Humbled Before the Word of the Lord (2 Chronicles 36:12)

 


Thursday, September 12, 2024


Psalm 31

2 Chronicles 36:1-14

1 John 5:13-21


Humbled Before the Word of the Lord (2 Chronicles 36:12)


We return back to the history of the Chronicles after spending some time with more of the Minor Prophets, just in time to see everything unravel completely. National policy as regards international relations sees Jerusalem’s kings drift between Egypt and Babylon, the two major powers of the region, to their own downfall. We get here a reference to another prophet, Jeremiah, and it makes one realise: this isn’t about politics. It’s about spirituality.


When we look to the task of the sword and the trowel, of what our job as kingdom-builders involves, we cannot escape politics. Our own politics might seem different to the politics of ancient Jerusalem on the surface, but at its foundation it is still all the same. There is nothing new under the sun.


The consistency lies in what the role of God’s word plays, and to whom. In today’s verse, we are concerned with what attitude the king takes towards the word of the Lord (which was a very poor attitude). But just a few lines down we discover that not only was the governing class dismissive of God’s word, so also were the leaders of the priests and, indeed, the people. The government, the church, and the general population were all dismissive of the warnings of the prophet.


If we carry a sword and a trowel, then we carry the word of the Lord. The word of God is our two-edged sword, and the Word of God is the foundation upon which we build. Our humbling before the word is not just for the general population, or just for the church, or just for the civil rulers. This humbling is for all of us. We are all in this together, and the word of the Lord stands above us, directing our path, and supports us, keeping us close to God.


When the next election comes up, what role will the word of God play in your voting decision? If you get a chance to speak to any candidates, what will you ask them?


O God of earth and altar:

Tie in a living tether
the prince and priest and thrall,
bind all our lives together,
smite us and save us all;
in ire and exultation
aflame with faith, and free,
lift up a living nation,
a single sword to thee. (G. K. Chesterton)

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