In Today's Email:
II Kings 10 Notes
In this chapter Jehu reigns over Israel and destroys Ahab’s descendants.
vs. 1-17 – Jehu defies the remnants of Ahab’s house to come and battle him for the kingdom. All are afraid the man who just killed two kings. At his word 70 of Ahab’s house are beheaded (vs. 7). He cleans house at Jezreel (vs. 11). He catches 42 relatives of Ahaziah and has them killed (vs. 14). At Samaria he hunted down and killed any that remained. As he heads toward Samaria, he brings Jehonadab (“whom Jehovah impels”) into his chariot and makes an alliance with him. Jehonadab is a Rechabite, a branch of the nomadic Kenites, who seems to be faithful to God and established a legacy of faithfulness (Jeremiah 35).
vs. 18-27 – Jehu tricks the Baal worshippers and priests into gathering for a sacrifice. Once they are all gathered, he has his soldiers slaughter them. He destroys the idol and building and erects a latrine or sewer on the site.
vs. 28-36 - While Jehu did well in annihilating the house of Ahab and destroying Baal worship, he did not reestablish true worship. He continued in the corrupted practices of Jeroboam. God honored his completing his assigned tasks concerning Ahab and Baal (though not necessarily his methods, see Hosea 1:4), but Jehu did not serve God with his heart. He was a weaker king than those that came before him, and Syria began to take more territory from Israel. Archaeologists have found the “Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III” which has a depiction of Jehu paying tribute to the Assyrian king. After a reign of 28 years, his son Jehoahaz (“whom the Lord sustains”) took the throne.
II Kings 11 Notes
In this chapter Athaliah seizes control of Judah and almost extinguishes the line of David.
vs. 1-3 – Athaliah was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, and the granddaughter of Omri. She continues their wicked legacy. For the first time, someone who is not of the lineage of David sits on the throne of Judah. For the first time a queen reigns over the Jews. Her brief reign of six years could have destroyed the nation. But God had other plans. Jehosheba (“Jehovah's oath”), sister of the deceased Ahaziah, saves the infant Jehoash (“given by the Lord”) from being executed. He is hidden array in the Temple under the care of High Priest Jehoiada (“Jehovah knows”).
vs. 4-12 – After six years of hiding, Jehoiada orchestrates the coronation of seven-year-old Jehoash. Under heavy guard he is proclaimed king in the Temple.
vs. 13-16 – As the people shouted, “God save the king!”, Athaliah shouted, “Treason! Treason!” She is captured and executed near the palace.
vs. 17-21 - Jehoiada acts as regent while Jehoash is young. He led a great revival that sought to undo the paganization of the land under Athaliah.
II Kings 12 Notes
In this chapter with the reign of Jehoash and his repair of the Temple.
vs. 1-3 – Jehoash was a good king but had two faults: (1) he was faithful while under the influence of Jehoiada and (2) he did not fully restore united worship.
vs. 4-16 – In 854 B.C., Jehoash begins to repair and renovate the temple for the first since its completion in 1004 B.C. There was a delay of some years since Jehoash commanded the work to be done and its inception. It appears any money that was given for the special project was either used for other purposes or possibly stolen. The solution comes when a special chest is constructed for offerings. All the donations were carefully secured and spent on the repair work on the building.
vs. 17-18 – The Syrians are on the move again. They have been attacking Philistia and now turn towards Jerusalem. Jehoash bribes Hazael to leave by giving him the spoils of the palace and Temple.
vs. 19-21 - Jehoash’s latter reign is covered more fully in Chronicles, but he was not the same man as he was when Jehoiada the priest was alive (II Chronicles 24:15-12). Jehoash is slain by two of his servants and his son Amaziah (“the strength of the Lord”) takes the throne.
Closing Thoughts
God in His great mercy sometimes grants the opportunity to begin anew. Such was the case when Jehu rose to power and eradicated the evil house of Omri. The problem we run into is that we often do not completely seize the opportunity to truly make things right. Just like Jehu, we make things better but not completely right. How often do we fall short when settle or “better” or “adequate” instead of driving to full victory?
Hymn for Today
Our hymn today is “Rapturous Anticipation” by Charles Wesley. Its opening verse echoes Jehu’s call to Rechab in 10:15, bringing like-minded souls together. Here is it Christians uniting in worship of God.
Come let us ascend,
My companion and friend,
To a taste of the banquet above!
If thy heart be as mine,
If for Jesus it pine,
Come up in the chariot of love.
Who in Jesus confide,
They are bold to outride
The storms of affliction beneath!
With the prophet they soar
To that heavenly shore,
And out-fly all the arrows of death.
By faith we are come
To our permanent home:
By hope we the rapture improve:
By love we still rise,
And look down on the skies,
For the heaven of heavens is love.
Who on earth can conceive
How happy we live
In the city of God, the great King?
What a concert of praise,
When our Jesus's grace,
The whole heavenly company sing?
What a rapturous song
When the glorify'd throng
In the spirit of harmony join?
Join all the glad choirs,
Hearts, voices and lyres,
And the burden is mercy divine.
Hallelujah they cry
To the King of the sky,
To the great everlasting I AM;
To the Lamb who was slain,
And liveth again,
Hallelujah to God and the Lamb.
The Lamb on the throne,
Lo! he dwells with his own,
And to rivers of pleasure he leads;
With his mercy's full blaze,
With the sight of his face,
Our beatify'd spirits he feeds.
Our foreheads proclaim
His ineffable name;
Our bodies his glory display:
A day without night
We feast in his sight,
And eternity seems as a day!