II Kings 15:37

"In those days the Lord began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah."

We have read of the last four kings of Judah and their epitahs, "They did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, yet not like Davdi." I would not call the fall of Judah a free fall into judgment and punishment, but we see this verse at the conlcusion of Jothams reign. AFter four kings of half-heartedness and lack of zeal to the Lord, we see the Judah beginning to sink against her enemies. In those days the Lord began to send against Judah - word study, to send; Why was the Lord sending this armies against Judah, were they not better than the evil Israel? Yes, they was better in their ways. But, we must understand that the half hearted attempts at worhsipping God are harmful and unyielding to His glory. No fruit is produced in such times. These four kings: Jehoash, Amaziah, Uzziah and Jotham reigned almost for 100 years and yet we see the demise of Judah because of their lack of fervor in the things of God. And the Lord will not have it to be so, you must serve Him with the whole heart. I use again my point of invitation: the Lord will not say to someone on judgement day, "Well done"; if they have not done well. For the Lord cannot lie, and has a soul that has been half hearted done well? No, they have failed to die to self and surrender all. Be careful when you sing that song, "I Surrender all" if you have no done it, for then you are lying in the Presence of the Lord. This is what Jesus taught, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me." This is complete surrender to Christ as Lord and Ruler of your life. To not do it, means that He is not your Lord and SAvior. Oh, the weight of our daily actions. The weight of a lifetime that could have been given unto Him and the moments missed for our failure to love and serve Him. These four kings failed in that and the chidlren of Judah suffered at the hands of these wicked kings. And do we not understand tha our nation, families and future generations are suffering and will suffer unless the church breaks out of this 50 years half hearted allegiance unto Him? He will send against us His judgements to bring wholly back to Him. Even now, He is sending these things, do you have eyes to see? And what good does it do to read and understand these truths if we do not learn and amend our ways? We are as foolish as they and there is no wisdom found within us. Mark the blessings of the Lord upon DAvid, Hezekiah, and Josiah, for they wholly followed the Lord. Mark the judgements and evil that grew with theses other ones. Let the confession be in our hearts, minds and souls that we are not right with the Lord. Our ways are polluted inworhsipping and serving Him. WE cannot be blest by the Lord with such sin in our lives, He will send against us the things to cause us to repent. In REvelation we read where God sent against the people punishments and instead of them repenting they hardened themselves. Let us not be as them, in hardening our hearts. Let us be faithful to give heed to the things which He has commanded and that which He expects of His children. There is no hope apart from walking worthy and rightyly with Him. CAst off the works of darkness and live in the light of the Lord. 'Alone with God, will make one wholly for the Lord' - Andrew Murray