15/06/2020
*DAILY MANNA*
*MONDAY, 15 JUNE 2020*
_It is advisable that you prayerfully and meditatively read the text first_
*END OF IMPUNITY*
*TEXT:* 2 KINGS 11:1-12.
_*🔑KEY VERSE* "And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal seed" (2 KINGS 11:1)._
What has come to be referred to as the Arab Spring was a series of pro-democracy uprisings that enveloped several largely Muslim countries, including Tunisia, Morocco, Syria, Libya, Egypt and Bahrain. The events in these nations generally began in the spring of 2011 which led to the removal of popular dictators and brought social and political change.
From the passage under review, the southern kingdom of Judah was now being consumed by the venom of the poisonous snake they allowed in their nation. Athaliah, the daughter of Omri, a king in the idolatrous northern kingdom of Israel, came into the royal family of Judah by marriage. She killed her own grandchildren and took control of the nation. But unknown to her, Jehoash, one of the king's sons was hidden by her nurse.
Seven years later, Athaliah was overthrown after a well-planned military operation. Thus, her impunity and illegality were brought to an end.
The actions of Athaliah were bizarre, illegal and arbitrary. This was unbecoming of a mother and grandmother. As surprising as her actions were, it was however not unexpected considering the witchcraft and wickedness in the idolatrous family of Omri, Ahab and Jezebel. She was a product of that system and found her way into the southern kingdom through marriage.
Dictators do not have the support of people. They may continue for years, but will come to an abrupt end sooner or later. They will soon have their days in court when the table turns, and justice begins to prevail. Those who rule with an iron fist and refuse to give room for freedom, equity and justice, will eventually be removed and their impunity cannot continue.
*✍THOUGHT FOR THE pDAY* Tyranny will not last forever.
*BIBLE IN ONE YEAR* EPHESIANS 1-3.
*MEDITATION*
Beware of inordinate position seeking
*1. Inordinate position seekers*
a. They are willing to destroy or assassinate the character of anybody that stands in their way of ambition v1.
b. They, perhaps unconsciously, value their ambitions more than human lives v1.
c. They hypocritically pretend to want to serve when in actual sense they want people to serve their ambitions and lists v1.
d. The will of God is secondary to them and seeking His will is just to ask God to rubber stamp their ambitions v1.
e. They may get what they want but that thing will eventually destroy them and if care is not taken end up in hell vv13-15.
*Q* What are the other characteristics inordinate position seekers.
*2. The right attitude to follow*
The young Joash, who did not fight for the throne, eventually became the king.
a. Think twice before struggling for any position for which nobody recommends you. It may be that people don't see the grace for that position in you or it is not yet time. The same is true for both secular and spiritual v4.
b. Even if it is God who you believe speaks to you, there will be sincere people who will encourage and recommend you to move forward. Before David became King, many people have seen and confessed royalty in him vv4.
c. God will bring genuine helpers your way to help and support you to climb that position if it is the will of God vv5-8. In this case it was Jehoiada and some soldiers v12.
d. Make sure you stick to Christian principles and never compromise Christian's graces and virtues on your pathway of fulfilling your ambition. Beware because one compromise will lead to another.
e. Don't outpace or think to outsmart God. Hebrews 5:4, Habakkuk 2:3.
*Pray* that God will purge you from every trace of inordinate ambition🙏
*Pray* for grace not to move faster or be too slow for God🙏
*Pray* that God will work mightily in you and send helpers to make you what He planned for your destiny🙏
*Ask* God that He will frustrate every move of our youths in the church towards self destruct in the name of ambition🙏
*HYMN* All to Jesus I surrender
