5/6/2011 9:11:35 AM
SPIRITUAL DIARY
My Worship Time Focus: Retaliation
Bible Reading
& Meditation Reference: 2Ki. 11:1-12; 2Chron. 22:10
Message of the verses: “1 ¶
When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she rose
and destroyed all the royal offspring. 2
But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash
the son of Ahaziah and stole him from among the king’s sons who were being put
to death, and placed him and his nurse in the bedroom. So they hid him from
Athaliah, and he was not put to death. 3
So he was hidden with her in the house of the LORD six years, while
Athaliah was reigning over the land.
“ 4 ¶ Now in the seventh year
Jehoiada sent and brought the captains of hundreds of the Carites and of the
guard, and brought them to him in the house of the LORD. Then he made a
covenant with them and put them under oath in the house of the LORD, and showed
them the king’s son. 5 He commanded
them, saying, "This is the thing that you shall do: one third of you, who
come in on the sabbath and keep watch over the king’s house 6 (one third also shall be at the gate Sur, and
one third at the gate behind the guards), shall keep watch over the house for
defense. 7 "Two parts of you, even
all who go out on the sabbath, shall also keep watch over the house of the LORD
for the king. 8 "Then you shall
surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes within
the ranks shall be put to death. And be with the king when he goes out and when
he comes in." 9 So the captains of
hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each one
of them took his men who were to come in on the Sabbath, with those who were to
go out on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 The priest gave to the captains of hundreds
the spears and shields that had been King David’s, which were in the house of
the LORD.”
“10
¶ Now when Athaliah the mother of
Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she rose and destroyed all the royal
offspring of the house of Judah.”
Today’s
SD is about two things that can be explained with the term retaliation. The term retaliation is seen in this section
in a number of ways and it can also be seen because of Satan, which is the
thing that is seen here. The Lord had
made a covenant with David that there would be a descendant on his throne until
the Messiah would come through his line.
As seen in the Scriptures this did happen, but Satan was surely trying
to stop this and this is one of the places that is seen where he is most
active. Baal
worship was brought into the Northern kingdom by Jezebel and assisted by her
husband Ahab. Because of this union
their daughter Athaliah was married off to the son on the king of the southern
kingdom, Jehoshaphat who was one of the better kings of the southern kingdom,
but good people can make some big mistakes.
Because of this mistake Baal worship would be introduced into the
southern kingdom. Jehu killed the kings
of both kingdoms and also Jehoram who was married to Athaliah killed all of the
other kings sons so there were few of David’s descendants alive. When the kings were killed, both the southern
and northern kingdoms Athaliah killed of what she thought was the rest of
David’s offspring, but this text says one was spared and there would be
retaliation for the retaliation she made and she was killed and the young king
Joash is made king. This was surely all
brought about by the Lord as His promises will not be stopped to be fulfilled
by anyone including Satan who was in the midst of all of this.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: I think that a lot of people try to be the
instrument of God’s judgment on things that were done wrong to them. God will judge His way and in His time using
His methods, which are perfect because God is perfect.
Dr.
Wiersbe writes the following statement which is important to be a part of this
section of my SD: “To return evil for
good is demonic; to return good for evil is godlike; and to return evil for
evil and good for good is human.” These
are very wise and true words. He goes on
in the next paragraph to say this:
“Planning and executing revenge does far more harm to the perpetrator
than to the victim.” Then he quotes a
Jewish proverb, “The smallest revenge will poison the soul.” “If you are going to pay back an enemy,
choose a good one, because paying back an enemy is a very expensive
luxury.”
Here
are some verses that show that believers are not to “pay back” one who harms
you: Lev. 19:18, “’You shall not take
vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall
love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.’” Proverbs 20:22, “Do not say, "I will
repay evil"; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.” Proverbs 24:29, “Do not say, "Thus I
shall do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his
work." Matthew 5:38-48, “38 ¶ "You have heard that it was said, ’AN
EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’ 39
"But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps
you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 "If anyone wants to sue you and take
your shirt, let him have your coat also. 41
"Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 "Give to him who asks of you, and do not
turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
“ 43 ¶ "You have heard that
it was said, ’YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ 44 "But I say to you, love your enemies and
pray for those who persecute you, 45 so
that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to
rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the
unrighteous. 46 "For if you love
those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do
the same? 47 "If you greet only
your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do
the same? 48 "Therefore you are to
be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Romans
12:17-21, “17 Never pay back evil for
evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be
at peace with all men. 19 Never take
your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written,
"VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. 20 "BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM,
AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING
COALS ON HIS HEAD." 21 Do not be
overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
1Peter 3:8-9, “8 ¶ To sum up, all
of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in
spirit; 9 not returning evil for evil or
insult for insult, but
giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might
inherit a blessing.
My Steps of
Faith for Today:
1.
Remember
the purpose that I was called, “but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose
that you might inherit a blessing.
2.
Continue
to learn contentment.
3.
Remember
that battle that is raging on.
5/6/2011 10:17:04 AM
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