We do not fight against flesh and blood but against the powers of spiritual darkness. That battle belongs to the Lord.
And Jesus has already won that battle.
Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Colossians 1:12-14 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
God has already reconciled the world to Himself through Jesus…it is finished!!!!!
Titus 2:13-14 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
One day the trumpet will sound!
He understood the full extent of His upcoming suffering on the cross. John 12:32-33 tells us that Jesus not only knew He would die but knew "what kind of death he was going to die". I find such comfort in Jesus' honesty in John 12:27: He admitted His soul was "troubled" by what lay ahead. A deeper look at the Greek word tarássō (translated "troubled") reveals the stirring up of grief, emotional disturbance and agitation Jesus experienced as He contemplated the road before Him.
Nevertheless, Jesus looked past the suffering and focused on His purpose: glorifying the Father and advancing His Kingdom (John 12:28). He explained that His trouble was necessary, indicating that it would bear fruit (John 12:24). In this case, "fruit" refers to the redemption of all who trust in Christ.
Jesus set an example for each of us when, despite His troubled soul, He walked forward obediently into His hard yet holy assignment. Jesus' trouble eased ours by creating a way for us to live in peace for eternity (John 16:33). First 5
A return to reverence is the first prerequisite for a revival of wisdom, for the discovery of the world as an allusion to God.” SabbathMoments
Luke says, “Then an angel of the Lord stood before them. The glory of the Lord shining around them, and they became very frightened.” We always assume the worst before we look for the best. Good thing the shepherds lingered. Otherwise they might have missed the second verse: “Today your Savior was born in the town of David. He is Christ the Lord.” Max Lucado
2 Chronicles 35:20–27
20 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates; and Josiah went out against him. 21 But he sent messengers to him, saying, “What have I to do with you, king of Judah? I have not come against you this day, but against the house with which I have war; for God commanded me to make haste. Refrain from meddling with God, who is with me, lest He destroy you.” 22 Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself so that he might fight with him, and did not heed the words of Necho from the mouth of God. So he came to fight in the Valley of Megiddo. 23 And the archers shot King Josiah; and the king said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am severely wounded.” 24 His servants therefore took him out of that chariot and put him in the second chariot that he had, and they brought him to Jerusalem. So he died, and was buried in one of the tombs of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. 25 Jeremiah also lamented for Josiah. And to this day all the singing men and the singing women speak of Josiah in their lamentations. They made it a custom in Israel; and indeed they are written in the Laments. 26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and his goodness, according to what was written in the Law of the Lord, 27 and his deeds from first to last, indeed they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. The New King James Version
Neco the king of Egypt reigned ca. 609–595 bc.. In addition to killing Josiah, Pharaoh Neco also deposed Josiah’s son and successor, Jehoahaz. Egypt eventually was defeated by Babylon at Carchemish. Neco was joining forces with Assyria to quell the rising Babylonian kingdom.
Josiah’s actions mirror the wicked northern king, Ahab, who also was killed in battle after disguising himself. It is ironic that one of Judah’s best kings suffers the same fate as Israel’s worst king. Since Josiah was killed in battle, his death is not described in terms of resting with his ancestors, which indicates a peaceful death. As with Hezekiah, the epitaph for Josiah focuses on his faithfulness. Faithlife Study Bible
Located on the upper Euphrates River, Carchemish was one of the last strongholds of Assyria to resist the onslaught of the rising neo-Babylonian kingdom. The Babylonians and Medes were on their way to subdue Haran and Carchemish. Necho, more afraid of the Babylonians than the Assyrians, was hoping to get to Carchemish in time to assist his Assyrian allies in their time of peril. Josiah was an ally of Babylon, so he went to Megiddo to intercept the Egyptians and allow for the Babylonians to attack Haran and Carchemish without Egyptian interference.
The house is a reference to the Babylonians. God sometimes spoke to pagan rulers about a course of action He wanted them to take. Necho did not know that the source of his divine leading was the God of Israel and not one of his own Egyptian deities. But God did direct him, displaying His sovereignty over even the wicked and unbelieving powers of this world.
The major route from Egypt to the upper Euphrates was the Via Maris or the Way of the Sea. This route went up the coast of Palestine before turning inland through the mountain pass at Megiddo. It crossed the Plain of Jezreel or Esdraelon, crossed the Jordan near the Sea of Galilee, and passed through Damascus where it joined the north-south route to upper Syria. Josiah’s objective was to control the pass at Megiddo and dictate the movement of traffic through that vital point. As a godly successor of David, Josiah was buried with full honors in the royal tombs of his fathers in the City of David. The NKJV Study Bible
The Scripture does not condemn Josiah’s conduct in opposing Pharaoh. Yet Josiah seems to deserve blame for not inquiring of the Lord after he was warned; his death might be a rebuke for his rashness, but it was a judgment on a hypocritical and wicked people.
He that lives a life of repentance, faith, and obedience, cannot be affected by the sudden manner in which he is removed. The people lamented him. Many mourn over sufferings, who will not forsake the sins that caused God to send them. Yet this alone can turn away judgments. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
2 Kings 23:29 In his days Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt went to the aid of the king of Assyria, to the River Euphrates; and King Josiah went against him. And Pharaoh Necho killed him at Megiddo when he confronted him.
2 Kings 23:30 Then his servants moved his body in a chariot from Megiddo, brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, anointed him, and made him king in his father’s place.
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