Maid in Heaven

2 Chronicles 25:2

He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly.

The other week, I had the hilarious time listening to two housewives exchange their maid horror stories. The lady on my left spilled it first that she finally kept her stay-out househelp from coming. She complained that the haphazard work only made her redo the cleaning herself. The other lady commented that the good maids out there are literally out of the country already. What’s left are the younger ones with little know how and those smart ones with an attitude. The hilarious laughs kicked off here as they alternately recalled their experiences to both extremes. Once, they even asked for my preference: someone whom I’d need to wake up to prepare my already late breakfast or that one who’ll serve my appetites in time but with a cold face. I’m glad I don’t have to choose any.

At first glance, no one would categorize King Amaziah as haphazard. In fact, he did what was right in God’s eyes. In this chapter, he acted in accordance with the Law of Moses by not punishing the children of those who murdered his father, whom he justly executed. He also commendably obeyed God’s instruction of dismissing hired Israel troops from fighting alongside Judah, although it already cost him a billion dollars. But just like a househelp who does work for work’s sake, when he saw the neighboring gods appealing offer, he readily ran away and shifted loyalty. He disregarded the grace his Master showered him for many years. There was obviously no love for God’s household in the first place.

Wholehearted, according to the Free Dictionary, is marked by unconditional commitment, unstinting devotion, or unreserved enthusiasm. It is the picture of an ideal maid who sees you as family, not mainly financiers; who has work initiatives, not just as instructed; and who sincerely gives you a smile, like everyday. Now let’s translate that to our service unto the Lord. Are the things we’re doing right, and good, and godly remain unwavering regardless of worldly offers outside and despite difficulties inside?  Are we obeying His commands because we ought to or because we love to? We’ve heard the quote ‘Find something you love to do, and you'll never work a day in your life’.  Doing the right things can be tiresome if we don’t have the right reasons. So let our reason be His love. No master would ever give his life for us like He did.

As Parent-Coach

2 Chronicles 24:2

Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the years of Jehoiada the priest.

Almost around the corner is the 2012 London Olympics. I may have zero athletic blood in me, but this is something I always look forward to. With the social networking sites providing links to updates and inside stories, even fans can prepare for the competitions. I especially like checking profiles. My latest read was about Anna Li, a Chinese-America gymnast who, although a hundred percent Chinese, is playing for the US team. Her parents were both Olympics medalists and coaches who initially do not want her this dream because they knew how hard it will be.  Li said: ‘It's me who wants it, no one has to force me to push for my dream. They just support me.’

Reading the first paragraphs of chapter twenty four, you’ll have the impression that King Joash himself loved the Lord. He initiated the temple restoration project, proclaimed the required tax for its completion, even questioned the high priest when he saw the work wasn’t progressing. He supported all religious concepts, even attended to it - - for as long as his mentor was around. When Jehoiada died, so did Joash’ piety. The idolatry his mentor smashed, he welded. The very son of the one who raised him up, he ordered stoned. As a result, God sent judgment via the king of Aram. All his good works plundered, leaving him severely wounded and helpless against his official’s conspiracy. Unlike his mentor, his body was not buried in the tombs of the kings. For unlike his mentor, his heart wasn’t after God’s own.

As a parent, this story scares me. For like Jehoiada, I made sure God’s word is in my kids' hands. My goal is to raise them up loving God and His work, as my own parents did to me. That means being a godly example too. But if Judah’s high priest wasn’t able to do it, what’s my guarantee? It’s a heartbreaking thought that when I die, so will their compliance to the things of God. What would bridge the gap so they’d be like Li and say ‘It’s me who want it!’  Paul prayed the same for Timothy when he said, ‘Continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of’.  As parents, the most we can do is to provide the ‘learning’ and pave the way for them to know Christ. The second half is a really personal decision.  As coaches, we can give them winning tips on running, but the choice to run is theirs. We can’t force it on them.  As young as they are, let them know that their obedience is not to us, but to God’s. That mindset would at least provide us a clue when it’s time to pray harder.  As we always should.

Mistake of the Nation Addressed

2 Chronicles 23:3b

The king's son shall reign, as the LORD promised concerning the descendants of David.

‘Even as I speak, there are those who have gathered in a room, whispering to each other, dissecting each word I utter, looking for any pretext to attack me with tomorrow.’ These were the seemingly prophetic words of President Aquino in his SONA last Monday. And true enough.  Next day’s news were flooding with complaints and negativism towards him.  As if such debasing words could better encourage the leader to move forward.  Sure, he may have highlighted the good points and concealed some stats, but would we rather have him say we’re still 50% in sinking sand? Shouldn’t we give him credit at least for rating us with 50% more survival chance?

In this light, I’d say it was wise for Jehoiada to keep all intel about the rightful heir Joash to his trusted few. For as much as he would want to excite Judah with the hope of impeaching the usurper Athaliah, given the complaining history of God’s chosen people, he may have struck the rock twice as Moses did.  He’d probably hear them say, ‘How can a mere boy save us?’ or ‘Is your coup-plan foolproof?’ or ‘Who are you to lead us?’ He was able to avoid such unnecessary pressures by focusing his efforts to ‘what needs to be done’. For six years, he quietly worked behind the scenes meeting with key people and perfecting the plan.  Note that even before Joash was publicly presented, the people were already hopeful. It was because the young king was not Jehoiada’s answer to Judah’s suffering.  As high priest upholding the Word, the security he gave them was, ‘As the Lord promised’.

It may be because it was PNoy who’s giving those promises that’s why many are SONA-doubtful. For like us, parents and called-leaders, he too is imperfect and with limited powers to follow through his commitments, even if he sincerely wants to. Read this: no one can! So can’t we at least be patient and supportive? Instead of protest rallies, can’t we just pray together and hope again? Judah gathered in Jerusalem as they always do during Sabbath. They were clueless that that was God’s appointed day to fulfill His promise. And because they sided with Jehoiada’s faith, they too shared his joys. May we also be found beside our leaders waiting for that beautiful time of answered prayers. It’d be great if we’re together in saying that God’s miracle is more fun in the Philippines :>

Villain Exposed

2 Chronicles 22:11a,12

But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Joash son of Ahaziah. He remained hidden with them at the temple of God for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

‘Any story where you have good guys versus bad guys can only be as smart as the intelligence of your baddest guy’ - that’s from Bruce Willis, when asked about the importance of villains in movies. For imagine Starwars without Darth Vader or the old Batman minus the Joker? The craftiness of these villains somehow made our heroes shine brighter and the story more interesting. Without them, there will be no conflict.

And who’s the vilest of them all? Reading through chapters 21 and 22 we can find his seemingly superb schemes to put a stop to God’s plan of salvation.  As early as the time of Israel’s kings, Satan’s been plotting ways to steal, kill, and destroy everything just to prevent the Cross from happening. Here, he implanted insecurity and so much sin in Jehoram’s rule which paved the way to the slaying of the king’s brothers and  sons. Then after the death of next-king Ahaziah, the evil mother proceeded with the murder of the royal princes, that is, her very own grandchildren!  The consecutive, similar tactics, are dead giveaways of the villain’s desperation to put a stain on God’s faithfulness. For imagine if he succeeded in blotting out David’s lineage? It may not hinder the birth of Jesus, for God can opt to get another husband for Mary, but that will put into question His covenant with David.  For His honor and holiness, that, God will not allow.

In most movies, this is the time when we expect our heroes to survive the plots and traps of the villain. Like how Jehoram’s youngest son wasn’t carried off by Arab invaders and how the one year old Joash was kept hidden by his aunt.  But heaven’s heroics aren’t by ‘barely surviving’. God wisely chose these unpromising little ones to highlight how His ‘weakness’ is even stronger than the greatest of His enemy’s strength. He was the One who made this story interesting and Himself, shine bright. He is no challenger in need of proof. But to us needing security, these accounts affirm that God can’t be outsmarted, that His purposes can’t be thwarted, and His promises are trustworthy. Now, that is a true hero!

Unlike Dolphy

2 Chronicles 21:20

Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He passed away, to no one's regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

Acute tonsillopharyngitis.  That’s the bacteria that tied me to bed almost all week. It horribly overwhelmed my system and overruled my schedules. On day two, seeing my kids freely messing the house, I took the TV remote for a breath of sanity. What first popped up was the news of the death of the country’s comedy king, Dolphy.  Grief was not the ideal company for my sickness, but I tuned in - - ‘til his burial. Actually, there’s not much of a choice because all the local channels featured him. He was loved by many, proven by the heartfelt eulogies and the long line of fans wanting to pay him last respects. He may be gone but he will always be remembered as the man who gave us good laughs and made us appreciate the good life.

Now, let’s compare that to the man, King Jehoram. He died half the age of Dolphy, but he passed away ‘to no one’s regret’. Although true heir of Jehoshaphat and Asa, he was denied the honor to be in the tomb of kings. There was no official funeral for him.  No one came to visit him at his deathbed and not even a single camera to feature his incurable, intestinal disease. Because who would? He had no brothers left for he put them all to death on his first year.  His wives and children? They were carried off by the invading Philistines and Arabs. And his people? Would they pay respect to a man who caused everyone to prostitute themselves then left them all in poverty line? Surely his death was wished. His greed for power became Judah’s downfall  and his sin ruling it all.

Actually not all. His sins may be top of the ranks and its effect far out and wide, but it couldn’t touch the sovereignty of God. It did unleash His wrath, but His grace abounded all the more. Amidst the invasion account, verse 17 noted that ‘not a son was left to him except Ahaziah, the youngest’. Any father would grab that cue and be grateful somehow. God knew Jehoram wouldn’t, but He still saved that son. All in light of His love and covenant to the house of David.  Jehoram may have dishonored God. His people may have discredited him. But God still allowed his name mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus. We may not heartily mention his name to our kids, as we do with Abraham, Moses, David, or Dolphy, but may we remember the good God who gave him life, and so much grace ‘til his death.

Face Your Fears

2 Chronicles 20:15

He said: 'Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's.'

One of my challenges as a mom is to act brave in front of my kids.  I’d probably be Pixar’s last-considered Merida-alternate, if not for my hair, hahaha :> My heart stops at dogs, I jump high with mice, and I hide fast from cockroaches. Add to that my uneasiness around electric wires, tech-y gadgets, and carrying cash above P1,000. I’d rather lock myself in or cry trying.  Both in resolute stubbornness. But I wouldn’t want that with my kids – especially not my boy. And so I held my breath for as long as I can while walking past our neighbors dogs; I made it look like some fun time when we’re chasing cockroaches or mice with our brooms (so they’d think my once-in-a-while hiding was part of the game); and, I pray under my breath whenever I had to dare the rest of my fears so they won’t have to. Because they don’t have to.

Imagine three vast armies marching towards your land, ready to destroy everything and everyone you hold dear, and you’d be terrified as Jehoshaphat. Add to that his context of God’s wrath on him when he sided with the pagan Ahab prior this chapter. Such disabling fear would have defeated him even before the war started. But seeing all the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones around, he couldn’t succumb to doing just nothing. His hands were probably still trembling and his knees shaking when he called all Judah to a fast. He didn’t act brave nor tried to cheer them up for he had none to give. In mercy and faithfulness, God came upon the Levite Jahaziel with these words: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged’.  T’was the same instruction Moses passed on to Joshua; same wisdom David taught Solomon.; and, the same order Hezekiah gave to his men. In all four occasions, that line was preceded with ‘be strong and courageous’, and concluded with ‘because God is with us’. And that gave them victory – even before the war started.

‘Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you’. God told Jehoshaphat to march down against the vast army - not to passively wait for His salvation. For as much as God intended to deliver them from those outside their gates, He also wanted them victorious against their battles within. As leaders and parents, that’s our feet taking the first step. And it’s okay to admit we’re scared too. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it – in the context of faith. I have to tell you that walking past those dogs has been a faith journey for me and my kids. I think they know by now that I’m as scared as they are. But I tell them, and myself, repeatedly that Jesus will protect us, and we’ve been rejoicing at end of that stretch for the longest time. Your fears may be a thousand times serious-er than mine, but God has the same words for you:   ‘Go out to face them.. and the Lord will be with you!’

Domino Effect

2 Chronicles 20:1

After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to make war on Jehoshaphat.

Science taught us that there’s a logical explanation for everything. Do this and you’ll get that. Alter that and this happens. My 6 year old boy was introduced to the concept via the domino tiles. He loves arranging them on end in long lines and toppling the first one for the cumulative effect. The teaching moment comes in when either the fall or the hit didn’t take place. Careful with the frustrated look on his face, I have to lead him to objectively see the tiles' poor angle or spacing. The second chance makes him excited anew. With a few clicks and drags, he’s up and back to the game. That’s your clue he’s playing it online.

The first two words ‘after this’ in the chapter would readily make you ask ‘what’s before this’? But let’s complete the line of thought first.  The aftermath was a war on Jehoshaphat. Three fierce enemies merged into one vast army.  The king was alarmed. Who wouldn’t? In his prayer, he even said ‘We have no power to face them. We do not know what to do’.  Now, let’s backtrack to chapter 19 for the why this happened. Verse four noted: ‘He went from Beersheba to Ephraim and turned them back to the Lord’.  Did you follow that? Jehoshaphat doing a really godly thing and then his enemies attacked him? What’s this? A seek Ye first and these bad things will be added unto you? Or maybe a delight yourself in the Lord and He will not give you the desires of your heart?

But is God confined to a domino effect? Will we shout ‘unfair’ based on that immediate tile before life’s halt? Have we not considered that it may be part of His artistry that prompted His move? Read further and you’ll see Jehoshaphat, despite the still-unsettled WHY issue, seeking help from the Lord. He was forward looking, believing in faith that God can and will save them. The only time he looked back was when he claimed God’s promises. It was never because of any felt ‘I earned and deserved these’. And so, to us who’ve been toiling hard to keep our faithfulness, 1 Peter 4:12 reminds us not to be surprised at the painful trial we are suffering, as though something strange were happening to us. It is because we share in Christ’s sufferings - - if we are to likewise to share in His glory. Let God line up those tiles for you. Accept His out-of-this-world and beyond-science grander design. You’ll soon realize that a stop here was because of a split off somewhere and that other line is continuing the beautiful pattern He has pre-set for you. Just zoom out to believe.

Court House, literally

2 Chronicles 19:6

He told them, ‘Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for man but for the LORD, who is with you whenever you give a verdict.

Now that my kids are past their innocent ages, almost many times a day would one or the other (or both!) run to me for complaints and justice. The cases are varied. From ownership issues to breaches of agreement, also reckless play and grabbing food. Although sometimes, the suspect was just in a teasing mode and the other, in plain, bad mood. But what I realized lately was that the one who got hurt, and cried loudest, is not always the victim. I had to backtrack for signs of provocation and manipulation.  At ages three and five, they already know how to outsmart each other. On my very-busy-days, it’s very tempting to lazily punish both for disagreeing. That’s the easiest way to quiet the house - - but harden their hearts :<

After Jehoshaphat’s nationwide campaign to teach God’s law two chapters back, we’ll find him here with another big thing for the land. Verse five said, ‘He appointed judges in each city in Judah’. The job description was to administer the law and to settle disputes, one in matters concerning the Lord, the other concerning the king. It is noteworthy that teaching precedes judging. For without proper instruction of what the rules are, how dare we punish our children for breaking anything? Another eye-catcher was how he twice used the word ‘carefully’: ‘Consider carefully what you do’ and ‘Judge carefully’. The first one pointed to the position. They were but representatives of the just God and must therefore act in the fear of Him. The second pointed to their performance.  It shouldn’t be marred with injustice, partiality or bribery. Again, in light of who God is.

But what is really striking for me is what he said in verse 10: ‘Warn them not to sin against the Lord or His wrath will come to you’. Our role a parent-judges, or leader-judges, or those real-judges out there is more than acquitting the innocent and punishing the guilty. It’s more than making sure that the law has been upheld and order’s been restored. Ultimately, the point of it all is their relationship with the Lord. It is not even my kids getting along with each other, or me getting my needed-peace. CAREFULLY administering justice in my home is to end every proceeding with ‘Because this pleases the Lord’. Same idea how we should use the Word of the Lord: not just for rebuking and correcting, but for teaching and training in righteousness.  Imagine the difference if our country’s justice system operated likewise? As was originally, so-wisely designed.