|
|
2 Kings Chapter 15
Azariah Reigns in Judah
- 2Kings 15:1 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.
Another good king but idolatry is still
a snare in the land. The high places were used for sacrificing to
idols. They needed to be removed as David would have done. Idolatry
is a direct insult to our creator. It opens the door to the enemy of
every living soul. Satan desires to get rid of us all. It's almost
as if he is jealous or something. We need to dwell in the presence
of God and have nothing to do with idolatry or any sin that
separates us from God, the word of God, or the will of God. It's the
little foxes that spoil the vines as they say. Idolatry though is
not a little sin; in fact, it is a very evil serious sin because to
worship idols is to worship devils. Devils are out to steal, kill
and destroy our very souls.
- 2Kings 15:5 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.
Azariah was also called Uzziah. He
started out good but was lifted up in pride as Saul was. He was
smitten with leprosy which caused him to move to the house of
separation according to the law given by Moses. Lepers had to live
apart from the rest of the people.
Zechariah Reigns in Israel
- 2Kings 15:8 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.
We turn now from the king of Judah to the
king of Israel. This was not the Zachariah that was a prophet in the
book of Zechariah. This Zachariah had a short reign as king.
- 2Kings 15:10 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.
This is the end of the sons of Jehu
sitting on the throne of Israel as this last son was killed so
Shallum could reign instead. Although he did evil, it still is hard
to understand why people want power so much so that they will murder
to get it. Today, there are those that will murder someone's
reputation by using the news media to spread false information. It
is another way to steal, kill and destroy. I aways hate election
time, especially presidential elections. I have to turn the news
off. I would rather listen to real unbiased news rather than gossip.
Just tell me the facts, not someone's opinion but those days are
passed.
Shallum Reigns in Israel
- 2Kings 15:13 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.
He avenged the murder of Zachariah but
ended up doing worse than some of the other kings before him. There
was no reason to rip up pregnant women. Evil continues and continues
with the northern tribe. Soon Assyria takes over it all and the
northern kingdom disappears.
Menahem Reigns in Israel
- 2Kings 15:17 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.
He was able to buy off the king of
Assyria for a season. Assyria eventully ends the northern kingdom.
Assyria was the kingdom of Nimrod started in Genesis chapter 10:11.
Pekahiah Reigns in Israel
- 2Kings 15:23 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.
This evil king only reigned two years
before his captain overthrew and murdered him. More and more we see
how idolatry destroys whole nations. One murder leads to other
murders as those that were related to or were friends of the
murdered one takes vengeance later. It continues on and on.
Pekah Reigns in Israel
- 2Kings 15:27 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.
So we see this captain that took over
the throne, did not do things any different but continued in evil so
the king of Assyria carried them all captive. However they do
continue for a few years under Hoshea.
- 2Kings 15:30 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.
Jotham Reigns in Judah
- 2Kings 15:32 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.
So now the scripture moves from the Israel
kings to tell us of one of the kings of Judah. His reign seems to be
quiet and uneventful. He didn't remove the high places, neither did
he stop anyone from sacrificing to idols but he did right otherwise.
Sort of reminds me that when we stand before God what we did on
earth will be rewarded if we did right things and was obedient in
all we do to do or not do. Perhaps if we kept that in mind we would
strive to seek God presence in our lives so that we desire His will
and desire to keep His word.
On church in Revelation chapter 3 was the
Philadelphia church that was addressed by the Lord Jesus as a church
that did not deny His name and they kept His word. To me that is an
awesome thing to have said to them. He set before them an open door.
It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus if we keep His word. -DC
2 Kings Chapter 16
|
|