203rd Week, II Kings Chapters 15-19 (Click on the Title for a Video Introduction)

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 Click on Title for Video Intro


Monday, II Kings Chapter 15
II Kings 15
Bart Strayer

THOUGHT
This chapter covered seven kings of both Israel and Judah. Were they well behaved? Let’s see.

Azariah: Did right.
Zechariah: Did evil.
Shallum: Didn’t say (reigned only 1 month)
Menahem: Did evil.
Pekahiah: Did evil.
Pekah: Did evil.
Jotham: Did right.

What gages ‘did right’ and ‘did evil’? If you’re basically a good person, you do right. Right? Not necessarily. God is looking on the horizon for people who are standing in the gap of light that love Him with all of their hearts, minds, and strength. Full submission to God’s Will with love and obedience to Christ, His Son, is doing right. Anything less is questionable.

As I read this, I thought if my name were listed, ‘what would be behind it?’ Did ‘right’, or did ‘evil’?

PRAYER
Dear God, again we thank You for Your Word. As we continue along our journey of life together, give us favor in the activities of Your Will. Put up roadblocks in areas that are not in Your Plan. Help us in our submission to You, our obedience, our love, our hearts. Help us so that we may ‘do what is right’ in the eyes of You.  In Jesus Name. AMEN


Tuesday, II Kings Chapter 16
II Kings 16
Verse 10
Matt Strayer

Verse 10:  Then King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria. He saw an altar in Damascus and sent to Uriah, the priest, a sketch of the altar with detailed plans for its construction.

THOUGHT
In this chapter King Ahaz has an altar built in the temple in Jerusalem that was an imitation of a pagan altar he saw in Damascus. Ahaz took something from the culture and tried to incorporate it into his worship of the Lord in order to conform to the culture.

This made me wonder about the church of today, and if there are things that we take from the culture and try to incorporate into our worship. For instance, I thought of how focused our society is on entertainment. I realize the boring church service still exists, but going to church can be very entertaining with all the music, video, etc. These things are not wrong, but I think it is very easy to fall into the “entertain-me-mode” on Sunday mornings instead of having these things draw us into the worship of God.

PRAYER
God, help us to not follow King Ahaz’s example and take worldly things and try to make them part of our worship of You. Help us to follow Your ways and not to worship the idols of today. Teach us to have pure and sincere worship. AMEN


Wednesday, II Kings Chapter 17
II Kings 17
Verses 40-41
Matt Strayer

Verses 40-41:  They would not listen, however, but persisted in their former practices. Even while these people were worshiping the Lord, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did.

THOUGHT
Throughout this chapter Israel is worshipping other gods, and God tries to get their attention so they will worship Him alone. He exiled them, sent lions that attacked them, and removed them from His presence, but they still didn’t get it.

We got so frustrated reading this chapter, because it was so clear what God wanted Israel to do; yet, they didn’t do it. This made us wonder what clear messages God is sending us that we don’t get. It is easy for us to look back and see the mistakes Israel made, but I know there are mistakes in my own life that I either don’t recognize or choose to ignore. I just hope I learn the way God wants me to live, so I can pass a Godly heritage on to my children and grandchildren instead of passing on ungodly practices to them.

PRAYER
God, I pray for wisdom and a teachable heart when You are trying to teach us things. Remove every ounce of stubbornness and indifference from us. We thank You for all the wisdom and insight You have given us throughout our lives thus far. Help us to live out all the things You have taught us. AMEN


Thursday, II Kings Chapter 18
II Kings 18
Verses 5 & 6
Matt Strayer

Verses 5-6:  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. 

THOUGHT
Finally, we have a king that did right in the eyes of the Lord! The beginning of this chapter talks about the things King Hezekiah did in order to reform Judah. One big step he took was getting rid of many of the idols the people worshipped. Idols were a big part of their culture, and it took courage and conviction to do something to counter culture. 

Can you imagine if President Bush somehow ridded our country of materialism? (Written March of 2006) This is basically an impossible task, but I think this is a realistic comparison to what King Hezekiah did. Way to go King Hezzy!

PRAYER
God, thank You for the example You have given us in King Hezekiah. Standing up for the right thing can be incredibly difficult. We are sorry for the times we have lacked the courage and strength to do what You were calling us to do. Help us to learn from King Hezekiah’s example and do what is pleasing to You, no matter what the cost is. AMEN


Friday, II Kings Chapter 19
II Kings 19
Verses 14-15
Matt Strayer

Verses:  Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: O Lord, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.

THOUGHT
This was a great chapter demonstrating why Hezekiah was a great king. The verse above showed that Hezekiah had a lot of respect for God as well as trust and faith that He would come to his aid in this time of trouble.

How is it that we come before God when we pray? Do we show complete respect and gratitude to our Father?  I know my approach to prayer could probably be improved upon. Secondly, Hezekiah trusted God for the answer in His time. This showed his unreal faith in His Father above, and that he was going to depend completely on Him for the answer, not something or somebody else.

It’s a struggle at times when we pray for an answer, and we don’t feel God is listening. We must trust as Hezekiah did when he was surrounded by enemies. God will come to our aid when the time is right.

PRAYER
God, we come before You with great respect. You are the God over all the kingdoms of the earth. It was You who made heaven and earth. We place our trust in You, Father, that when trouble comes our way, it is You that is in control. Help us all to have this faith as Hezekiah did.  AMEN


















Comments

  1. Cathi WoellsSeptember 9, 2024 at 5:50 AM

    Chapter 15 -- good question Bart. I started thinking about this and right away thought of several things I could change to hopefully see those words, "did right," behind my name. It isn't always easy to "do right." Those kings that "did right" certainly had their challenges in this regard. And to get your people to "do right," WOW.

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