12/2- Day 4 Good Kings

12/2- Mt. 1:8-11- Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, Josiah
⁸ Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah. ⁹ Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. ¹⁰ Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah. ¹¹ Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon.

Thoughts: Three really good kings are found in this list of kings.  Jehoshaphat who always looked to God before he did anything; He conquered a huge army just by marching out of Jerusalem in praise to God.  Hezekiah conquered the mighty Assyrians in an amazing miracle and re-instated the Passover.  Josiah also reinstated the Passover and cleaned the Temple, finding a hidden copy of the Law (probably Deuteronomy) there.  These three kings all trusted God.  In contrast to them are: Ahaz who brought an altar from Syria into the Temple and then locked the doors of the Temple; and Manasseh who sacrificed his own child in worship of pagan gods (both in the name of tolerance of religion). Both Ahaz and Manasseh hurt the people economically, socially, religiously, and politically- the borders shrunk under their leadership, and Manasseh was actually captured and taken into exile.  It is important that leaders not be ashamed to trust God and inspire the people to trust Him too.  Like anyone’s genealogy, Jesus’ genealogy has good and bad in it.  We can learn from those who have gone before us.   Psalm 33 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”  Today, I hope, we can see this is true.  God protects us when we look to Him.  When we forsake Him- morally and spiritually- then we lose His protection (as happened with Ahaz and Manasseh). 

Josiah- Michelangelo- Sistine Chapel

Prayer: Lord, may I learn from the good kings to fear you in how I treat others and am over others.

Song: “O Worship the King all glorious above!  All greatfully sing his power and his love; our shield and defender the ancient of days, pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.

Activity: Send an email to a politician you admire and thank them and say a prayer for them.