Tag: Humble Yourself

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Isaiah 22, Humble yourselves before the LORD!

Isa 22:1, The burden against the VALLEY OF VISION. What ails you now, that you have all gone up to the housetops

The LORD used Jerusalem to give vision or revelation to Israel and the world; Valley of Vision is Jerusalem! Pro 29:18. This is the burden against GOD’s own people in Judah! WHAT GOOD IS A VISION OR REVELATION IF YOU IGNORE THEM?

Isa 22:2-3, You who are full of noise, A tumultuous city, a joyous city? YOUR SLAIN MEN ARE NOT SLAIN WITH THE SWORD, NOR DEAD IN BATTLE. ALL YOUR RULERS HAVE FLED TOGETHER; They are captured by the archers. All who are found in you are bound together; THEY HAVE FLED FROM AFAR.

Jerusalem was surrounded by the Chaldeans, Babylon, but the men of Judah didn’t die in battle, but they died by starvation, and pestilence. Others died by trying to sneak out of Jerusalem. 2Ki 25:4-5

Jer 38:2, “Thus says the LORD: ‘He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but he who goes over to the Chaldeans shall live; his life shall be as a prize to him, and he shall live.’ 

Isa 22:4-5, Therefore I said, “LOOK AWAY FROM ME, I WILL WEEP BITTERLY; Do not labor to comfort me Because of THE PLUNDERING OF THE DAUGHTER OF MY PEOPLE.” For it is a day of trouble and treading down and perplexity BY THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS IN THE VALLEY OF VISION

Isaiah was crying when he saw this vision of his own people being plundered; for Israel has rejected GOD! GOD removed Judah’s protection! Isa 22:8

Isa 22:11-12, … BUT YOU DID NOT LOOK TO ITS MAKER, NOR DID YOU HAVE RESPECT FOR HIM WHO FASHIONED IT LONG AGO. And in that day the LORD GOD OF HOSTS CALLED FOR WEEPING AND FOR MOURNING, FOR BALDNESS AND FOR GIRDING WITH SACKCLOTH.

The LORD wanted HIS people to turn to HIM for help; HE wanted HIS people to humble themselves before the LORD

Isa 22:13, But instead, joy and gladness, Slaying oxen and killing sheep, Eating meat and drinking wine: “LET US EAT AND DRINK, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE!” 

2Ch 7:14, IF MY PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME WILL HUMBLE THEMSELVES, AND PRAY AND SEEK MY FACE, AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, THEN I WILL HEAR FROM HEAVEN, AND WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN AND HEAL THEIR LAND. 

Judah was conquered by Babylon for they refused to listen and humble themselves before their GOD!

Lam 3:40, LET US SEARCH OUT AND EXAMINE OUR WAYS, AND TURN BACK TO THE LORD; 

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2Chronicles 33, HIS ways!

2Ch 33:1-2, Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. BUT HE DID EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, …

His father Hezekiah was sick and near death and the LORD told him, via Isaiah, that he was going to die! It was his time! 2Ki 20:1. YET he pleaded and cried to the LORD and the LORD extended his life 15 years longer!

2Ki 20:6, AND I WILL ADD TO YOUR DAYS FIFTEEN YEARS….

During the last 15 years of his life he begot Manasseh, a wicked king! THE LORD HAS A BETTER PLAN FOR US, YET MOST OF THE TIME WE PRAY IN IGNORANCE; WHEN HE SAYS ‘NO’ TO OUR PRAYERS IS FOR OUR BENEFIT EVEN IF WE DON’T SEE IT! 

2CH 33: 6, 10, ALSO HE CAUSED HIS SONS TO PASS THROUGH THE FIRE IN THE VALLEY OF THE SON OF HINNOM; HE PRACTICED SOOTHSAYING, USED WITCHCRAFT AND SORCERY, AND CONSULTED MEDIUMS AND SPIRITISTS. HE DID MUCH EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, TO PROVOKE HIM TO ANGER. And the LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, BUT THEY WOULD NOT LISTEN. 

The sad thing is today this would be considered normal behavior; killing children in the womb, consulting mediums doing evil before the LORD! YET, HE sends HIS messengers to teach the WORD of GOD and it’s rejected by them!

2Ch 33:11-12, Therefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, WHO TOOK MANASSEH WITH HOOKS, BOUND HIM WITH BRONZE FETTERS, AND CARRIED HIM OFF TO BABYLON. Now when he was in affliction, HE IMPLORED THE LORD HIS GOD, AND HUMBLED HIMSELF GREATLY BEFORE THE GOD OF HIS FATHERS,

Hos 5:15, I will return again to My place TILL THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR OFFENSE. THEN THEY WILL SEEK MY FACE; IN THEIR AFFLICTION THEY WILL EARNESTLY SEEK ME.” 

2Ch 33:13, …THEN MANASSEH KNEW THAT THE LORD WAS GOD. 

THE LORD HAS HIS WAYS TO TURN EVEN THE MOST PEOPLE WICKED BACK TO HIM!

1Jn 1:9, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

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2Chronicles 16, Repent and move on!

2Ch 16:1-3, In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah… Then Asa brought silver and gold FROM THE TREASURIES OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD… and sent to Ben-Hadad king of SYRIA…, saying, “LET THERE BE A TREATY BETWEEN YOU AND ME, … SO THAT HE (Baasha) will withdraw from me.”

Asa’s plan worked, he made a treaty with Syria and Syria attacked Baasha’s northern cities which cause king Baasha to go back!

2Ch 16:7, … HANANI THE SEER CAME TO ASA KING OF JUDAH, and said to him: “BECAUSE YOU HAVE RELIED ON THE KING OF SYRIA, AND HAVE NOT RELIED ON THE LORD YOUR GOD, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. 

Asa forgot about the LORD, he trusted in his riches and a treaty with pagan people, RATHER THAN PUTTING HIS TRUST IN THE LORD!

2Ch 16:9, FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD RUN TO AND FRO THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH, TO SHOW HIMSELF STRONG ON BEHALF OF THOSE WHOSE HEART IS LOYAL TO HIM. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.” 

KING ASA SHOULD HAVE REPENTED BEFORE THE LORD, YET IT HARDENED HIS HEART!

2Ch 16:10,12, THEN ASA WAS ANGRY WITH THE SEER, AND PUT HIM IN PRISON, …, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; YET IN HIS DISEASE HE DID NOT SEEK THE LORD, BUT THE PHYSICIANS. 

KING ASA STARTED OUT WITH GREAT FAITH IN THE LORD, BUT ENDED BADLY!

Pro 17:10, REBUKE IS MORE EFFECTIVE FOR A WISE MAN Than a hundred blows on a fool. 

WE ALL DO FOOLISH THINGS IN LIFE, YET WE NEED TO LEARN HOW TO HUMBLE OURSELVES BEFORE THE LORD, REPENT AND MOVE ON!

Pro 28:13, HE WHO COVERS HIS SINS WILL NOT PROSPER, BUT WHOEVER CONFESSES AND FORSAKES THEM WILL HAVE MERCY. 

2Ti 4:7, I HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED THE RACE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH. 

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2Chronicles 7, IF my people “IF”

2Ch 7:12, Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: “I HAVE HEARD YOUR PRAYER, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.

GOD heard Solomon’s prayer 2Chr 6:12-42

2Ch 7:13-14, When I shut up heaven and there is NO RAIN, or command the LOCUSTS TO DEVOUR THE LAND, or send PESTILENCE among My people, IF MY PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME WILL HUMBLE THEMSELVES, AND PRAY AND SEEK MY FACE, AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, THEN I WILL HEAR FROM HEAVEN, AND WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN AND HEAL THEIR LAND.

IF, MY PEOPLE!  Not only the Jewish nation, but also believers of the MOST HGH GOD! Solomon included the foreigner in his prayer (2Chr 6:32-33), “concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel”

Will HUMBLE themselves, PRAY and SEEK MY FACE and TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS

Jesus has given us an example to follow! FOR HE, BEING GOD, HUMBLED HIMSELF AS AN EXAMPLE FOR US. HE PRAYED IN THE GARDEN AND SOUGHT HIS FATHERS FACE! THAT WE MAY TURN FROM OUR WICKED WAYS AND FOLLOW HIM!

Php 2:7, BUT MADE HIMSELF of no reputation, TAKING THE FORM OF A BONDSERVANT, AND COMING IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN. 

2Ch 7:15, Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. 

SEEK THE LORD AND PRAY; FOR HE IS ALWAYS LISTENING TO THE PRAYERS OF HIS SAINTS! NOT THAT WE DESERVE IT, BUT THAT HE HAS FORGIVEN US BECAUSE OF HIS SON!

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2Kings 22, The coming wrath!

2Ki 22:1-2, JOSIAH was eight years old when he became king, … AND HE DID WHAT WAS RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, AND WALKED IN ALL THE WAYS OF HIS FATHER DAVID; HE DID NOT TURN ASIDE TO THE RIGHT HAND OR TO THE LEFT.

1Ki 13:2, …THUS SAYS THE LORD: Behold, a child, Josiah by name, shall be born…

2Ki 22:8, Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I HAVE FOUND THE BOOK OF THE LAW IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD.” AND HILKIAH GAVE THE BOOK TO SHAPHAN, AND HE READ IT. 

For years they went by tradition, what they heard, rather than what was written! They found the Book of the LAW in the House of the LORD! Wow! LIVING WITHOUT GUIDANCE!

2Ki 22:11, Now it happened, WHEN THE KING HEARD THE WORDS OF THE BOOK OF THE LAW, THAT HE TORE HIS CLOTHES. 

HE knew, GOD’S WRATH IS COMING!

2Ki 22:13, “Go, inquire of the LORD for me, …FOR GREAT IS THE WRATH OF THE LORD THAT IS AROUSED AGAINST US, BECAUSE OUR FATHERS HAVE NOT OBEYED THE WORDS OF THIS BOOK, …

More than 300 years have passed since the prophecy of the Josiah, 1Ki 13:2! Josiah knows the wrath of GOD is coming! JOSIAH WILL START TO CLEAN HOUSE IN JERUSALEM BUT THE LORD WILL DO WHAT HE PROMISED!

1Pe 2:1, Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 

PREPARE YOURSELF, FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD IS NEAR! HE IS COMING WITH DYED GARMENTS DIPPED IN BLOOD; FOR HE TRODDEN THE WINEPRESS ALONE!

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2Kings 5, HIS WAYS ARE NOT OURS!

2Ki 5:6-7, … Now be advised, when this letter comes to you, that I have sent Naaman my servant to you, THAT YOU MAY HEAL HIM OF HIS LEPROSY. And it happened, when the king of Israel read the letter, that he tore his clothes and said, “AM I GOD, TO KILL AND MAKE ALIVE, THAT THIS MAN SENDS A MAN TO ME TO HEAL HIM OF HIS LEPROSY?…

The king of Israel had the correct response because only GOD can heal anyone!

2Ki 5:9-10, So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and WAITED AT THE DOOR OF ELISHA’S HOUSE. BUT ELISHA SENT A MESSENGER OUT TO HIM WITH THIS MESSAGE: “GO AND WASH YOURSELF SEVEN TIMES IN THE JORDAN RIVER. THEN YOUR SKIN WILL BE RESTORED, AND YOU WILL BE HEALED OF YOUR LEPROSY.”

Elisha wasn’t being rude but it seems that GOD was working on Naaman’s pride, faith and obedience!

2Ki 5:11  But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, “Indeed, I SAID TO MYSELF, ‘HE WILL SURELY COME OUT TO ME, AND STAND AND CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD HIS GOD, AND WAVE HIS HAND OVER THE PLACE, AND HEAL THE LEPROSY.’

Pro 12:15, The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, BUT HE WHO HEEDS COUNSEL IS WISE.

HE IS ALWAYS WORKING AND KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT HE IS DOING! HE HAD TO HUMBLE NAAMAN FROM HIS PRIDE FIRST BEFORE THE BLESSING! HIS WAYS ARE NOT OUR WAY NOR HIS UNDERSTANDING OURS. HE WANTS THE BEST FOR US IF BUT ONLY WE HUMBLE OURSELVES BEFORE THE LORD!