Author Archive for: meiling

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Kings 13:1-13.  Let’s go!

On verses 1-9:  These verses describe the 17 year reign of Jehoahaz King of Israel, the son of Jehu.  Notice that because Jehoahaz did evil in the Lord’s eyes by following the sins of Jeroboam, worshiping the golden calves Jeroboam had set up (v2), the entire nation under Jehoahaz’s care suffered greatly and oppressed by their foreign enemy, the Arameans (v3).  With hardly an army to defend the nation (v7), Jehoahaz finally looks to the Lord for help and the Lord provides a deliverer to rescue Jehoahaz and the nation of Israel (4-5).  Even so Jehoahaz does not turn completely away from the idols in Israel (v6).

What can we learn from Jehoahaz’ life?

1. When we turn away from God, three things happen: (1) those in our care end up suffering, (2) we become vulnerable to the attack of the enemy, and (3) like a nation without an army our ability to defend and fight back is severely limited.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Kings 12:13-21.  Let’s go!

Exercising Financial Self-Discipline (Also, How You Finish > How You Start)

2 Kings 12:13-16 (NIV) 
13  The money brought into the temple was not spent for making silver basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, trumpets or any other articles of gold or silver for the temple of the LORD; 
14  it was paid to the workmen, who used it to repair the temple. 
15  They did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the workers, because they acted with complete honesty. 
16  The money from the guilt offerings and sin offerings was not brought into the temple of the LORD; it belonged to the priests.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Kings 12:1-16.  Let’s go!

2 Kings 12:1-3 (NIV) 
1  In the seventh year of Jehu, Joash became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba. 
2  Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 
3  The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

On verses 1-3:  Notice what it says in verse 2:  “Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him.”  Here we see the importance of being teachable and accountable to someone you trust and respect.  Joash was blessed to have a wise and God-loving father figure and mentor in his life called Jehoiada.  As long as Joash was willing to let Jehoiada speak into his life and keep him accountable, Joash did what was right in God’s eyes.  When Joash stopped having someone to stay accountable to, that’s when his life would go off the rails (see 2 Chronicles 24:17-19).  

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Kings 11:1-21.  Let’s go!

2 Kings 11:1-3 (NIV) 
1  When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family. 
2  But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed. 
3  He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

On verses 1-21:  After talking about the kingdom of Israel and how Jehu became its king in 2 Kings 9 and 10, the author of 2 Kings turns our attention once again to the kingdom of Judah.  Judah’s King Ahaziah was killed by Jehu of Israel, but instead of Ahaziah’s brother or son taking over Ahaziah’s throne in Judah, Ahaziah’s mother Athaliah seizes power for herself.  

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Kings 10:15-36. Let’s go!

2 Kings 10:28-29 (NIV) 
28  So Jehu destroyed Baal worship in Israel. 
29  However, he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit–the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan. 

On verses 15-36:  Having gotten rid of the house of Ahab along with a slew of others, Jehu now focuses on erasing the worship of the idol Baal in Israel. He invites all the prophets of Baal to the temple of Baal under the auspices that he is going to hold an assembly in honour of their god. Jehu even gives each prophet of Baal a special robe (which seems like a gift when in fact it just makes them an easier target).  As these prophets make their sacrifices to Baal, Jehu’s men ambush the prophets of Baal and cut them down with the sword inside the temple.  They also destroy the temple of Baal and begin using it as a urinal.