"But they will become his slaves so that they may learn the difference between My service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries." 2 Chronicles 12:8
Judah had been unfaithful to the Lord and the Lord humbled her. He actually brought them back into servitude to the very nation He had led them out of...Egypt. They would become slaves of the king of Egypt, Shishak. They would be reminded what it was like to have a master that was not the Lord Almighty. They would be reminded that there is nothing greater or more wonderful than being a slave of God!
Slavery has all types of icky connotations for most of us. We see it as anything but good. In fact, most Bible translations have replaced the word "slave" (the correct word in the Greek) for the word "servant" seeking to soften the message. The problem is...we need the true message loud and clear because, for the believer, it's a glorious truth! The truth is, we are slaves whether we like it or not...the question isn't if we are slaves or not the question is, "Who are we slaves of?". We either serve Satan or we serve the Lord. One form of slavery brings bondage to sin, deception, torment and Hell. The other, brings freedom from sin, truth that shines into all the dark places, joy that surpasses all circumstances and gives us an eternity in Heaven!
Yet, we are so often like Judah. We forget the amazing privilege it is to be a slave to the King of Kings. We forget the never ending blessings that come from having God as our Master. We begin to serve what is not our Master...we become a slave to: popularity (what others think of us), food, worldliness, music, television, our own ideas and beliefs, our desires, books, materialism...and so many other things that are quick to become idols in our hearts and the object of our worship and service.
But, we find that there is no lasting joy in those things. And the more we run after them, the greater the hole in our hearts becomes and so the more we cling to that very thing in hopes that it will make us happy. We have thrown away the sweet freedom of serving in the presence of Christ where there is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. That is what we do every time we sin. Yet God, in his great mercy and grace, uses that sin to remind us of just how great He is...of just how glorious His gospel is...of just how spectacular it is to be a slave of Christ!
He did that for Judah and He does that for us.
"But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY." 1 Peter 2:9-10
Judah had been unfaithful to the Lord and the Lord humbled her. He actually brought them back into servitude to the very nation He had led them out of...Egypt. They would become slaves of the king of Egypt, Shishak. They would be reminded what it was like to have a master that was not the Lord Almighty. They would be reminded that there is nothing greater or more wonderful than being a slave of God!
Slavery has all types of icky connotations for most of us. We see it as anything but good. In fact, most Bible translations have replaced the word "slave" (the correct word in the Greek) for the word "servant" seeking to soften the message. The problem is...we need the true message loud and clear because, for the believer, it's a glorious truth! The truth is, we are slaves whether we like it or not...the question isn't if we are slaves or not the question is, "Who are we slaves of?". We either serve Satan or we serve the Lord. One form of slavery brings bondage to sin, deception, torment and Hell. The other, brings freedom from sin, truth that shines into all the dark places, joy that surpasses all circumstances and gives us an eternity in Heaven!
Yet, we are so often like Judah. We forget the amazing privilege it is to be a slave to the King of Kings. We forget the never ending blessings that come from having God as our Master. We begin to serve what is not our Master...we become a slave to: popularity (what others think of us), food, worldliness, music, television, our own ideas and beliefs, our desires, books, materialism...and so many other things that are quick to become idols in our hearts and the object of our worship and service.
But, we find that there is no lasting joy in those things. And the more we run after them, the greater the hole in our hearts becomes and so the more we cling to that very thing in hopes that it will make us happy. We have thrown away the sweet freedom of serving in the presence of Christ where there is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. That is what we do every time we sin. Yet God, in his great mercy and grace, uses that sin to remind us of just how great He is...of just how glorious His gospel is...of just how spectacular it is to be a slave of Christ!
He did that for Judah and He does that for us.
"But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY." 1 Peter 2:9-10
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