Category: 2 Kings Devotionals

Categories
2 Kings Devotionals

Before we can believe and obey

The high priest Hilkiah told the court secretary Shaphan, “I have found the book of the law in the Lord’s temple,” and he gave the book to Shaphan, who read it…

Shaphan read it in the presence of the king.

When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. (2 Kings 22:8, 10-11)

This week, I’ve been reflecting on John 15, and thinking about what it means to have God’s word “remain in us.”

Of course, part of that means to believe and obey God’s words.

But it struck me that there is one more component that must come before we can believe and obey.

We need to know what God has said.

That is clearly seen in today’s story.

It’s amazing to think that things had gotten so bad in God’s temple. How can God’s words get lost…in the temple?

Josiah had a soft heart towards God. That showed in his response once he heard God’s word. He believed God’s words and he would obey them.

But you can’t believe and obey what you don’t know.

Do you know God’s word?

Ignorance is not an excuse before God. Disaster was coming on Judah because of their ignorance.

And we can make a big mess of our lives, in our families, in our relationships, in our finances, in everything, if we don’t believe and obey God’s words.

But again, before you can believe and obey God’s word, you need to know it.

Are you putting the time into knowing God’s word each day?

Or is it “lost” in your house (or smartphone) like it was in the temple?

Categories
2 Kings Devotionals

God’s judgment, God’s patience

Since King Manasseh of Judah has committed all these detestable acts…this is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I am about to bring such a disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that everyone who hears about it will shudder. (2 Kings 21:11-12)

As I thought about Manasseh’s life, God’s patience and mercy once again really struck me.

Manasseh was probably the worst of all the kings of Judah, bringing idol worship back, sacrificing his own son, and spilling much innocent blood.

Tradition has it that it was under Manasseh’s reign that the prophet Isaiah was “sawn in two” (Hebrews 11:37).

As a result, God passed judgment on Manasseh and Judah.

But that judgment did not come for many years. Why? Because it was God’s desire that they repent.

Amazingly, Manasseh did. (2 Chronicles 33:10-13)

Manasseh’s son Amon didn’t, unfortunately, but his grandson Josiah, as we’ll see in later chapters, also had a repentant heart.

As a result, God’s judgment did not fully fall until after Josiah’s death.

It made me think of God’s mercy to me over the years despite all my “detestable acts.”

His patience toward me has been incredible. And I’m grateful.

As David wrote and experienced himself,

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in faithful love. (Psalm 103:8)

Categories
2 Kings Devotionals

Our attitude in prayer

Please, Lord, remember how I have walked before you faithfully and wholeheartedly and have done what pleases you. (2 Kings 20:3)

This story apparently happened after Assyria started their attacks on Judah, but before Sennacherib besieged Jerusalem. (See 2 Kings 20:13 and compare with 18:14-16.)

What strikes me is the basis on which Hezekiah made his plea, and the basis on which God answered. Hezekiah made his plea based on his goodness and faithfulness.

But on what basis did God answer?

When God gave the reasons for granting Hezekiah’s request and for delivering Judah from Assyria, he said he would do these things “for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.” (16)

In short, God granted Hezekiah’s request, not because of Hezekiah’s goodness, but because of God’s glory, goodness, faithfulness, and grace.

He had made promises to David, and he was faithful to keep them.

And by healing Hezekiah and delivering Judah from Assyria, he showed his glory, goodness, and grace not only to Hezekiah, but to Judah and all the surrounding nations.

It made me think. On what basis do I come to God with my requests?

Am I appealing to my own goodness? Am I saying, “God, I deserve this”?

Or do I acknowledge, “Father, I deserve nothing from you. But I come to you because of your goodness, faithfulness, and grace to me.”

Do I lay my requests before him with that kind of heart?

If we come to God thinking we deserve things from him, it’s easy to fall into the trap of pride Hezekiah did. (2 Kings 20:12-19, 2 Chronicles 32:24-25).

“Of course, God answered my prayer. I deserve it. I deserve his blessings.”

Or if God says no, we get angry.

“Why didn’t you answer me? I deserve this!”

On what basis do you come to God in prayer?

On your goodness?

Or God’s glory, goodness, faithfulness, and grace?

Father, I deserve nothing from you. And yet, by your grace, you call me your child and tell me I can ask you for anything.

So Father, I humbly come before you and lay my requests before you.

Not because of my goodness. But because of your glory, goodness, faithfulness, and grace.

And I trust that however you answer, yes or no, you are good and your ways are best. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Categories
2 Kings Devotionals

Who are you relying on?

[Hezekiah] did what was right in the Lord’s sight…Hezekiah relied on the Lord God of Israel…

He remained faithful to the Lord and did not turn from following him but kept the commands the Lord had commanded Moses…

Assyria’s King Sennacherib attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them…

Then the royal spokesman said to them, “Tell Hezekiah this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: ‘What are you relying on?'” (2 Kings 18:3, 5-6, 13, 19)

Father, Hezekiah did all the right things, serving you. And yet trouble came.

The enemy came, screaming, “What are you relying on?”

I can identify with Hezekiah, Father.

Sometimes I feel I’m trying to do all the right things, relying on you, being faithful to you, and obeying you.

And yet trouble comes.

Then the Enemy comes and screams at me, “What are you relying on? God?”

Satan would have me question you. His motives are evil. But his question is actually a good one.

What am I relying on? Am I truly relying on you?

It’s so easy to rely on myself, especially when trials come. To rely on my wisdom, my strength.

And maybe through these things I’m going through, you’re reminding me just how much I need you.

Hezekiah had to turn from relying on Egypt to relying on you. (Isaiah 30-31)

Father, help me to turn from relying on myself to relying on you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Categories
2 Kings Devotionals

The root issue

This disaster happened because the people of Israel sinned against the Lord their God… (2 Kings 17:7)

I was listening to a message once, and the pastor asked a very interesting question.

I’m paraphrasing, but he essentially said, “There may be many reasons for the problems we face, but which reason is most fundamental?”

That’s what I thought of when I read the above scripture.

There were many reasons Israel fell.

Assyria was a powerful nation at the time. Israel was much weaker.

King Hoshea had a treaty with the king of Assyria. He broke that treaty.

Both reasonably explain Israel’s fall.

But which reason was most fundamental?

The answer is neither.

We’ll read it in the next two chapters, but King Hezekiah would also break a treaty with Assyria, and Assyria besieged Jerusalem.

But when Hezekiah humbled himself before God, God delivered Jerusalem even though Assyria was much stronger militarily than Judah.

There were also many other times that Israel faced stronger enemies, but because they trusted and served God, they overcame their enemies.

The fundamental reason that Israel fell to Assyria was that the people had sinned against God, turning their backs on him to follow other gods.

Instead of following God and his ways, they followed the ways of the nations around them.

It made me think of the problems I’m facing in life.

There may be many reasons for them. But what is the most fundamental reason?

Is my heart truly right before God?

Am I following him, doing things his way?

Or am I doing things my own?

When God points out my disobedience, am I repenting, or am I making excuses?

Father, search me and know my heart. You know the problems I’m facing. Show me what the fundamental issues are.

And if there’s something I need to do, something I need to repent of, show me what it is.

Help me to trust and obey you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Categories
2 Kings Devotionals

Remembering whose we are

En Gedi caves
Joe Goldberg from Seattle, WA, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

So Ahaz sent messengers to King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria, saying, “I am your servant and your son…” (2 Kings 16:7)

If you want some background to this story, read Isaiah 7.

It was in the midst of Ahaz’s problems with Aram and Israel that Isaiah made his famous Immanuel prophesy.

The sad thing is that in Isaiah 7, God was telling Ahaz, “Trust me. Your enemies won’t succeed. I’ll even give you a sign so that you can believe me. Just ask for one.”

But Ahaz refused to trust God, declining to ask for a sign. Instead, he sought Assyria’s help.

He got it, but it came at a great price. Eventually, Ahaz’s “master” and “father” turned against Israel and became its enemy.

How much different would things have been if Ahaz had turned to God, saying, “I am your servant and your son”?

I’m facing my own issues right now, and I just felt God reminding me, “Remember whose you are. You are my servant. More importantly, you are my beloved child. Seek me. Trust me.”

He then brought this psalm to mind.

God is our refuge and strength,
a helper who is always found
in times of trouble.

Therefore we will not be afraid,
though the earth trembles
and the mountains topple
into the depths of the seas,
though its water roars and foams
and the mountains quake with its turmoil…

“Stop fighting, and know that I am God,
exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”

The Lord of Armies is with us (Immanuel!);
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.” (Psalm 46:1-3, 10-11)

Categories
2 Kings Devotionals

“Forgetting God’s kindness to us,” revisited

Then Jehoahaz sought the Lord’s favor, and the Lord heard him, for he saw the oppression the king of Aram inflicted on Israel.

Therefore, the Lord gave Israel a deliverer, and they escaped from the power of the Arameans. Then the people of Israel returned to their former way of life, but they didn’t turn away from the sins that the house of Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.

Jehoahaz continued them, and the Asherah pole also remained standing in Samaria. (2 Kings 13:4-6)

God’s grace is pretty amazing.

Despite the fact that Jehoahaz and the Israelites had turned their back on him, when Jeohoahaz cried out to God, God graciously helped them, delivering Israel from the Arameans.

But after life returned to normal, they showed no gratitude for God’s kindness to them.

Instead they just returned back to their sin, living their own way.

How often do we get into trouble because of our sin, cry out to God for help, and in his grace he delivers us?

And how often do we soon forget the kindness God showed us and put him to the side, living our own way?

Let us not forget God when life is going well, taking his kindness and love toward us for granted.

As Paul wrote,

…do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? (Romans 2:4)

Categories
2 Kings Devotionals

Forgetting God’s kindness to us

One interesting difference between Kings and Chronicles is that the author of Kings often skips over the negative aspects of some of the kings of Judah.

We saw that with Asa in 1 Kings 15.

We also see it in this chapter.

But as with Asa, we see the author of Kings hinting that not all was as well as it seemed.

The writer notes,

Throughout the time the priest Jehoiada instructed him, Joash did what was right in the Lord’s sight. (2 Kings 12:2)

Which makes one think, “What happened after Jehoiada stopped instructing Joash?”

Sadly, according to 2 Chronicles 24, after Jehoiada died, Joash turned from the Lord and started worshiping idols. And when Zechariah, Jehoiada’s son, warned him and urged him to repent,

King Joash didn’t remember the kindness that Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had extended to him, but killed his son. (2 Chronicles 24:22)

But it wasn’t just Jehoiada’s kindness that Joash had forgotten.

Joash had forgotten the Lord’s kindness to him as well.

The Lord had saved him from being killed by his grandmother Athaliah, after all.

So my prayer this morning was this:

Father, let me never forget the kindness you’ve shown me like Joash did. Because if I ever do that, it would be so easy to fall away from you.

And Father, I don’t want to ever fall away from you.

Categories
2 Kings Devotionals

Whole heart?

but [Jehu ]did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit—worshiping the gold calves that were in Bethel and Dan…

Yet Jehu was not careful to follow the instruction of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart.

He did not turn from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit. (2 Kings 10:29, 31)

I was just reflecting on those words today.

There were some things God praised Jehu for.

One was for destroying the house of Ahab, fulfilling God’s judgment on them, not only for the evil they had done, but for the evil they had led Israel into.

Part of that evil was Baal worship which Jehu also destroyed. That too pleased God.

But we see in the above words that God did not have Jehu’s whole heart.

While Jehu did not worship Baal, he continued to worship the golden calves that Jeroboam had set up in pseudo-Yahweh worship. (1 Kings 12:26-33)

In that, and probably other things, he was not careful to follow God’s words with all his heart. (Exodus 20:4-5; Deuteronomy 12:5-14)

But for me, I was asking myself two questions today.

1. Are there sins I’m holding onto, sins that I refuse to turn my back on? Even “little” ones?

2. Am I careful to follow God’s words with all my heart? Even the “least of his commands?” (Matthew 5:19)

    I want God to have my whole heart, not just part of it.

    How about you?

    Categories
    2 Kings Devotionals

    God’s patience, God’s judgment

    Back when Ahab first killed Naboth, God passed judgment on Ahab and his family.

    Yet when Ahab humbled himself, God in his mercy put off that judgment. (1 Kings 21:21-29)

    Even so, it wasn’t long before Ahab rebelled against God one final time and he died. (1 Kings 22)

    What’s remarkable to me, though, is how much grace God showed his son Joram. Over a period of twelve years, time and again, God helped him (2 Kings 3, 5-7).

    God also showed his impeccable timing to Joram, leading him to help the Shunnamite woman. (2 Kings 8:1-6)

    I don’t know if there was any other ungodly Israelite king that God had showed so much grace to.

    And yet, in the end, we see no sign that Joram actually ever repented and started following God.

    Instead, he clung to his sins and refused to turn from them (2 Kings 3:3).

    And so in the end, judgment came.

    What’s my point?

    It’s easy to think of God as being harsh in his punishments in the Old Testament.

    But I think it’s worth remembering that he was also very patient and gracious with even the most rebellious people.

    As a just God, he can’t put off judgment forever. But he isn’t a God that delights in judgment. Rather he delights in mercy. And it’s his desire that people repent.

    As God would tell the prophet Ezekiel,

    As I live—this is the declaration of the Lord God—I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked person should turn from his way and live. (Ezekiel 33:11)

    Categories
    2 Kings Devotionals

    Eyes of faith

    This disaster is from the Lord. Why should I wait for the Lord any longer? (2 Kings 6:33)

    Quick quiz: What is the name of the king of Israel in this chapter?

    If you’re having trouble coming up with his name, it’s understandable. We haven’t heard it since chapter 3.

    We’ve heard Elisha’s name, Jehoshaphat’s name, and even Naaman’s name more than we’ve heard the king of Israel’s name.

    (It’s Joram or Jehoram, depending on your translation, by the way.)

    We won’t hear his name again for another several chapters when his death is recorded.

    Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but I kind of get the feeling that the author didn’t think much of Joram. And the reason is easily seen here:

    Joram had very little, if any trust in God.

    I think about chapter 5. You have godly parents raising a godly girl in an ungodly land. (Just see verses 28-29 of this chapter.)

    And yet, this girl is captured and taken into a foreign land as a slave.

    Nevertheless, we see this girl still serving the Lord. Though we see nothing of her parents, considering their daughter’s faith, I believe they held on to their faith despite their grief.

    I think about Elisha, surrounded by his enemies, and yet seeing through the eyes of faith.

    But this ungodly king is so quick to blame God for his troubles.

    This despite seeing God help him time and again. (See chapters 3, 5, and 6 of 2 Kings.)

    When troubles come, how do we respond?

    Do we respond like Joram quickly questioning God’s goodness?

    Or do we respond like that Elisha and that girl?

    Do we respond with eyes of faith, continuing to follow and serve God.

    Father, when troubles come, give me the eyes of faith. Give me the grace to continue trusting and following you.

    Categories
    2 Kings Devotionals

    Raising children of faith

    As I read the story of Naaman, I thought of the girl from Israel who recommended that he ask for help from Elisha.

    And as I did, God put two thoughts in my mind.

    First, growing up in Israel, this girl had lived in a land where the people had turned their backs on the Lord. Still, this girl had more faith than the king of Israel!

    The second thought was this, “Why did she have so much faith in a faithless land?”

    The answer I think is pretty clear: her parents.

    I don’t think there’s any way that she grows up with that kind of faith unless her parents had taught her to do so.

    And so my prayer for today was this:

    Father, by my words and my example, help me to train my daughter to be a woman of faith.

    Categories
    2 Kings Devotionals

    God’s curse, God’s grace revisited

    As I was reading the story of Elisha “healing” the water of Jericho, God showed me something new that I’d never thought of before.

    Jericho had been a cursed city.

    It was the first city to be destroyed by the Israelites when they entered the promised land. And at that time, Joshua declared a curse on anyone who would rebuild it (Joshua 6:26).

    When someone did rebuild it, God’s curse fell on him. (1 Kings 16:34)

    In a way, Jericho was still cursed in Elisha’s time.

    The city was in a wonderful place, but the water was bad, and as a result, nothing would grow.

    But when the people came to Elisha for help, he threw salt into the water, saying,

    “This is what the Lord says: ‘I have healed this water. No longer will death or unfruitfulness result from it.’” (2 Kings 2:21)

    Here was a city that was cursed by God for years. Yet in an instant, it was healed by his grace.

    You may feel cursed by God, judged by him for your sin.

    But if you turn to him, humbling yourself before him, he will bring healing to your life.

    If he can reverse a judgment on a city that lasted hundreds of years, he can do the same for you.

    Categories
    2 Kings Devotionals

    God’s curse, God’s grace

    In chapters 1 and 2 we see two incidences of God’s curse being invoked by Elijah and Elisha.

    Probably for most readers, they’re hard to understand. It all seems very harsh.

    Something that’s important to remember, however, is that when the Bible talks about God’s curse, it’s not talking about some magic formula to bring down disaster upon our enemies.

    It’s God’s judgment on a rebellious people.

    We see that in the first case with Elijah.

    There was a definite arrogance and rebelliousness against God and his prophet shown by Israel’s king and the first two captains he sent.

    The second case with Elisha shows a similar arrogance and rebelliousness against God and his prophet.

    What makes it more difficult to swallow, though, is that most translations call the offenders “small boys” or “young boys.”

    But the Hebrew word for “boys” is very broad and is often used to describe people who were young men.

    Solomon uses that exact term for himself in 1 Kings 3:7 which different English Bibles translate “youth,” “small child,” or “young man.”

    However you translate Solomon’s words, I think it’s clear he was putting himself down, admitting his inexperience and ignorance as a young man.

    In the same way, I think the writer of Kings was criticizing the ignorance of these young men.

    But the difference between Solomon and these young men was that Solomon was humble before God. The result was he found grace.

    These young men accosting Elisha were arrogant and hostile against Elisha and the God he served.

    As a result, they were judged.

    James put it this way.

    God resists the proud
    but gives grace to the humble.

    Therefore, submit to God…

    Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

    Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

    Be miserable and mourn and weep.

    Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 

    Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (Jamess 4:6–10)

    Categories
    2 Kings Devotionals

    Why evil people succeed

    2 Kings

    Why do evil people succeed?

    Certainly, the Assyrians were evil people. And yet we find that God allowed them to succeed. That in fact, it was a part of his plan (probably to judge other evil nations).

    How could that be?

    It’s hard to understand God’s ways sometimes. But what is also clear is that God ultimately will bring justice. And that’s what we see in Isaiah’s prophesy against the Assyrians (2 Kings 19:22-28).

    I did find one other thing interesting. Verse 27 is very similar to Psalm 139:3-4.

    The difference?

    The Assyrians raged against God and were judged.

    David loved God, and found comfort in his presence.

    When we see evil in this world, let us not rage against God, questioning his wisdom.

    Rather, like David, let us trust God, knowing that he will ultimately bring justice.

     

    Categories
    2 Kings Devotionals

    Satan’s oft-repeated lie

    2 Kings

    In Assyria’s attack on Judah, we see Satan speaking his oft-repeated lie through the Assyrian Rabshakeh (the king’s official).

    What was the lie?

    “Don’t trust God. He’s trying to rob you of life.” (2 Kings 18:27, 30)

    “Come to me. I will give you true life.” (31-32)

    That lie goes all the way back to the garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:1-3)

    How much do we trust God? Do we believe his way leads to life?

    God does not promise a happy life with no problems. Hezekiah was serving God, and yet this attack came.

    What will you do when problems come and life gets hard? Will you continue to trust and follow God?

    Sometimes we are tempted to compromise what we believe because we think life will become easier if we do.

    Hezekiah thought so at first. Instead of trusting God, he trusted the Egyptians. (Isaiah 30:1-5)

    And when that didn’t work, he tried to appease the Assyrians by taking silver and gold that belonged to God.

    But life didn’t get better by compromising. It got harder.

    Satan is not satisfied with getting you to compromise. He wants to destroy you.

    But when we put our trust in God, we ultimately find life. That’s what Hezekiah learned in the end.

    What problems are you facing now? Are you feeling tempted to compromise your faith because of these problems?

    Or will you trust God and follow him?

    Categories
    2 Kings Devotionals

    When we fail to believe. When we fail to share.

    2 Kings

    This passage starts and ends with the story of the king’s captain.

    He failed to believe in the salvation God promised to provide, and as a result, he perished.

    The same is true for people today. If they fail to believe in the salvation God provides through Jesus Christ, they will perish.

    But in Romans, the apostle Paul asks us a very important question:

    How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in?

    And how can they believe without hearing about him?

    And how can they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14).

    Answer: they can’t.

    And for many people you know, you are the only “preacher” they will ever meet.

    So as with the lepers in this story, we too have a responsibility to share this salvation we have received.

    It is not enough for us to enjoy our salvation. We must share the good news with others.

    And if we don’t, God will hold us accountable.

    Paul himself understood that from scripture. (Ezekiel 3:16-21, Acts 20:26-27)

    Again, for many of the people you know, you are the only Christian they will ever meet.

    So if you don’t share the good news of God’s salvation with them, who will?

    Categories
    2 Kings Devotionals Psalms Devotionals

    Thankfulness and worship

    2 Kings

    Today, I was reading 2 Kings 4 as part of my Bible reading plan, but I was also reading Psalm 145-146.

    And I could just imagine all the people God helped in 2 Kings 4 worshiping him with those two psalms.

    We often ask for God’s help. But how often do we thank him and praise him when he does?

    Has God answered one of your prayers recently? Has he helped you in your time of trouble?

    If so, have you spent time thanking him and praising him for it?