Same Old Story

II Kings 15:23 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned two years. 24 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin. 25 And Pekah the son of Remaliah, his captain, conspired against him with fifty men of the people of Gilead, and struck him down in Samaria, in the citadel of the king's house with Argob and Arieh; he put him to death and reigned in his place. 26 Now the rest of the deeds of Pekahiah and all that he did, behold, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

As we read through the accounts of the Kings of the northern kingdom of Israel, we begin to expect to read what we do hear.  He didn't reign very long; he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin. He never learned his lesson; he never repented of his sin; he kept his people in spiritual darkness; he died some horrible death. That are the highlights (or lower darkness) and if you want to find out more, go look it up for yourself.  May we leave behind better reports in our chronicles.  May our lives have a much better story to tell. 

Helpless

II Kings 14:23 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, began to reign in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. 24 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin. 25 He restored the border of Israel from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath-hepher. 26 For the Lord saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter, for there was none left, bond or free, and there was none to help Israel. 27 But the Lord had not said that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, so he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.

The reign of Jehu had brought some stability to the northern kingdom of Israel, but it wasn't wrong until things were heading downhill again.  Like his namesake before him, idolatry flourished and apathy ruled during his reign. They were hopeless and helpless. No one really cared about Israel's dire condition - except God. He looked down in mercy and kept them free from oppression. He gave them some wiggle room on their borders.  Thankfully, God is often that way with us, showing mercy and grace, even when we don't deserve it or call out for it.

Bathroom Renovations

 II Kings 10: 24 Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside and said, “The man who allows any of those whom I give into your hands to escape shall forfeit his life.” 25 So as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guard and to the officers, “Go in and strike them down; let not a man escape.” So when they put them to the sword, the guard and the officers cast them out and went into the inner room of the house of Baal, 26 and they brought out the pillar that was in the house of Baal and burned it. 27 And they demolished the pillar of Baal, and demolished the house of Baal, and made it a latrine to this day.

God had appointed Jehu to be king over Israel, and to completely cleanse Israel of all the Baal worship and idolatry of the land, as well as the wicked line of King Ahab.  God has a way of making things memorable. Places used for the worst of idolatry became dumps and other locations known for their stench and filth.  God wants us to remember that is what idolatry is: trash, filthy rags, and a place to go potty.  Yet we still fall back into it so easily and quickly.  May we see it for what it is and seek His purity and holiness instead.

Double-Barrell Jehu

 II Kings 9:25 Jehu said to Bidkar his aide, “Take him up and throw him on the plot of ground belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. For remember, when you and I rode side by side behind Ahab his father, how the Lord made this pronouncement against him: 26 ‘As surely as I saw yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons—declares the Lord—I will repay you on this plot of ground.’ Now therefore take him up and throw him on the plot of ground, in accordance with the word of the Lord.” 27 When Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled in the direction of Beth-haggan. And Jehu pursued him and said, “Shoot him also.” And they shot him in the chariot at the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo and died there. 28 His servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his tomb with his fathers in the city of David.

We saw yesterday the infectious effect the house of Ahab had not only on Israel, but Judah as well.  When this happened, God had Elisha anoint Jehu as king over Israel.  He then used Jehu to take out the kings of both nations - Jotham of Israel and Ahaziah of Judah, on the same day. By clinging together in their evil, they made it easy for him to do so. What evil company is bringing you down?

All in the Family...

 

II Kings 8:25 In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab, king of Israel, Ahaziah the son of Jehoram, king of Judah, began to reign. 26 Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah; she was a granddaughter of Omri king of Israel. 27 He also walked in the way of the house of Ahab and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done, for he was son-in-law to the house of Ahab.

In the long lists of the kings of Israel we have seen that repeated phrase he "...walked in the way of his (father) and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord...". But here we find it used of a king of Judah. Ahaziah was influenced - rather "infected" by his father-in-law and the rest of the family. He quickly "caught" the culture and arrogance of the clan, turning away from God to seek power and popularity. As we will see, his reign was brief, but the impact of this one year had a lasting effect on the kingdom of Judah.  How quickly, and easily, do we allow others to have such an influence on us?

Blame the Messenger!

II Kings 6:24 Afterward Ben-hadad king of Syria mustered his entire army and went up and besieged Samaria. 25 And there was a great famine in Samaria, as they besieged it, until a donkey's head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove's dung for five shekels of silver. 26 Now as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, saying, “Help, my lord, O king!” 27 And he said, “If the Lord will not help you, how shall I help you? From the threshing floor, or from the winepress?” 28 And the king asked her, “What is your trouble?” She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’ 29 So we boiled my son and ate him. And on the next day I said to her, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him.’ But she has hidden her son.” 30 When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes—now he was passing by on the wall—and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth beneath on his body— 31 and he said, “May God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders today.”

Like Elijah, Elisha was called upon by God to proclaim judgment on the Northern Kingdom of Israel for her deep disobedience, but rather than bring them to repentance, they chose to blame the messenger for their desperation. Even when the king witnessed the depravity of the situation, he did not set the example and call out to God in confession for forgiveness. He wanted to kill the prophet.  How many of our woes do we blame on others? How deeply does that hurt others?

Did Not My Heart Go?

 

II Kings 5:23 And Naaman said, “Be pleased to accept two talents.” And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi. 24 And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and put them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed. 25 He went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant went nowhere.” 26 But he said to him, “Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants? 27 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” So he went out from his presence a leper, like snow.

The healing of Naaman is a wonderful well-known account of proclaiming God before the nations. God used the loving encouragement of a little girl and His healing power through Elisha to demonstrate His love and power to a needy leader and his people. The account is tainted however by the greed of Gehazi, Elisha's assistant. Why not make a little money on the side you could hide? But God knew, and He let Elisha know. Elisha's response is telling: his heart left him - it took the wind out of his sails. He was very discouraged because God's glory was diminished by this servant. May we do nothing to do so to the Lord.