Godly Leadership, That Protects A People, Begins With A Right Relationship With God

2 Chronicles 34:1-33 

1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years.
2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left.
3 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.
4 And they brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the images, that were on high above them, he cut down; and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust of them, and strowed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them.
5 And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.
6 And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, with their mattocks round about.
7 And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.
8 Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land, and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.
9 And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the doors had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin; and they returned to Jerusalem.
10 And they put it in the hand of the workmen that had the oversight of the house of the LORD, and they gave it to the workmen that wrought in the house of the LORD, to repair and amend the house:
11 Even to the artificers and builders gave they it, to buy hewn stone, and timber for couplings, and to floor the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.
12 And the men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward; and other of the Levites, all that could skill of instruments of musick.
13 Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and were overseers of all that wrought the work in any manner of service: and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters.
14 And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the LORD given by Moses.
15 And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan.
16 And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought the king word back again, saying, All that was committed to thy servants, they do it.
17 And they have gathered together the money that was found in the house of the LORD, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and to the hand of the workmen.
18 Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.
19 And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes.
20 And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king's, saying,
21 Go, enquire of the LORD for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book.
22 And Hilkiah, and they that the king had appointed, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college:) and they spake to her to that effect.
23 And she answered them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell ye the man that sent you to me,
24 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah:
25 Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched.
26 And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to enquire of the LORD, so shall ye say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel concerning the words which thou hast heard;
27 Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the LORD.
28 Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king word again.
29 Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.
30 And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD.
31 And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.
32 And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.
33 And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the LORD their God. And all his days they departed not from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.

Seek the Self-existent Creator, while you can still do so, that you might choose His only plan of salvation and be at eternal peace with the One True God.

Humanity Lusts For Religious Diversity, But, God Never Approved It

2 Chronicles 33:1-13

1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:
2 But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.
3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
4 Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.
5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.
6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
7 And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:
8 Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.
9 So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.
10 And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.
11 Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
12 And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,
13 And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God.

You, too, can discover and be at peace with the One True God of all Creation, for He desires a loving and joyful relationship with you. Here is His only plan of salvation for all eternity, so that you can walk with Him in His peace that passes all understanding.

The Real God Is Able To Deliver Those Who Trust In Him

2 Chronicles 32:19-21
19 And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man. 20 And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.
21 And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.

God created Mankind and gave Adam and Eve the Earth to tend. But the jealous and dissatisfied "covering cherub" Lucifer sought to become "as the most high God", so Lucifer became Satan and began attacking God and God's Word by tempting Eve, saying, "Yea, hath God said?" Since that first temptation and sin that humanity failed to fight off, the rest of humanity has joined Satan's attacks and continue to attack God and His Word, by our sin nature rebelling against God, by our own free will. Satan and human sin's many false gods, false religions, and false science create and spread lies about who God is and what kind of relationship the Eternal Self-existent One wants with humanity. Our sin nature and the devil blow a lot of smoke to dissuade us all from trusting God and His Word. But, those who choose to truly trust in God's Word and put it into practice continually find themselves able to resist the devil and to rest in God's promises and security, despite the ongoing attacks of evil. Our trust in our Creator, God's only Christ, helps us to realize that we are not the real objects of the lies and attacks, but that evil seeks to depose and replace God's pure, righteous, holy, loving, and merciful existence and ways, and having failed to depose God, the devil and his minions come after those of us who have repented of our own sin and called upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

God's promises never fail, even as Psalm 23 says that He shall take us "through the valley of the shadow of death", and that our choice is that we can "will" ourselves to "fear no evil".

Each of us must determine whether we will choose to serve our own sin, our flesh, the world, and Satan, or will we determine to choose God, God's Word, God's only Christ, and God's only salvation. As popular as it is, today, to blame other people and circumstances for our plights, God does not allow us to blame anyone else for our sinful choices.

Please, repent and trust God's Christ, before it is too late.

John 3:36

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

"...One Nation Under God...?"

 There is and has been much mischief going on, even since the Garden of Eden, that seeks to tear down all the good that God has done and that Humanity would follow. If we look up this link, we can see that those who trust in the LORD are going to have the better outcomes in eternity and usually in earthly life, than those who fight against God's Word and His ways. Whether high or low, great or small, we who trust in God's promises can be at peace with Him, abiding in Him and His joy, no matter what is happening around us. We can rely on His promises to guide us through every situation in life, no matter how threatening they appear.

2 Chronicles 32:1-8
1 After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself.

2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,

3 He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him.

4 So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?
5 Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.
6 And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying,
7 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him:
8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

Jesus said of His followers that we should and would endure the same kind of persecution and suffering as He lived through and died for. Yet, He promised to never leave or forsake us. He keeps that promise, even when we feel as if He is not there, when we look to our flesh and its weakness instead of looking to the Self-existent Eternal God of all, as we should be. Do not despair though the world and earthly things threaten. Look to the one and only Christ of God for God's only plan of salvation. Then and only then shall you be assured of eternal life and peace, even as I and others have trusted in Him and His promises that bring us His "peace that passeth all understanding". Only when all our citizens submit ourselves to the One True God and repent of our evils, shall we truly be "one nation under God" and able to truly ask for His protection and blessing. This is not just true of the USA, but of every nation and every people, for God is not just the God of the USA but of all humanity.

Evil Leaders and Evil Followers Are Both Responsible

People fight among themselves. Nation after nation wants supremacy. Society after society wants to be king of the hill. Many are all too eager to follow the temptations of Satan and the world, but, few seek the LORD, Self-existent and Eternal, the God of Creation, or His Christ. Many call upon many false gods and idols, but few believe on and trust in the One True God. Many are willing to try to pass off their own guilt onto those whom they follow.

While rejecting the One True God and His Christ has eternal consequences, there are also, frequently, earthly consequences for rejecting Him, whether people want to recognize or admit those consequences or not. We need to count the cost of our decisions, whether we be great or small in the eyes of the world. Too often those who lead lead their followers into destruction. Too often those looking for a leader choose to follow anyone who tickles their ears and promises anything the followers desire. We all put ourselves into these situations because we neglect to seek, follow, abide in, and test all things by the One True God and His Word.

2 Chronicles 28:19
For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD. 

The full context of this simple example shows us that the king practiced evil and that the people followed him, going against how God wanted them to live. They all were responsible for their personal and collective actions and the suffering that they earned and lived through. Today, it is politically expedient to claim some "diverse" point of cultural or emotional or sexual preference and then to point fingers at everyone else to try to force them to bow and worship that "diversity", without respect to what God wants or says. To diverge means to go in a direction away from the known or common direction or travel or discussion. All those who expound and worship divergence from God's way of doing things have promoted perverse ways, and have segregated themselves from God and His counsel. Whether leading or following the packs of people who resist God's Word, those have chosen to fight against what God says and by doing so damn their own actions.

Whether those in authority lead their constituents astray or the constituents pressure their leaders into doing ungodly things, both have the same consequences for having acted against the Word and will of God Almighty. Whether we be great or small in the world, when we shall face God, we shall give honest answer for all we've done and we cannot blame anyone but our own selves for our decision to act in any particular manner. Our lives and decisions are wholly accountable to God. He has shown every human being His Truth throughout Creation. Those who choose to reject God's Truth do so damn themselves.

You do NOT have to damn yourself, but, you can choose God's way. The choice is yours now and for eternity.

The Only Eternal Self-existent God Calls All To Repentance and Mercy

 Ask the God of all Creation to speak to your heart and mind about what He says in this passage, His warning to repent of our sin and turn to His ways.

2 Chronicles 28:6-15

6 For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. 

7 And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king. 

8 And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.
9 But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven.
10 And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God?
11 Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you.
12 Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war,
13 And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the LORD already, ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.
14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.
15 And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.

From Genesis through Revelation, God has only one plan of salvation.

Our Lust For Diversity and Perversity Has Consequences

Humanity has a sinful penchant for lusting for diversity and perversity, but we try to deny any consequences that should naturally occur, once we have indulged our appetites. We must learn to judge ourselves and our appetites according to God's Law and not our own imaginations and inclinations, for there are always going to be eternal consequences even if we believe that we are getting away with our present sin. God's Word, the Bible, assures us of these things, despite how delusional and ignorant we try to be about His way of doing things, for we are eternally accountable to Him, our Creator, no matter what we temporally desire.

2 Chronicles 28:1-5
¹ Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father: 

²  For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim. 

³  Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. 

⁴  He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. 

⁵  Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter. 

We make the choice of where we shall spend eternity. We decide whether to repent and accept God's salvation or to despise it. There is no middle ground and human religion and religiosity are not pleasing to God. Either we accept His Christ or we damn ourselves.

Please, before it is too late for you and your life, choose Jesus Christ, our Creator, who made us in His image. Do not be deceived by the world and Satan, for he is the father of lies and all that seeks to fight against God.