2Kings Ch.9-18

When Elisha prophesized God’s deliverance, the King’s officer doubted it could happen. God’s word came true anyway even thought the officer’s hope was lost. Sometimes we forget to look for opportunities when we become preoccupied with problems. Instead of focusing on negatives, developing an attitude of expectancy shows a strong faith. Avoid becoming skeptical of God’s provisions when resources may be low and you become doubtful; remember that God can open the floodgates of heaven. It is so easy to become trapped in our miniscule world of routine and a false sense of security forgetting the big picture that is far beyond ourselves and comprehension. Giving God the glory for his creation and His hand in everything shouldn’t be reserved for church and holidays. God is everywhere all the time; why not treat Him as such?
Jehu was anointed King from Elijah and confirmed by Elisha; he took the throne from evil Ahab’s family. He ruthlessly sought justice and fiercely attacked Baal worship. He had all the raw materials to be a great King but was devoted to God only to the point that obedience served his own interests. This has been a common theme among the Kings at the time and is a struggle many of us face. Fierce commitment needs control because it can result in recklessness; obedience involves both action and direction. Jehu went far beyond God’s command in his bloodbath. One way to make sure that we avoid becoming reckless is to tell God of your willingness to be under his control knowing that your natural strengths and abilities will be used to their greatest potential for the greatest good only when He is in control.

The worship of Baal was despicable and involved the shed of much innocent blood including children. Jehu was out for justice. The kings men asked if Jehu come in peace and I can appreciate Jehu’s answer: “What do you have to do with peace?” Peace comes from God and the men represented a disobedient and wicked king. It is important to guard our friendships and relationships with those who are enemies of the good and true. Wicked Jezebel was brought to her death and her skull, feet and hands were all that remained of her evil life. Stripped of power, luxury, money, prestige and family. Some people feel immortal with health and wealth, but death strips everyone of all external security. The time for setting your course through life is now before wasted potential and a hardened heart, for the end will come soon enough.

When we aren’t sure if we’ve gone far enough in correcting our actions, consider this: 1) Does the Bible prohibit the action? 2) Does the action take me away from loving and serving God? 3) Does it make me its slave? 4) Is it bringing out the best in me and consistent with God’s purpose? 5) Does it benefit others? These are important questions to ask yourself. We are always responsible and held accountable for things about ourselves that we control, like our attitudes and behavior; have you ever wondered why a certain dynamic within some relationships brings out the best or the worst in you? Even though no one can “make” us feel a certain way, we have to choice to accept or decline what another lays upon us; wouldn’t it be a waste of time to spend your precious time with someone where your best is repressed or hidden? Being a slave can mean many things in this example. A choice you make may keep you in spiritual bondage and not taking the steps to correct the choice, even if it means to eliminate a relationship, will entrap you in slavery.

It is interesting to compare the worship of idols and the worship of God from a perspective of relationships. God intended us as relational creatures; even though we have rational thought and are the most independent compared to the animal kingdom, we are far more dependent on one another than animals. We were created in His image and intended to coexist in relationship with one other. Let’s take a look at an aspect of an issue we face today with the decline of lasting and fruitful relationships; and observe where one places their commitments relative to some foundational differences between idolatry and God. I find this guide very interesting when placing it within the context of relationships. Idols are: tangible, have human characteristics, comprehensible, and able to be manipulated. Worshipping idols involves: materialism, sexual immorality, doing whatever a person wanted and focusing on one’s self. God, on the other hand, is: Intangible has divine characteristics, incomprehensible, and not able to be manipulated. Worshipping God involves: sacrifice, purity and commitment, doing what God wants, and focusing on others. I paused for a while upon reading this because it answered many questions I ponder regarding the quality of certain personal relationships. When we focus and rely solely on human characteristics that are intrinsically flawed by nature and can be manipulated, with self-centeredness and self-gratification; consider all the possibility for error, confusion and pain. When it comes to truly loving another, do you think it is possible within a strictly human realm? So many relationships are within this realm; masked as an idolatrous foundation because their core values and commitments don’t reflect otherwise. To love someone is to live in a God-centered realm that thrives in sacrifice, selflessness, commitment and a solid rock that cannot be manipulated. I was listening to a recent service where Pastor Miles McPherson said “If someone proclaims they love you, they encourage you to love and obey God…if they encourage you otherwise, they do not love you.” You may question this statement, but take some time to reflect as to why this is true when looking at the differences between putting your faith in man versus God.

God allowed Israel to be invaded three times and destroyed, carrying away most of the people and resettling the land with foreigners. The people did not realize they had caused their own troubles. The Lord judged the people of Israel because they copied the evil customs of the surrounding nations, worshipping false gods, accommodating pagan customs, and following their own desires. To live for yourself, a painful lesson Israel learned brings serious consequences from God. We may find it difficult and painful at times to follow and trust God, but consider the alternative. Live for God or die for yourself. So many of us are concerned with how we are viewed by others when God sees who we are as his creation and what God thinks of us is far more important than those around you. You may hide from the public with your private sin, but God knows our public and private lives and though you may fool those around you; there is no fooling God. Turn to God before stubbornness and hardness of heart puts you out of reach. It is never too late to receive God’s mercy and tenderness. Israel was taken into exile, just as God’s prophets had warned. Rest assured that whatever God predicts, will come to pass. Both the promises and the warnings God has given us in his Word will surely come true. “The Lord warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: ‘Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands….”(2Kings17: 3) Predicting the future as revealed by God was on part of the prophets job, their main role was to preach God’s word to the people- warning, instructing, and encouraging them to live as they ought.

Assyria’s resettlement of Israel spread captives across Assyria and the mixture of peoples came to be knows as Samaritan’s, whom the Jews despised. The new settlers in Israel worshipped God without giving up their pagan customs to appease God rather than please Him. God cannot be added to the values we already have. He must come first and his Word shape all our actions and attitudes. “Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast to the Lord and did not cease to follow him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses.”(2Kings18:5, 6) Hezekiah was a reformer and cleaned house destroying idols and pagan temples. When looking at his life, it is important to note that the past is an important part of today’s actions and tomorrows plans. Hezekiah was always aware of what God had done in the past for his ancestors and had a natural inclination for the present; his life shows little concern about the future. He took few actions to preserve the effects of his reforms. His persistent lack of foresight deeply affected his accomplishments and weaknesses. The past affects your decisions and actions today and these affect the future. There are important lessons to learn and mistakes to avoid repeating. Part of the success from your past will be measured by what you do with it today and how well you use it to prepare for the future.