Thoughts on the Bible Readings October 29th (2 Chronicles 26, 27, Daniel 7, Acts 7)

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Uzziah was one of Judah's great reformers and builders. 2 Chronicles 26 tells us that he came to the throne aged 16 and ruled for 52 years. The greatest influence on Uzziah had been the high priest Zechariah, the son of Jehoiadah. Of Uzziah the chapter says: "He did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh"; and was he helped to overcome many foes. Uzziah's army is numerous and well equipped. But when the king was strong became lifted up in pride and sought to enter the temple as a king-priest. Uzziah is opposed by the priesthood and smitten with leprosy in his forehead. The year was BC686 and an anchor point for biblical chronology - see Amos 1 verse 1 (BC688); and Zechariah 14 verse 5. The same year Isaiah is commissioned to be a prophet and this also was BC686: read Isaiah 6. Uzziah dies and he is buried as a leper. Uzziah's son Jotham becomes Judah's king. 2 Chronicles 27 says that Jotham reigned in the fear of Yahweh and was paid tribute by the Ammonites. He also was a builder of fortresses. The key to Jotham's success is told to us in chapter 27 verse 6 - "So Jotham became mighty because he prepared his way before the LORD". In Daniel 7 the prophet is given a vision of how God views the kingdom of men - not being like warriors, but the rulers are as brute beasts. The Assyrian winged lions had their wings plucked and morphed into the standing lion. There was a slightly more humane side to the Babylonians than the cruel Assyrians. Then the bear raised up on one side which speaks of the Medo-Persian empire with the Persians dominant. The next Empire is Grecian - portrayed by a four-winged leopard. Lastly a terrific and indescribable fourth beast- like a crocodile with ten horns and one little horn that had the eyes and mouth of a man - which came up later. The Roman beast in its many forms are described in detail in the book of Revelation. An oriental court scene is portrayed in verses 9-12. Verses 13-14 present the Lord Jesus Christ - "the Son of Man" - receiving his kingdom from the Almighty - "the Ancient of days". Verses 15 to the chapter's end describe the anxiety that this vision causes Daniel as he sees this beast continuously destroying believers. Within this beast were Grecian elements; but the prophet's focus was on its eyes and mouth. A little horn came up belatedly and it presumed to speak on God's behalf. This exasperated the true believers. This beast/Empire would be allowed to seemingly prosper for a period of 1260 day/years. The four beasts that Daniel saw are the basis for the beasts in the book of Revelation. In Acts 7 we have Stephen's defence. Stephen shows a) God is not confined to a Temple, or place; and b) Israel's history illustrates a pattern of rebellion against the leaders God sent them. Stephen begins by telling the Sanhedrin Council - his accusers - that the God of glory appears to Abraham, not in the Land of Israel, not in a temple but in Mesopotamia. When Abraham dies the only inheritance he has in the land is the burial plot he has recently purchased. Stephen relates the terrible behaviour of the 12 sons of Israel. God raises up for His people Israel in Egypt a deliverer - Moses who was raised as an Egyptian prince. Stephen says that Moses was "mighty in words and deeds". But this self-confident prince may have thought that it would be through his might and power that the Almighty would deliver His people. But at this time, they reject Moses - just as they rejected Jesus in his time among God's people. Moses flees from Egypt a fearful and disillusioned man. The glory of God is revealed to Moses outside the land in the Sinai desert by an angel at the burning bush in Sinai. Stephen is carefully building his case that the location where God is worshipped is not the crucial factor in the Almighty' worship. So, Moses worships the LORD here. And for 40 years Moses leads Yahweh's people through the Wilderness and he is supported with signs and wonders from God. And it was Moses who had declared, in Deuteronomy 18, that the LORD God would raise them up a prophet like himself. God did send them that prophet - His Son Jesus - whom they had failed to hear. Idolatry and disbelief are Israel's characteristic pattern of the nation's rebellion throughout their history. The same traits continued and caused them to be exiled in Babylon. Stephen's words highlight the words of Jesus that WHERE we worship is not important; true worshippers must worship in "spirit and truth" wherever they are: John 4 verses 21-24. Once again their persistent hard heartedness and their resistance to God had been evidenced in their crucifixion of God's Holy Son. At this point the hostile audience gnash - grind their teeth in anger - upon Stephen and drawing him outside the city to stone him. In his dying moment Stephen is granted a vision of the Son of Man, from Daniel 7 returning to set up his kingdom. He prays for their forgiveness - but omits Jesus' words that 'they knew not what they were doing'. Stephen asks that the spirit of his testimony be received as a witness of his life. Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow   Penned by Warwick Rosser and his team, produced by Christadelphianvideo.org See more Thoughts from the Christadelphian Dialy Bible Reading Planner (By R.Roberts) here... [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row] https://christadelphianvideo.org/thoughts-on-the-bible-readings-october-29th-2-chronicles-26-27-daniel-7-acts-7/?feed_id=103638&_unique_id=69006118bf598