Day 347 – Forgiveness

2 Kings 22:1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. 2 He did what was right in the sight of JEHOVAH and walked in the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

 3 Now it happened, in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the scribe, the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the house of JEHOVAH, saying, 4 “Go to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money which has been brought into the house of JEHOVAH, which the doorkeepers gathered from the people. 5 Let them deliver it into the hand of those doing the work, who are the overseers in the house of JEHOVAH; let them give it to those in the house of JEHOVAH doing the work, to repair the damages of the house— 6 to carpenters and builders and masons—and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house. 7 However, there need be no accounting made with them of the money delivered into their hand, because they deal faithfully.”

 8 Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I found the Book of the Law in the house of JEHOVAH.” Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.

 9 Thus, Shaphan the scribe went to the king, bringing the king word, saying, “Your servants gathered the money found in the house, and delivered it into the hand of those who do the work, who oversee the house of JEHOVAH.”

 10 Then Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” Then Shaphan read it before the king.

 11 Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes.

 12 Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Michaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying, 13 “Go, inquire of JEHOVAH for me, for the people and for everyone in Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of JEHOVAH that is aroused against us, because our fathers did not obey the words of this book, to do according to everything written concerning us.”

 14 Then Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. (She dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.) They spoke with her.

 15 Then she said to them, “Thus says JEHOVAH Elohiym of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to Me, 16 “Thus says JEHOVAH, ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants—every word of the book which the king of Judah read— 17 because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other elohiym, that they might provoke Me to anger with the works of their hands. Therefore, My wrath will be aroused against this place and will not be quenched.’”’ 18 “However, as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of JEHOVAH, in this manner you will speak to him, ‘Thus says JEHOVAH Elohiym of Israel, “Concerning the words which you have heard— 19 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before JEHOVAH when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also heard you, says JEHOVAH. 20 Therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes will not see the calamity which I will bring on this place.”’” Then they brought back word to the king.

God’s names:

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Elohiym – Supreme God

Yeshuwa – Jesus

Kurios, KURIOS – Supreme Authority

Iesous – Jesus

Theos – Supreme Divinity

God’s character:

Righteous Judge

Healer

Gracious

Merciful

Slow to anger

Kind

Compassionate

What do you do when you learn that what you thought you knew, you didn’t, and you disobeyed the rules or laws where you live or work?

Josiah, king of Judah, sent servants to tell the priests to give money to the workers to repair the temple. While they did, they found the Book of the Law and brought it to Josiah. When he heard the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes and sent his servants to the prophetess to find out what JEHOVAH would do to them because of their disobedience.

No one is above reproach. You might hear people say, ‘Who do you think I am?’ When it comes to the law, they are no different from the average person. Everyone needs to obey the law.

Many Christians believe they are above the Law of JEHOVAH. The law applied to different times and places and people. Yet JEHOVAH’S Word doesn’t change. It was written in stone. Only when Yeshuwa fulfilled the Law concerning Himself, did a change occur. Yet the Law JEHOVAH gave Moses on Sinai is still in effect. You still need to obey the Ten Commandments.

Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. (NKJV)

Heaven and earth have not passed away yet. Yeshuwa came to fulfill, but everything won’t see fulfillment until heaven and earth pass away.

Heaven and earth won’t pass away until after the Tribulation.

Revelation 21:1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also, there was no more sea. (NKJV)

The same Law that was read to Josiah, is the same Law you need to obey. JEHOVAH will not hold you guiltless if you disobey Him. The only part of the Law you aren’t subject to is the law of sacrifice. Yeshuwa became your sacrifice when He died for you. He also became your Healer. You don’t need to show yourself to a priest when you become ill. You pray for Yeshuwa to heal you because by His stripes you were healed. However, you call for the elders of your church to pray for your healing.

1 Peter 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. (NKJV)

James 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.

 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of Kurios.

 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick, and Kurios will raise him up. If he committed sins, he will be forgiven.

JEHOVAH loves you. He sent His Son, Yeshuwa, to die for you and rise from the dead on the third day. In Him, Yeshuwa fulfilled the Law concerning Himself. You need to obey the rest of the Law. It’s not hard. The rest of the Law is the Ten Commandments. There is also another Law you need to obey.

Matthew 22:37 Iesous said to him, “‘You will love KURIOS your Theos with your entire heart, with your entire soul, and with your entire mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You will love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang the entire Law and the Prophets.”

How are you doing? Do you need to do as Josiah did and tear your garments or rather rend your heart and confess your sins before Yeshuwa because of your disobedience?

Joel 2:12 “Now, therefore,” says JEHOVAH, “Turn to Me with your entire heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” 13 So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to JEHOVAH your Elohiym, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm.

 14 Who knows if He will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him—a grain offering and a drink offering for JEHOVAH your Elohiym?

When you confess your sins to Yeshuwa, He will forgive you and cleanse you from every unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanses us from every unrighteousness.

Do what Josiah did. Seek Yeshuwa’s forgiveness and turn from your sin.

2 Chronicles 7:14 “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (NKJV)

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” says JEHOVAH, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be as wool.

Let’s pray: Father, I come before You, a sinner in need of Your forgiveness. Wash me, cleanse me, heal me, and have compassion for me as I lay my sins before You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 31 December 2024 by Valerie Routhieaux