Category: 2 Kings

Reading

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SAA Notes

Hezekiah is like Solomon, a glorious beginning with an ending that brings the dissolution of the kingdom and the judgment of God. Without Christ’s atonement, paradise is always lost by the saints. We who are spiritual (i.e. alive to God) are so easily overcome. Hezekiah repented (2 Chronicles 32:26) but that could not atone!

SJA Notes

* Dear God, in Your steadfast love give us life, that we might keep the testimonies of Your mouth.

“He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. For he held fast to the LORD.”

— For he held fast to the LORD. —

Notice that it is not great acts of kingship or politics, excellence in warfare or diplomacy – not these things makes Hezekiah a king set apart.

It is because he held fast to the LORD.

Like a little child grabbing hold of their parent’s leg when they are scared, tired, questioning or excited.

Like a drowning, floundering soul grasping onto anything floating in the ocean and gripping tight for their life.

God is our Heavenly Father. We are, in as much as is possible for us as frail jars, to hold fast to Him.

Hezekiah is an example for us today.

Let us be encouraged to cling fast to the Lord. To express and live out our desperate need for His strength, His arms to wrap us tight. For Him to save us daily from the troubles of this world (we cannot save ourselves). For Him to wash us clean in forgiveness of our sin, the daily muck and grime.

Praise God that He loves us so much!

* Great God Above,

Thank You for this witness Hezekiah gives us in that he held fast to You.

Please Lord God, please equip and strengthen, humble and grow us that we might hold fast to You each day.

Amen.

Reading

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SAA Notes

This chapter is a commentary on Israel’s history and the major lessons for us, viz. verse 7. What warnings do you see in this chapter that we today need to take note of.

SJA Notes

* Dear God Above, Your hands have made and fashioned us – Give us understanding that we might learn Your commandments.

“Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight.”

And so the dispersion begins – with Shalmaneser king of Assyria taking away Israel, all the northern tribes – And then repopulating the land with scatterings of other peoples.

This passage contains much of interest. It is both history and prophesy (preaching, the testimony of Jesus).

Look at how much truth-telling happens. Again and again prophets pointing out that God had called His people to repentance, but they refuse.

In verse 9 we read,

“And the people of Israel did secretly against the LORD their God things that were not right.”

The list continues to verse 17 where we see that their idolatry led them to barbarous acts such as child sacrifice. When their false gods didn’t give them what they wanted, and instead of turning back to the real and true God, they decided to step deeper into sin.

This is a timely reminder for us.

People cannot get real joy or satisfaction from false religion.

The only place these things can be found is in the always-true and ever-present God.

There is none like Him!

* Thank You Father God, for Your love for us!

Thank You for saving us from our sin.

Thank You for the strong and steady promise, an inheritance won for us by You the Son, the gift You give – eternal life!

Thank You Lord!

Amen.

Reading

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SAA Notes

Jotham was a steadfast believer. 2 Chronicles 27:6. His son Ahaz, however, was a cat of a different stripe. Ahaz was one of those who stood in Solomon’s sin and sacrificed their sons in the fire to Molech (the King of Heaven) or Baal (the Lord). We need to be discerning with “Christians” who would have us worship the “Lord” in a way contrary to Scripture. What “Lord” is he?

SJA Notes

* Mighty God, teach us good judgement and knowledge, we believe in Your commandments!

“And King Ahaz sent to Uriah the priest a model of the altar, and its pattern, exact in all its details.”

Turning to false gods leads to false practice and creates broken (false) copies of the heavenly things.

In a mockery of the planning and architecture of the tabernacle that God directed under Moses, and that of the template under David and then Solomon, here we have a king giving our plans for a false altar.

Ahaz did a lot of harm. He went ripping and tearing through the church, the people, as well as the physical temple building.

Ahaz instituted practices that Jeroboam and others had done before him, taking the good worship of the true God and twisting it into falseness and darkness.

Was our God lessened before of this, made a bit weaker, shown to be not all that?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

No power can sway His purpose, no might compares to Him, no mind can thwart His will.

We see true today. God’s beautiful church, His people – rent by schisms, by heresies torn asunder.

Yet we hold to Jesus, a king like no other, who is the builder (continuing) of His church!

God kept a faithful remnant of His people, through all these kings, through the exile, through the return.

And God keeps us today! Through His steadfast love and faithfulness.

He is not lessened by other religions rising and falling, by political movements, social agendas, nations and powers moving and shaking.

He is our God. THE God. Creator. Sustainer. Life-giver.

The ONE, TRUE and HOLY God – There is no other!

* God Above,

You are the true and living God, we praise Your Name!

You are the one who created all that we see, and all that we don’t see.

You are the three-Persons, One God – the pattern of unity, the power that creates and sustains, the one true source of wisdom and of life itself.

Thank You Lord, for all that You are.

Amen.