Daily Manna 17 June
KEY VERSE: “Moreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on workmen: for they dealt faithfully.” – (2 Kings 12:15)
TEXT: 2 Kings 12:1-16
1. In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba.
2. And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.
3. But the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.
4. And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the LORD, even the money of every one that passeth the account, the money that every man is set at, and all the money that cometh into any man’s heart to bring into the house of the LORD,
5. Let the priests take it to them, every man of his acquaintance; and let them repair the breaches of the house, wheresoever any breach shall be found.
6. But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house.
7. Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and the other priests, and said unto them, Why repair ye not the breaches of the house? now therefore receive no more money of your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the house.
8. And the priests consented to receive no more money of the people, neither to repair the breaches of the house.
9. But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one cometh into the house of the LORD; and the priests that kept the door put therein all the money that was brought into the house of the LORD.
10. And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king’s scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags, and told the money that was found in the house of the LORD.
11. And they gave the money, being told, into the hands of them that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of the LORD; and they laid it out to the carpenters and builders, that wrought upon the house of the LORD,
12. And to masons, and hewers of stone, and to buy timber and hewed stone to repair the breaches of the house of the LORD, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it.
13. Howbeit there were not made for the house of the LORD bowls of silver, snuffers, basons, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of the LORD;
14. But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the house of the LORD.
15. Moreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on workmen; for they dealt faithfully.
16. The trespass money and sin money was not brought into the house of the LORD; it was the priests’. Daily Manna 17 June
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
Franklin Roosevelt’s closest adviser during much of his presidency was a man named Harry Hopkins. During World War II, when his influence with Roosevelt was at its peak, Hopkins held no official cabinet position; however, his closeness to Roosevelt caused many to regard him as a shadowy, sinister figure. When asked by a political foe why he kept Hopkins close to him, Roosevelt replied, “Someday you may well be sitting here where I am now as President of the United States.
And when you’ll be looking at that door over there and knowing that practically everybody who walks through it wants something out of you, you’ll learn what a lonely job this is, and you’ll discover the need for somebody like Harry Hopkins, who asks for nothing except to serve you”. The sole source of Hopkins’s power was his willingness to serve.
On assuming the throne, Josiah wanted to ensure all the monies of the dedicated things brought by the people were used to maintain the temple. The men who were appointed by him to be in charge of the collections meant for the repair of the temple were faithful and dependable men. They utilised the fund for its purpose without any accusation of embezzlement or misappropriation.
Today, it is rare to find people who are dependable and trustworthy. There have been reports of corruption, embezzlement of state funds, which is meant for the survival of the masses. Worst still, so called ‘Christian’ officials have been found culpable for these vices.
The Lord expects faithfulness from us, and like the workmen placed over the task in our text, we should deal faithfully and selflessly when involved in public service.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Service without faithfulness has no reward.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Philippians 1-4
