#517 Second Half of 2 Kings Summation

Are there people there my own age? What is the music like? Is the pastor a great orator, does he look the part to me? Do most of the men in this church fish? Are they for or against the legalization of marijuana? Are the seats comfortable? Are the people here conservatives or liberals? Chapter 12 visits the time of Jehoash, and he does what's right in the eyes of the Lord, looking to restore what has been damaged in the temple. It is not an evil work, but it will come up shallow after the death of the priest. There is a hierarchy of questions we should ask about the church, and these will reflect for or against our own reform as well. 

1. The Bible above tradition, does the pastor place himself under the authority of God's word? Can this be witnessed not only in his words but also in his walk?

2. What are the doctrines from this, their understanding of the words of God, who do they say Christ is? Who is God? What is man that Thou art mindful of Him?

If the people of the church do not fish, enjoy chasing reptiles, or do not agree with me about the legalization of marijuana and the inferiority of country music, these are not sufficient reasons to walk out. If they believe that there is any other way than Christ, any other truth than Christ, any other life than Christ, whereby men can be saved into eternity, cross the void of the trespass that is sin against His holiness, then get up and walk away. If anything is more important than His word, like popularity, culture, friendship or money, then get up and walk away. 

He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. Matthew 10: 37-38

In 13 the high places still persist, where men hold up that which is their own ideals, unwilling to conform to the image of Christ. But you say, Christ had not yet come, and yet I say, they saw in the testimony of the law, the sacrifice of the lamb without blemish, and their own inability to keep the law, in all these things they were informed of the need to repent, we are so informed as well. Have they yet forgotten the feast of the Passover, the blood upon the doors, and that it was God Who set them free? In all these things we see the need of grace, that faith is not of yourself, that the cup is dirty on the inside, it is a shallow reform, a humanist faith. Never stop praying, never settle on your lack, but always walk in the knowledge of God's eternal sovereignty. You do not own or set the clock, no matter how many times it seems that hope is gone, hope again. 

14 finds Amaziah desirous to continue in the reforms of his father, but he too will only go so far. It is a wise thing that he looks upon the scriptures, not punishing the son for the sins of the father, but he persists also in a puffed up heart. If we do well in one thing, where God has granted us favor, we should not assume that God's favor is extended in all other actions. If we come upon a soap box, after we have abused the words and grace of God, we should burn the box and repent. That splinter should be a hint to check our own eyes, for if we go out in our own power and think so much of our own righteousness, we shall find ourselves bankrupt in the end. 

There is in 15 that worldliness, that depravity belonging to all men, and kings none the less, that will do anything for power. Some will say what needs to be said by their reading of the crowd, some will bow to another king in order to receive a title. Men will sell out the reason and purpose of the church in order to fill the seats and their bank accounts. 

16 sees the falling away of the temple, and a king who idolizes what others have. He does not care to know that which sets his people apart, but is rather in love with the idolatries and arrogance of a lost king. He would sell his people to the religion of another place, place them under yet another level of government, another yoke and more pride. Men are enchanted with the ideal of the tower of Babel, always returning to that hope of one global nation, chasing after every shiny thing, believing the ever changing hype of utopias. 

17 sees the captivity of Israel, it started before this, they broke their covenant with God, and now they find themselves weighing out which big government will be better. My new boy friend hits hard, and I don't yet remember, though I do have such writ as to recall, that Egypt also abused me. Israel is like a ping pong ball now, she has removed all the edges of herself to fit nicely into the Assyrian kingdom, but its not that great. How can this be, it was supposed to be a utopian kingdom? They said how wise they were, look at how big they are, defeating all the world. Now they occupy our country as strangers in fear, knowing that they have offended the God of the land, but who can teach them? If only Israel would stand, they had been taught the truth to walk in, they could have offered so much light, but God has had to keep it alive Himself. No matter what we decide, God has already decided, and what good is the church if she is not a light in this world? What good is my opinion if it does not humble itself before the omniscience of God? 

18 & 19 loves a king after the heart of God, so much that he goes after the high places. He also sees the yoke of a tidal king removed. At first he gives up the gold and things of the temple to appease Assyria, but this never works, giving up the truth because the lie seems bigger or louder, will never appease the liar. He will always come back for more, and will never be satisfied, regardless of his words to comfort you, it will end in your ruin. Stand up, for if you are in Christ you never stand alone. Whatever we may face of men, will only be for a little while. God is eternal, and those who have enjoyed the abuse of limited power here, will find no matter how big they were in the eyes of the world, they are now indistinguishable in the eyes of eternity. 

In twenty we see the power of prayer, that certainly you are in the way of that which leads to death, but prayer brings this before God. Here is my judgment Lord, and not only what I rightly deserve, but this created thing, this dust, also speaks out against you. Now it is not just dust but the end of my days itself, yet I know and must now admit, that neither life nor death nor any creature may separate me from Your love. I lay this all before you, not my will but Yours be done. 

21 is the ravings of a mad man, a man who very probably gave the order to saw in half the prophet Isaiah. Woe to you who walk around pretending, for prophets were never rock stars, they were not so well received by those in power, because it took away from the kings stature, it saw his flaws and spoke the truth he wanted to shut down. Prophets were the enemy of propaganda, and everyone had to call them evil that were good, because their words went against the darkness that men loved.

It is not an accident when the bible is removed from a people, and 22 tells the story of a young king, who God touches upon the discovery of what was lost. It was foreign to them, but now sharper than any sword in the kingdom. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, even then. God uses this for those who believe, and against those who hate Him. It contains the gospel which is the power of God to those who are being saved, but it is foolishness and a stumbling block to all else. When we want the power to promote our own way against His, it will always be His Word that becomes contentious. The Bible will be hidden by choice or by force, but never permanently put away. 

23 continues in finding the fruit of this great awakening, a reform followed even knowing that it would not last, that God's judgment was coming. 

Josiah is spared seeing the day of God's wrath, what a horrible time that was, preceded by two disappointing kings. They were never so concerned for God's honor, but would risk all for their own. Some say that those who do not stand for anything fall for everything, but certainly some have stood for nothing.