God of Suddenlies

Day 112

Reading: 2 Kings 21:1 - 2 Kings 23:37

One thing I have come to learn over and over again is that God is a God of a sudden happening. Everything may look bleak and then all of a sudden there is a change in circumstances that causes men to wonder how or where did that miracle come from.  To you my dear reader who is facing challenges that have driven you to the end of your wits, please know that God is a God of 'Sunddenlies'! He is able to show up suddenly in that situation and resolve it. Are you willing to believe that God is more than able to manifest Himself suddenly? Cast your burden on God and celebrate God for your season can change without an appointment.  

Manasseh, the son of King Hezekiah was nowhere near like his father. King Hezekiah served and loved God, however, his son was the worst king to rule over Judah. He did everything that was wrong. The Bible says that Manasseh did abominations that exceeded the nations that God evicted from living in the land that the children of Israel now occupied. He seduced the people to do more evil than the nations that preceded or surrounded them. He built altars to everything desecrating the House of God by adding altars that weren't to God but to idols. In the midst of this evil God declares judgement to the land stating that whoever would hear of what God did against Jerusalem and Judah their ears would tingle. God announces that the remnant would meet His wrath. 

In the midst of the darkness that permeated society, God raises a king who loves Him.  After the death of Manasseh, his son Amon takes over who reigns for 2 years before he is murdered. The people of the land then execute the murders of the king and Josiah is anointed as king at the age of 8. Josiah walked in the ways of God. In the 18th year of his reign, he's 26 at this point, the Book of the Law is found in the House of God by the High Priest who sends it to the king as the law required the king to have a copy. The Book of the Law was found as repairs to the House of God had been ordered by the King. Revival will only lead to reformation when we get the House of God in order. 

On reading the Book of the Law, King Josiah tears his robes and immediately humbled himself before God. He fully understood that the land was facing God's judgement for having failed to keep God's commandments. He humbled himself before God and sought to know the mind of God. He understood the gravity of the sins of the fathers before him. The status of the temple when he became king surely was an image that showed him how far the people had fallen from serving God. The question I have for you my dear reader is what is your reaction or response to hearing the Word of God? Do you remove all the clothes we wear in life? I don't mean the clothes as in garments but the clothes of pride, self-importance, or the various masks we wear in our daily living. Does the Word of God pierce your heart and cause you to remove every mask as you humble yourself before God?

A prophetess named Huldah delivered the mind of God regarding the enquiry of the king. Her words were clear that God would bring calamity in accordance to His Word, however, King Josiah would be buried in peace for his humbling himself before God on hearing the Word. King Josiah proceeded to restore true worship as ordained in the Book of the Law. He read the Book of the Law to the population and immediately set about removing every altar that was not of Jehovah. King Josiah was so zealous to see the people restored to God that he literally made sure every form of abomination was cleansed from the land. Not only did he deal with the evil altars in the Kingdom of Judah but also in the Kingdom of Israel. He went to Bethel and removed the altar and high place that Jeroboam the first King of Israel, when the kingdom split, had erected. When Josiah did this he was fulling the prophecy that was made to Jeroboam by the man of God sent to Jeroboam that the altar would be removed by a king named Josiah whom God would raise 1 Kings 13:1-4. The prophecy may have been forgotten but God ensured it was fulfilled suddenly. The priests who served the altar of baal were executed. In the process of purging the land of all its evil, Josiah passed a tombstone and asked who was buried there. He found that it was where the prophet who had prophesied many years before of his actions against the altar in Bethel was laid to rest 1 Kings 13:30. 

King Josiah led a revival at a time that was unlikely. I believe God is raising people in the mould of King Josiah for this generation. Kings who will lead the people back to God. Kings who will not fear in removing altars of evil. Kings who will enable the land to worship God again. Please note I am not saying priests, pastors, prophets, but kings. God is raising kings in different areas who will lead multitudes back to God. The next revival coming will see kings stir people back to God. 

Memory Verse: 2 Kings 22:19

Decree:

Father, may Your Word come alive in my heart. I chose to humble myself before You. I declare that You are God alone and my life will be an altar for You alone. I dedicate my life to serving you. Lord use me to destroy the altars of evil and build the House of God. Use me to repair the House of God. Lord, use me to lead people to worship You, Jehovah. Lord use me to revive the House of God that there may be a reformation in our lands in Jesus name. Amen.