Daily Manna 23 September
KEY VERSE: “And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the LORD’S people; between the king also and the people.” – (2 Kings 11:17)
TEXT: 2 Kings 11:13-21
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
2 Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge,
And he sins who hastens with his feet.
3 The foolishness of a man twists his way,
And his heart frets against the Lord.
4 Wealth makes many friends,
But the poor is separated from his friend.
5 A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies will not escape.
6 Many entreat the favor of the nobility,
And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts.
7 All the brothers of the poor hate him;
How much more do his friends go far from him!
He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him.
8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps understanding will find good.
9 A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies shall perish.
10 Luxury is not fitting for a fool,
Much less for a servant to rule over princes.
11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,
And his glory is to overlook a transgression.
12 The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is like dew on the grass.
13 A foolish son is the ruin of his father,
And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.
14 Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers,
But a prudent wife is from the Lord.
15 Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,
And an idle person will suffer hunger.
16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But he who is careless of his ways will die.
17 He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord,
And He will pay back what he has given.
18 Chasten your son while there is hope,
And do not set your heart on his destruction.
19 A man of great wrath will suffer punishment;
For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.
20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
That you may be wise in your latter days.
21 There are many plans in a man’s heart,
Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.
22 What is desired in a man is kindness,
And a poor man is better than a liar.
23 The fear of the Lord leads to life,
And he who has it will abide in satisfaction;
He will not be visited with evil.
24 A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl,
And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary;
Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.
26 He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother
Is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
27 Cease listening to instruction, my son,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28 A disreputable witness scorns justice,
And the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.
29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
And beatings for the backs of fools.
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
A notable man once said, “It s better to be without a king than to have a bad one”. Why? Because rulers are symbols of fairness and justice. From the text, Athaliah had violently and forcefully usurped the kingdom of Judah and imposed herself over the people. As a tyrant, she did not only force the people to please her but also made them to displease God. She seized the kingdom and all the good things in the land of Judah. Idolatry, corruption and wickedness took over the land because of the personality of the tyrant.
Meanwhile, God had providentially arranged for Jehoash to be preserved and prepared for the throne as the true king. But before he could fully reign, the tyrant must be taken away and destroyed. Athaliah’s treasonable act led to her self-destruction. After her removal from the throne, peace, prosperity and happiness filled the once troubled land of Judah.
In the same way, Christ was prepared and preserved miraculously from king Herod’s plan to eliminate the baby Jesus. He brings peace, prosperity and happiness to the heart of man. There cannot be peace and happiness in a heart that does not please God. You are left with a choice today to choose between the tyrant who comes to steal, to kill and to destroy, and the true King who brings peace and happiness to the hearts of men. Choose Christ and live!
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Overthrow the tyranny of the flesh in your life to allow Jesus in.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 21-23
Thank you for studying today’s Daily Manna – Between the Tyrant and the King – by Pastor Enoch A.
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Daily Manna 23 September 2021
