2 Kings 14:1-22 – Bad Things Still Happen

Read 2 Kings 14:1-22

Man standing with thought bubble above his head asking "WHY?"

You don’t have to be a history buff to enjoy reading about the history of God’s people. We’re God’s people, so this is our story as well. In this reading we see where the good king doesn’t win. Haven’t we seen the pattern of the good kings getting victory because they are followers of the LORD? Even Scripture alludes to this change, “Amaziah did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, but not like his ancestor David.” (Disclosure: obedience doesn’t always lead to victory!)

So, it makes sense that Amaziah would not necessarily have enjoyed the taste of victory every time like David had. The difference, David would have consulted with God about a battle. We didn’t see any evidence of that when Amaziah, almost boastfully, called for battle with Israel’s king. What would have possessed him to do such a thing? That conflict would be between brothers and certainly didn’t seem like something God would approve of!

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2 Kings 13:14-25 – Arrows and Bones

Read 2 Kings 13:14-25

lots of different colored arrows

We say goodbye to Elisha, and I feel like a light has gone out for the Israelites. The final scene with King Jehoash is touching. Even though Jehoash was not known as a godly king, he does show his respect for God’s prophet, Elisha.

Elisha’s message is uplifting and gives Jehoash hope, albeit limited in scope. God is giving Israel another chance. The symbolism of the arrows was quite something. The one arrow shot out the eastern window would be in the direction of  Aphek, the most strategic site between Damascus and Samaria. To me, this signifies that God intended complete victory for Israel.

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2 Kings 13:1-13 – Avoid Unhealthy Patterns

Read 2 Kings 13:1-13

piles of healthy fruits and vegetables

Not every passage is going to be uplifting, but God’s word will speak to you. It’s important for us to understand the history of God’s people so we can learn from their mistakes. We may not want to think about all the wars and defeats they endured, but it gives us insight.

When we look at the patterns we’ve seen on our journey through the history books of the Bible, we soon see that no victories were won when Israel’s or Judah’s leaders were not following God. But when these rulers would reach out, even with a single prayer like Jehoahaz did in this reading, God acknowledged them. God loves his people. Any glimmer of obedience was rewarded.

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2 Kings 12:17-21 – Overdeliver

Read 2 Kings 12:17-21

many different bright colored wrapped presents with bows, some blurred, some clear

If there had been a kitchen sink, I’m sure Joash would have given that to King Hazael, too. Do you wonder why Joash gave away so much? Was he that afraid that Jerusalem would fall under his watch? Was he prideful, a weak king, or a bit of a coward?

There is a time and a place for overdelivering. In our business, we learned early on that overdelivering makes for happy customers. We always appreciate doing business with people who overdeliver on their promises. It’s like a bonus you weren’t expecting. Here, Joash’s giving away all that has been dedicated seems a bit desperate. Do you think he checked in with God first?

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2 Kings 12:1-16 – Rebuild & Regroup

Read 2 Kings 12:1-16

Quote: My body is a temple. I honor it always.

Where’s God? After so much focus on the involvement of prophets in the previous chapters, not one is mentioned here. Instead, we are assured that all “his life Joash did what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight because Jehoiada the priest instructed him.” I got a feeling of contentment knowing that Joash’s reign would not be violent like many other kings we have met.

Joash tapped into the wisdom he’d been given in navigating the restoration project of the Temple of Lord. We’re not sure of the timeline, but we know he reigned 40 years. That’s the same of his ancestor, Solomon who originally had the temple built. (Fun fact!) Joash’s first attempt to provide a solution to funding the much-needed repairs was a failure. But he didn’t give up, and a better plan was instituted.

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