Judges 2 -- His Discipline Is A Sign Of His Love

Continuing from yesterday, the next two stages in Israel's decline were imitating the enemy and obeying the enemy.

"In this day of pluralism, when society contains people of opposing beliefs and lifestyles, it's easy to get confused and start thinking that tolerance is the same as approval.  It isn't... [Christians] have an obligation before God to maintain a separate walk so we won't become defiled by those who disagree with us ... The Jews eventually became so accustomed to the sinful ways of their pagan neighbors that those ways didn't seem sinful anymore ... For believers today, the first step away from the Lord is friendship with the world, which then leads to our being spotted by the world.  The next step is to love the world and gradually become conformed to this world.  This can lead to being condemned with the world," my commentary said.

"Whether in blessing us or chastening us, God displays His integrity and His love ...The people wasted their suffering.  They didn't learn the lessons God wanted them to learn and profit from His chastening."

"The cycle of disobedience, discipline, despair, and deliverance is seen today whenever God's people turn away from His Word and go their own way.  If disobedience ISN'T followed by divine discipline, then the person is NOT truly a child of God; for God chastens all of His children.  God has great compassion for His people, but He is angry at their sins."

Father, thank You for the reminder that Your discipline is a sign of Your love.  You want us back when we sin, and Your discipline is how You make us miserable enough to return.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Judges 1 -- The Start Of The End

Every time I finish 2 Kings and return to Judges, God seems to want to remind me that what happened in Judges led to what happened in 2 Kings.

The people of Israel had been successful under Joshua.  But, "God didn't command Joshua to name a successor," my commentary said.  It pointed out many things that started to go wrong.  "Deuteronomy 6 outlined the nation's basic responsibilities... Unfortunately, the new generation failed in each of those responsibilities.  The people didn't want to seek first the kingdom of God ... They would rather experiment with the idolatry of the godless nations around them.  As a result, Israel plunged into moral, spiritual, and political disaster."

It listed four stages in Israel's decline and fall.  Two occurred in this chapter.  Those stages were:  1) fighting the enemy; 2) sparing the enemy; 3) imitating the enemy; and 4) obeying the enemy."

Where the tribes had worked together with Joshua to take the land, now a few tribes helped each other.  They didn't work together as a unit.  The Philistines had iron chariots that allowed them to defeat the Israelites on level ground, while the Israelites did claim the hill country.

Seven tribes "failed to overcome the enemy and had to allow these godless nations to continue living in their tribal territories ... This series of tribal defeats was the first indication that Israel was no longer walking by faith and trusting God to give them victory."

"The first step the new generation took toward defeat and slavery was neglecting the Word of God, and generations ever since have made that same mistake."

As for those people of Canaan being forced out, my commentary said, "God had been patient with the Canaanite nations for centuries and had mercifully withheld His judgment.  Their society, and especially their religion, was unspeakably wicked and should have been wiped out years before Israel appeared on the scene ... God didn't want the filth of the Canaanite society and religion to contaminate His people Israel ... This combination of idolatry, immorality, and agricultural success was difficult for men to resist, which explains why God told Israel to wipe out the Canaanite religion."

Father, even in America today, there is such an attitude of tolerance for sin.  I can even see the effects of it in my own family.  Please help all of us to see things Your way and agree with You that we cannot afford to give quarter to anything that isn't of You.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

2 Kings 24-25 -- The End Finally Comes

Judah went out not with a bang, but with a whimper.  Josiah's second son had become king only to become Nebuchadnezzar's servant for 3 years.  When he tried to break away, "the Lord sent raiding parties from [surrounding nations] to destroy Judah," as the prophets had said.  His son became king in his place at age 18 and ruled for just 3 months.  Jehoiachin also did what the Lord said was wrong.  The Babylonian attack on Jerusalem began and soon Jehoiachin surrendered to Babylon.  Everything of value in the temple was taken to Babylon as the Lord had predicted, along with over 10,000 prisoners.

Nebuchanezzar then made Josiah's third son king and called him Zedekiah, but he, too, turned against Babylon and they began the final siege of the city.  Zedekiah and his family were captured, and just before they blinded him, they killed his sons before him and then took him in chains to Babylon.  They then set fire to the entire city.  Once it was destroyed, only the poorest people were left in the land.  The Israelites had refused to give the land the Sabbath rest God commanded the entire time they'd occupied the Promised Land, and now God would give it that rest for 70 years!

Gedaliah was appointed to govern the area, but he was killed by Ishmael, a member of the royal family, who despised those who collaborated with Babylon.  Judah then slipped into oblivion.

Father, Your Word is ignored only at our peril.  You pointed out in my commentary that "no nation rises any higher than its worship of God," and "we become like the gods we worship."  You tell us that "faith is living without scheming.  Start to explain away the clear teachings of the Bible about obedience to the Lord and separation from sin, and you will soon find yourself sliding gradually out of the light and into the shadows and then into the darkness, eventually ending up in shame and defeat."  I don't want those I love to end up there, God.  Please remove Satan's deceptions from the hearts so that they can see You clearly.  Then draw them closer to You.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

2 Kings 23 -- A Valiant Effort, But ....

I'm still amazed at how Josiah's life reflected such a commitment to God despite his father's influence!  One thing that shows up here when you follow the math backward makes it even more amazing.  Josiah died at age 39, and it was his third son who was made king, according to 1 Chronicles 3:15-16.  That son was 23 years old, meaning that Josiah was 16 years old when he was born.  He was deposed only 3 months later, and his older brother, Josiah's second son, became king.  He was 25 years old, meaning that Josiah was 14 years old when he was born.  1st Chronicles mentions that Johanan was Josiah's first son, and since we have no other information about him, scholars assume that he died in childhood.  With the two-year spacing between kids, it leads us to assume that Josiah would have been 12 years old when Johanan was born, and quite possibly 11 years old when he was conceived!  Josiah's sons were almost of an age to be younger brothers to him!

Josiah did react most admirably when the Book of the Teachings was read to him.  He cleansed Judah and even parts of Israel of idolatry and restored worship of Jehovah, but it happened too late.  His father Manasseh's actions had doomed the kingdom.

Thinking that Assyria was still his biggest problem, and seeing that Assyria was attacking Babylon and also seeking help from Egypt, Josiah attacked Pharaoh Neco.  "His meddling in Egypt's affairs was a personal decision and not a command from the Lord," my commentary said.  He was wounded at Megiddo and died shortly thereafter, and his kingdom of Judah lost her independence and became subject to Egypt.  This lasted from 609-606 B.C., and then Egypt retreated and Babylon took over."

As the end of Judah neared, Jehoiakim (Eliakim) ruled Judah for eleven years and he, too, did what the Lord said was wrong, despite the very godly example set by his father.

Father God, please help my sons to love You and to follow You.  I don't want to see this same scenario played out in my family.  Seek them first, Father, and help them to seek You.  Draw their hearts to You, Father.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

2 Kings 22 -- What To Do When God Has Had Enough

An 8-year-old kid who'd grown up watching his dad be despicable in the eyes of God thankfully determined to do what the Lord said was right and to live as King David had lived in godly obedience.  At age 26, he began to repair the temple.  That led to the discovery of The Book Of The Teachings, which they apparently had never seen.  It was read to him, causing him to realize that the nation of Judah had placed itself in dire peril by its scorn of God.

His reaction -- tearing his clothes to show how upset he was, becoming sorry for what he had done and humbling himself before God and crying in His presence -- caused  God to choose to spare him from having to experience what the rest of his nation would have to endure as God closed the book on Judah.

Josiah would get to work trying to undo everything his father had done.  What a task!

Father, I thank You for interceding in my life over 25 years ago, causing me to finally understand how I had stepped away from You and Your love for me.  It now seems that You are moving to do the same in the life of someone I love.  I pray that it will go as well. Change hearts and lives, Father.   

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

2 Kings 20-21 -- What A Contrast Between Chapters!

Two chapters that are more different would be hard to find alongside each other in the Bible!  In chapter 20, through Isaiah God tells godly king Hezekiah to put his affairs in order because he's about to die.  Hezekiah prayed, "Lord, please remember that I have always obeyed You.  I have given myself completely to You and have done what You said was right."  And he cried loudly.  God replied, "I have heard your prayer and seen your tears, so I will heal you."  How often we each would love to know that God has heard our prayers and has answered them!  Of course, as God, He does always hear them when we pray as believers.  He chooses how He wants to answer them.  But hearing His words saying that He has heard and answered -- wow!

Hezekiah had fifteen years added to his life, and he was also told that he'd be having children during that time!

Messengers from the king of Babylon arrived bearing a get-well gift for Hezekiah, but they were also scoping everything out, gathering intelligence for a future attack, seeing if there was enough there to make it worth their while.  Hezekiah had been too friendly with them and God revealed that the Babylonians would take everything and everyone away in the future.  

Three years later, Hezekiah's son Manasseh was born, and he became king at age 12 when Hezekiah's extra 15 years of life God had promised had passed.  His lifestyle was completely opposite of his father's.  He committed every sin that could be imagined during his 55 years on the throne, even leading the people of Judah to sin with him, and God was very unhappy with him, promising to "wipe out Jerusalem" and to "throw away the rest of My people who are left."  

At age 67, Manasseh died and his 22-year-old son Amon became king.  Amon had a 6-year-old son at the time, meaning he had been 15 when he found out he was going to be a father!  He'd followed in his dad's ways, living the same way and worshiping idols in the Temple!  He too excelled in dreaming up new ways to sin.  At age 24, after reigning for only two years, he was assassinated by his officers and his son Josiah became king at age 8.

Father, it saddens me so to see godly parents who struggle with ungodly children who were raised in the knowledge of You.  It seems that our prayers for them aren't heard or answered, but I know You hear.  I know we each have free will and choose our own course, either with You or without You.  Please draw them back to You, Father -- to the life they've watched and known with You.  Remind them of Your love and faithfulness and blessing, and help them to want to obey.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

2 Kings 19 -- God Steps In

The three messengers told Hezekiah what the Assyrian field commander had said, particularly about God.  "The report must have broken Hezekiah's heart," my commentary said.  "How could anybody be so arrogant and so blaspheme the name of the Lord? ... Hezekiah also tore his clothes and humbled himself before the Lord ... He sent his officers to Isaiah and asked him to pray and seek God's help ... When the outlook is bleak, try the uplook.  That's what King Hezekiah did ... He spread the letter before the Lord ... He focused  his attention on the throne of God ... Since he was not a high priest, Hezekiah couldn't enter the Holy of Holies where the mercy seat sat upon the ark of the covenant, but he could  enter by faith even as believers can today ... Hezekiah was lost in worship as he realized the greatness of the Lord, the only true God.  This is a good example to follow when we pray about life's problems.  When we focus on the Lord and see how great He is, it helps to put our problems in perspective."

"The king had one great burden on his heart:  That the God of Israel be glorified before the nations of the earth.  Sennacherib had blasphemed the Lord and Hezekiah asked God to act on behalf of Judah so that His name would be honored ... He asked the Lord to save the people of Judah, not for their sake but for the glory of His great name."

"Hezekiah was a man who at all times sought the blessing of the Lord on His people.  He sought to know the Word of God and the will of God, and this gave him power in prayer."

Isaiah delivered God's answer:  1)  God would deliver Jerusalem; 2) God would defeat the Assyrian army and they would depart; and 3) God would care for the people and they would not starve.

"In one night, God's angel killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers and that put an end to the siege of Jerusalem ... Sennacherib left the scene and went home, and there one of his sons killed him as Isaiah had said."

Father, I'm so glad that You honored Yourself by such a display of Your might and wisdom.  Please continue to do that today.  Reveal Yourself to an apostate world and show them that You are in control.  Glorify Your name, Father!

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

2 Kings 18 -- Good News, Bad News

Judah finally got a king like King David again.  Hezekiah took the throne at age 25 and ruled for 29 years.  Like David, he followed God's commands and cleared out the places for worship that all the other kings had failed to remove.

But after Assyria attacked and took over Samaria and all of Israel, it set its sights on Judah and captured the strong walled cities, since Hezekiah hadn't paid the annual tribute to Assyria.  Hezekiah, in a moment of weak faith, removed all of the silver and gold from the temple and the palace and turned it over to the Assyrian commander, beilieving that would stop the invasion.

But the Assyrian king sent messengers who met Hezekiah's messengers and said, "The Lord Himself told us to come to this country and destroy it."  What were the residents of Jerusalem to believe?  Their prideful attitude showed up in what they said next, though:  "Has a god of any other nation saved his people from the power of the king of Assyria? ... Not one of all the gods of those countries has saved his people from us.  Neither can the Lord save Jerusalem from my power."  

As the chapter ended, Hezekiah's messengers headed to the palace to deliver the message.

Father, I know so well what it's like to receive bad news and not know what to do.  You have helped me over the last 16 years particularly to remember the phrase, "I trust You, God!"  Help me to continue to remember it and to rest in You when I am stressed, worried, and anxious.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

2 Kings 17 -- What A Shame

What a sad chapter!  Hoshea had assassinated Pekah and had managed to hold onto power for nine years, but seeing that Israel couldn't continue making the tribute payments to Assyria, he tried to make an alliance with Egypt -- something God had forbidden.  When Assyria found out, they attacked Israel, took over the land, and deported the people to Assyria, moving other conquered people in to inhabit the land and use it.  Their stiff necks and hardened hearts had cost them everything.

My commentary explained God's wrath toward them:  "The anger of the Lord is His holy wrath; it must not be compared to a child's temper tantrum.  The Lord was longsuffering toward His people and made ample provision to bring them back to Himself, but they refused.  God's wrath is anger motivated by love, which is anguish.  It's the anguish of a father who wants the best for his children, but they prefer to go their own way."

"The people continued to worship the Lord along with the other gods, and they did it their own way ... Like many professed Christians today, the people of Israel worshiped the Lord where and how they pleased, but they also paid respect to the false gods of the other nations ... The main message from this tragic chapter is that false worship leads to corrupt practices, and corrupt practices result in divine condemnation and judgment."

Father God, examine my heart and show me if there is anything within me that worships anyone or anything other than You.  Root it out of my heart and life and keep me solely devoted to You.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

2 Kings 16 -- A Bad One In The Middle

Jotham's son Ahaz became king at age 20 and ruled until he was 36.  "His father had been a good king and his son Hezekiah would be a very good king, but he himself was not a godly man or even a good man.  Instead of discovering and doing the will of God, Ahaz imitated the wicked kings of Israel and even the pagan practices of Assyria," my commentary said.

Ahaz was pro-Assyrian and chose to trust the king of Assyria over Jehovah.  This led Israel and Syria to try to remove him from the throne, but God was still in control despite Ahaz's sins, and He kept the throne of David from falling.  God's message, though, failed to change Ahaz's heart and religious compromise soon began to occur.  Ahaz's trust in Assyria rather than the Lord was unconscionable.  "He took wealth from the temple, the palace, and the princes" and sent it to Assyria.  "Ahaz had no living faith in the Lord and put his trust in the army of Assyria instead, and this cost him dearly."

Ahaz saw an altar in Damascus that he liked better than the one God had designed, and he had it installed just outside the temple, moving the one God had ordained.  He also redesigned and replaced other items in the temple using Assyrian designs.  "All of this is a picture of what often happens in Christian ministries today:  someone sees something out in the world that would fit into the Lord's work, and the church starts to imitate the world," my commentary said.  "Today, the church is becoming so like the world that it's getting difficult to tell them apart."

"Ahaz thought that the Lord would be pleased with sacrifices offered on this magnificent new altar, but he was wrong ... The religious novelties in churches today may excite and entertain the people, but they don't edify the church or exalt the Lord.  The sanctuary becomes a theater, worship becomes entertainment, ministry becomes performance, and a congregation becomes an audience.  The measure of all this is not the glory of God but the applause of the people," my commentary said.

"Once we allow worldliness to get into the church fellowship, it will quietly grow, pollute the fellowship, and eventually take over.  It was not until the reign of his son Hezekiah that the temple Ahaz defiled was reopened and sanctified for ministry."

Father, make us all the more aware of what Your design s are for our worship and ministry.  Keep us seeking after You and not trying to adapt ourselves to the world.  Remind us of Your uniqueness!

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

2 Kings 15 -- Shaking My Head At The Royals

Amaziah was held captive in Samaria for 15 years, and so his son Uzziah ruled as co-regent in Judah during his absence.  He then ruled perhaps 27 years as king himself "until his ignorance and arrogance led him to seek to be a priest as well," my commentary said.  That was something God had forbidden of kings except for Jesus Christ.  God gave him leprosy for his efforts, and he had to rule out of the public eye, quarantined in a separate house, with his son Jotham managing the affairs of state.  Still, God said in this chapter, "Uzziah did what the Lord said was right."

Israel had no such luck with royals during that time.  Zechariah ruled for six months and was assassinated.  His killer, Shallum, then ruled for a month, until he was assassinated and his killer, Menahem, became king.  Menahem may have been the vilest of all, even ripping open pregnant women wherever his soldiers attacked.  And Israel had to endure him for ten years.  His son, Pekahiah, ruled for just 2 years, until he was assassinated, and his killer, Pekah, took the throne for 20 years.  Over three decades of evil and murder among the kings of Israel!

Uzziah's son Jotham, back in Judah, ruled after Uzziah's death for 16 years.  "Jotham did what the Lord said was right," also.

Father, I hope that You will someday say, "Gary did what the Lord said was right," as well.  I know I am a sinner, but I am saved by Your grace and mercy and love.  Help me to live up to Your desires for me.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

2 Kings 14 -- When Personality Undoes Faith

My commentary said, "The history recorded here ... reeks of selfish intrigue, bloodshed, moral decay, and repeated rebellion against the law of the Lord ... Not one king of Israel encouraged his people to repent and seek the Lord, and in Judah, Amaziah and Uzziah both committed acts of arrogant ambition that brought judgment from God."

"Amaziah made an excellent beginning, but he later abandoned the Lord ... Had he continued to obey God's Word, his life and reign would have been much different."

His sins included unbelief, idolatry, and pride.  For example, he failed to trust the Lord with his 300,000 man army and paid Israel for 100,000 mercenaries.  God sent a prophet to tell him the hired mercenaries would only bring defeat.  Amaziah argued with the prophet about the will of God!  He did send the mercenaries home and lost the 4 tons of silver he'd paid to use them.  But after the victory, Amaziah took idols from the vanquished army back to Israel, even after these gods had been defeated!  "Inflated by his great success and unconcerned about his great sin, Amaziah looked for other worlds to conquer and decided to challenge Joash, king of Israel ... The truly humble person sees things as God sees them and doesn't live on illusions.  Pride blinds to mind, distorts the vision, and so inflates the ego that the person can't tell truth from fiction."

"Amaziah was presented with great opportunities and experienced great help from the Lord, but he was a double-minded man who didn't wholeheartedly serve the Lord.  He had his own agenda and didn't take time to seek the mind of the Lord."

Father, right now I'm waiting on You to direct me in this new stage of my life.  I feel like I've heard from You and I'm proceeding based on that, but I want to be sure.  Please open my eyes and my heart to Your will for my life now.  I want to be doing what You want me to be doing.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

2 Kings 13 -- Crisis Faith and Ignorant Faith

Jehoahaz was the son of Jehu and he became king of the northern kingdom of Israel after his father's death.  My commentary said he exhibited "crisis faith".  "The situation became so painfully desperate that Jehoahaz cried out to God for help ... God in His mercy heard and answered the king's prayer and promised to send a deliverer, but only after Jehoahaz was off the scene."

"Crisis faith is rarely deep or lasting ... Crisis faith is undependable."  Jehoahaz never made a real change, and his son Jehoash became king when he died.  "Jehoash displayed ignorant faith:

He followed the wrong example:  "Like Jeroboam, he bowed down to the golden calf idols."

He made a wise decision:  "Elisha had been silent for 40 years, but Jehoash visited him to seek his help.  The king showed respect for the prophet and even addressed him with the same words Elisha used for Elijah when Elijah was taken to heaven."

He made a great mistake:  Elisha had the king shoot arrows toward Syria to indicate they should be attacked.  But then Elisha told him to strike the ground with the remaining arrows.  "He didn't have the spiritual understanding he needed to make the most of it.  Had he been a faithful worshiper of the living God, he would have seen the truth -- the number of times he smote the ground determined how many victories God would give him.  Because Jehoash had ignorant faith, he limited himself to only three victories over the Syrians."  God's promise came true and God's people were spared.

Father, I need more spiritual discernment.  I can't say that I would have done any better.  Help me to see and understand what You are doing and walk with You in true faith.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

2 Kings 12 -- It Seemed Like A Good Beginning...

This chapter started out sounding so hopeful.  The boy king who'd been saved by the high priest decided to repair the Temple and to use the priests to accomplish it.  But by the time he was 30, it still hadn't happened!  He set up a designated building fund box and the people loved it and contributed graciously.  The workers were so honest that even auditors weren't needed.

But my commentary said King Joash had a shallow faith.  His heart had no room for it to take root and flourish.  With Jehoiada as his tutor and mentor, Joash did well.  The only complaint God seemed to have was that Joash didn't tear down the high places where people worshiped God instead of worshiping in the Temple.  "Joash's faith was shallow, and he obeyed God only to please Jehoiada.  Joash was an excellent follower but not a good leader.  When Jehoiada died, Joash went his own way and disobeyed the Lord," my commentary said.

After Jehoiada's death, "King Joash showed his true colors and abandoned the faith ... The problem was Joash's shallow faith and his desire to please the leaders of the land, the officials who visited Joash and asked him to be more lenient in matters of religion.  He relented, and once again idolatry moved into Judah and Jerusalem.  Joash's apostasy was a sin of willful rebellion against God, for the king knew what the law of Moses taught about idolatry.  But it was also a sin of ingratitude for all that Jehoiada had done for him.  Jehoiada and his wife had saved the king's life!  The high priest had taught him the truth of God's Word ... but the king had never taken the truth into his heart and allowed it to take root.  The soil of his heart was shallow and he had obeyed God's law only because his mentor was watching ... Until duty and discipline become delight, we are only reluctant servants who obey God because we have to, not because we want to."

Father, I remember those days of feeling duty and discipline when I was having to retrain my own heart to accept Your love.  Thank You that it transformed into delight.  Please help those I love to make that same transition and come to love and trust You as I have.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford