Every commitment will be Tested

Read 2 Kings 18.

Hezekiah proved to be the best king of Judah since the nation divided.

1. "He trusted in the LORD." (v.5)  He was committed.

2. "He held fast to the LORD." (v.6a)  He was faithful to that commitment.

3. "He did not depart from following the LORD." (v.6b)  He lived a focused lifestyle.

4. He "kept the commandments that the LORD commanded Moses." (v.6c)  He put the commitment into practice.

Hezekiah aggressively led the nation accordingly.  He cleansed the nation of all false worship and the evil practices that went with them.  The result was that God prospered him.  History records that he probably lost some political friends over this; Egypt for example.  He confidently rebelled against the advancing oppression of the Assyrian Empire.  He victoriously stood up against the local enemy of the Philistines.   

Every commitment will be tested.

In response, the Assyrians marched against Judah.  Hezekiah apologized for his rebellion and paid them in silver and gold, hoping they would withdraw.  But the Assyrians did not and instead they sought to force Judah to surrender.  Sennacherib sent his top aides to negotiate Judah's surrender.  Their strategy was to belittle Judah.

Their key question in verse 19 is one every person must answer: "On what do you rest this trust of yours?"  Hezekiah's answer: "We trust in the LORD our God."

The Assyrians thought this was a stalling tactic while Hezekiah devised some worthless battle plan.  The mistake of unbelievers is to think the God of heaven is just one of many faith options.  That trust in the LORD is some kind of human coping mechanism with one's head in the sand.  However, repeatedly the Bible declares that the LORD is the One and only true God.  There are no others and certainly no human is a match to oppose the Creator.

Hezekiah prayed in the next chapter: "So, now, O LORD our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O LORD, are God alone." (19:19)

God moves nations for His Purposes

Read 2 Kings 14-17.

Back and forth the scriptures record the succession of kings in Judah and then Israel.  There were no good kings in the north and an occasional good king in the south.  Meanwhile, God's chosen people languished spiritually in an environment of false worship, including at times sacrificing their own children (16:3) to appease a mythical god.  After defeating Syria, King Ahaz of Judah even tried to outdo the worship of the LORD in the Temple by building his own altar and re-purposing the furnishings dedicated to God. 

What was God doing in response?

1. He sent prophets to preach and warn the people of their sin and the impending invasion.  But they did not listen. (17:7-18)

2. He sent Jonah (14:25) to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, to deliver His message.  Everyone there repented! (Jonah 3)   With this change in the Assyrians, God could use them to discipline His people in the north. (17:21-23)

3. He prepared the Assyrian empire to conquer Israel and assimilate the people.  He would also use them to control Judah as a tributary to their empire. (17:24)

4. He had the king of Assyria send some of the captured priests back to Israel to teach the inhabitants of the land how to live according to the word of God.  Amazing! (17:25-28)

The land remained in a mix of spiritual truth and myth.  But this did not change God, His Word, His covenant promises, or His expectations of their lives.

5. He continued His faithful call for them to respond so He could show His power on their behalf.

"But you shall fear the LORD your God and he will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies." (17:39)

The prayer of the Unbeliever

Read 2 Kings 13.

Every one of Israel's kings during the divided kingdom period proved to be evil.  So, God "continually" used the Syrians to discipline them for their false worship and wicked behaviors.  Jehoahaz cried out to the LORD for help "and the LORD listened to him." (v.4)

God sent an unnamed person to bring about the deliverance of Israel in answer to the king's prayer.  The people were spared.  They experienced a time of peace.  Everyone went back to their own homes.

But, spiritually, nothing changed with them.  The Asherah was a tree or a pole dedicated to the worship of the sea goddess.  Often, she was deemed a cohort of other mythical gods, including Baal.

Jehoahaz' prayer appears to be like the so-called soldier's foxhole prayer: "God if you will get me out of this, I will do whatever you want."   Then, once the pressure is off, any promises made to the LORD are quickly forgotten.  How easily God is often blamed for the stressing and not given credit for the blessing!

Someone once said, "In bad times people pray.  In good times people play."  God is not an exit door "to be used only in case of an emergency".

It is an incredible reality that the God of heaven desires a personal and constant relationship with each of us.

Jesus said, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."  (John 11:28)

Generosity gets the job Done

Read 2 Kings 12.

Nearly 175 years had passed since Solomon built the beautiful Temple in Jerusalem.  Understandably, some restorative repairs became needful.  King Joash ordered that the money for the work be taken from the census and freewill offerings collected by the Temple priests.  But after sixteen years that method proved to be insufficient to meet the need.  There were no extra funds for the repairs and therefore no repairs had been done.

So, Joash announced a special project offering that would be kept separate from the regular Temple operation expenses.  A chest made for this purpose was set right next to the altar for these gifts of generosity.  The monies were given directly to the workmen who did the restoration.

The principles here have not changed for the local church today.

1. Tithe monies are to be used to support the various ministries and ministers.

2. Giving is directly linked to worship.

3. Every project in the Bible was accomplished with over and above money, not with tithes.

4. Tithing is a responsibility of a believer in Jesus, prior to and after the Mosaic Law was fulfilled.  Giving over and above the ten percent is generosity and is a part of a mature believer's practice.   

In one of the most quoted passages regarding generosity giving to a project, the Apostle Paul wrote:

"Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7)

What does it mean to be the LORD's people?

Read 2 Kings 11.

When the king in the southern kingdom of Judah died, Athaliah, his wicked mother, seized the throne.  It is hard to imagine someone being so power hungry that they would kill every family member.  But thanks to the merciful act of Jehosheba, Athaliah's grandson was hidden from the slaughter.

After more than six years, God raised up Jehoida, the priest, to implement a plan to overthrow Athaliah and to once again spiritually cleanse the nation.  Though just a boy, Joash was crowned king of Judah with his spiritual mentor making the decisions.

"And Jehoida made a covenant between the LORD and the king and people, that they should be the LORD's people..." (v.17)

What does it mean to be the LORD's people?

It meant that they would live to please and obey God.  It meant that they would get rid of anything that displeased the LORD.  This was a new beginning for the nation.

Daily taking time for some self-evaluation before the LORD is the road to spiritual health.  In what ways are we pleasing Him now?  What needs to be added to our daily disciplines?  What needs to be deleted from our lives in order to wholly obey Him?  What commitments do we need to make now in order to be a growing believer in Jesus?  

God keeps His Promises

Read 2 Kings 8-10.

Time and again the scriptures record how God keeps His promises.

The Shunammite widow from chapter 4 was protected by God.  He let her know in advance that there would be a famine for seven years.  She left the country for that time and the LORD took care of her.  When she returned God gave her favor with the king to restore her house and land.  Even more, he ordered that she be given seven years of produce from the land.

In Syria, God revealed to Elisha that King Ben-hadad would die and Hazael would reign in his place.  It happened, just as He said.

Then, the LORD had to deal with Jehoram, king of Judah.  He was an evil king.  "Yet the LORD was not willing to destroy Judah, for the sake of David his servant, since he promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever." (8:19)

Elisha instructed a nameless prophet to anoint Jehu as king of Israel.  His charge was to rid the country of the wickedness and sorceries of Ahab and Jezebel.  God used Jehu to fulfill the promises that were made in 1 Kings 21 by Elijah.  Finally, the murder of the innocent man, Naboth, had been avenged. 

Further, Jehu obeyed the LORD in executing all of Ahab's descendants and all the false prophets in Israel.  In the process of spiritually cleansing the nation he stated, "Know then that there shall fall to the earth nothing of the word of the LORD." (10:10a)

The wheels of God's justice may turn slowly (to us) but they do turn.  God works His justice through kings and nations.  Government powers and their overthrows are in His hand.  What God promises He will fulfill.  His word is without error and totally reliable.

Prepare for the windows of heaven to Open

Read 2 Kings 7.

Syria took military action again.  This time they laid siege to Samaria.  Their tactic was simply to starve the city to death.  The plan was working until the king of Israel had had enough and blamed Elisha.  When the captain arrived, whom the king sent to arrest Elisha, Elisha prophesied that all would be well.  There would be plenty of food and provisions for the city within twenty-four hours.

The captain did not believe this word from the LORD.  He scoffed that even if God made "windows in heaven" it would not happen.  Without any assistance from Israel, God confused the Syrian army so that they fled in panic.  They left behind all their food, clothing, valuables and animals.  The city of Samaria had more than they could use.  But unbelief cost the captain his life.

How does God open the windows of heaven?  The LORD is not limited in His ability to meet our needs.  He does not drop money out of the sky.  The resources He wants to give to His people are already here and nearer than we could imagine.  If we can earn it all without dependence on Him or if we feel we deserve it, then we could claim it as our own.  But when we know we did not deserve it and He surprises us with His grace, then He alone gets the credit and the glory.

First, we are to honor God with what He has already provided.  "Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.  And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need."  (Malachi 3:10)