Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 11:1–12:21, Gal 3:1–29, Prov 7:10–20

Today’s Theme: God’s Order

Today’s overarching theme is God’s order for men, women and children. God intends that men would rule well as good stewards, that children and women be covered by male authority, love and instruction and that women adorn themselves with holiness and discretion.

This created order is also seen in the spiritual realm. God’s order is that all peoples, both men and women, Jews and Greeks would come to Him in one way only, through faith.

Let’s rejoice in God’s divine order for both the family and faith for His glory and our joy today.

2 Kings 11:1–12:21

Covering for our children

And he remained with her six years, hidden in the house of the Lord, while Athaliah reigned over the land. (2 Kings 11:3, ESV)

The true church provides a covering for our children from the wickedness in the world seeking to destroy them.

Biblical leadership and covering is male, this woman Athaliah is a picture of the unnatural and destructive usurping of male authority.

Our creation roles are not optional, when women wilfully and aggressively replace men as leaders we have broken God’s order and it can only lead to destruction.

Godly leadership

And Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and people, that they should be the Lord’s people, and also between the king and the people. (2 Kings 11:17, ESV)

This was a great spiritual leader, through his reforms the people were restored. The king was godly and idolatry was destroyed, we need to pray our leaders also have godly spiritual counsel in their lives.

God’s watchmen

Then all the people of the land went to the house of Baal and tore it down; his altars and his images they broke in pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest posted watchmen over the house of the Lord. (2 Kings 11:18, ESV)

We are the watchmen over our city. Watch and pray.

Godly instruction

And Jehoash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all his days, because Jehoiada the priest instructed him. (2 Kings 12:2, ESV)

The key here was the teaching and instruction of Jehoiada in the life of Jehoash. He is the only king on par with the first three great kings of Israel.

Heartfelt offering

Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money of the holy things that is brought into the house of the Lord, the money for which each man is assessed—the money from the assessment of persons—and the money that a man’s heart prompts him to bring into the house of the Lord, (2 Kings 12:4, ESV)

Offerings should be heartfelt and prompted as taught in the Old Testament, not like a cold 10% bill.

Love God’s house

let the priests take, each from his donor, and let them repair the house wherever any need of repairs is discovered.” (2 Kings 12:5, ESV)

Jehoash’s godly upbringing gave him an appreciation and love for the things of God which drive these reforms.

Godly stewards

Jehoash king of Judah took all the sacred gifts that Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah his fathers, the kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own sacred gifts, and all the gold that was found in the treasuries of the house of the Lord and of the king’s house, and sent these to Hazael king of Syria. Then Hazael went away from Jerusalem. (2 Kings 12:18, ESV)

This was a holy reign but there were two problems, the priest had no understanding of money and budgeting matters and the king had no skill as a warrior so capitulated by paying off his enemy… this would ultimately lead to his downfall.

We are called to be godly soldiers and stewards in God’s house.

Galatians 3:1–29

Receive the Holy Spirit

Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? (Galatians 3:2, ESV)

We receive the Spirit by hearing the Word with Faith… no special ceremony or touch is needed.

Faith alone

just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? (Galatians 3:6, ESV)

One of the five sola’s (alone) of the reformation was Sola Fide meaning by faith alone. By faith alone can we be saved. We must believe in God, putting all our trust in Him.

Spiritual Israelites

Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. (Galatians 3:7, ESV)

If we believe in the gospel we become the sons of Abraham.

Blessed together

So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. (Galatians 3:9, ESV)

We are blessed along with, not instead of Abraham. There is no replacement here, just alignment, fulfilment and joining together.

Live by faith

Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Galatians 3:11, ESV)

As righteous people in Christ we live our lives by Faith in Jesus.

Curses are broken

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” (Galatians 3:13, ESV)

I do not need to be scared of any curses, generational or otherwise because Jesus became a curse for me… There is no double jeopardy in God’s kingdom, if Jesus paid for it all, I do not need to pay again.

You do not need a person with special powers to break curses over your life, you just need to believe in Jesus.

The seed of Abraham

Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. (Galatians 3:16, ESV)

This is hugely important when we consider the relationship claimed to Abraham for Jews and Christians, the offspring was actually neither but Jesus Christ Himself.

The function of the law

But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. (Galatians 3:22, ESV)

The law encapsulates all men under sin as sinners making it quite clear to us that we need salvation and that this is available only through faith in Jesus.

The law is good, it is from God and is used to make clear to us all that we are in fact sinners in need of God’s mercy and grace.

Adopted and FREE

for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. (Galatians 3:26, ESV)

We are no longer bound by the universal truth that we are sinners before a holy God. We have been set free by Jesus and adopted as God’s sons, we are FREE!

One in Christ

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28, ESV)

We must not so boldly declare a distinction between Messianic and Gentile believers, we are one new man in Christ.

Proverbs 7:10–20

Dress is important

And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart. (Proverbs 7:10, ESV)

The way our women dress is important. Dress with dignity.

Forward women

She seizes him and kisses him, and with bold face she says to him, (Proverbs 7:13, ESV)

This is so common today, women are making moves before men do. this is the Devil’s plan to ruin the lives of these women and the men they seduce and rule over. God’s daughters should not be forward but discrete and holy.

Lust is not love

Come, let us take our fill of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with love. (Proverbs 7:18, ESV)

This is not love but lust and you can never be fulfilled with lust.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Galatians 3