DIVINE PUNISHMENT

ANCHOR OF LIFE DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE For FRIDAY, 27TH JANUARY, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE – General Overseer

Anchor of Life & Redemption Ministry Int’l 

 Topic: DIVINE PUNISHMENT

MEMORIZE: *"Notwithstanding the LORD turned out from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal" (2 KINGS 23:26).

SCRIPTURE READING: 2 KINGS 23:26-30.

“26 Nevertheless the LORD did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath, with which His anger was aroused against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked Him. 27 And the LORD said, "I will also remove Judah from My sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, 'My name shall be there.'" 28 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 29 In his days Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt went to the aid of the king of Assyria, to the River Euphrates; and King Josiah went against him. And Pharaoh Necho killed him at Megiddo when he confronted him. 30 Then his servants moved his body in a chariot from Megiddo, brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, anointed him, and made him king in his father's place.”

EXPOSITION:

Sometimes, we ask why some bad things happen to good people. But most of the time we do not seek the answers from the right sources. And so, we keep asking the same question over and again without getting answers that could put such endless questions to rest.

It is a reality of life that the answers go beyond human comprehension but we can understand if, by divine revelation, we are privileged to have some inkling. The ignorance of man produces a tendency to shift attention to wrong causes sometimes to remain hardened in iniquity. Rather than show contrition, people tend to explain away the repercussions of evil deeds. This helps to perpetuate more evil and confusion. Ignorance is not a justification for man's errors and not a reason to think God will support wrongdoings.

Manasseh had provoked God, who was going to deal decisively with the people. His earlier pronouncements on Jerusalem, that His name would be there, was not enough to deter Him or assuage His anger, seeing that the people were presumptuous and adept in sinning. God is love; yet, He is also a consuming fire. What happened in times past can still happen again today to those who remain in iniquity and do things that are displeasing to God. Rather than pity those who suffered at that time, we should examine what moved God to disown and visit them with severe punishment. Only then shall we understand how to escape divine judgment.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: If you offend man, you can run to God; if you offend God, who will you run to?

PRAYER POINT:

i. Lord, let your mercy overlook all my previous provocations as I am making up my mind now to start walking closely to thee.

ii. Teach me Lord to walk closely with you as I now reject all the tendencies to grieving the Holy Spirit.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR –  Exodus 38-40

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ANCHOR OF LIFE is the daily devotional of the Anchor Of Life & Redemption Ministry (ALRM) written by Pastor Dr. Samuel Bayonle Ayorinde. It is an extraction of God’s Word designed to draw the sincere seeker closer to God on a daily basis through an insightful exposition and analysis of God’s Word.  Please share this message on all platform and let’s join hands together in proclaiming the kingdom of God. God bless you as you study it and also spread the Gospel by sharing it in Jesus name. 

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