2 Kings 11 "The Davidic Line Preserved"

“But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him from among the king’s sons who were being put to death, and placed him and his nurse in the bedroom. So they hid him from Athaliah, and he was not put to death.” (v.2)

Back in 2 Samuel 7:16, God had promised that King David’s line would be “established forever.” Now here in 2 Kings, that line was teetering on the edge of destruction. Athaliah, the mother of now-dead Ahaziah, seized the throne and proceeded “to destroy the whole royal family” (v.1).

If all heirs of the kingly line were killed, God’s earlier promise would fail. Enter the faithful priest Jehoiada and his wife Jehosheba. Two previously unknown figures in history quietly stepped forward to save the infant Joash from certain destruction, hiding him away from ruthless Athaliah, and raising him for seven years in the temple. When ready, Jehoiada publicly presented the boy and proclaimed him king. The wicked usurper Athaliah was soon put to death.

Today’s reading reminds us of a similar story in the New Testament. There, another small child in David’s line, was whisked away from certain death at the hands of a raging, paranoid ruler (Matt. 2:13-18). Many times through scripture satin has tried to end the Davidic Line through which Jesus would enter the world, right up to His birth. But, praise God for His hand of preservation, both of His covenant with David and the promised Messiah as well.  

The Truth

 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.  When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” (Matt. 2:13-16)

2 Kings 10 "Don't Hold Back"

“Yet Jehu was not careful to keep the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart.” (v.31)

Jehu, Israel’s king during a time of rampant idolatry, was determined to rid his nation of Baal worship. This hideous form of paganism involved gross sensualism, moral degradation, and human sacrifice. Because Jehu successfully rooted out all Baal worship from the land, God told him that his descendants would occupy Israel’s throne for four generations (v.30).

But God was not fully pleased with Jehu, for he still permitted the idolatrous worship of the golden calves in Bethel and Dan (v.29) and did not keep the law of the LORD with all his heart (v.31). He started well but was finishing poorly by holding on to a sin he wouldn’t let go.

Many people today are in the same boat, holding on to a sin they just won’t let go. Better to come clean and give your whole heart to the LORD than hold on to something that will bring harm to you and others through God’s judgment.

The Truth

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

2 Kings 9 "Jehu, God's Avenger"

“You (Jehu) shall strike the house of Ahab your master, that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord, at the hand of Jezebel.” (v.7)

Historians tell us that Jezebel was one of the world’s most beautiful women. She was also however, one of the most wicked. Here in chapter 8, fourteen years after her husband Ahab was killed, we find Jezebel living in luxury and in ease.

She must have felt that the word of the LORD, spoken by the prophet Elijah (1 Kings 21:23) did not apply to her. For upon hearing the news that Jehu had arrived in Jezreel, (after killing the house of Ahab as ordered in our text), she put on makeup and did her hair (v.30), no doubt thinking she could seduce Jehu with her beauty. However at the word of Jehu, her own servants threw her out the balcony window and she died (vv.32-33).

Today, there are many ungodly people in our world committing brutal acts of murder, torture, rape and blasphemy. And we wonder, what’s going on? How long will this continue? Why do they seem to get away with it all? 

Like Jezebel, their time will come!

The Truth

“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:19)

2 Kings 8 "Elisha Predicts Evil From Hazael"

In the earlier chapters of 2 Kings, we saw Elisha’s ministry of God’s grace. Now here in chapter 8 (vv.7-15), we see Elisha’s ministry of God’s judgment. Although the promised destruction of Israel by the Arameans, has not yet occurred, it is coming. The rest of chapter 8 exhibits the spiraling direction of both Israel and Judah away from God and toward His judgment.

The coming evil on disobedient Israel brought Elisha to tears (v.11). He knew what would be fall them in their future, for God had shown him (v.12). Like Jesus weeping over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44), Elisha displayed God’s great love for His people, even when disobedient.

Like a loving father who disciplines his children when they are disobedient, so God, our heavenly Father, will discipline His children as well. Therefore, we should see Him, not as an angry judge, but as a loving Father who desires the best for us, even if it means the rod.

The Truth: 

“For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” (Hebrews 12:6)