II Kings and I Chronicles

I have been so busy these past two days.  I leave the house in the morning and don't come back till 9:00 or 10:00 PM.  I have been doing a lot of physical work as we are rebuilding the front steps of our main building.  We broke up 27 yards of concrete and back filled it with gravel.  Today, the concrete men will form it and pour it later this week.  Well, I've still a full schedule today, so let me write a few things from the Bible. 1) AMAZING- In II Kings 17:27, we see something amazing!  The King of Assyria, who had taken Israel and Judah captive, brings a priest to teach the Israelites about their God.  He says that the nations problems are that "they know not the manner of the God of the land." (vs. 26).  Amazing... a heathen king has to start teaching God's people about God! 2) 12 and evil. - IN Chapter 21:1 it says that "Manasseh was twelve years old, when he began to reign....(vs.2) And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD,"  Twelve and evil!  What are we raising our children and grand children to become?  Not evil I hope, but godly children." 3) David, the seventh. I Chron. 2:15, David was the seventh son of Jesse.  God loves seven!  Created everything in seven days.  Elijah had his servant look for rain clouds seven times.  Joshua walked seven times around Jericho. Naaman dipped seven times.  The child brought back to life sneezed seven times, and then was alive.  Seven spirits around the throne. God uses seven throughout Scripture... what does it mean?  Who knows?  We just know God likes seven. 4) David grows!  In I Chron. 11:9 it reads: "So David waxed greater and greater; for the LORD of hosts was with him."  Any leader must grow.  To stop growing means your leadership and influence stop as well.  The next verse reads: "These also are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom." We grow together! Gotta go!  Pastor Mike Mutchler