and Rahab in the time of the exodus and conquest. Finally, today’s verse summarizes the periods of the judges (Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthae), the kings (Samuel, David), and the prophets.

All these were men and women of great faith, though each had to endure great testing. They, as the writer says, “stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword . . . had trial of cruel mocking and scourging, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder . . . destitute, afflicted, tormented” (Hebrews 11:33-37).

In every age, men and women of faith were more often than not despised and persecuted by the world (even by the religious world!), but the Bible notes, parenthetically, that it was they “of whom the world was not worthy” (Hebrews 11:38). In God’s sight, they all “obtained a good report through faith” (Hebrews 11:39), and this is worth more than all the world, for it is the entrance into a far better and eternal world.

Note that faith is not a sentimental wishfulness but a strong confidence in God and His Word, through Jesus Christ, who is Himself “the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Like those of past ages, we can also “run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1) through the faith He offers us. (HMM, Institute for Creation Research)

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Deuteronomy 3
The transfer of authority from Moses to Joshua is announced.

INSIGHT (Quiet Walk)

The past is a picture of the future. When trying to determine what will be, it is important to know what has been.Throughout the wilderness journey, God reminds Israel what He has done in the past-to give them courage and hope for the future. As the reins of leadership are passed from Moses to Joshua, the Lord encourages Joshua with a review of history: “Your eyes have seen all that the Lord your God has done to these two [past] kings; so will the Lord do to all the kingdoms through which you pass” (Deuteronomy 3:21).
The Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever. When we face the giants in our lives, we can take heart from the Lord’s words to Joshua: “You must not fear them, for the Lord your God Himself fights for you” (Deuteronomy 3:22). Our giants are not flesh and blood. They are spiritual and emotional. But the Lord must still defeat them. Trust!

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GOD FORGIVES SIN

God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. John 1:5

God, being God, cannot simply forgive sin. Now the common idea about God, the one that we have instinctively, is that when we admit we have sinned, all that is necessary is that we should come to God, say we are very sorry, and God will forgive us. But according to the Bible that is impossible, and I do not hesitate to use that word. As a preacher of the Christian Gospel, I am compelled to say this, and I say it with reverence: God, because He is God, cannot just forgive sin like that.

If you want me to prove what I am saying, this is how I do it. If God could have forgiven sin just by saying, “I forgive,” He would have done so, and Christ would never have been sent into this world. The work that was given to Him to do, this work, this assignment, this task, was given to the Lord Jesus Christ because, I say again, without it God cannot forgive sin. He must not only justify the ungodly, He must remain just. The way of salvation must be consistent with the character of God. He cannot deny Himself; He cannot change Himself; He is unchangeable. “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). He is “the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17). He is eternally the same, and He is absolutely righteous and holy and just. He cannot remain that and simply forgive sin.

It is wrong to say, “God is love, and because He is love, He will forgive me.” My friend, He cannot, because He is God! The work of Christ was essential because of the character of God, and it was essential because of man being in sin; something had to be done to render man fit for God.

A Thought to Ponder: God, being God, cannot simply forgive sin. (From Saved in Eternity, pp. 99-100, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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