2 Kings 14b-17 When We Are Gone?

 Then Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over his face, and said, “O my father, my father, the chariots of Israel and their horsemen!” And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and some arrows.” So he took himself a bow and some arrows. Then he said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” So he put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands. And he said, “Open the east window”; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot”; and he shot. And he said, “The arrow of the Lord’s deliverance and the arrow of deliverance from Syria; for you must strike the Syrians at Aphek till you have destroyed them.”” 

II Kings‬ ‭13‬:‭14‬-‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over his face: This reaction of the king of Israel might seem strange, having just read the description of the sin and evil that marked his reign. However, it is important to remember that Joash was not a worshipper of the false gods; he was a false worshipper of the true God. He had some respect for the true God, and therefore some regard and honor for Elisha.

i. “Dear friends, let us seek so to live that even ungodly men may miss us when we are gone.” (Spurgeon)

b. The chariots of Israel and their horsemen: Elisha said these words to Elijah at the end of the elder prophet’s days on this earth. When he said this to Elijah in 2 Kings 2:12, he recognized the true strength of Israel. He knew that the strength of Israel was really in the presence of the prophet of God. Now Joash sees the same strength slipping from this earth and mourns it.

c. Take a bow and some arrows: Joash was concerned that the true strength of Israel was about to depart from this earth. Therefore, Elisha used this illustration of the arrow shot through the window to show him that the arrow of the LORD’S deliverance was still present, and all Joash had to do was to shoot the arrow in faith.

d. For you must strike the Syrians at Aphek: Elisha made it clear that there was a connection between the shooting of the arrows towards the east and a strike against the Syrians that would bring deliverance to Israel.

i. “The window was opened eastward toward Syria and specifically toward Aphek, the most strategic site between Damascus and Samaria. Aphek was the city where Ahab had defeated the Syrians years earlier (1 Kings 20:26).” (Dilday)

ii. “It was an ancient custom to shoot an arrow or cast a spear into the country which an army intended to invade… The dart, spear,or arrow thrown, was an emblem of the commencement of hostilities.” (Clarke)

(Guzik)

When We Are Gone?

“Dear friends, let us seek so to live that even ungodly men may miss us when we are gone.” (Spurgeon)

Spurgeon’s comment should give us pause! 

If you knew tonight was your last night what would you do, tell others about your faith in Jesus, that heaven is your home, or go to bed early?

Blessings 

2 Kings 13:14a Illness!

 “Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die. Then Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over his face, and said, “O my father, my father, the chariots of Israel and their horsemen!”” II Kings‬ ‭13‬:‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Elisha had become sick: Even men of faith and miracles are not immune to sickness and disease. This great man became sick like others whom he had healed as a channel of the power and blessing of God.

b. With the illness of which he would die: Though God used Elisha on many occasions to heal others, God appointed this illness to be the means of taking Elisha from this world. God has no one single way that He does this; it is a mistake to believe that all the godly die in their sleep without a hint of prior illness. (Guzik)

Illness!

Similarly like Elisha my wife became sick and a test was performed but the results kept getting pushed back so several people suggested she go to the emergency room. 

In the emergency room the test was read and several more administered and she was referred to an oncologist. Looks like chemotherapy and surgery are in the near future. 

Why do people who do the Lords work get sick? Because we live in a fallen world, but we who are in Christ know that this earth is not our home! 

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,” Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

We don’t know what our earthly future holds but the doctor said as he was leaving our consultation that he would pray for us! Why did the doctor say he would pray for us? Because I was wearing this hat that a friend gave me!

Will you please pray for us too?

Blessings 

2 Kings 13:10-13 Sins of the father!

 “In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin, but walked in them. Now the rest of the acts of Joash, all that he did, and his 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? So Joash rested with his fathers. Then Jeroboam sat on his throne. And Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.” II Kings‬ ‭13‬:‭10‬-‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria: He was the grandson of King Jehu, founder of this dynasty. He continued in the same sins as his father and grandfather.

b. His might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah: The reign of Jehoash saw a civil war among the people of God, with the Southern Kingdom of Judah and the Northern Kingdom of Israel at war.

i. “This war with Amaziah may be seen in ample detail in 2 Chronicles 25; it ended in the total defeat of Amaziah who was taken prisoner by Joash, and afterwards slain in a conspiracy at Lachish.” (Clarke)

(Guzik)

Sins of the father!

I am reminded of this verse, “keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.”” Exodus‬ ‭34‬:‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

But there is hope for the children of a sinful father! ““Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the guilt of the father?’ Because the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all My statutes and observed them, he shall surely live.” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭18‬:‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and live!”” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭18‬:‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

What would the world be like if everyone had a new heart and spirit?

Blessings 

2 Kings 13:5-9 Lack of Fellowship!

 “Then the Lord gave Israel a deliverer, so that they escaped from under the hand of the Syrians; and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents as before. Nevertheless they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin, but walked in them; and the wooden image also remained in Samaria. For He left of the army of Jehoahaz only fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers; for the king of Syria had destroyed them and made them like the dust at threshing. Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, all that he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? So Jehoahaz rested with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. Then Joash his son reigned in his place.” II Kings‬ ‭13‬:‭5‬-‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Then the LORD gave Israel a deliverer: This reminds us of the pattern often seen in the Book of Judges. Israel slipped into apostasy, God allowed them to be humbled under the enemies, they cried out to the LORD, and then He sent a deliverer, so that Israel escaped from under the hand of the Syrians.

i. We don’t know the name of this deliverer, but he is well known in heaven. One does not need a great name to do a great work for the LORD.

b. Nevertheless they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam: Though God answered their prayer and sent a deliverer, Israel continued in their falseworship of the true God. Men often consider this to be a small and inconsequential sin, and excuse the idolatry under the claim of good intentions.

i. “Israel’s repentance was only half-hearted; they repented because they suffered. They repented because of the suffering rather than because of the sin. They went back to the sin after they escaped from the sorrow.” (Spurgeon)

c. He left of the army of Jehoahaz only fifty horsemen: Israel was delivered; they were apostate; and they were weak. Their lack of fellowship with the true God made them weak; or actually, God made them weak because of their lack of true relationship. (Guzik)

Lack of Fellowship!

“Their lack of fellowship with the true God made them weak” (Guzik)

Some people come to church to learn about Jesus, the bible, to worship and pray but some have a lack of fellowship because they come for the free coffee, come to meet a friend or come because they are forced to. 

While some come to see what’s happening in the church.

I go to church to have fellowship with Jesus and to learn more about Him.

Do you have fellowship with His Son?

Blessings 

2 Kings 13:1-4 ‘Pleaded with the Lord’!

 “In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. He did not depart from them. Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel, and He delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Ben-Hadad the son of Hazael, all their days. So Jehoahaz pleaded with the Lord, and the Lord listened to him; for He saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them.” ‭‭II Kings‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu became king over Israel: This was the beginning of the fulfillment of a promise made to Jehu, recorded in 2 Kings 10:30. God promised him that his descendants would sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation. This dynasty – though founded on a violent overthrow of the previous royal house – continued because Jehu came to the throne doing the will of God.

b. He did evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed in the sins of Jeroboam: His father Jehu also continued in the idolatry of Jeroboam (2 Kings 10:31). Jehoahaz followed in the footsteps of both Jeroboam and his father Jehu.

c. He delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria: The Northern Kingdom of Israel still had its own name and king, but they were a tributary and subservient nation to Syria.

i. In the general history of this time, the Assyrian Empire kept the Syrians weak and unable to expand their domain into Israel. But there was a period when internal problems made the Assyrians bring back their troops from the frontiers of their empire, and the Syrians took advantage of this time of Assyrian distraction.

d. So Jehoahaz pleaded with the LORD, and the LORD listened to him: Jehoahaz was an ungodly man, and this prayer did not mark a lasting or real revival in his life. Yet God listened to his prayer because of His great mercy and because of His care for Israel.

i. “The term ‘pleaded with the Lord’ comes from a word meaning ‘to be sick,’ implying weakness and dependency. Jehoahaz was at the end of his rope.” (Dilday)

ii. “This restoration to prosperity began under Joash son of Jehoahaz, and culminated during the reign of his grandson Jeroboam II. So prayer is frequently answered after the petitioner has passed away.” (Knapp)

(Guzik)

‘Pleaded with the Lord’!

There are several occasions in the Bible where Moses, David and Paul pleaded with the Lord but He didn’t change His mind! 

““Then I pleaded with the Lord at that time, saying:” Moses in regard to entering the Promised Land. Deuteronomy‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.” II Samuel‬ ‭12‬:‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Have you ever been at the end of your rope and pleaded with the Lord?

I have!

Blessings 

2 Kings 12:19-21 Inglorious and terrible end!

“Now the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And his servants arose and formed a conspiracy, and killed Joash in the house of the Millo, which goes down to Silla. For Jozachar the son of Shimeath and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, struck him. So he died, and they buried him with his fathers in the City of David. Then Amaziah his son reigned in his place.” ‭‭II Kings‬ ‭12‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Now the rest of the acts of Joash: There is no record of repentance on Joash’s part. He never came back to or fulfilled his bright early promise.

i. “O how few of the few who begin to live to God continue unto the end!” (Clarke)

b. His servants arose and formed a conspiracy, and killed Joash: This is startling, and shows that the blessing of God long before vanished from the compromised king who began so well, but failed to finish well.

i. “The murder of Joash by his officials or servants implies that it may have been the result of disaffection following the defeat by Hazael.” (Wiseman)

ii. “So disobedience brings its own bitter reward, and what God’s people sow they always, in some way or another, reap. Joash abundantly deserved his inglorious and terrible end.” (Knapp)

iii. “Thus ended a reign full of promise and hope in the beginning, but profligate, cruel, and ruinous in the end. Never was the hand of God’s justice more signally stretched out against an apostate king and faithless people, than at this time.” (Clarke)

(Guzik)

Inglorious and terrible end!

I don’t want to have an inglorious end terrible end! I pray that I can finish the race and keep the faith!

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Paul said: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” ‭‭II Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Dear Heavenly Father, help me fight the good fight for Jesus, finish the race like Paul and keep the faith. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.

Blessings 

2 Kings 12:17-18 Disobedient!

 “Hazael king of Syria went up and fought against Gath, and took it; then Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem. And Jehoash king of Judah took all the sacred things that his fathers, Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own sacred things, and all the gold found in the treasuries of the house of the Lord and in the king’s house, and sent them to Hazael king of Syria. Then he went away from Jerusalem.”

‭‭II Kings‬ ‭12‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Then Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem: At this time, the kingdom of Syria attacked Judah with an inferior army, but God used them as an instrument of judgment against the disobedient Joash. King Joash was wounded in a battle outside of Jerusalem.

i. 2 Chronicles 24:23-24 tells the story: So it happened in the spring of the year that the army of Syria came up against him; and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the leaders of the people from among the people, and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men; but the LORD delivered a very great army into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash.

b. And Jehoash king of Judah took all the sacred things… and sent them to Hazael king of Syria: Instead of trusting God, Jehoash traded prior blessing – the sacred treasures of the temple – to protect his capital and kingdom against the attacking Syrians.

i. He was in a difficult place: wounded, with an attacking and successful army bearing down on Jerusalem. He found it hard to trust God in this difficult place because he had stopped trusting God in easier circumstances long before. (Guzik)

Disobedient!

Time and time again we study in the Old Testament where kings became disobedient to God and the curse that followed!

“so that there may not be among you man or woman or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations, and that there may not be among you a root bearing bitterness or wormwood; and so it may not happen, when he hears the words of this curse, that he blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall have peace, even though I follow the dictates of my heart’—as though the drunkard could be included with the sober. “The Lord would not spare him; for then the anger of the Lord and His jealousy would burn against that man, and every curse that is written in this book would settle on him, and the Lord would blot out his name from under heaven. And the Lord would separate him from all the tribes of Israel for adversity, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this Book of the Law,”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭29‬:‭18‬-‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Because of our sin nature and our inability to follow the law we needed a Savior! 

“For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.” Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelation‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Did you open the door for Jesus?

Blessings