relationships (2 Chronicles 23:1-21) Be Holy

(2 Chronicles 23:1-21)  Now in the seventh year, Jehoiada gathered his courage, and took captains of hundreds: Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Johanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, and they entered into a covenant with him. 2 And they went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the heads of the fathers’ households of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem. 3 Then all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And Jehoiada said to them, “Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as the Lord has spoken concerning the sons of David. 4 This is the thing which you shall do: a third of you, of the priests and Levites who come in on the Sabbath, shall be gatekeepers, 5 and a third shall be at the king’s house, and a third at the Gate of the Foundation; and all the people shall be in the courtyards of the house of the Lord. 6 But no one is to enter the house of the Lord except the priests and the ministering Levites; they may enter, for they are holy. And all the people are to keep the command of the Lord. 7 The Levites will surround the king, each man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever enters the house is to be put to death. Therefore be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.”

8 The Levites and all Judah 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, for Jehoiada the priest did not dismiss any of the divisions. 9 Then Jehoiada the priest gave the captains of hundreds the spears and the shields and quivers which had been King David’s, which were in the house of God. 10 He stationed all the people, each man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, by the altar and by the house, around the king. 11 Then they brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him, and gave him the testimony and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and said, “Long live the king!”

12 When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she went into the house of the Lord to the people. 13 She looked, and behold, the king was standing by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and the trumpeters were beside the king. And all the people of the land rejoiced and blew trumpets, the singers with their musical instruments leading the praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and said, “Conspiracy! Conspiracy!” 14 And Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds who were appointed over the army, and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks, and whoever follows her is to be put to death with the sword.” For the priest said, “You shall not put her to death in the house of the Lord.” 15 So they seized her, and when she arrived at the entrance of the Horse Gate of the king’s house, they put her to death there.

16 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king, that they would be the Lord’s people. 17 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. 18 Moreover, Jehoiada placed the offices of the house of the Lord under the authority of the Levitical priests, whom David had assigned over the house of the Lord, to offer the burnt offerings of the Lord, as it is written in the Law of Moses—with rejoicing and singing according to the order of David. 19 He stationed the gatekeepers of the house of the Lord, so that no one would enter who was in any way unclean. 20 He took the captains of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from the house of the Lord, and went through the upper gate to the king’s house. And they seated the king upon the royal throne. 21 So all of the people of the land rejoiced and the city was at rest. For they had put Athaliah to death with the sword.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Athaliah assumed she could just enter the Lord's house, because she had claimed herself to be queen of Judah, but was not holy or chosen.  In fact, she was against the Lord.  It doesn't matter what one claims to be, and it doesn't matter what one determines or claims as truth.  It is not up to us to decide what truth is going to be or should be, no matter how determined or emphatic we are.  

Truth is truth - it is matter of fact - and the fact is that God is truth.  Therefore, God determines how one can enter heaven.  Just like with the house of God and its holy of holies, no one can enter heaven to see the King of kings unless one is holy.  And because it is impossible for anyone to become holy in their own efforts, the only way for someone to become holy is to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

As soon as we believe in Jesus and His work on the cross, our sins are forgiven, and we are saved by grace, and have eternal life.  God adopts us as His own, and the Holy Spirit seals us and changes us from the inside, so we become more like our heavenly Father who is holy.  

As we are God's children and His ambassadors, we should desire to live a holy, God-filled life.  By growing closer to the Lord, allowing Him to transform us, to work in and through us, we can be a steadfast example, learning how to better manage the relationships around us.  It is all about having a personal relationship with God, which includes spending time with Him in prayer and in His word.  May we always strive to be more and more like our heavenly Father by spending time with Him, and having Him walk with us wherever we go!