Having read this before in 1 Kings 15, there is a new bit about Azariah the priest that pokes me a couple different ways. The first is that the Spirit of God comes upon Azariah. Its curious who and why God chooses to give the benefit of a prophet. There are times when a prophet holds office, and apparently times where a prophet does not. And probably a prophet is there, but is ignored. But I wonder just how often Israel's good behavior is linked to a prophet whose messages are heeded.
The other thing is that even in Israel's ignoring or lacking prophets, in their sin, somehow they managed to seek God out, and that is curious to me. How, in the midst of the idolatry and debauchery does a nation suddenly awaken to their own evil? In their "distress," they managed to find him. My opinion here is that they didn't really "find" God. I imagine it was more God revealing himself to them. Allowing himself to be found. He doesn't seem like the type to just completely abandon Israel, his chosen covenant people. He always seems like he's right there, outside the circle of the bonfire of our vanities. When the flame dies down, you can see him.
Asa's cool because he tossed his grandma out for making an Asherah pole.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment