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