the nation of israel had some good kings - and some bad ones - ahaz was a bad one - he led israel away from following God - built idols for fake worship - took articles from God's temple - the temple david was so excited about - ahaz gave them to an assyrian king to bribe him in hopes of getting military help - it didn't work - he took the rest of the furnishings from the temple and destroyed them - he sealed the doors shut to keep anyone in israel from worshipping or praying to God - he set up altars on every street corner in jerusalem for people to worship anything else but God - thankfully, he died after reigning 16 years - 16 bad years - yep - he was a bad king
that was the shape of things when his son hezekiah became king - and he was a good king - from his first days on the throne - first he had the temple doors repaired and opened - then he gathered the priests and the tribe God had chosen to work in the temple - he met them in the open street - the east square - he points out the obvious to them - maybe just for effect - or maybe because they had gotten used to the temple looking like an abandoned house
then he tells them - in in the open street - anyone could hear - good - they needed to - he tells them "it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of israel" - and then he reminds them of their place in all of this - in verse 11 he charges them
do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense
a lot of mistakes were made in the past - some on purpose - but this is a new day - as your spiritual leader, it is my heart to renew covenant with God - the house of God is again open for business - right here on our street - and God has chosen you to stand in His presence - to serve Him - He can have anyone - but He chose you - to minister to others as He chooses to bless them - to encourage the prayers of God's people and pray along with them - He has chosen you to do it - to be a part of His dream team - to be on the winning side - the side of the King of Kings - don't be foolish and neglect this awesome opportunity
oh and i'm not talking about the priests and levites anymore - i was talking to you - present day - right now - so back up and read the previous paragraph again - now that you know i was talking to you
chosen - that's a word that describes you
that was the shape of things when his son hezekiah became king - and he was a good king - from his first days on the throne - first he had the temple doors repaired and opened - then he gathered the priests and the tribe God had chosen to work in the temple - he met them in the open street - the east square - he points out the obvious to them - maybe just for effect - or maybe because they had gotten used to the temple looking like an abandoned house
then he tells them - in in the open street - anyone could hear - good - they needed to - he tells them "it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of israel" - and then he reminds them of their place in all of this - in verse 11 he charges them
do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense
a lot of mistakes were made in the past - some on purpose - but this is a new day - as your spiritual leader, it is my heart to renew covenant with God - the house of God is again open for business - right here on our street - and God has chosen you to stand in His presence - to serve Him - He can have anyone - but He chose you - to minister to others as He chooses to bless them - to encourage the prayers of God's people and pray along with them - He has chosen you to do it - to be a part of His dream team - to be on the winning side - the side of the King of Kings - don't be foolish and neglect this awesome opportunity
oh and i'm not talking about the priests and levites anymore - i was talking to you - present day - right now - so back up and read the previous paragraph again - now that you know i was talking to you
chosen - that's a word that describes you
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