2 Chronicles 24:9

2 Chronicles 24:9 says, And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in to the Lord the collection that Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in the wilderness.  There was then a proclamation made to bring all the collection that Moses had commanded them to make into the temple.  I believe this means that they were to bring things according to the way Moses had taught them and not that they still had a collection that he had taken then.  We are to bring our tithes and offerings to God today in accordance with His word.  Verse ten adds, And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end.  We are told that everyone brought their money in and cast it into the chest and rejoiced.  Matthew Henry says gathering the gifts had never been done this way before, and maybe the novelty of it made the people more willing to give, but whatever the reason, they were now giving.  There are many ways to bring our tithes and offerings into the church today, and some are more novel than others, but however we do it, we need to bring our tithes and offerings into the church to be used to do God's work today.  Verse eleven continues, Now it came to pass, that at what time the chest was brought unto the king's office by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, the king's scribe and the high priest's officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to his place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.  When the chest was brought to the king's office by the Levites, they saw that there was a lot of money, and the chief priests and scribes emptied the chest and took the chest back to the temple.  They did this every day and gathered a lot of money.  Of course, having the money really wasn't the purpose of gathering it.  It was collected to do the work of the temple, and what we as the church gather in tithes and offerings today must be used to do God's work.  It is not for the government or our personal use, just as the money then wasn't for the king nor the people of Judah themselves, but for God and His work.  Verse twelve states, And the king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of the service of the house of the Lord, and hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the Lord, and also such as wrought iron and brass to mend the house of the Lord.  The money was given by the king and Jehoiada to those who were to do the work on the house of God, like the masons and carpenters and those who worked in iron and brass.  We need to use the gifts brought to God to do His work and to pay those who are doing the work.  It is not enough to just gather tithes and offerings if we never use them to do what we believe God has led us to do.  Verse thirteen adds, So the workmen wrought, and the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it.  Those paid to do the work did it, and God's house was repaired.  When we hire someone to do God's work today, they need to do it to the best of their ability so that God's work will be perfected.  Verse fourteen continues, And when they had finished it, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels for the house of the Lord, even vessels to minister, and to offer withal, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada.  After they completed the work on the temple itself, they brought what was left of the money back to the king and Jehoiada and then the vessels of the house of God were made.  We do not serve God to get rich and have the right to keep more than we need to do His work but must be faithful in only using what we need to do whatever it is He has called us to do.  These craftsmen were a part of God's chosen people, so they needed to be faithful in using His money for His work and not for their own enrichment, and so must we today as followers of Christ.  We can never view the tithes and offerings as our money but must always use them to accomplish God's work under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

2 Chronicles 24:1

2 Chronicles 24:1 says, Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Zibiah of Beersheba.  We are told that Joash was seven when he began to reign, but I believe the first several years he likely was more of a figurehead than the actual ruler, though God could have given him the knowledge to make all the decisions.  If we have young preachers today, though they should never be as young as seven in my opinion, they need the advice and guidance of older, more mature Christians as they serve.  This is not to say that they are to just do what these older Christians say, but that they need their support in leading the church under God's authority.  Verse two adds, And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest.  As long as Jehoiada was alive, Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. This would imply that Jehoiada had been the one guiding Joash in the ways of God, probably especially when he was very young. Verse three continues, And Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he begat sons and daughters.  Matthew Henry says Joash was wise to let Jehoiada choose his wives, but I would have to say as a prophet, Jehoiada should have known that God did not endorse having more than one wife. I don't believe that we as followers of Christ should have someone else choose our wife for us, but we should rely on the leadership of the Holy Spirit to lead us to the right person.  Verse four states, And it came to pass after this, that Joash was minded to repair the house of the Lord.  Joash was inspired to repair the house of God, which Athaliah definitely had not worried about.  We need to always be concerned with making sure that the things og God are in good repair, especially if we are in a position of leadership in the church.  Of course, this is true of all Christians in their lives daily.  We need to be in good spiritual condition.  Verse five adds, And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that ye hasten the matter. Howbeit the Levites hastened it not.  Joash told the priests and Levites to go to all of Israel and collect money to repair the house of God every year and to do so in a hurry.  The priests did not hurry to do this.  I would think that the priests would have been telling Joash that this needed doing, but they didn't even respond when he told them to do so.  People in power in the world today are not likely to be concerned with the things of God, but we as a part of the priesthood of believers must be, and the things of God should always take priority in our lives.  Verse six continues,  And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of Moses the servant of the Lord, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?  Joash, who I beleive had been guided by Jehoiada, now called him and asked why as the chief priest, he had not required the people to bring offerings to God in accordance with the law of Moses.  As Christians, especially if we are in a position of leadership, need to do all in accordance with God's word and we should never neglect His work.  Verse seven adds, For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the dedicated things of the house of the Lord did they bestow upon Baalim.  Joash then reminded Jehoiada that Athaliah had destroyed the house of God, and all of the things dedicated to it were given to the worship of Baal.  As Christians, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and we cannot allow things that go against God to destroy our work for Him.  If we do, we need to repent and rebuild our lives based on faith in Jesus Christ and under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse eight continues, And at the king's commandment they made a chest, and set it without at the gate of the house of the Lord.  Joash then commanded them to make a chest and set it outside the gate of the temple to collect the offerings.  Whatever method we use, we need to make it easy for people to bring their tithes and offering into the church today so that God's work can be done, but we don't need the government to be the one to cause to do this.

2 Chronicles 23:12

 2 Chronicles 23:12 says, Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of the Lord:  When Athaliah heard all the noise of the people praising the king, she went to the temple, to see what was going on. Since she thought she had killed all those who could claim the kingship, she must have really been curious.  The people in Jesus's day thought they had killed Him, so they had to be confused when his disciples started to proclaim the He had risen, and too many people still don't believe that today, and some even come to the church to find out, but still won't believe.  Verse thirteen adds, And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of musick, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason.  When she got to the temple, she saw the king standing by his pillar and all the people singing and rejoicing and playing music, so then she cried out treason, treason.  On day, everyone is going to see the King, Jesus Christ, standing in His position by the right hand of God, and they may believe that they were somehow betrayed by those they believed in, but it will be too late for them to be saved, just as it was too late for her since she didn't repent of her actions.  Verse fourteen continues, Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and said unto them, Have her forth of the ranges: and whoso followeth her, let him be slain with the sword. For the priest said, Slay her not in the house of the Lord.  Jehoiada told the captains of the forces to take Athaliah out of the temple and slay her, and do the same to anyone who followed her.  She had accused the people of treason, but she was the one who was actually guilty of it.  When Jesus Christ returns to judge the world, those who would not put their faith in Him will be sent away to everlasting punishment out of heaven, God's realm.  They will be sent away because of their own rebellion, or treason, against Him.  Verse fifteen concludes, So they laid hands on her; and when she was come to the entering of the horse gate by the king's house, they slew her there.  She was taken and slain.  We are not called on to kill our enemies or the enemies of God, but one day He will send them away to everlasting punishment.  Verse sixteen states, And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the Lord's people.  Jehoiada made a covenant between all the people, the king, and himself that they should be God's people.  They all had to individually agree to this, because Jehoiada could not really make a covenant for them, just as we must all individually make a covenant with God today by accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.  No one else can make this decision for us, and it must be made while we are alive.  Verse seventeen adds, Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and brake it down, and brake his altars and his images in pieces, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.  The people then went to the temple of Baal and destroyed all the idols to him and killed the priest of Baal.  We must destroy all idols in our lives today if we are to effectively serve God.  Verse eighteen continues, Also Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of the Lord by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of the Lord, to offer the burnt offerings of the Lord, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David.  Jehoiada also reestablished the order of the priests in serving in the temple in accordance with the law of Moses.  We as Christians are under God's law, and we need to not only worship in accordance with His word, but we need to live life every day, no matter where we are or what we are doing, in accordance with His word under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse nineteen says, And he set the porters at the gates of the house of the Lord, that none which was unclean in any thing should enter in.  Jehoiada also set up porters at the gates to make sure that nothing unclean came into the temple.  We are not called on to keep those who are sinners, or spiritually unclean, out of God's house, but to bring them in so they can hear the gospel, but we do need to make sure that we as followers of Christ do not bring anything unclean into the church, or even in to our lives as individuals, since our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.  Verse twenty adds, And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the house of the Lord: and they came through the high gate into the king's house, and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom.  The king was then brought from the temple to the king's house, and he was set upon the throne.  Our King is already sitting on His throne, and we just need to acknowledge that fact.  Verse twenty-one continues, And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword.  After this, everything was quiet in the city and the people rejoiced.  Everything in our lives as Christians should be quiet spiritually if we are following the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and we should continually rejoice because of that fact.

2 Chronicles 23:1

2 Chronicles 23:1 says, And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him.  Jehoiada rose up in the seventh year of the reign of Athaliah's rule and began to form a covenant with others to put the God chosen person back in power, and this was a seed of David.  We may suffer under the rule of ungodly leaders today, but we must never accept this as something permanent.  We as followers of Christ must always be in a covenant relationship with Him and join with other believers to present His word to the world.  Verse two adds, And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.  Jehoiada and those allied with him gathered the Levites and chief men from throughout Judah and brought them to Jerusalem.  We as Christians may not all be gathered in one place of service to God, but we do need to be united in purpose and that is to obey God's law and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Verse three continues, And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the king's son shall reign, as the Lord hath said of the sons of David.  These people made a covenant with the king, the descendant of David, that he would rein as God had ordained.  We need to make a covenant with our fellow believers to always do what God has called us to do and to support those that He has put in positions of leadership in the church, but Jesus Christ is the only King we will ever have.  Verse four states, This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you entering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the doors;  Jehoiada made a plan, which started with a third of priests and Levites entering the temple on the Sabbath to be porters at the doors.  They were to control who came into the temple.  I will make the analogy that our bodies as Christians are the Temple of the Holy Spirit, and we need to control what we allow into our lives.  We cannot allow the things of this world to corrupt us if we are going to be successful in our spiritual life.  Verse five adds, And a third part shall be at the king's house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation: and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord.  Another third of the the group were going to be at the king's house, and the remaining third were to be at the gate of the foundation.  I understand these thirds were to be the priests and Levites, and then the rest of the people allied with Jehoiada were to be in the courts of the house of the Lord.  We need God called leaders in the church today to be in charge of our worship services, but we all have the command to go into all the world and proclaim the gospel.  Verse six continues, But let none come into the house of the Lord, save the priests, and they that minister of the Levites; they shall go in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD Only the priests and Levites were to be allowed to go into the house of the Lord, because they were considered to be holy, and the rest of the people were to keep watch for the Lord.  As believers in Christ, we are a part of the priesthood of believers and are never limited in where we can go for the Lord, and we have a responsibility to make sure that we represent God wherever we may be.  Verse seven says, And the Levites shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whosoever else cometh into the house, he shall be put to death: but be ye with the king when he cometh in, and when he goeth out.  The Levites were charged with keeping the king safe, and anyone other than a Levite who entered into the house, which I believe was the temple, was to be put to death.  They were to always be armed and with the king when he went in or came out.  We are to always be armed with armor of God wherever we go, and we are to remain faithful to our King, Jesus Christ.  Verse eight adds, So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that were to go out on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.  The Levites and all of Judah did as Jehoiada had commanded, and we today as followers of Christ must do as God commands us.  We all have our calling from God, and we must obey it.  Verse nine continues, Moreover Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been king David's, which were in the house of God.  Jehoiada then gave them the armor that had been David's that was in the house of God.  We all are equipped with the armor of God as His people and are empowered by the Holy Spirit.  This is a much greater security than the armor of David could ever bring.  Verse ten states, And he set all the people, every man having his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, by the king round about.  All those who were allied with Jehoiada were placed around the temple to guard the king.  As Christians, we are allied with Him and with each other and must do our best to preserve His kingdom here on earth through being obedient to the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and if we are, we will be where God needs us to be.  Verse eleven adds, Then they brought out the king's son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, God save the king.  They then brought the king's son out and put the crown on him, gave him the testimony, and made him king.  Jehoiada and his sons then anointed him and said God save the king.  Our King has been forever anointed, and the heavenly Father established Him as King forever.

2 Chronicles 22:1

2 Chronicles 22:1 says, And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.  Ahaziah, who had been called Jehoahaz in the last chapter, Jehoram's youngest and only remaining son was made king of Judah after Jehoram was killed.  Matthew Henry says this is the same name, but the two parts are transposed.  Even if the name is different, it is the same person. God had promised that a descendant of David would always be on the throne, and this continued that promise.  The promise was fulfilled forever when Jesus Christ became the everlasting king of God's people.  Verse two adds, Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.  Ahaziah was forty-two when he began to rule, and he ruled for one year in Jerusalem.  Verse three continues, He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly.  He followed the ways of Ahab, under the counsel of his mother, Athaliah, who was a daughter of Omri.  Those who are mother's today and are Christians need to council their children to follow God, but too often, they do not and counsel them to not do so instead.  Then, it is up to the child to decide whether to follow God or their mother.  Verse four states, Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the Lord like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellors after the death of his father to his destruction.  Ahaziah did evil in the sight of the Lord like the house of Ahab, following the advice of Ahab's counselors.  God had spared his life, but he didn't follow Him.  God has spared people from everlasting punishment if they will only accept His gift of salvation, but too many people refuse to do so.  We need to pray that people today who are in positions of leadership will not follow the ways of the world but will follow the leadership and counsel of God instead.  Verse five adds, He walked also after their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramothgilead: and the Syrians smote Joram.  Ahaziah, following the advice of these counselors, went with Jehoram Ahab's son, to battle Hazael, the king of Syria at Ramoth-Gilead.  We should never go into battle without God telling us to.  Verse six continues, And he returned to be healed in Jezreel because of the wounds which were given him at Ramah, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was sick.  Jehoram had been wounded in the battle, and Ahaziah went to see him at Jezreel.  I guess we could say that he was at least loyal to Jehoram, but being loyal to the wrong person or thing even is not necessarily a good thing.  We as followers of Christ must be loyal to Him first, and then to others if they are following His will.  Verse seven says, And the destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming to Joram: for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the Lord had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.  Being loyal to Jehoram led to Ahaziah's destruction, because he went against Jehu, and God had chosen Jehu to replace Jehoram because he was leading the people of Israel to disobey God.  If God has pronounced His judgment on someone, we certainly don't need to ally ourselves with them.  Verse eight adds, And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, that ministered to Ahaziah, he slew them.  When Jehu found the princes of Judah caring for Jehoram, he killed them as well.  We need to be careful about the company we keep as Christians and never ally ourselves with those who do not obey God's word.  Verse nine continues, And he sought Ahaziah: and they caught him, (for he was hid in Samaria,) and brought him to Jehu: and when they had slain him, they buried him: Because, said they, he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart. So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the kingdom.  Ahaziah was found hiding and brought to Jehu, who had him killed.  If we are disobeying God, there is no place to hide where He will not find us, and if we haven't put our faith in Jesus Christ, we will go away to everlasting punishment when we die.  Ahaziah was buried honorably, because he was a son or descendant of Jehosaphat who had sought God's will in what he did.  It is not going to matter how we are buried, or what our parents or grandparents believed about God, but only our relationship with God in this lifetime will matter.  Verse ten states, But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.  When Athaliah saw that Ahaziah was dead, she began to have the rest of the royal descendants killed.  She was trying to establish herself as ruler, or possibly have the people of Israel, her people, take over the kingdom of Judah.  Verse eleven adds, But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not.  One of Ahaziah's sisters, Jehoshabeath, was able to rescue one of the princes, and hide him with a nurse.  God's promise to David was not going to be destroyed, and His promise to people today of everlasting life with Him will not be destroyed if they put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse twelve continues, And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.  The child was hidden in the house of God for six years while Athaliah reigned.  This might have been a safe place because Athaliah wasn't looking to follow God and might not have gone to God's house.  I can say that the safest place for us is in God's house, which is wherever He is.

2 Chronicles 21:12

2 Chronicles 21:12 says, And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,  Jehoram received a written message from Elijah telling him what God said.  He started by saying that Jehoram had not walked in the ways of his father Jehoshaphat or King Asa.  If we are going against God today, we will only have the written message of the Bible to call us to repentance most likely.  Though God could still work through His people to send us a written message, it will be nothing that the Bible doesn't already tell us, and I really don't know of a time when He ever has.  Verse thirteen adds, But hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father's house, which were better than thyself:  Elijah then told Jehoram that God said that he had walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, who had turned to idol worship, and that he had led all of Judah to do so as well.  He had followed Ahab's ways instead of God's ways.  Elijah also reminded Jehoram that he had killed his brothers, who were better men than he was.  We can never follow the teachings of the world and be successful spiritually, even if we do remain one of God's children by our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse fourteen continues, Behold, with a great plague will the Lord smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods:  Elijah told Jehoram that because of his disobedience to God and the people of Judah following him in it, that God was going to send a plague on them.  Our disobedience of God will always bring consequences.  Though we are forever saved as followers of Christ, we are not given a license to sin without facing any consequences.  Verse fifteen concludes, And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day.  Elijah then turned to God's judgment of Jehoram himself.  The people were to be punished for their sins and Jehoram was to be punished for his.  We will never be punished for someone else's sins, nor they for ours.  Elijah said God had said Jehoram was going to get a disease of his bowels until they fell out.  I don't know what this disease was, only that it was sent by God in judgment of Jehoram.  Those who do not accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord will suffer an even greater punishment, and that is everlasting separation from God.  Verse sixteen states, Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians:  God then stirred up the Philistines and the Arabians against Jehoram and Judah.  I don't really believe that God causes Christians to be punished by other people, but He can allow it if we rebel against Him.  Verse seventeen adds, And they came up into Judah, and brake into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.  The Philistines took away all of Jehoram's treasures, his wives, and all his sons except one, Jehoahaz.  When God's judgment comes, those who have put their faith in the things of this world and denied God they will lose everything.  Verse eighteen continues, And after all this the Lord smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.  God's word came true, and Ahab was struck with an incurable disease of the bowels.  We have been struck with an incurable disease of sin unless we put our faith in Jesus Christ for the cure and we will lose everything if we don't turn to Him by faith.  We cannot be healed any other way.  Verse nineteen says, And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.  It took two years of suffering for Jehoram to die.  We may never suffer in this life in such a manner because of our sins, but we will suffer forever when God's judgment comes if we never accept His salvation through putting our faith in Jesus Christ.  Jehoram was not buried the same way as the other kings of Judah were.  Verse twenty adds, Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.  Jehoram ruled for eight years, but the last two were when he was suffering great pain.  He was buried in Jerusalem when he died, but not in the sepulchers of the Kings.  It is not where we are buried that is important, but where we will live forever.  We cannot live with those Christians who have gone before us if we are not born-again Christians.

2 Chronicles 21:7

2 Chronicles 21:7 says, Howbeit the Lord would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever.  God would not totally destroy the house of David because of His promise to David, and that promise was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  He is a descendant of David and is forever on the throne.  Verse eight adds, In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king.  During Jehoram's reign the Edomites revolted against him and declared their own king.  People are still revolting against God, which is not to claim that Jehoram was anywhere near to being God.  People also still rebel against earthly rulers if things get bad enough.  Verse nine continues, Then Jehoram went forth with his princes, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him in, and the captains of the chariots.  Jehoram attempted to put the uprising down by going against them at night.  As far as those who go against God, He will ultimately put down their rebellion by shining the Light, Jesus Christ, on them.  Those who rebel against earthly rulers will often find their rebellion unsuccessful.  Verse ten states, So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. The same time also did Libnah revolt from under his hand; because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers.  Though Jehoram had put the rebellion down somewhat, the Edomites continued to rebel and others joined in the rebellion.  Continuing to equate this with those who rebel against God. there will always be people who rebel against God, but they have already been put down. Verse eleven adds, Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto.  Jehoram not only rebelled against God, but he forced Israel to do so as well, partly by worshipping in the high places.  No one can force us to worship anyone but God, but they can make it easy to do so or a threat if we don't.  Still, the decision is always ours to make, just as it was for the people of Judah.