TOPIC: DISOBEDIENCE IS DESTRUCTIVE [DCLM DAILY MANNA 10 OCTOBER 2020 DEVOTIONAL BY PASTOR WILLIAM FOLORUNSO KUMUYI]
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Text: 2 Chronicles 35:20-27 (KJV)
20 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him.
21 But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not.
22 Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.
23 And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded.
24 His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in one of the sepulchres of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.
25 And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they are written in the lamentations.
26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, according to that which was written in the law of the LORD,
27 And his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
Key Verse: “Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo. And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded” (2 Chronicles 35:22, 23).
MESSAGE:
All men without grace are prone to disobeying God. As many refuse to heed the admonition to watch what they eat and drink; even so is it the creed of man to wantonly disobey God’s laws and commandments. This they do to their own peril. Josiah became king at the age of eight. He started very well and at age 15, began to seek the God of David. At 19, he started the reform that destroyed idols in the land. At 25, he began to rebuild the temple that was left desolate in the previous decades of idol worship.
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While the temple was being cleaned, the book of the law was found. On reading it, he saw the anger of the Lord against Judah for forsaking Him and going after strange gods. He repented and called the people to repentance. There was a restoration of true worship and the start of the last revival in Judah before the captivity.
Our text today shows the danger of disobedience to the word of God even in time of revival and seeming prosperity. In the 31st year of Josiah’s reign, the king of Egypt was going to war against the king of Assyria by Euphrates River, and sent emissary to Josiah for permission to pass through the land of Judah; Josiah refused even when he was told that it was at the command of the Lord. To be able to fight this unnecessary battle, he disguised himself and was wounded in the encounter. He died at the hand of an enemy.
The sad end of King Josiah should serve as a lesson to present-day believers. If a righteous man engages in an unrighteous cause, he should not expect to prosper. God is no respecter of persons. Whenever you are confused of what decision to take, consult Him. In minor, medium and major events, never fail to seek His counsel.
Thought For The Day: Disobedience begets God’s indignation. Beware!
The Bible In One Year: Isaiah 18 – 21
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria
