2 Kings 18

Aside from the message from the King of Assyria being openly blasphemous of the Lord, the words that pierced my heart were, “Choose life and not death!”

This proclamation calls to mind a similar statement in Deuteronomy 30:19-20, when the Moses set before the Israelites all of God’s promises. Promises to bless and prosper them as they followed Him, and promises to bring judgment should they turn to false gods. He tells them, “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

Doesn’t it seem like choosing life should be a no-brainer? Why would we choose a path that leads to death, chaos, pain, and suffering?

But we’ve been choosing that path ever since the garden.

We see it clearly in young people who make life-altering decisions without counting the cost. Those of us with a few years under our belt point out their not-yet-fully-developed frontal lobe and pray that they will survive their foolishness long enough to be physically able to evaluate the consequences of their actions beforehand.

We pride ourselves that, at our age, we are so much wiser and more discerning.

Eh. Not so much.

We might not choose to break the law, live in open rebellion, or chase after the next adrenaline rush, but we still choose paths that are self-destructive both physically and spiritually. We spend more time on the couch than we do moving our muscles while we still have them. We eat what looks yummy instead of what will give us strength and longevity. We feast on entertainment that glorifies violence and materialism, rather than on God’s Word.

God’s Word through Moses is to each of us, regardless of demographic or age. Each and every day, He sets before us two options. He offers them to us in a variety of ways, but the choices are the same.
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Choose life.

2 Kings 17

There is such a strong lesson for modern believers in the errors of ancient Israel.

They didn’t stop worshipping God. They just changed what that meant.

Instead of following God’s prescription for worship, they decided they had a better way. Why travel all the way to Jerusalem? That spot on the hill will work just as well! Why limit ourselves to only one god? If worshipping one is good, maybe worshipping ten is ten times as good! Why only make the sacrifices God called for? If sacrificing a lamb is good, maybe sacrificing a child is even better?
I know. It sounds foolish. We would never fall into such foolishness.

Would we?

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, but by me.” But many people say, “I follow Jesus, but there are many ways to god, so you do you.”

Jesus said, “Whatever you’ve done for the least of these, you’ve done for me.” But many who claim to follow Him say, “They got themselves into this mess, they can get themselves out.” Or they believe that some personality flaw is to blame for the person’s circumstances—they’re lazy, stupid, lack morals, or are looking for a handout.

Jesus said, “Love your enemies. Do good to those who persecute you.” But many faithful believers will say, “I have to defend my rights, my property, my family.”

Jesus said, “They will know you by your love for one another.” But too often, we spend our time fighting with each other over the volume of the music, the color of the carpet, or the placement of the pulpit. Too often, we are known for our bickering rather than our love.

The consequences for ancient Israel of adding to the worship God prescribed and taking away from the commands He had given were devastating. This chapter tells us that God “thrust them from His presence.”

Have mercy! Think on that phrase for a moment. Can you imagine the pain of being thrust from the presence of God?
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Jesus’ work on the cross, which He declared to be finished, means that we never have to be thrust from God’s presence if we have put our trust in Him. Through the cross, we have access to return to the Lord despite our failures. When God looks at us, He sees only His Son’s perfection, rather than our imperfections.

We don't need to, and In fact, cannot, add anything to the salvation God has given. Our failures do not negate the grace He has given. 

2 Kings 16

As I read how King Ahaz decided the temple of God was a fixer-upper and imposed his own re-design on the temple for which God had provided the original plans, it struck me as amazing gall. What incredible pride leads one to think that he can improve on something God designed?
Oh.

Wait.

How often do I do the same thing? Don’t we all? Whether it is God’s design for our body, with a nip here and a tuck there; God’s design for our food, with a genetic modification to make it seedless here or an injection of hormones there; or God’s design for our lives, we think we have a better idea.

We think we can improve on God’s design, but what we are really doing is elevating ourselves to the place of god. We worship our own ideas and creativity, rather than recognizing that God is the source of all our gifts and talents.

And since God is the source — the source of life, the source of wisdom, the source of creativity — what if we worship and seek Him and allow His creativity to work through us?

George Washington Carver is quoted as saying he asked God to show him the secrets of the universe, and God responded, “Little man, you’re not big enough to know the secrets of My universe, but I’ll show you the secret of the peanut.” Carver discovered or invented over 300 uses for the peanut. (http://www.truenorthquest.com/george-washington-carver/)

What might God show you or me if we ask? If we listen? If we trust that we can’t improve on God, but God can reveal more of His magnificence to us than we could possibly imagine?

I have to admit, the familiar refrain of “he did evil in the eyes of the Lord” is almost as wearying as turning on the evening news. At some point, my heart becomes dull to the constant drip of sin that surrounds us. Whether news or “entertainment,” we turn on the television or surf the internet and encounter every imaginable sin. Even our parental filters only clean up the most vile, and if they filtered out everything offensive to God, it feels as if there wouldn’t be much left.

Trying to live “in this world but not of this world” is exhausting most days.

But Jesus said that His yoke was easy and His burden light, so I must be doing this wrong.

How do we go from the soul-crushing weight of constant exposure to sin, injustice, oppression, persecution, and tragedy to living the joy-filled Christian life?

Paul admonished the Philippians, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Paul knew a thing or two about how to have joy and contentment despite his overwhelming circumstances. Even those among us who have suffered greatly can look at Paul’s suffering and count ourselves blessed by comparison. As he recounts in 2 Corinthians 11, “I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.”

Won’t that just bless your heart? Makes my worries seem pretty superficial, praise the Lord!

The burden of suffering is all in our perspective. Paul learned the secret of being content in any circumstance was to depend upon God’s strength. James’s perspective was that he counted it all joy for the sake of growing in maturity in the faith and he, also, counseled that if we lack anything, we should ask God.

I’ve wandered a bit from 2 Kings, but God’s Word is so wonderfully cohesive! The kings who “did good in the eyes of the Lord” were those who turned to God, depended upon God, and sought God alone. As pastor J.D. Greear often says, “If dependence on God is the goal (which it is), weakness is an advantage.”
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Praising God in the weakness, weariness, and neediness of the moment.

Joash’s response to Amaziah’s challenge offers an admonition similar to the one given in a parable by Jesus in Luke 14:7-11. It is tempting, especially after a huge success as Amaziah had experienced, to think more highly of ourselves and our abilities than is warranted.

There are a couple of reasons why we should remain humble. First, and the reason illustrated both in this chapter and in Jesus’ parable of the invited guest who takes a seat of honor and has to be asked to move for the person who is actually being honored — elevating ourselves sets us up to be embarrassed and humbled. And usually in a public way!

Second, the source of our pride is the false notion that we are responsible for the success! An understanding of God’s sovereignty teaches us that even our breath is a gift of God.

Genesis 2:7 “Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”

Job 33:4 “The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”

Acts 17:24-25 “God, who made the world and everything in it, is Lord of heaven and earth. He doesn’t live in temples made with human hands. 25 Nor is God served by human hands, as though he needed something, since he is the one who gives life, breath, and everything else.”

Ezekiel 37:5-6 “Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones, 'Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life.”

John 1:3-4 “All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.”

If even our next breath is a gift of God, how can we possibly take credit or seek honor for anything that happens as a result? Only God allows us to draw that next breath. Only God allows us to do whatever it is we have done in our life that might be noteworthy.

Humility is easier when we recognize where the honor resides.

As we watched the Olympics recently, there were once again those who pointed to heaven, to acknowledge that all the glory, honor, and praise for their victory belongs to the God who made them, who gave them their talents, who provided the opportunities which brought them to that moment, and who gave them breath.
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Psalm 150:6 "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord."

What I noticed as I read this chapter was a phrase that has been repeated many times as the Bible recounts the various kings of both Israel and Judah. “He did what was evil/good in the eyes of the Lord.” Each of the leaders of these two kingdoms is summed up with such a statement. Either they did what was good or what was evil in the eyes of the Lord.

It made me wonder how my life would be summed up? We all fall short, and even David, who was described as being a man after God’s own heart, failed to live up to God’s standards.

But what we see in these kings as the defining factor in regard to their rule is their perspective on God. Did they worship God or did they elevate some idol to the place of worship, not only for themselves but for those they led by their example?

You and I have those we are leading by example as well. Our children. Our friends. Our co-workers. Our social media connections. Even the people that we interact with on a daily basis as we buy groceries, pump gas, eat in a restaurant.

Are we displaying an example that demonstrates to them who God is, or are we a role model for the worship of materialism, beauty, greed, or hedonism? This is about more than a bumper sticker on your car or attending a church.

The phrase “in the eyes of the Lord” also stuck with me. The repetition of the phrase over and over regarding each of these kings illustrates a critical point that we often overlook.

The only perspective on our life that really matters is God’s.

It doesn’t matter how popular we are. Doesn’t matter that we are a hard worker or a beautiful woman or a smart cookie or a captain of business.

Who are we in God’s eyes?

And this is where I can be really tempted to dive into legalism and try to work up the “she did good in the eyes of the Lord” on my own - what a futile effort that is!
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The gospel is that Jesus did only and always good in the eyes of the Father, and when I claim Him as my savior, God sees only HIS goodness when He looks at me. You and I only have one option to ensure that we "do good in the eyes of the Lord," and that is to depend on the Lord completely.

Raised by Jehoiada the priest, King Jehoash followed God. He even instigated and led the efforts to repair the temple. But when Hazael, the king of Aram, marched toward Jerusalem, his faith faltered and he sent all the holy items that had been dedicated to the temple of the Lord to the king to save the city from disaster. It worked and appeased Hazael, but I have to wonder how it might have worked out if instead of raiding God’s temple to appease a pagan king, Jehoash had prayed and asked God to be his defense?

It’s a great illustration of the battles we often face. We start off strong in the faith. We begin a good work. Initially we face some setbacks, but we persevere through them. Then an attack comes. One that seems overwhelming and insurmountable. Instead of seeing it as the Lord’s battle, giving it to Him, and continuing in what He has called us to, we start looking for a human solution. Sometimes we find that the only solution we can come up with is one that we know is not God’s best.

God’s best solution for Jehoash was not to raid the temple for a bribe. God’s best solution for David was not to arrange Uriah’s murder. His best solution for Peter as he watched Jesus being led away, was not to try to free him by the sword. His best solution in our lives is not to give meagerly to ensure our needs are met first, it’s not to demand justice through violence, or to destroy our future generations for the sake of today’s comfort.
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His best solution for every overwhelming situation we find ourselves in is for us to turn to Him and seek Him with all our hearts. For us to trust that He is a good father, who not only has our very best as His goal, but knows what IS our very best far better than we do!

If you haven’t caught on, this is a period of bloody turmoil in Israel. Not only is the nation divided into the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah), but the turnover in monarchs through treachery, assassination, and war has become routine.

The first question that comes to mind in reading this chapter is why would learning of her son’s death inspire Athaliah to put to death all the princes (her sons and sons of her husband through any concubines)?

It helps to understand who Athaliah is. She is the wife of King Jehoram of Judah, but she is also the daughter of King Ahab of Israel and his wife, Jezebel. Jehoram’s departure from following God as his father King Jehoshaphat had, was inspired by his marriage to Athaliah, who worshipped Baal as her father and mother did. When Jehoram came to power, he slaughtered all his brothers to ensure there was no contender for his throne. Similarly, Athaliah also wanted to secure her power.

Despite being raised under the most godly king mentioned during this era, Jehoram’s dynastic marriage, intended to reunite the two kingdoms, served to introduce Baal worship in Judah, and to almost destroy the royal line. The work of Jehoshaphat’s lifetime of trying to turn Judah back to worship God was undone and they slipped even further away.

2 Corinthians 6:14 encourages us not be unequally yoked — that is, not to partner with, in marriage or otherwise, those who do not share our faith. Every instance of such a partnership in the Bible depicts the godly slipping away from the Lord, never them drawing the unbeliever into relationship.
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Once we have aligned ourselves with those who have no reverence for God, we have already compromised our faith. Of course, this doesn’t mean we should be unkind, discriminatory, or hateful; and it doesn’t mean we can’t associate with unbelievers. After all, Jesus dined with sinners. But as believers, our committed relationships, the people upon whom we depend and who influence our decisions, should be ones who share our worldview and our values, people who exhort us to grow in our faith, people who hold us accountable when we drift from our moral plumb lines.

This chapter is tough. I could talk about how God brings judgment on those who’ve rejected Him, as Ahab did, but it’s just hard for us to understand that judgment falling on the sons of Ahab, especially when the suggestion is that they weren’t necessarily grown men.

The text is clear: The Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in accomplishing what is right in my eyes and have done to the house of Ahab all I had in mind to do, your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” (Verse 30) To be clear, what God is praising in this verse is that Jehu has destroyed the temple of Baal and slaughtered every single member of Ahab’s family, as well as anyone connected to him in any way.

I definitely don’t have the answers when it comes to a chapter like this.

But two thoughts come to mind: God is good, and His goodness requires that He destroy evil.

These are the scriptures that require extreme faith. They require us to trust God’s goodness even when we don’t understand. And that is really important because there will be days in our life when things happen that we don’t understand and we will need to know that God is good.

They’re important because God is holy. Of all the attributes of God, holiness is the one that we will sing of forever according to Revelation. It’s also the attribute that we sometimes fail to dwell on here on earth. These days we prefer to dwell on God’s mercy, His grace, His love.

Thinking about God’s holiness is a painful reminder of how unholy we are. Considering passages like this reminds us that God will not will not allow evil to dwell in His presence. Psalm 1:5 puts it succinctly: “Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.”
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If it were up to us to earn a place among the assembly of the righteous, we would be as without hope as Ahab. But in God’s mercy and grace, He poured out wrath even greater than the devastation of Ahab’s family on His Son, so that He might pour out blessings and forgiveness on those who would trust in Him.