Author Archive for: meiling

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Kings 17:14-23.  Let’s go!

2 Kings 17:22-23 (NIV) 
22  The Israelites persisted in all the sins of Jeroboam and did not turn away from them
23  until the LORD removed them from his presence, as he had warned through all his servants the prophets. So the people of Israel were taken from their homeland into exile in Assyria, and they are still there. 

On verses 14-23:  These verses summarize the overall story of 2 Kings: Despite the Lord warning His people about sinning against Him and about the consequences that would result from their persistent sin, the Israelites both in Israel and in Judah persisted in all forms of sinning against the Lord (v14 to 19).  So the Lord does as He had warned: just as Abijah had prophesied approximately 200 years before in 1 Kings 14:15-16, God thrusts the Israelites from His presence and out of the land that He had given to them (v20-23).

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Kings 17:1-13.  Let’s go!

On verses 1-13:  One thing that strikes me as I read this passage is how much more merciful and gracious the Lord is compared to Shalmaneser king of Assyria.  King Hoshea of Israel had been Shalmaneser’s vassal; in other words, King Hoshea had a relationship with Shalmaneser such that King Hoshea would pay tribute to Shalmaneser each year in exchange for Shalmaneser’s agreement to protect and not hurt Hoshea’s kingdom of Israel.  But secretly King Hoshea began to side with Egypt and stopped paying tribute to Shalmaneser.  In response to Hoshea’s rebellion and disloyalty, Shalmaneser seizes Hoshea, puts him in prison, lays siege to Israel for 3 years and deports the Israelites to Assyria.  

Just as King Hoshea was unfaithful to King Shalmaneser of Assyria, the Israelites were unfaithful to the Lord.  Verses 7-12 describe how the Israelites worshiped other gods, imitated the religious practices of foreign nations, and secretly did things against the Lord that were not right.  Rather than putting them in prison or taking away their land immediately the way Shalmaneser did, the Lord was patient with the Israelites from generation to generation, warning them not to worship idols.  It was only after persistent rebellion that the Lord finally disciplines the Israelites by allowing Assyria to invade Israel and deport the Israelites to Assyria.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 King 16:1-20.  Let’s go!

2 Kings 16:3 (NIV) 
3  He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, following the detestable ways of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. 

On verses 1-4:  Ahaz replaces his father Jotham as king of Judah. Unlike his father, Ahaz is a staunch idol worshipper.  As part of worshiping an idol, Ahaz sacrifices his child in the fire (v3), hoping it will bring him prosperity. As horrific as such an act is and sounds, it is also a warning for parents today. Sometimes parents can be tempted to sacrifice their children for the sake of their careers or their financial gain.  So we neglect our children and deprive them of our presence all in the name of “making money for the family”.  While working and being providers for the family is important, let’s remember that in all our working and striving that our real treasure is our children and that what they need even more than money or material things is us, our time and our presence.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Kings 15:27-38.  Let’s go!

On verses 27-38:  In these verses we read of two kings with two very different reigns. First there is Pekah king of Israel who worshiped idols and as a result much of his territory was conquered and his people taken away by a foreign enemy, the Assyrians (v27-31).  Then we have Jotham king of Judah who “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord” (v34).  When you read about Jotham in 2 Chronicles 27, we learn that because Jotham “walked steadfastly before the Lord his God” (2 Chronicles 27:6), he grew powerful and conquered foreign enemies like the Ammonites (2 Chronicles 27:5). 

What can we learn from this?  

1.  Worship idols like Pekah and you will end up being conquered and oppressed by a foreign enemy.  Worship the Lord and walk steadfastly before Him like Jotham and He will expand your territory.

2. Jotham, compared to most kings of Judah, was a good king, and yet he too compromised in his faith (v35).  Only in Jesus Christ do we find a king who is absolutely perfect, faithful and blameless to the end.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Kings 15:13-26.  Let’s go!

On verses 13-26:  In Israel, Shallum had killed Zechariah to become king. Then a month later Menahem kills Shalum to become king.  After Menahem reigns for 10 years, his son Pekahiah takes over only to be killed and succeeded 2 years later by Pekah.

What can we learn from this?  Sedition — that is, rebelling against God-given authority — may seem like an easy shortcut to power.  But a kingdom built on sedition will not last very long.  If you try to build a kingdom on sedition, chances are good that your kingdom will also be supplanted and brought down by the seditious acts of others.

Praise God that whereas Satan’s kingdom was built on sedition, the kingdom of heaven is built not on sedition but on servanthood.  The kingdom of God is not a top down organization, but a bottom up organization where the greatest leaders are also the humblest servants.