King Josiah was a breath of fresh air in a kingdom run amuck! Sin never makes any sense, and a most nonsensical storyline is that Judah followed in Israel’s steps after Israel fell! Judah adopted Israel’s paganism and was quickly headed for the same disastrous consequences. Then 8 year old Josiah shows up as king!
He is a real picture of grace because both his father and grandfather were ultra pagans but he loved the Lord! Josiah began his leadership by repairing the Temple and a copy of God’s Law was soon discovered. Things would not be the same once he read the Law and read it to the people. He then set about to bring real reform to Judah. First he broke down every form of pagan worship, even so far as to enter Samaria and break down the high place Jeroboam had built! Second, he re-instituted the Passover feast. So under Josiah’s reign, the Word was made primary, the house of the Lord was restored, false religion was banished, and worship to the Lord resumed! Wow! What a glorious revival!
What was behind Josiah’s reforms? What drove Josiah to go in a radically different direction? What was it that made Josiah such a different, godly king? 2 Kings 23:25 says, “Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him.” It’s the great commandment found in Deuteronomy 6:5! Josiah embraced not the Law, but the Lord behind the Law! As a result, he followed the Lord in his Law! May we follow Josiah and embrace the Lord of the commandments, for only then will we have the heart and strength to keep the commandments not for our salvation but for God’s glory!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Judgment Day - 2 Kings 17-20
Israel was determined to not repent. The Lord had been patient. The Lord sent his prophets to warn of judgment and call for repentance. The people made it clear that they were never going to turn from their vile ways. As they continued to sin, his wrath continued to build. Finally, it erupted. Assyria sent the people into exile and right out of history!
What were the people of Israel guilty of? 2 Kings 17 lists their offenses against God. (feared other gods, adopted the customs of other nations, secretly sinned against the Lord, built high places, set up pillars and Asherim, made offerings to other gods, did wicked things, served idols, ignored the prophets, did not believe in the Lord, despised the Lord’s statutes and covenant, went after false idols and became false, abandoned all the commandments of the Lord, made images of calves, made an Asherah, worshipped the host of heaven, served Baal, burned their children as offerings, used divination, followed omens, sold themselves to sin)
What was the judgment? 2 Kings 17:18 – “Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight.”
As horrible as Israel was, apart from Christ, we are just as vile and wicked! Like Israel, apart from Christ, we are children of wrath, who have incurred the wrath of God by sinning against his holiness, goodness, and grace. God is angry with us apart from Christ, and judgment day will come when God will remove from his sight all who are without Christ! But thanks be to God, he has sent his Son, and everyone who is in Christ is saved from God’s wrath against his sin, forgiven of his sin, and made a child of God! The answer for judgment day is Christ!
What were the people of Israel guilty of? 2 Kings 17 lists their offenses against God. (feared other gods, adopted the customs of other nations, secretly sinned against the Lord, built high places, set up pillars and Asherim, made offerings to other gods, did wicked things, served idols, ignored the prophets, did not believe in the Lord, despised the Lord’s statutes and covenant, went after false idols and became false, abandoned all the commandments of the Lord, made images of calves, made an Asherah, worshipped the host of heaven, served Baal, burned their children as offerings, used divination, followed omens, sold themselves to sin)
What was the judgment? 2 Kings 17:18 – “Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight.”
As horrible as Israel was, apart from Christ, we are just as vile and wicked! Like Israel, apart from Christ, we are children of wrath, who have incurred the wrath of God by sinning against his holiness, goodness, and grace. God is angry with us apart from Christ, and judgment day will come when God will remove from his sight all who are without Christ! But thanks be to God, he has sent his Son, and everyone who is in Christ is saved from God’s wrath against his sin, forgiven of his sin, and made a child of God! The answer for judgment day is Christ!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Kings - 2 Kings 13-16
All of the kings of Israel and Judah can get quiet confusing and everything starts to run together. Below is a list of the kings in 2 Kings 13-16.
Israel: Jehoahaz did what was evil in the sight of the Lord (13:2). Jehoash did what was evil in the sight of the Lord (13:11). Jeroboam II did what was evil in the sight of the Lord (14:24). Zechariah did what was evil in the sight of the Lord (15:9). Shallum reigned only one month and was killed by Menahem (15:13). Menahem did what was evil in the sight of the Lord (15:18). Pekahiah did what was evil in the sight of the Lord (15:24). Pekah did what was evil in the sight of the Lord (15:28).
Judah: Amaziah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord except for the high places (14:3-4). Azariah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord except for the high places (15:3-4). Jotham did what was right in the eyes of the Lord except for the high places (15:34-35). Ahaz did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord but walked in the way of the kings of Israel (16:2-3).
A couple of things become painfully obvious. First, you know Israel will soon face the judgment of God because of her persistent rebellion and idolatry. Second, you know Judah will soon follow because she has just turned the corner. Also, the kings of Israel were said to walk in the way of Jeroboam, the first king of Israel. He pointed them in the wrong direction from the start, and they never recovered! Beginnings are very important! As far as the kings of Judah, they were so close but never fully trusting in the Lord alone. They always kept the high places operating, and soon enough, those high places took over! A little compromise goes a long way!
Israel: Jehoahaz did what was evil in the sight of the Lord (13:2). Jehoash did what was evil in the sight of the Lord (13:11). Jeroboam II did what was evil in the sight of the Lord (14:24). Zechariah did what was evil in the sight of the Lord (15:9). Shallum reigned only one month and was killed by Menahem (15:13). Menahem did what was evil in the sight of the Lord (15:18). Pekahiah did what was evil in the sight of the Lord (15:24). Pekah did what was evil in the sight of the Lord (15:28).
Judah: Amaziah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord except for the high places (14:3-4). Azariah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord except for the high places (15:3-4). Jotham did what was right in the eyes of the Lord except for the high places (15:34-35). Ahaz did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord but walked in the way of the kings of Israel (16:2-3).
A couple of things become painfully obvious. First, you know Israel will soon face the judgment of God because of her persistent rebellion and idolatry. Second, you know Judah will soon follow because she has just turned the corner. Also, the kings of Israel were said to walk in the way of Jeroboam, the first king of Israel. He pointed them in the wrong direction from the start, and they never recovered! Beginnings are very important! As far as the kings of Judah, they were so close but never fully trusting in the Lord alone. They always kept the high places operating, and soon enough, those high places took over! A little compromise goes a long way!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
A Tale of Two Kings - 2 Kings 9-12
In a time when both the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah had turned from the Lord, a brief revival occurs in both under the leadership of two kings.
Jehu was anointed by Elisha indirectly to become king of Israel. He would be the instrument to fulfill the prophetic words of judgment against Israel’s previous leaders. Jehu killed both Joram, king of Israel, and Ahaziah, king of Judah, executed Jezebel, the sinister woman who plotted evil from the time of Ahab, wiped out all of Ahab’s descendants, and in his final act of restoration, Jehu slaughtered every prophet of Baal along with many worshippers. All of this was done as judgment from God. The Lord was pleased and said to Jehu, “You have done well” (10:30).
Jehoash began to reign in Judah while Jehu was reigning in Israel. At just seven years of age, Jehoash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord because he listened to good counsel from a priest. Under his leadership, the people set about to repair the temple. As the people would give, the repairs would continue. It was certainly a time of excitement, unity, and return to the Lord.
However, Jehu and Jehoash would not finish as well as they started. Jehu failed to remove the golden calves made by Jeroboam, and Jehoash paid off Hazael, king of Syria, with all the sacred gifts and gold in the house of the Lord! Both kings led something of a renewal in their day. In the end, however, total faith in the Lord was lacking and therefore these revivals would be short-lived. In our prayer for revival, let us remember that a good thing needs a good finish as well as a good start!
Jehu was anointed by Elisha indirectly to become king of Israel. He would be the instrument to fulfill the prophetic words of judgment against Israel’s previous leaders. Jehu killed both Joram, king of Israel, and Ahaziah, king of Judah, executed Jezebel, the sinister woman who plotted evil from the time of Ahab, wiped out all of Ahab’s descendants, and in his final act of restoration, Jehu slaughtered every prophet of Baal along with many worshippers. All of this was done as judgment from God. The Lord was pleased and said to Jehu, “You have done well” (10:30).
Jehoash began to reign in Judah while Jehu was reigning in Israel. At just seven years of age, Jehoash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord because he listened to good counsel from a priest. Under his leadership, the people set about to repair the temple. As the people would give, the repairs would continue. It was certainly a time of excitement, unity, and return to the Lord.
However, Jehu and Jehoash would not finish as well as they started. Jehu failed to remove the golden calves made by Jeroboam, and Jehoash paid off Hazael, king of Syria, with all the sacred gifts and gold in the house of the Lord! Both kings led something of a renewal in their day. In the end, however, total faith in the Lord was lacking and therefore these revivals would be short-lived. In our prayer for revival, let us remember that a good thing needs a good finish as well as a good start!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Chariots of Fire - 2 Kings 5-8
This time Elisha had gone too far, and the king of Syria was ticked off! The king of Syria was warring against Israel. Multiple times Elisha gave Israel a heads-up and so they were able to escape the hands of the Syrians. The king knew someone on the inside was secretly handing this intel to Israel, and he was enraged. When it was revealed that is was the prophet Elisha, the Syrian king responded by sending horses, chariots, and a great army to get him. Imagine that! An entire army to capture one man! The king must have known, even in his rage, that he was in way over his head in going against Elisha!
When Elisha and his servant awoke one day, the army had surrounded the city. The servant was frightened and figured their days were numbered. Elisha knew differently! Elisha knew that to attack God’s man is to attack God! And so Elisha comforted his servant by saying, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:16). So here the two of them stand in front of an entire army and Elisha just said what? It is then Elisha prayed for the eyes of his servant to be opened. “So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (6:17).
Elisha and his servant were no match for the king’s army, but neither was the king’s army no match for the Lord’s army! Dear believer, you are never alone. You are never outnumbered! You are never outmatched! You are never the underdog! If God is for you, who can be against you? Let not the threats of the enemy paralyze your faith. Stand tall and stand strong because you never stand alone!
When Elisha and his servant awoke one day, the army had surrounded the city. The servant was frightened and figured their days were numbered. Elisha knew differently! Elisha knew that to attack God’s man is to attack God! And so Elisha comforted his servant by saying, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:16). So here the two of them stand in front of an entire army and Elisha just said what? It is then Elisha prayed for the eyes of his servant to be opened. “So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (6:17).
Elisha and his servant were no match for the king’s army, but neither was the king’s army no match for the Lord’s army! Dear believer, you are never alone. You are never outnumbered! You are never outmatched! You are never the underdog! If God is for you, who can be against you? Let not the threats of the enemy paralyze your faith. Stand tall and stand strong because you never stand alone!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Is There No God in Israel? 2 Kings 1-4
Ahaziah, the son of Ahab, became king of Israel after Ahab’s death. As Ahab had ignored the Lord and worshipped Baal, so Ahaziah did not even acknowledge the Lord’s existence but embraced Baal as his god. Ahaziah fell through the roof and was dying from the injuries he suffered. With no thought towards God at all, he sends for a word from Baal. His men meet up Elijah on the way, and Elijah sends them back with a penetrating inquiry. 2 Kings 1:3 – “Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?” Of course, it was a rhetorical question.
There was no doubt that there was a God in Israel! Ahaziah had more proof than he needed, he had just chosen and insisted on worshipping another god. To begin with, there was Elijah, a prophet of God who demonstrated God’s presence continually. Also, Ahaziah would have observed the conflicts between his father and Elijah, which included Elijah’s power from God, conquering the prophets of Baal, and unfailing prophecies. Finally, there was the last confrontation between Elijah and Ahaziah’s men where Elijah called down fire from heaven twice and consumed them! Again, not the first time Elijah and fire from heaven were in cooperation!
Ahaziah, though, would not be moved! Why? If he were to acknowledge God, he would have to serve God. If he were to serve God, he would have to change his wicked ways. Evidently, he would rather die than let go of his sin! So after only two years of reigning as king, Ahaziah dies a painful death in rebellion against God. It was not because there was no God in Israel, it was because Ahaziah willfully, stubbornly rejected him!
There was no doubt that there was a God in Israel! Ahaziah had more proof than he needed, he had just chosen and insisted on worshipping another god. To begin with, there was Elijah, a prophet of God who demonstrated God’s presence continually. Also, Ahaziah would have observed the conflicts between his father and Elijah, which included Elijah’s power from God, conquering the prophets of Baal, and unfailing prophecies. Finally, there was the last confrontation between Elijah and Ahaziah’s men where Elijah called down fire from heaven twice and consumed them! Again, not the first time Elijah and fire from heaven were in cooperation!
Ahaziah, though, would not be moved! Why? If he were to acknowledge God, he would have to serve God. If he were to serve God, he would have to change his wicked ways. Evidently, he would rather die than let go of his sin! So after only two years of reigning as king, Ahaziah dies a painful death in rebellion against God. It was not because there was no God in Israel, it was because Ahaziah willfully, stubbornly rejected him!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
All-sufficient Grace - 2 Cor 9-13
“The Lord will never put more on you than you are able to bear!” Have you ever heard that saying? Its meant to convince you that things are not as tough as you imagine them to be. If you just pull it together, you can deal with this situation. God would never overload you. The problem with this thinking is that it is not biblical! In fact, as a believer, God probably WILL overload you! Why would he do such a thing?
We need to be reminded that we are not in control and self-sufficient! We usually walk around in a fantasy world where we are large and in charge and able to overcome anything that comes our way. Occasionally, the Lord will remind us of who is in charge and where the source of strength and victory abides.
God works through overwhelming circumstances to ward off the ever present temptation of pride and self righteousness. We so desire to take some credit. Some pains help us in our fight against our own pride.
Overbearing situations reveal our dependency upon Christ. It is in these times that we are called back to drink again from the Fountain of Life, to return to the true source of satisfaction.
Overbearing situations magnify the Gospel. When the strength to endure is not our strength but the strength that God supplies, then God gets the glory! When grace is confessed to be our only stability, our only help, our only strength, then the Gospel is magnified in our weakness!
2 Cor 12:8-9 – “Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
We need to be reminded that we are not in control and self-sufficient! We usually walk around in a fantasy world where we are large and in charge and able to overcome anything that comes our way. Occasionally, the Lord will remind us of who is in charge and where the source of strength and victory abides.
God works through overwhelming circumstances to ward off the ever present temptation of pride and self righteousness. We so desire to take some credit. Some pains help us in our fight against our own pride.
Overbearing situations reveal our dependency upon Christ. It is in these times that we are called back to drink again from the Fountain of Life, to return to the true source of satisfaction.
Overbearing situations magnify the Gospel. When the strength to endure is not our strength but the strength that God supplies, then God gets the glory! When grace is confessed to be our only stability, our only help, our only strength, then the Gospel is magnified in our weakness!
2 Cor 12:8-9 – “Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
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