Archive for category: GAMEtime Sharing

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Hebrews 2:1-10.  Let’s go!

Hebrews 2:1-4 (NIV) 
1  We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 
2  For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 
3  how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 
4  God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

On verses 1-4:   Here the writer of Hebrews starts to compare two messages.  The first message is the message of the Old Covenant, a message that was “spoken by angels” (v2; see also Galatians 3:19) to Moses.  The message of the Old Covenant is all about God’s law.  The essence of this first message is: “Obey God’s law and be blessed.  Disobey God’s law and die.”   This first message was binding on the Israelites.  Those who disobeyed the law of Moses were punished.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Chronicles 36:1-23.  Let’s go!

On verses 1-19:  These verses describe the four kings who rule the nation of Judah after King Josiah: Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah.  Notice that while each of these kings of Judah were in power, they were controlled by, opposed by and at the whim of a stronger foreign king.  Jehoahaz was controlled by Neco king of Egypt.  The other three kings were controlled by  Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.   As a result, these kings never really had full authority to rule over the people of Judah, and the people of Judah would not thrive but lived under great fear and oppression.   During this time, God sends prophet after prophet to turn the people back to the Lord, but instead of listening and repenting the people of Judah mock the prophets God sends.  Their persistent rebellion against God ultimately results in the destruction of all of Jerusalem (including the temple and the royal palace) and Judah’s exile to Babylon.  The Promised Land is destroyed and Judah is ousted.

What can we learn from this?  The biggest reason for all of this taking place was the persistent sin of the people of Judah.  This was God on one hand disciplining the people of Judah for their persistent sin against Him, and at the same time fulfilling his promise in 2 Chronicles 34:28 not to bring about disaster to the people of Judah until after Josiah had died.  

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Chronicles 34:14-33.  Let’s go!

2 Chronicles 34:27 (NIV) 
27  Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD.

On verses 14-33:  While bringing out money that was stored in the temple, Hilkiah the priest finds and brings out the most precious treasure of all: God’s Word as contained in the Book of the Law.  He gives it to Shaphan the secretary who reads the Book of the Law in King Josiah’s presence.  In response to the reading of God’s Word, Josiah weeps, tears his robes and orders Hilkiah the priest, Shaphan the secretary and other servants to inquire of God as what they should do, since they have not kept much of what was written in the Book.  They in turn consult Huldah the prophetess who tells them that indeed disaster is awaiting the people of Judah for their failure to obey God’s commands.  However, because Josiah was humble and responsive to God’s Word, that disaster would not take place during his lifetime (v28). 

Josiah responds again to God’s Word, this time spoken through the prophet Huldah.  He gathers all of Judah for an assembly where he reads God’s Word to the people.  Then he stands at the pillar in the temple where a king would usually stand when making an important proclamation and commits to personally obeying God’s Word. 

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Chronicles 33:1-25.  Let’s go!

2 Chronicles 33:12-13 (NIV) 
12  In his distress he sought the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. 
13  And when he prayed to him, the LORD was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.

On verses 1-20:  Manasseh takes over from his father Hezekiah as king of Judah. Unlike his God-fearing father, Manasseh throws himself headlong into idol worship and witchcraft (v2).  He rebuilds places for idol worship that his father Hezekiah had destroyed (v3).  Manasseh even sacrifices his own children in the fire (v6) and erects altars inside the temple of the Lord to worship other gods (v4-8).  Under Manasseh’s leadership the people of Judah do more evil than the nations that the Lord had previously driven out of their land (v9). Despite warnings from God (v10), Manasseh and the people of Judah refuse to listen until Assyria invades Judah and takes Manasseh prisoner (v11).  At that time, Manasseh cries out to God in his distress (v12).  God is moved by his plea and allows Manasseh to return to Judah and restores Manasseh to power (v13).  At that point verse 13 says that “Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God”.  Upon his return to Judah, Manasseh cleanses his land of idol worship (v15-17) and begins to live a humble life before God (v19). 

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Chronicles 32:1-22.  Let’s go!

On verses 1-8:  King Sennacherib of Assyria invades King Hezekiah’s nation of Judah, laying siege to various fortified cities.  So Hezekiah takes several steps to prepare for battle and to make it difficult for King Sennacherib of Assyria to attack the capital city of Jerusalem:

Hezekiah cuts off King Sennacherib’s water supply (v2-4)
Hezekiah repairs the broken sections of Jerusalem’s walls (v5)
Hezekiah erects new towers from which he can see Sennarcherib from far away and defend the city (v5)
Hezekiah builds a second wall outside the first wall (v5)
Hezekiah strengthens supporting terraces (v5)
Hezekiah makes large numbers of weapons and shields (v5)
Hezekiah prepares his soldiers and military officers for battle, speaking encouraging words to them and reminding them that God is on their side, while the Assyrians are merely men (v7-8).
What can we learn from this?  Don’t make it easy for the enemy to attack.  Don’t wait for the enemy to attack before doing something to defend yourself.  Realize that attacks from the enemy will come and prepare yourself in advance for them.