The Attributes of God:

God’s Sovereignty amid Trials 2 Kings 18-21 “Have you not heard? Long ago I did it; From ancient times I Planned it.  Now I have brought it to pass that you should turn fortified cities into ruinous heaps” (19:25).                    When evaluating the kings of Judah, the standard was always David.  Over and over again, we find the refrain that the kings either failed to live up to the example of David or were like David in their obedience to God.  However, when we come to Hezekiah, we are told at the beginning of the story that Hezekiah’s obedience to God was unparalleled.  Not only did he obey God, but he did the one thing that no other king of Judah did before him.  He removed the high places where the people worshipped the false gods of Baal and Asherah.  In 18:5-6, we see the praise of Hezekiah’s obedience: “He trusted in the Lo...

The Danger of the “High Places.” 2 Kings 14-18 “He did what was right in the sight of the Lord…”             It can be difficult reading this section to keep track of who is who.  The writer jumps back and forth from the history of the kingdoms of Israel and the kingdoms of Judah to the point, making it difficult to keep track of who is the king of which nation.  It becomes even more difficult when they are given different names and when they share the same name.  The who’s who of the kings becomes “who is who” of the kings, and which nation is the king of.  However, as we look through history, what is unmistakable is that in God’s evaluation of the kings, he does not look at their accomplishments, military victories, or status among the other nations during that time.  The only assessment God gives is of their obedience to God and His word.   The evaluation becomes re...

How to Change a Nation 2 Kings 9-13 “But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam which he made Israel sin.” When we read the history of the nations of Judah and Israel, it is a history wrought with political assassinations, manipulations, and deception.  In the time covered in chapters 9-13, we see four different leaders assassinated.  We also see that all the kings of Israel were wicked and refused to obey God, and of the kings of Judah, only 1 (Joash) followed after God, but in the end, he too abandoned God. The northern nation of Israel continued on the pathway of spiritual idolatry and delinquency.  The southern nation of Judah would also continue in their spiritual decline, although Joash did seek to lead the country in a spiritual revival. During his reign, he led a restoration of the temple, which had declined because of neglect.  However, at the...

God’s Provision and Providence.  2 Kings 4-8 “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel” (5:15).                   In today’s reading, we read about a number of events that have a common theme. The theme that permeates these chapters is that God is a God of grace who provides for those who trust in Him and is not hindered by any limitations that we see.                     First, in the story of the Shunammite woman, we discover God cares for us with a supernatural power.  As Elisha traveled throughout Israel, he often passed through Shunem, a small village southwest of the Sea of Galilee in the region of the tribe of Issachar. In Elisha’s travels, he developed a close friendship with a woman and her husband, so he often stayed at their home.  I...

Seeking Only What We Want to Hear 1 Kings 22-2 Kings 3 “But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not a prophet of the Lord here that we may inquire of him?”             After the division of Israel and Judah, they became divided politically and religiously.  In the history of the divided kingdom, the northern kings were consistently marked by their evil and idolatry.  In the southern nation of Judah, some kings followed the Canaanites' idolatry, while others obeyed God and sought obedience to Him.  The reigns of Jehoshaphat and Ahab illustrate the contrast of the two nations.  Ahab and Jezebel became the personification of the northern kings who rejected God.  Throughout his reign, he not only refused to listen to the prophets of God but he openly sought to have them destroyed.  Even when he acknowledged his sin, it was more of an act to avert God’s judgment than an act of true ...

Fear and Faith in a Chaotic World 1 Kings 16-20             “And he was afraid and arose and fled for his life and came to Beersheba…and said, ‘It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers.” (19:3-4).               Elijah was at the end of his rope. Israel had abandoned God and descended into moral and spiritual chaos.  Their descent had been so great that Israel was beginning to practice human sacrifices (16:34). Politically, the nation was in turmoil as conflicting forces sought to gain dominance over the country. When Ahab and his wicked wife, Jezebel, rose to power, they promoted the worship of Baal throughout the land.  In 16:30-31, we see Ahab was more sinful than all the other kings before him.  During this time of moral, spiritual, and political upheaval, Elijah was called to be God’s proph...