Wed., 12/30/15 Devotion (2 Chron. 35:21)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Chronicles 35:21, where we read these words:

"But he [the king of Egypt] sent messengers to him [King Josiah of Judah], saying, 'What have I to do with you, king of Judah? I have not come against you this day, but against the house with which I have war; for God command-ed me to make haste. Refrain from meddling with God, who is with me, lest He destroy you.' "

This is a rather odd case (above). The great and godly Josiah does not be-lieve the words of the pagan pharaoh of Egypt, and it ends up costing him (Josiah) his life. God can and does sometimes employ even the heathen for His own purposes. Those who are in the church covenant should be aware of this, and we should be loathe to assume that the Lord cannot (on occasion) speak through them, (those outside the covenant).

Josiah ends up dying in the (unnecessary) battle he insisted on having with Egypt. Let us not "meddle" where we do not belong. In all things, let us be sure to seek God's guidance.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Though [David] found God present with him in ex-ile, yet there is a sweeter presence of Him in His ordinances.” —Richard Sib-bes, in, "The Soul's Conflict with Itself"]