#508 Pearls and Swine

Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.

2 Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah.

3 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father did.

4 He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

5 He trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.

6 For he clave to the Lord, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses.

7 And the Lord was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.

8 He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.

9 And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.

10 And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is in the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.

11 And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes:

12 Because they obeyed not the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.

13 Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them.

14 And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.

15 And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king's house.

16 At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the Lord, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.

17 And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field.

18 And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.

19 And Rabshakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?

20 Thou sayest, (but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

21 Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.

22 But if ye say unto me, We trust in the Lord our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?

23 Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.

24 How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?

25 Am I now come up without the Lord against this place to destroy it? The Lord said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.

26 Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and talk not with us in the Jews' language in the ears of the people that are on the wall.

27 But Rabshakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?

28 Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria:

29 Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand:

30 Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, The Lord will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

31 Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern:

32 Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil olive and of honey, that ye may live, and not die: and hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you, saying, The Lord will deliver us.

33 Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

34 Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand?

35 Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?

36 But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

37 Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh. 2 Kings 18 KJV

Finally, a king to the honor of God, and his wisdom is seen in the high places, that he does differently than his fathers. He sees that it is God who has expanded them, grown them up from nothing, but he also sees that God's truth cannot be bought or altered. He is a king under God, not giving the people what they want but rather what they need. Nehushtan (the brass piece) , that great sign of antiquity, the relic which should have pointed to the epitome of all worship, for Christ said, "if I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me", had now become an idol to this people. They gave it a name, they burnt incense to it, like so many who profess Christ today pay homage to those things which should tell His story, point to His glory and what He alone has accomplished. God is with Hezekiah.

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 1 Timothy 2:5

Now Hezekiah did what was right in God's eyes, but when he is tested by an earthly king who owns kings, he falters some. You can't help but feel his pain, he is responsible for a kingdom, all those many lives. Lions are not only strong but they are loud, and many a man is reduced by his roar. The king of Assyria sends his chief of staff or whatever you want to call him, his man of importance, his representative, to call Hezekiah to a surrender without war. Hezekiah has already paid the king of Assyria too much respect, thinking that it was worth a chance, for money cannot replace life, but instead he has only fed the "great king". So many argue this all the time, just give it to them, but then what the next time, and the next? He sees Israel not able to stand, and taken away. The ambassador of Assyria reminds him, and it is all mostly true, but like those who talk about footballs and hotdogs, it is without any understanding. It knows barely the end of it's nose, but tries to explain to one who follows what is the only true God, that we have defeated all of the other gods. I should hope you have, but if you are confusing them for Jehovah, they are idols like your own gods, made by human hands. Your king is an idol in your mind maybe now, representing the strength and wisdom of so many, but your king is the same as every man in this, that he is made in the image of God. You distort that image when you say that God told you to come here, like you know Him, you are right in that he has allowed you to come here, allowed you to follow after the greed and pride that was already in your heart. Israel's other 10 tribes are gone, not because of your greatness, but because of their disobedience. He spreads the propaganda to the people, so that everyone can here from the wall, he wants them to be afraid. Hezekiah was wise to tell his men not to argue, to remain silent and listen. What would you even argue to such a man, he believes that he has evidence of defeating many other gods, and true enough that the gods of those countries did not save them. He shows the fallacy of trusting in the king of Egypt, and again this is not only true, but should not have been considered. You cannot argue a man into life, but if you have that light of the truth in you, go to your quiet place, prostrate yourself before God, pray for wisdom, beg for forgiveness of even the sins you are not aware of, the very words of the prayer that proceeds from your lips. Get Isaiah in here, review the oracles of God every day so that on the day of trouble you are prepared. God, what do we do?

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Ephesians 6: 10-20

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#507 As You Were

In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years.

2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him.

3 Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents.

4 And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.

5 Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years.

6 In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

7 For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,

8 And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made.

9 And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the Lord their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.

10 And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree:

11 And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the Lord carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger:

12 For they served idols, whereof the Lord had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.

13 Yet the Lord testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.

14 Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the Lord their God.

15 And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them, that they should not do like them.

16 And they left all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.

17 And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.

18 Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.

19 Also Judah kept not the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.

20 And the Lord rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight.

21 For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the Lord, and made them sin a great sin.

22 For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them;

23 Until the Lord removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.

24 And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.

25 And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the Lord: therefore the Lord sent lions among them, which slew some of them.

26 Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land.

27 Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land.

28 Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the Lord.

29 Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt.

30 And the men of Babylon made Succothbenoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,

31 And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.

32 So they feared the Lord, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.

33 They feared the Lord, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.

34 Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the Lord, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the Lord commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;

35 With whom the Lord had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them:

36 But the Lord, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, him shall ye fear, and him shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do sacrifice.

37 And the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the commandment, which he wrote for you, ye shall observe to do for evermore; and ye shall not fear other gods.

38 And the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither shall ye fear other gods.

39 But the Lord your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.

40 Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner.

41 So these nations feared the Lord, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day. 2 Kings 17 KJV

Assyria has put their yoke upon Israel, and Hoshea starts with tribute, but then he is caught in a conspiracy against them. He has reached out to the Pharaoh in Egypt, but isn't that the way they were told not to go back? He would throw off the one yoke to pick up another. I am tired of being beat up by this abuser so let me appeal to one of old. God brought them out by his own hand, but they would rather be ruled, even ridden then keep their covenant with God. God only owes them the wages of their trespass, which is the justice of a Holy God against sin. They were oppressed in Egypt, taken out, set free, given the opportunity to know of an even worse condition, an eternal prospect, but they still preferred their own way. They asked for kings and they got them. The idols of these other nations were more fascinating to them, though they were set apart as a bride, they broke their vows, left the Creator for the created. Now they are removed from their land, slaves in a new land, and the people that have settled Israel, are begging to know about the God of that land. They send a priest to teach them, but if he is anything like the past priests, then he doesn't even know who he worships. I like aspects of the Bible, it's smart to follow most of the ten commandments, but I don't want to serve one God, because what if I offend another or the worshiper of another? It's good not to steal, at least I don't want my stuff stolen. I want to say a little prayer and then go back to my sin, but God is calling out "repent". His word doesn't change, he doesn't need to change, but in every age, there are people who know of Him, but will not accept Him for who He is. He didn't break the contract, we did, every sin, the first sin, original sin, and do you really know Him? If you really know Him then you accept all He says and is. If you really know Him, then tell me, tell me so I can know Him too, but that's not what these people received from this calf worshipping priest. He taught them religion, do this, kneel here, burn this and say that. Everyone there should have known enough at this point, if they truly believed at all, that we are in your land because we didn't do what He said. We are in your land because we were given much light, but would try to extinguish it. We can't be a blessing if we don't tell them, but we can't tell them anything of value unless we know Him. 

Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. 4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,


“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?”

7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent[a] have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Hebrews 13: 1-16

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#506 First Things

In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.

2 Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord his God, like David his father.

3 But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out from before the children of Israel.

4 And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

5 Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him.

6 At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.

7 So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me.

8 And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria.

9 And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin.

10 And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof.

11 And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against king Ahaz came from Damascus.

12 And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon.

13 And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the altar.

14 And he brought also the brasen altar, which was before the Lord, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the Lord, and put it on the north side of the altar.

15 And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king's burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to enquire by.

16 Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded.

17 And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver from off them; and took down the sea from off the brasen oxen that were under it, and put it upon the pavement of stones.

18 And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king's entry without, turned he from the house of the Lord for the king of Assyria.

19 Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

20 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead. 2 Kings 16 KJV

Ahaz was not devoted to God or his people. He ruled with his eyes, seeing the size of the Assyrian empire, he made that his awe, and attributed glory short of the true God. I will be your servant to pay you tribute, your son that learns at your mouth, and I have already walked my children through the fire of Molech. I love your strength, am enamored with your culture, only deliver me from Syria and Israel. One man has the power,  apparently, to take not only the treasury of the government but also that of the temple. Another king crosses the line of separation, and sells the liberty of his people. After he is delivered from his enemies, he goes to pay homage to the devil he paid to be friends with, and he is ever more certain that he was in the right. It has paid off well for him, and as they talk in Damascus, he sees an altar that is more ornate, more beautiful in it's design. He sends to the priest at home to make a replica of it, for he will sacrifice now on it. The altar that God had given the design for is no longer good enough. It would never suit a man who had left off God for the shiny and dramatic things of this world. What amazes me is that it is too obvious a comparison in every age, that the church has done this a hundred times, but we first in this, give up the Word of God. We loathe the manna, can't make it even this far into the Bible. Christ is not an altar beautiful nor a sacrifice interesting enough for our taste. We should take a vote upon who God is, and the majority takes all. What of the truth, we should vote on that as well, and if the king of Assyria can deliver us, then maybe he is god. Ahaz is wrong and gross, but I am far more disgusted with Urijah, the priest who despises his call so much, that he will sell his birthright for this pot of beans. You, who are the guard of the temple, the keeper of the law and the honor of God, you do not even care about your king enough to correct him. Not only do you not stand up, but you make another way to hell, inside the temple of the only true God. Thus did the priest according to the king, what a horrible thing to say. He removed the basin where the priest were suppose to be cleansed, like there is no need. Repent and be saved, no need for that, no need to be made clean, no need to understand that this is for sin, uncleanness. My new daddy's wisdom requires that I remove the covert from the house to the temple. I shall have this face another way, for I will not honor the Sabbath any more. I will not look to the God of Abraham as the creator of the universe, and I will lift the burden from the oxen's back, and set it aside on the stones. The things that men celebrate, and I know that I cannot brag here since I hate so much to be wrong. Defending yourself in your position it is always so easy to find the things that support your view, making them more valuable then those things that oppose it. We are all such hypocrites and will consider being louder a victory, embarrassment a victory, bullying a victory, but where is patience, waiting upon God's deliverance? Where is truth, knowing God's word? Where is love, so we are not so easily offended? Ahaz would turn anywhere else than God, for He was too antiquated for him. What would Christians be like, who took the things of God and made them their priority to check all else against?

33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and[i] knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”[j]
35 “Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”[k]
36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen. Romans 11: 33-36

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#505 Some More Kings

In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.

2 Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.

3 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done;

4 Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.

5 And the Lord smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house. And Jotham the king's son was over the house, judging the people of the land.

6 And the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

7 So Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.

8 In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months.

9 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as his fathers had done: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

10 And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.

11 And the rest of the acts of Zachariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

12 This was the word of the Lord which he spake unto Jehu, saying, Thy sons shall sit on the throne of Israel unto the fourth generation. And so it came to pass.

13 Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria.

14 For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.

15 And the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

16 Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the coasts thereof from Tirzah: because they opened not to him, therefore he smote it; and all the women therein that were with child he ripped up.

17 In the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah king of Judah began Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria.

18 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord: he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

19 And Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.

20 And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land.

21 And the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

22 And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead.

23 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years.

24 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

25 But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king's house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room.

26 And the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

27 In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years.

28 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.

30 And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.

31 And the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

32 In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign.

33 Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.

34 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.

35 Howbeit the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places. He built the higher gate of the house of the Lord.

36 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

37 In those days the Lord began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.

38 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead. 2 Kings 15 KJV

Azariah, also called Uzziah, was a good king as kings go back then, he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, except for the high places again. He also receives, as God's judgment against him, leprosy to the end of his days. He is moved outside of the king's palace as the Levitical law would dictate, but this is not for reason of the high places. The depths of God's word run too far for my life, and I can never seem to grasp all of it in passing. It is a wonderful admittance of the early reformers, to take the whole counsel of God, but I am an American and live in the age of fast food and shooting from the hip. I am afraid to ask for a shortcut though, the summation of understanding is probably to read it again. If I had to sum it up so far, it's Christ, for everything else till Him is the want and need of Him. Uzziah, from the position of government, decided that his position was too confined, and seeking more power, like that to which the gentile kings subscribe, he crossed the line of the priests. He took on some of the duties of the priest, and it was pride for he would want to be looked at as both, trespassing the true separation of church and state. We have seen a good that arises from a king who confronts the priest when they are not taking care of their house, now this king must be confronted for defiling that house. Men will quickly give up such checks and balances and worship other men, like there is such a drive through window. This is not the first time that someone of notoriety was made unclean for their unfaithfulness to God's design for authority. Remember when Elisha's servant usurped his authority, dropped his name in vain, all for selfish gain. Look further still to the time of Moses, when his sister, Miriam, was forced outside the camp for her arrogance and racist remarks towards her brother and his wife. She and Aaron wanted to be recognized, wanted more honor, and how quickly we forget that without Him we can do nothing. I will look at this deeper when I get to the Chronicles of the kings.

So the anger of the LORD burned against them, and He departed. 10As the cloud lifted from above the Tent, suddenly Miriam became leprous, white as snow. Aaron turned toward her, saw that she was leprous, 11and said to Moses, “My lord, please do not hold against us this sin we have so foolishly committed.…Numbers 12: 9-11

Menahem becomes king of Israel by murder, and gives tribute the king of Assyria to confirm him. He pulls a tax from all the "mighty" to turn over to another country. You are a sitting king at that point, a governor, a face, an enforcer for someone else. Some will sell out their own people like this for a name, a title, a little taste of power, and the praise of other fools. He was a wicked and brutal man. 

In Judah, Jotham reigns in the place of his father and it says that he does that which is right in the sight of the Lord, yet the high places still remain.

One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.
4 And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?"
5 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.
6 It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven.
7 Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation,
8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. Revelation 13: 3-8                                                  

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#504 Thistles and Cedars

In the second year of Joash the son of Joahaz, king of Israel, Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddin of Jerusalem.3 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not like David his father. He did in all things as Joash his father had done. 4 But the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. 5 And as soon as the royal power was firmly in his hand, he struck down his servants who had struck down the king his father. 6 But he did not put to death the children of the murderers, according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, where the Lord commanded, “Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. But each one shall die for his own sin.”

7 He struck down ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt and took Sela by storm, and called it Joktheel, which is its name to this day.

8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash[a] the son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us look one another in the face.” 9 And Jehoash king of Israel sent word to Amaziah king of Judah, “A thistle on Lebanon sent to a cedar on Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son for a wife,’ and a wild beast of Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thistle. 10 You have indeed struck down Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Be content with your glory, and stay at home, for why should you provoke trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?”

11 But Amaziah would not listen. So Jehoash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced one another in battle at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah. 12 And Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled to his home. 13 And Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash, son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and came to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem for four hundred cubits,[b] from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate.14 And he seized all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the Lord and in the treasuries of the king's house, also hostages, and he returned to Samaria.

15 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash that he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 16 And Jehoash slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel, and Jeroboam his son reigned in his place.

17 Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel. 18 Now the rest of the deeds of Amaziah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 19 And they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But they sent after him to Lachish and put him to death there. 20 And they brought him on horses; and he was buried in Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David. 21 And all the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah. 22 He built Elath and restored it to Judah, after the king slept with his fathers.

Jeroboam II Reigns in Israel

23 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, began to reign in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. 24 And he 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. 25 He restored the border of Israel from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath-hepher. 26 For the Lord saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter, for there was none left, bond or free, and there was none to help Israel. 27 But the Lord had not said that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, so he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.

28 Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam and all that he did, and his might, how he fought, and how he restored Damascus and Hamath to Judah in Israel, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 29 And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, the kings of Israel, and Zechariah his son reigned in his place. 2 Kings 14

Amaziah followed in the way of his father the reformer, not to the extent of a heart like David, for there is yet still this part that is held back, the high places. Many are they that see the benefits of good deeds, rule of law and Godly practices, so they sprout up quickly. He justly punishes the murder of his father in that whoso sheds mans life, by man shall his life be taken, but even more remarkably he follows not the rule of the old world nor it's tradition. He punishes the evil doer, but does not kill his children, as so many did in disobedience to the law of God, 

The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin. Deuteronomy 24:16

It is a great advantage to remove all that could oppose you in the future, but it was not what God commanded. Let every man stand before God for his own self, for the sins he has committed. God will judge the heart, the place of original sin, our natures, but men may only judge the actions. I will not be able to choose against my nature, to create a new one, but if my father is a murderer, and I am told that he did that which is wrong, though I may come across it in my heart, to think it, to desire revenge, I may still choose to leave that path alone. It is also given that the government does not bare the sword in vain, and I believe as well in the right of self defense, but that cannot be extended upon those related to your attacker, only to your attacker. We should pray that those who sympathize with them that do evil, do not seek revenge against justice, that they are convinced enough of the penalty. It is a good development, a great change forward in a society, but men do not evolve so much as many hope, and  there is this still in the mob, the mafia and they all so quickly become the Hatfields and Mccoys once again. 

among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. Ephesians 2:3

After he does well against Edom, we must turn to 2 Chronicles to better understand what happens next. He is warned first by a prophet, to not use as mercenaries, Israel, for God is not with them due to their idolatries. He is in good standing by sending them home and accepting the loss of the wages he used to get them there, but that is his standing with God, not with Israel. The mercenaries are proud and feel slighted, so they sack Judah on the way home. Now Amaziah has good reason for retaliation, it would not be unjust revenge, for he did nothing against Israel that called for them to plunder and murder his people. But now he has lost his standing with God, for he has brought home and worshiped those idols of Edom that God hates. He has committed the crime for which Israel was not to be a partner with him. Now by the choice of one man, the nation is brought in to such sin, God has removed His blessing and left him to the gods of Edom. Now Amaziah will pick another fight, and he knows that he had to send Israel home because of her deeds, and he has become puffed up with his recent victory, but we only see as far as we want to see.

“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. Matthew 7: 1-5

At the end of this chapter we see Jeroboam the second come to power, and he stays with the sin of his fathers. Nevertheless, God has mercy on them and he uses this man to be their deliverer. Israel sees a time of great wealth and prosperity, but in such times of material blessing, when we should ask why, rather we ask what else? Give me more. Peace and prosperity, famine and war, the message is still the same, the need is still beyond what men will recognize. 

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#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

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