2 Chronicles 8:7-9 Devotions by Stephen Taylor

2 Chronicles 8:7-9

There were still people left from the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites (these people were not Israelites). Solomon conscripted the descendants of all these people remaining in the land—whom the Israelites had not destroyed—to serve as slave labor, as it is to this day. But Solomon did not make slaves of the Israelites for his work; they were his fighting men, commanders of his captains, and commanders of his chariots and charioteers.

We see the contrast between God’s enemies and God’s children. God’s enemies, these nations that worshiped idols and practiced all sorts of evils, were eventually handed over to be destroyed, and those that survived were forced into slave labor. They rejected God and suffered the consequences of it. On the other hand, we see the children of God given honor and position in the army, not serving under a harsh and heavy hand but out of love for the king and his kingdom.

This is a picture of our spiritual lives, and these truths are still relevant and applicable today. We can choose to reject God and chase our sins and this world, but in the end, it will only cause our destruction, and those that escape death with suffer needlessly until that day comes. Thank God we have a Risen King that takes God’s enemies and turns them into family! Now we are not doomed to suffer and die in our sins but to repent and turn to the Lord and be saved.

Once the Lord has brought us into His Heavenly family, we are to serve in His eternal army! There are no bench spots in the Kingdom of God; everyone is called to serve, and everyone is called to fight. Some of us are given bigger commands and posts than others, but that doesn’t make each and every one of us any less valuable to Him! So, today, will we toil under the harsh oppression of slavery to sin, or will we rejoice in joining the ranks of the King’s army, serving Him with all of our hearts?

Romans 6:18,19- Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living. Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.

God bless! I love you all, but His love can’t be stopped! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!