Bent Oak Church

As we come to the end of 2 Kings, it's surprising how uneventful the fall of Jerusalem is. In the end, the king simply surrenders to Babylon. Far from a dramatic last stand, the life and identity of Judah just fizzles out. Their sin has stripped them of faith. They can no longer see the story of what God wanted to do through them. So, all is lost. 

Josiah had led remarkable reforms throughout Judah and Israel, but upon his death, his son reverted back to idolatry in just three months. As God had spoken, Josiah would be spared, but judgment was coming for Judah. We take a closer look at God's wrath and his patience. 

Having found the book of the Law, Josiah set out to lead spiritual reforms throughout his kingdom. The list of idols and temples he removed is overwhelming. It was a massive project and a remarkable achievement. But for all his success, scripture summarizes his work with a much similar commendation. Josiah loved the Lord with all his heart, soul, and strength. 

After Hezekiah, Manasseh ruled for fifty-five years. He was one of the most wicked kings of Judah and unleashed decades of idolatry, violence, and human sacrifice. It would be nice if the good kings ruled long and the wicked kings were judged quickly, but 2 Kings reminds us that God is patient and the sun often shines on both the righteous and the unrighteous. God is faithful and patient even when we are not. 

Hezekiah's rule marks one of the high points in Judah's kingdom. Hezekiah repeatedly shows himself to be a man of prayer, but when a prophecy for the future warns of destruction, Hezekiah struggles to engage what will not be his to bear. It is a clear warning that even the most devout and faithful life can slip into self-centeredness. We find the better him of Hezekiah in Christ himself, who interceeds for those not only in the future but those who oppose and persecute him. 

With Israel surrounded and the Assyrians mocking their faith in God, Hezekiah prayed. The lord answered. He told Hezekiah not to fear. God can not be mocked, and God would respond to the boasts of the Assyrian king. The city of Jerusalem prayed, waited, and watched for what God would do. They witnessed an incredible miracle. 

With Israel defeated, Assyria turned its attention to Judah and Jerusalem. But before they launched their assault, they offered the people a path to peace. They reasoned with them to side with Assyria. Given Assyria's power and skilled propaganda, it was a very real temptation. 2 Kings 18 helps us better understand the true nature of all temptations and why temptations can be so difficult to recognize. 

In chapter 17, we read of the fall of Samaria and the exile of the Israelites to Assyria. But the dramatic event is narrated with a single sentence. Instead, 2 Kings puts its emphasis on why God would allow it to happen. God explained that Israel would not remember, did evil in secret, and ignored his warnings. We take a look at how our own lives are also at risk. 

Chapter 15 records a quick succession of kings and with it a strike absence of the prophetic witness. You could conclude that God must have been silent during these years, but you would be wrong. This period was one of the prophets' most prolific. So why are they absent from 2 Kings 15?The chapter forces us to ask the question of our own time. What keeps us from hearing God? What keeps us from recognizing how God is at work. 

As we take a closer look at the succession of kings in Israel and Judah we are warned about drawing conclusions too quickly. God knows what each king and nation needs. For some, it is rescue, for others, it is a humbling of pride. How easily pride controls us, both in success and in despair. Chapter 14 gives us an image of how pride can keep us from recognizing the work of God.