February 14: 2 Chronicles 17:3-6
Over and Over and Over Again!
Anyone who reads through 2 Chronicles is bound to notice it. The repetition is so common that it becomes almost oblivious. But if we stop to take a closer look, we may begin to recognize a recurring pattern of failure that continues to be a problem throughout the history of Israel. That problem, I contend, is still with us.
“And Asa did what was good and right in the sight of the LORD his God, for he removed the foreign altars and high places, tore down the memorial stones, cut down the Asherim,” (2 Chronicles 14:2-3, NASB)
“And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father David’s earlier days and did not seek the Baals,” (2 Chronicles 17:3, NASB)
“He took great pride in the ways of the LORD, and again removed the high places and the Asherim from Judah.” (2 Chronicles 17:6, NASB)
“Furthermore, he (Jehoram) made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to be unfaithful, and led Judah astray.” (2 Chronicles 21:11, NASB)
“Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king, that they would be the LORD’S people. And all the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down, and they broke in pieces his altars and his images, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.” (2 Chronicles 23:16-17, NASB)
“But after the death of Jehoiada the officials of Judah came and bowed down to the king, and the king listened to them. And they abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols; so wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs. Yet He sent prophets to them to bring them back to the LORD; and they testified against them, but they would not listen.” (2 Chronicles 24:17-19, NASB)
So, I could go on tracing this back-and-forth struggle to deal with idolatry among Israel and Judah. Do you ever wonder why king after king who is serious about serving the LORD has to remove the idols and idol groves? If they were removed, how did they return? The return to God doesn’t last long.
Revival was a constant need because of the constant temptation to abandon faith in Yahweh and seek other gods to worship. Then revival would come when those idols were destroyed and abandoned, and they sought the true God with all their hearts.
This problem has not escaped mankind. The Apostle Paul confronts his readers with the same problem among the nations.
“For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their reasonings, and their senseless hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and they exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible mankind, of birds, four-footed animals, and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them up to vile impurity in the lusts of their hearts, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for falsehood, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” (Romans 1:21-25, NASB)
REVDANS 