An Interesting Chapter in Israel’s History
10/31 Reading Portions: 2 Kings 13; 2 Timothy 3; Hosea 5-6; Psalm 119:145-176
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10/31 Reading Portions: 2 Kings 13; 2 Timothy 3; Hosea 5-6; Psalm 119:145-176
2 Kings 13:4
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.
IDOLATRY
This chapter in Second Kings is interesting because Elisha’s interaction with Jehoash (also called Joash) and Elisha’s death, which happened before Jehoash’s death (2 Ki 13:13), are provided as commentary in this history afterward (2 Ki 13:14-25). The commentary in that latter verses serve as an illustration of the reigns of Jehoahaz (2 Ki 13:1-9), and of his son, Jehoash (2 Ki 13:10-13). Both were evil idolators (2 Ki 13:2, 11). Nevertheless, YHVH God extended mercy to them both. While Jehoahaz sought the LORD’s favor (literally, begged YHVH God), the LORD was merciful to Israel’s king and raised up a savior to escape the oppression of the Syrians (2 Ki 13:5). Yet the nation never turned from their idols (2 Ki 13:6) because there was no real change in their king (2 Ki 13:2). As reflected in his temporal army, Jehoahaz was spiritually weak (2 Ki 13:7). Likewise, Jehoash, or Joash, never truly converted though he was somewhat obedient to God’s Word from the prophet, Elisha (2 Ki 13:17-19). Joash was evil (2 Ki 13:11), and because he was never really converted by God’s amazing and supernatural grace, he had no discernment to understand his actions being tied to the commands of God through His Word. Joash received a measure of temporal safety, but not eternal salvation, because he was never truly converted. The lives of these two monarchs in Israel reflected the mercy of YHVH God as well as His faithfulness to keep His promise to Jehu (2 Ki 11:30), the father of Jehoahaz and grandfather of Joash, despite Jehu’s idolatry and unfaithfulness (2 Ki 11:31).
This kind of religious evil continues in a magnified and multiplied way. Paul told Timothy so:
…that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self… having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. 2 Timothy 3:1-2, 5
In the USA today, we’re living in a time where the government is making strides to be moral and actively seeking to remove those things that would hinder our “pursuit of happiness.” As with Jehoahaz and Joash of Israel, our gracious God has been merciful. Nevertheless, we should submit ourselves unto Christ all the more so that we do not get sucked into idolatry or become weakened spiritually like the people under Jehoahaz and Joash.