#503 With Conviction

In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years. 2 He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin; he did not depart from them. 3 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them continually into the hand of Hazael king of Syria and into the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael. 4 Then Jehoahaz sought the favor of the Lord, and the Lord listened to him, for he saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Syria oppressed them. 5 (Therefore the Lord gave Israel a savior, so that they escaped from the hand of the Syrians, and the people of Israel lived in their homes as formerly. 6 Nevertheless, they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin, but walked[a]in them; and the Asherah also remained in Samaria.) 7 For there was not left to Jehoahaz an army of more than fifty horsemen and ten chariots and ten thousand footmen, for the king of Syria had destroyed them and made them like the dust at threshing. 8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz and all that he did, and his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 9 So Jehoahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria, and Joash his son reigned in his place.

Jehoash Reigns in Israel

10 In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash[b] the son of Jehoahaz began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned sixteen years. 11 He also did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin, but he walked in them. 12 Now the rest of the acts of Joash and all that he did, and the might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 13 So Joash slept with his fathers, and Jeroboam sat on his throne. And Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

The Death of Elisha

14 Now when Elisha had fallen sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash king of Israel went down to him and wept before him, crying, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” 15 And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and arrows.” So he took a bow and arrows.16 Then he said to the king of Israel, “Draw the bow,” and he drew it. And Elisha laid his hands on the king's hands. 17 And he said, “Open the window eastward,” and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot,” and he shot. And he said, “The Lord's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Syria! For you shall fight the Syrians in Aphek until you have made an end of them.” 18 And he said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground with them.” And he struck three times and stopped. 19 Then the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Syria until you had made an end of it, but now you will strike down Syria only three times.”

20 So Elisha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year. 21 And as a man was being buried, behold, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.

22 Now Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.23 But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion on them, and he turned toward them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, nor has he cast them from his presence until now.

24 When Hazael king of Syria died, Ben-hadad his son became king in his place. 25 Then Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again from Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the cities that he had taken from Jehoahaz his father in war. Three times Joash defeated him and recovered the cities of Israel. 2 Kings 13 ESV

It is made clear where the sin of Jehoahaz and Jehoash, the kings of Israel started, it is the sin of Jeroboam. This is brought up so many times and yet we can't seem to hear. God is a spirit and those who would worship Him, must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. He is not an ox, for He made the ox, and Jeroboam puts these idols up as the representation of the only true God. I have discussed this point with my friends from the Roman Catholic faith, and it is the same here as it is with them, we allow a thing till it becomes tradition and then think that tradition somehow trumps truth. They have worshiped this way for some time, just like Judah has over the generations and the reigns of different kings, allowed for the high places. We say we have precedent for this, and what then, how long a pedigree must one have to hold up against God's eternal decree?

They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’ 8You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men.” 9He went on to say, “You neatly set aside the commandment of God to maintain your own tradition.…Mark 7: 7-9

Jehoahaz knew one thing well enough, and that is where man cannot prevail, God can, and so he calls out for His favor. So well put were the words, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. That is love, like the parent to the child who has become a brat, who only wants the parents for what gifts they may give, God hears him and sends a savior. 

His son takes over and continues in the false traditions of his fathers. He knows enough to know that there is something special in Elisha, and he will be there to see him off. He recites the words of Elijah's honor in departing, that he was taken up in a fiery chariot. Elisha tells him to get his bow, and he has him take aim, and with the prophet's hands of blessing, he sends an arrow east. You shall be victorious, now take the arrows and strike the ground. God will be with us, but how much are we for Him? Will you go up once, how many times will you forgive, 70 times? If I tell you to dunk yourself 7 times in the Jordan, will you feel too childish after 3, and when you have not won all in three battles will you go up again 3 more times? We tell God we believe, that we have faith, but then the wind blows and it wasn't even a mustard seed in our pocket. We tap the ground three times and hold our tongues to the right, and say that is enough to get through it, I did my part. Where is your zeal, that place in your heart that beats loud, because you know that God is here, that you are about to be his instrument where by yourself you could not prevail? What sort of victory do you want, something small for yourself and your time, or something to the honor and glory of God to all of posterity? Elijah was honored by not seeing death, and Elisha was honored after his death, a dead man rose after contact with his bones. There is not much said in conjunction with this, but nevertheless we should know from it that Elisha goes on. We may not see him, and though he went the normal way of men, not caught up like his predecessor, yet in his death we do still share in his life. It is like the seal upon his words and his acts, the breath of the prophets, not the relics of vain traditions. He carried on in the work and way of Elijah, but God honors differently. I think both would say that it was too much, it was an honor to serve the King.  

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 2 Timothy 4: 7 & 8