Thursday, July 31, 2014

Does God punish Israel?

A former leader of a Hungarian Chasidic community was quoted as saying that the Holocaust was a punishment of the Jews for their sins. Only very great sins could account for the six million victims’ gruesome end. The question that I want to pose today is, “Does God punish Israel?”
For many years the two kingdoms, Israel and Judah lived in the Promised Land and were more or less successful as sovereign nations. The Lord sent prophets to both nations to call them to return to the contract that they had made with Him or He would invoke the penalty clauses of the contract. They refused to listen to the Lord and became like oxen that wouldn’t bow to the yoke. Eventually the Lord sent Israel, and later Judah into exile. At that point, without any consideration of context, we could say that the Lord punished Israel.
However, we should examine the context and see what was really happening. In Gen 1, the Lord God’s account of creation, we see that the first creatures that God blessed were the animals and the second creatures he blessed were the man and woman He created. He also told them to have dominion over all the living and moving creatures. We can learn from this that God’s intention was to bless the man and woman.
In Adam’s account of the sixth day of creation, and his subsequent activities, he recounted the first commandment that the Lord God gave him. The interesting thing about this commandment is the fact that the Lord God put it in the form of a choice. Not only did the Lord tell Adam not to eat of the fruit of the tree, He also told Adam that there would be a consequence for disobedience. This establishes the basic principle for the Lord’s creation, every action has a consequence and the Lord will bring that to bear, in the end. We always get what we choose even though it may seem, for a while, that we are escaping the consequences of our actions.
When Adam and Eve chose to listen to the serpent they were faced with the question, “Do you really want to accept the Lord God’s definition of what is good and evil or do you want to have the authority to make those decisions yourself?” They thought that they were choosing to make the definitions for themselves but they were accepting the serpent,s definition instead. Firstly the Lord God told the serpent what to expect because he was responsible for making a lie and leading the man and the woman astray and he was cursed to to perpetual warfare and eventually one of Eve’s descendants would bruise his head, that is comprehensively and finally defeat him. From that time forward there has always been a great cosmic conflict between good, the Lord God, and evil, Satan. Satan desired to prevent the world from enjoying God’s blessings. There is evidence of that cosmic battle to destroy Israel during King David’s lifetime. (1 Chron 21: 1-6)
Eve wasn’t told that she was cursed but was told what the consequences of her actions would be. She was, however, given the hope of a Descendant Who would, one day, defeat the serpent. Adam was told that the ground would be cursed and he would have to labour and sorrow because he had not exercised the leadership that God entrusted to him; he allowed his wife to be seduced by the serpent.
The first person to be punished in the Bible, as opposed to being cursed, was Cain (Gen 4: 12). He was cast out the Lord’s presence and forced to be a vagrant all the days of his life. Cain had no home and no hope. The Lord warned him to overcome his sin but he didn’t and he was cut off from the Lord. We can see that punishment leads to restlessness, separation and no peace, there was no recovery from Cain’s punishment. Punishment also includes the idea of retribution.
Later we see that the Lord called Abraham and Abraham obeyed the Lord. The Lord promised Abraham that He would use the patriarch as the vector for blessing all the families of the earth (Gen 12: 3) Abraham was counted a righteous because he believed God (Gen 15: 6)
As time went by, the promise the Lord made to Abraham was eventually kept, firstly Abraham and Sarah became the parents of their promised son and, secondly Israel took possession of the Promised Land. The Promise that the Lord made to Abraham was eternal and unconditional. (Gen 15: 18)
In the cosmic battle, Abraham’s descendants became significant targets because, if they could be destroyed, the Lord’s plan of blessing all the families of the earth would be destroyed and evil would triumph. However, the Lord loves Israel and will not allow Satan to accomplish his goals. (Deut 32: 10)
After Israel took possession of the Promised Land, they remade the contract with the Lord, on their own behalf. There are five conditions for a contract to be valid. (While these are modern conditions they are based on ancient precedents.)
A contract has to state specific details, there must be some consideration, where agreed value is exchanged for agreed value. Both parties must show that they have the ability to satisfy the contract. A contract cannot be made that will violate the law of the land. Both parties must agree that a contract has been made and that it is recorded to the satisfaction of both.
When the Lord made his contract with Abraham they both knew what the details were: Abraham would have son but he had to believe the Lord. Abraham would be the vector of blessing for all the families of the earth and the Lord would bless Abraham and his descendants forever. The Lord had defined what was right and wrong for His creation and He would not behave without integrity. (compare Deut 7: 9) An ancient form of making a contract is described in Gen 15. Both parties knew what was happening and, because Abraham believed God, he knew that God had the capacity to complete the Divine part of the agreement. All Abraham had to do was believe God and he had already demonstrated his ability to believe God. The agreement was recorded for posterity in a document recorded by Abraham’s son,Isaac, after Abraham told him later. (Gen 25: 19)
The contract was made and was binding on both parties. However, by the time that Israel went into the Promised Land, Abraham was unavailable to agree to any changes to the contract that he had made with the Lord. On that occasion, the Lord, who is completely consistent, made a new contract with Israel concerning tenure in the Land rather than permanent possession.
The specifics of the covenant are listed in the Torah. The final form of the contract, as agreed between Israel and the Lord are listed in Deuteronomy. Joshua 8: 30-35 gives an historical account of the final ratification of the contract. The specifics of the contract are stated as a copy of the Law of Moses was written on the stones that had been set up for that purpose. When Joshua read the blessings and the curses, he was stating the consideration, the Lord would give Israel peace and prosperity in the Land and Israel would keep the Law of the Lord. Israel would lose tenure but not permanent ownership of the Land if they disobeyed. The Lord had already demonstrated his capacity to keep the contract because He had brought them from Egypt to the Promised Land. The Lord God also knew that, at some time Israel would be able to keep the contract (see Deut 30: 6) as He promised to write the Law on their hearts. When the Lord brought Israel into the Promised Land, the contract was, essentially, the constitution of the new nation so it was legal. The contact was written on the altar that Joshua had made.
In the section of the contract defining the rewards and the penalties associated with the contract the Lord defined the context for all His future dealings with Israel.
The relevant clause is recorded in Deut 30: 1-5, Where the Lord let Israel know that they would, inevitably, receive the consequences of their actions but these were only designed to bring them to their knees before the Lord so that He would restore them to the Land and His blessing.
The Lord will never punish Israel as He punished Cain, even though they have experienced the consequences of the choices that they have made. Israel has wandered for many years but now they have their own, truncated homeland. In a material sense, Israel was broken before the Lord and returned to their Land after the holocaust. When the Jews were under the threat of genocide the leaders in Palestine agreed that the only protection against any further attempt at Jewish genocide was to have their own Land. Modern Israel is determined to stay in their own Land and prevent any further attempts at genocide.
In the spiritual sense they are not yet broken because the Law of the Lord is not yet written in their hearts, as a nation. History has shown that Israel was never cast out of the Lord’s presence forever and they were never put in a place where recovery was impossible. In answer to the question, “Does the Lord God punish Israel?” we can answer with a resounding “NO!” On the other hand, Satan will always work to destroy Israel using any means he can. The Lord God has always worked with Israel to bring them to the place where they, as a nation, remember their contract with the Lord, accept it in their hearts and obey Him wholeheartedly then they will have peace and tenure in every inch of the Land that the Lord promised to give to Abraham and his descendants forever. Eventually they will live in peace and prosperity in their own Land when they have, as a nation, fallen on their knees before the Lord in a spiritual sense.
Posted by at No comments:

Another Jeroboam

Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Kings 14:23–29, “In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, and reigned forty and one years. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher. For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel. And the LORD said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash. Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which belonged to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead.”

Jeroboam ascension to the throne proved to be the beginning of Israel’s end game. While things may have seemed to be strong for Israel, things were not as they should have been. Long before there was a king in Israel the Lord had foreseen this exact situation. (see Deuteronomy 8:10–14, “When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;”) Jeroboam had a long and prosperous reign. Both Israel, in the north, and Judah in the south experienced the same conditions, king who reigned for a long time (Jeroboam for 41 years and Uzziah, Azariah, for 52 years) and times of peace and prosperity. The Assyrians and Syrians both went through fairly quiet periods where they were not actively involved in external campaigns. However, as the Lord predicted, they forgot that they owed everything to the Lord their God and felt self satisfied. After all, they believed that if everything was going well then the Lord must be pleased with them and was rewarding them. During this time they began to forget about the poor and the needy in their communities because the poor and needy were sinning and responsible for their own situation so why should they be helped at all? Jonah, who was determined not to go to Nineveh and preach to them, prophesied that the Lord would restore the northern kingdom to her former size. Eventually Jeroboam died and was succeeded by his son Zachariah.
Posted by at No comments:

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

More royal deaths

Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Kings 14:15–22, “Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead. And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years. And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem: and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him there. And they brought him on horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David. And all the people of Judah took Azariah, which was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah. He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.

Jehoash defeated Judah and plundered the Jerusalem and the Temple, however, he died before Amaziah died. It is interesting to note that a record of his reign was kept in the national archives at the time, a book called the chronicles of the kings of Israel. It is important to remember this as we read through the history of the kingdom period. We know that when the books of these histories were collected later the archives were available to the authors of the collections and the historical records were as accurate as when they were written. Amaziah came to the end of his reign and was assassinated by some of his servants. His reign ended in exactly the same as his father’s had. It seems as though Athaliah had given Judah a legacy of regicide and that kind of degenerate behaviour, which had so troubled king David (see 1 Sam 24: 6), became an acceptable practice in Judah. After Amaziah was assassinated and his body brought back to Jerusalem his son Azariah was anointed king in his place. Azariah was also known as Uzziah.
Posted by at No comments:

A man who wouldn't take good advice

Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Kings 14:8–14, “Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face. And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle. Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee? But Amaziah would not hear. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah. And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to their tents. And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits. And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king’s house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.”

Amaziah defeated a small desert kingdom and thought that he was a great king in Judah. He decided that it was time to take on a bigger foe and decided to go to war against the northern kingdom, Israel. Jehoash, Israel’s king, understood what was happening and told Amaziah that he was acting too big for his boots. In fact, he sent a parable to that effect. He talked about a thistle telling a cedar tree that he wanted the cedar tree to give the tree’s daughter to his son in marriage. Of course, this is ludicrous. While the thistle was waiting for the answer a wild beast walked past and destroyed both the thistle and his son. Jehoash didn’t have much respect for the Judean army and warned Amaziah not be foolish and risk everything because he has so much to lose. Amaziah didn’t take the good advice he was given and went to war anyway. The Israelis soundly defeated the Judeans battle and plundered all their wealth. The took great delight in taking the riches from the Temple so that their symbol of devotion to the Lord was reduced to poverty. This didn’t mean that the Lord was in any way insufficient to protect Judah. If just meant that Amaziah and taken the Lord’s Name in vain. He had used the Lord’s Name to justify a cause that the Lord didn’t support and suffered the consequences of that folly. When Solomon dedicated the Temple just after it was built he said, “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?” (1 Kings 8:27) The Temple was the symbol of the Lord’s presence in Jerusalem and Amaziah had, implicitly, refused to acknowledge the Lord’s presence when he refused to take the good advice that he was given. The Lord’s prestige was not reduced in any way but Amaziah was left looking like the fool that he was.
Posted by at No comments:

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Amaziah

Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Kings 14:1–7, “In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah. He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did. Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places. And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father. But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin. He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this day.”

The Davidic dynasty continued in Judah even though the evil queen Athaliah had tried to eliminate the descendants of David from Judah. A new king called Amaziah was anointed king in Judah. It was customary to name the new king’s mother because kings, in those days had many wives. Amaziah continued to follow the Lord and maintain ceremonial worship in the Temple. However, the syncretism that had grown up in Judah over many years, where they continued to show respect for the local gods of the Canaanites as well, continued and the king was unable to bring and end to those practices. Amaziah’s father had been assassinated by some of his close advisors so Amaziah executed them for the crime of regicide. He didn’t, as was often the practice in heathen nations, execute the families belonging to the men who had assassinated his father. During his time Judah fought a war against the Edomites and were able to take some territory that had previously belonged to Judah and lost to the Edomites.
Posted by at No comments:

Elisha's last miracle

Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Kings 13:20–25, “And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet. But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. And the LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet. So Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his stead. And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael the cities, which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times did Joash beat him, and recovered the cities of Israel.”

The great prophet Elisha eventually died of old age. He had been a faithful prophet and remained loyal to the Lord all the day of his life. However, he hadn’t been successful because Israel continued to worship the false gods that Jeroboam introduced. One day a man was being buried near the sepulchre where Elisha was buried and a band of bandits came to attack. They dropped the body and ran away. The body landed on Elisha’s bones and the man came back to life and stood up again. The Syrians came down and abused Israel all the time that Hazael was king. However, the Lord remembered the contract that He had made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and gave Israel further opportunities to repent of their sin. Then Lord kept the promised that Elisha had given Joash and he was able to defeat the Syrians three times in battle. He was able to regain control over the territory that had been previously been lost to the Syrians.
Posted by at No comments:

Monday, July 28, 2014

Strike the arrows

Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Kings 13:10–19, “In the thirty and seventh year of Joash king of Judah began Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD; he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin: but he walked therein. And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might wherewith he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows. And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king’s hands. And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the LORD’S deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them. And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed. And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.”

Jehoash and Joash are two different forms of the same name, one being a contraction of the other. In order to avoid confusion when there were two kings with the same name, ruling at the same time, the two different forms of the name are used here. The king in Judah had a very long reign and, during his thirty seventh years, a new king with the same name, but described with the longer form of his name, came to power and ruled in Samaria. Later in his reign, Jehoash fought against the king of Judah. Eventually Jehoash died and was replaced by his son Jeroboam. He was Israel’s second king with this name. Before Jehoash died, Elisha came to the end of his long and powerful ministry. As Elisha was dying the king of Israel came to see him and wept beside his bed. Elisha, after all, had been a great prophet for the Lord who had tried faithfully to restore them to worshipping the Lord their God in the way that the Lord had appointed. Elisha asked Jehoash to take a bow and arrows and to shoot an arrow towards the east, the general direction of Syria. Afterwards Elisha told the king to hit the ground with the arrows. Jehoash hit the ground three times and the prophet was angry. Elisha told the king that he should have hit the ground many times rather than just a few times. If the Lord tells you to do something, and in this case the Lord was speaking through His prophet, you do as much as you can instead of only making a token effort. The Lord promised Jehoash that he would have three victories against the Syrians because he only made a token effort to obey the Lord. On the other hand, if he had obeyed with all his ability he would have had many victories and completely subdued his traditional enemy.
Posted by at No comments:

Jehoahaz

Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Kings 13:1–9, “In the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah king of Judah Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, all their days. And Jehoahaz besought the LORD, and the LORD hearkened unto him: for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them. (And the LORD gave Israel a saviour, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians: and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents, as beforetime. Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked therein: and there remained the grove also in Samaria.) Neither did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by threshing. Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his stead.”

While the Davidic dynasty continued in Jerusalem, the dynasties changed on a regular basis in Samaria. Jehu had delivered Israel from the evil that Ahab brought to the northern kingdom when he tried to make them like the neighbouring nations. On the other hand, Jehu didn’t make any effort to go back from the sin of Jeroboam. The Lord promised Jehu some continuity because he was faithful in delivering Israel from the Baal’s of their neighbour. His son became king in his place and had a fairly long reign. Never the less, he didn't show any interest in Israel’s God and continued to allow Jeroboam’s false religion to prosper. Hazael and Benhadad his son both came down from Syria and conquered Israel and they served the Syrian king. The fact that there are several kings with the same or similar names in both Israel and the other nations is very much like things today. Every country that has a monarchy will allow a new king or queen to choose the name that will use as rulers and some names are more popular than others. Jehoahaz, the king, prayed to the Lord to deliver Israel from the Syrians and they were saved for a time. However, they didn’t repent of their sin. The Lord had always remained faithful to His relationship with both Israel and Judah and His only intention, during the years of oppression, was to bring them to their knees in submission and obedience. When Israel cried out the Lord, He saved them but, when the didn’t submit to Him, He allowed them another opportunity to realise they needed Him and cry out in submission. Jehoahaz, was left with only a token army and no ability to defend himself against any armies coming to Israel. He died and was replaced by his son Joash.
Posted by at No comments:

Friday, July 25, 2014

A plot against the king

Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Kings 12:17–21, “Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem. And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and in the king’s house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem. And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla. For Jozachar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, smote him, and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.”

Jehoash was faithful to the Lord and did as much as he could to restore the Temple and its ceremonies to their central place in the life of Jerusalem and Judah. However, he failed one important test. Hazael the king of Syria came down to coast to Gath and captured the city. He, presumably, thought that this was the best way to take Jerusalem. The Temple had been restored and there was considerable wealth available there as plunder. Jehoash was concerned for the city and took the treasures from the Temple and his own palace and gave the to Hazael. Hazael achieved what he set out to achieve so he didn’t come to Jerusalem. Jehoash didn’t trust the Lord, Who had promised to protect His people if they trusted in Him. After a plot was hatched against king Jehoash was brought to fruition and he was assassinated by his own servants. His son Amaziah was crowned king in his place.
Posted by at No comments:

A box with hole in the top

Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Kings 12:4–16, “And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the LORD, even the money of every one that passeth the account, the money that every man is set at, and all the money that cometh into any man’s heart to bring into the house of the LORD, Let the priests take it to them, every man of his acquaintance: and let them repair the breaches of the house, wheresoever any breach shall be found. But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house. Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and the other priests, and said unto them, Why repair ye not the breaches of the house? now therefore receive no more money of your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the house. And the priests consented to receive no more money of the people, neither to repair the breaches of the house. But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one cometh into the house of the LORD: and the priests that kept the door put therein all the money that was brought into the house of the LORD. And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king’s scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags, and told the money that was found in the house of the LORD. And they gave the money, being told, into the hands of them that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of the LORD: and they laid it out to the carpenters and builders, that wrought upon the house of the LORD, And to masons, and hewers of stone, and to buy timber and hewed stone to repair the breaches of the house of the LORD, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it. Howbeit there were not made for the house of the LORD bowls of silver, snuffers, basons, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of the LORD: But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the house of the LORD. Moreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on workmen: for they dealt faithfully. The trespass money and sin money was not brought into the house of the LORD: it was the priests’.”

When Solomon first constructed the Temple it was one of the most beautiful building on the earth. It was not always cared for, particularly during reigns like that of Athaliah, the interloper, who wanted to lead the nation away from the Lord their God entirely. At that time money was still being given for the priests and the upkeep of the Temple but nothing was being used on the structure. Jehoash told the priests to use some of the money for refurbishing the Temple. In fact the king upbraided the priests for doing nothing towards maintaining that building. The priests said that they would not take money from the people any more. In fact, they would place a large box with a hole bored in the lid so that the people could contribute towards the upkeep of the Temple. Priests would collect the offerings and put the money in that box. When there was enough money in the box to repair the Temple properly then tradesmen were paid to buy the materials and do the work that was required to maintain the Temple.
Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Jehu and Jehoash

Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Kings 12:1–3, “In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him. But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.”

Both Jehu and Jehoash had good starts to their reigns. Jehu eliminated all the remnants of Ahab’s false religion and returned to the sins of Jeroboam. Jehoash sought to follow the Lord under the able advise of his the priest Jehoiada but neither wholeheartedly follow the Lord. (compare 1 Kings 15:3, “And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.”) Jehoash still allowed the remains of the Canaanite religions to survive in the Land while Jehu didn’t make any effort to remove Jeroboam’s false religion.
Posted by at No comments:

Jehoiada made a covenant

Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Kings 11:17–21, “And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the LORD’S people; between the king also and the people. And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal, and brake it down; his altars and his images brake they in pieces thoroughly, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of the LORD. And he took the rulers over hundreds, and the captains, and the guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought down the king from the house of the LORD, and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king’s house. And he sat on the throne of the kings. And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king’s house. Seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign.”

Jehoiada was the only priest, recorded, who took the time to train a king as was required by the Law. He was obviously a wise and godly man and sought to bring the nation back to the Lord. He called the nation together with their, God appointed, king and they made an agreement together to serve the Lord and keep His Law. There were also shrines to Baal in Judah and Jerusalem because Athaliah was was from the evil house of Ahab. The people from Judah went through the Land and destroyed any remains of the Baal worship that was allowed to flourish in their land. Jehoash and Joash are different forms of the same name, one being a contraction of the other so there is no confusion between the names in this chapter. Jehoash was only seven years when he was anointed king but he was advised by the wise and godly Jehoiada who acted as his regent.
Posted by at No comments:

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Joash

Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Kings 11:13–16, “And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the LORD. And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets: and Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason. But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD. And they laid hands on her; and she went by the way by the which the horses came into the king’s house: and there was she slain.”

When Athaliah heard the noise of Joash’s coronation in the Temple she went to see what was happening. As soon as she saw Joash and the fact that he was standing in a place that was ceremonially reserved for a king she realised that something was happening. She claimed that some treasonous was happening because she assumed that she was the legitimate ruler of Judah. However, the Lord was the legitimate ruler in Israel and she had no right to claim any authority in the kingdom. The soldiers took her out of the Temple and executed, according to the Law of the Lord for killing the legitimate heirs to the kingdom of Judah.
Posted by at No comments:

Jehoiada

Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Kings 11:4–12, “And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the LORD, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD, and shewed them the king’s son. And he commanded them, saying, This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you that enter in on the sabbath shall even be keepers of the watch of the king’s house; And a third part shall be at the gate of Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall ye keep the watch of the house, that it be not broken down. And two parts of all you that go forth on the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD about the king. And ye shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand: and he that cometh within the ranges, let him be slain: and be ye with the king as he goeth out and as he cometh in. And the captains over the hundreds did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest commanded: and they took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that should go out on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest. And to the captains over hundreds did the priest give king David’s spears and shields, that were in the temple of the LORD. And the guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, round about the king, from the right corner of the temple to the left corner of the temple, along by the altar and the temple. And he brought forth the king’s son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king.”

Even though Athaliah took control of Judah and acted as queen, the priests remained loyal to the Lord and His Law. They knew that the Lord had promised David that his descendants would retain the throne in Jerusalem, as long as the nation didn’t reject the Lord entirely. They also knew that the Lord had miraculously saved Joash from the Athaliah’s evil designs. When Joash had grown old enough to understand what he was doing they made a plan to save Judah from the evil plans of the wicked tyrant. The guards regiments in Judah were still loyal to the Davidic dynasty so Jehoiada, the priest made arrangements with the elite soldiers to proclaim him king in Judah. These men were honestly fulfilling their responsibilities before the Lord, according to the book of the Law. It is possible that Jehoiada spent some time training Joash in the Law (compare Deut 17: 14-20) but this isn’t stated. The soldiers chose the most appropriate time and brought Joash to the Temple to proclaim him the legitimate king of Judah.
Posted by at No comments:

Athaliah's treachery

Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Kings 11:1–3, “And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal. But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain. And he was with her hid in the house of the LORD six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land.”

Athaliah was part of Ahab’s family, she was Ahab’s  sister (2 Kings 8: 18, 26). Her father and mother had attempted to remove any remembrance of the Lord God from Israel and replace the Lord God with Jezebel’s own god. Of course. Athaliah wanted to do the same in Judah and she also wanted to destroy the house of David and their Temple as well. As soon as she heard that her husband the current head of the Davidic dynasty was dead she murdered all the living descendants of David’s house that she could lay her hands on. She did this to make sure that the Davidic dynasty would be eradicated from history. The Lord had done the same to Ahab’s family and she wanted to act as God. However, the Lord preserved one of David’s descendants. One courageous nurse took a young child called Joash and his him away. She risked certain death if she was discovered but the Lord remembered the promise that He had made to David.While Jehu removed the Baal worship, introduced by Ahab from Israel, he didn’t do anything to remove Jeroboam’s false form of worship. The Lord accepted the fact that Jehu had rescued Israel from a complete return to the ways of the Amorites and promised him that his descendants, to the fourth generation, would rule on the throne of Judah. The fourth generation was a very important generation in the Lord’s accounting. Israel’s ancestors were to be delivered from bondage in the fourth generation (Gen 15: 12-16). The Lord also promised to visit the iniquity of people to bowed down to false gods and refused to bow down to the Lord to the third and fourth generation. (Ex 20: 5) However, because Jehu refused to deliver Israel from Jeroboam’s sin, the Lord allowed Israel’s borders to whittled away during his time. The area of Israel beyond the Jordan River were invaded by the Syrians. After a 28 year reign Jehu died and his son Jehoahaz became king in his place.
Posted by at No comments:

Border attacks

Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Kings 10:29–36, “Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan. And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel. But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin. In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short: and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel; From Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the river Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan. Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? And Jehu slept with his fathers: and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead. And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty and eight years.”

While Jehu removed the Baal worship, introduced by Ahab from Israel, he didn’t do anything to remove Jeroboam’s false form of worship. The Lord accepted the fact that Jehu had rescued Israel from a complete return to the ways of the Amorites and promised him that his descendants, to the fourth generation, would rule on the throne of Judah. The fourth generation was a very important generation in the Lord’s accounting. Israel’s ancestors were to be delivered from bondage in the fourth generation (Gen 15: 12-16). The Lord also promised to visit the iniquity of people to bowed down to false gods and refused to bow down to the Lord to the third and fourth generation. (Ex 20: 5) However, because Jehu refused to deliver Israel from Jeroboam’s sin, the Lord allowed Israel’s borders to whittled away during his time. The area of Israel beyond the Jordan River were invaded by the Syrians. After a 28 year reign Jehu died and his son Jehoahaz became king in his place.
Posted by at No comments:

Monday, July 21, 2014

Ahab served Baal a little

Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Kings 10:15–28, “And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him: and he saluted him, and said to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me thine hand. And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.  And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD. So they made him ride in his chariot. And when he came to Samaria, he slew all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the LORD, which he spake to Elijah. And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve him much. Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal. And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it. And Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was full from one end to another. And he said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought them forth vestments. And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, and said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of the LORD, but the worshippers of Baal only. And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, Jehu appointed fourscore men without, and said, If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape, he that letteth him go, his life shall be for the life of him. And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal. And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal, and burned them. And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught house unto this day. Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.”

Ahab and Jezebel had taken Israel from a mongrel form of worshipping the Lord to the full worship of a strange and foreign god.They were now eliminated and Jehu devised a plan to remove to worship of this strange and foreign god from Israel. He Met with a man called Jehonadab (also shortened to Jonadab, see Jer 35: 1-19) who proved to be a man of integrity and honour in Israel’s and Judah’s history. After that he put a plan in place to bring Baal worship to an end in Israel. According to the Law of the Lord, a person was to be executed for worshipping other gods so Jehu’s plan had proper legal sanction in Israel. He pretended to worship Baal himself and called a great Baal conference so that everyone interested in Baal would come together and be in the same place at the same time. After that he made sure that all the ceremonial clothing and instruments were put out for the great service. After that he instructed all his men to carry out the execution as required by the Law. When this was done, Jehu was able to eliminate this kind of Baal worship from Israel.
Posted by at No comments:

The end of Ahab's house

Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Kings 10:1–14, “And Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to them that brought up Ahab’s children, saying, Now as soon as this letter cometh to you, seeing your master’s sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, a fenced city also, and armour; Look even out the best and meetest of your master’s sons, and set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house. But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand? And he that was over the house, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and the bringers up of the children, sent to Jehu, saying, We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any king: do thou that which is good in thine eyes. Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If ye be mine, and if ye will hearken unto my voice, take ye the heads of the men your master’s sons, and come to me to Jezreel by to morrow this time. Now the king’s sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, which brought them up. And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king’s sons, and slew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent him them to Jezreel. And there came a messenger, and told him, saying, They have brought the heads of the king’s sons. And he said, Lay ye them in two heaps at the entering in of the gate until the morning. And it came to pass in the morning, that he went out, and stood, and said to all the people, Ye be righteous: behold, I conspired against my master, and slew him: but who slew all these? Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spake concerning the house of Ahab: for the LORD hath done that which he spake by his servant Elijah. So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his priests, until he left him none remaining. And he arose and departed, and came to Samaria. And as he was at the shearing house in the way, Jehu met with the brethren of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, Who are ye? And they answered, We are the brethren of Ahaziah; and we go down to salute the children of the king and the children of the queen. And he said, Take them alive. And they took them alive, and slew them at the pit of the shearing house, even two and forty men; neither left he any of them.”

Whenever there was a dynastic change in ancient kingdoms the new king would make sure that any pretender to the throne from the previous dynasty was killed so that he would be safe from challenges to the kingdom. Ahab had many wives and many sons so there was a large number of possible pretenders to the throne in Israel. If Jehu wanted to make sure that his dynasty was secure he needed to make sure that none of Ahab’s dynasty survived. Even though Joram had only been king for a short time some of his brothers may challenge Jehu. Ahab and Jezebel had a bloodthirsty reign and were responsible for murdering many people who had remained true to the Lord. Consequently, the Lord had promised that every male in Ahab’s family would be executed for the family’s sin. Jehu made sure that this happened although the details are rather bloodthirsty. Ahaziah was also closely related to the house of Ahab through marriage and he was eliminated as he may well have posed a threat to Jehu as well.
Posted by at No comments:

Friday, July 18, 2014

Jezebel's end

Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Kings 9:30–37, “And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window. And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master? And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs. And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot. And when he was come in, he did eat and drink, and said, Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her: for she is a king’s daughter. And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands. Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel: And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.”

Jezebel, like all many women in that era, lived in the Zenana (harem). The women were kept in a gilded cage but were stuck there for life. They were served by waiting women and men who had been castrated, called eunuchs. This was to make sure that the wives were, cared for, protected but not molested. Jezebel, who was the queen mother at that stage, heard about the coup and looked out of the Zenana window and called out to Jehu. She reminded him of Zimri, who had murdered Elah, the king, and then been king for a very short time before he was defeated by Omri. She spoke with scorn and hatred. However, Jehu looked up and asked if there was anyone on his side in the house. Some of the eunuchs threw Jezebel out of the window and she landed on the ground in front of the horses. The were war horses and trampled her. Thus she received justice for murdering Naboth. Jehu and his men went into the palace and celebrated with a few drinks. After a while they decided that they should bury Jezebel as she was a princess, her father was a king. When the burial party came to pick up her body they found that the dogs had consumed almost all of the body, so much so that there was not enough left to bury her and leave a memorial, just as Elijah had foretold.
Posted by at No comments:

Jehu, Joram and Ahaziah

Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Kings 9:16–29, “So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel; for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see Joram. And there stood a watchman on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a company. And Joram said, Take an horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, Is it peace? So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he cometh not again. Then he sent out a second on horseback, which came to them, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu answered, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not again: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously. And Joram said, Make ready. And his chariot was made ready. And Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out against Jehu, and met him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite. And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many? And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah. And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote Jehoram between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot. Then said Jehu to Bidkar his captain, Take up, and cast him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite: for remember how that, when I and thou rode together after Ahab his father, the LORD laid this burden upon him;  Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, saith the LORD; and I will requite thee in this plat, saith the LORD. Now therefore take and cast him into the plat of ground, according to the word of the LORD. But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. And Jehu followed after him, and said, Smite him also in the chariot. And they did so at the going up to Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo, and died there. And his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his sepulchre with his fathers in the city of David. And in the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab began Ahaziah to reign over Judah.”

Jehu immediately went with his followers to Jezreel on the western side of the Lake. They travelled in chariots as fast as they could to make sure that Joram wasn’t warned to their intentions. Joram was in Jezreel and had taken the usual precautions by staying in a walled city with guards and watchmen. One of the watchmen saw a contingent of chariots heading towards the city and told Joram. Joram’s men sent a horseman out to find out what was happening. Jehu told the horseman to join his party and kept driving at great speed towards the city. As second horseman was sent out with the same result. The watchmen on the walls realised that the advancing troop was led by Jehu because he had a distinctive style of driving his chariot. Joram and Ahaziah went out to meet Jehu in their chariots and met him at Naboth’s property, presumably this was a vegetable garden rather than the vineyard it had been before Jezebel interfered. Joram asked Jehu if he was coming in peace but Jehu told Joram that he was coming to punish Joram for the sins committed by his family. Joram and Ahaziah tried to escape but Jehu shot Joram with an arrow from his bow. Joram died from the wounds and Jehu told his men to dump the body where Naboth’s body had been left so that the Lord’s word would be fulfilled. Jehu’s men also followed Ahaziah, king of Judah, and killed him because he was closely allied with Ahab’s family. He was wounded and escaped to Megiddo where he died.
Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Another new king

Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Kings 9:11–15, "Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord: and one said unto him, Is all well? wherefore came this mad fellow to thee? And he said unto them, Ye know the man, and his communication. And they said, It is false; tell us now. And he said, Thus and thus spake he to me, saying, Thus saith the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then they hasted, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew with trumpets, saying, Jehu is king. So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram had kept Ramothgilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria. But king Joram was returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) And Jehu said, If it be your minds, then let none go forth nor escape out of the city to go to tell it in Jezreel.”

Jehu came out of the room where he had been with the prophet. His brother officers asked him what that madman had told him. Jehu knew that the man was a prophet with the Lord’s message so he was quite happy to tell his brother officers that the Lord had anointed him as king over Israel. They all accepted the message and proclaimed him as king on the spot. Jehu encouraged them to go with him quickly, before the news could be told in Jezreel, and finish the issue there.
Posted by at No comments:

Jehu

Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Kings 9:1–10, “And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this box of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramothgilead: And when thou comest thither, look out there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brethren, and carry him to an inner chamber; Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus saith the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not. So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to Ramothgilead. And when he came, behold, the captains of the host were sitting; and he said, I have an errand to thee, O captain. And Jehu said, Unto which of all us? And he said, To thee, O captain. And he arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel. And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel. For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel: And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah: And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled.”

The Lord even chose to change dynasties in Israel to give them a new king and a new chance to repent. Each dynasty was given fair time to lead the nation in repentance and then the kings faced the consequences of their own sin. Of course, the people were free to worship the Lord in their own way, according to the Law and, during Elijah’s time there were many who still worshipped the Lord (1 Kings 19: 18). We can assume that this was true throughout the entire period of the northern nation’s existence. The Lord told Elisha that it was time for a dynastic change to see if another king would take the opportunity to lead the nation in repentance. Elisha told one of the young prophets to go and deliver a message for him. By this time, Elisha was a well recognised man and he would not be able to carry out an incognito mission as the Lord required. The young man was told to go and find a man called Jehu and take a box containing anointing g oil with him. He was to take Jehu for a private conference and anoint him as the new king of Israel. At that stage Joram, Ahab’s son was recuperating from war wounds while his soldiers were stationed in the Golan Heights, called Ramoth Gilead in those days. The young prophet found a group of senior officers eating their meal and asked Jehu to come and have a private meeting with him. He anointed Jehu as king over Israel and told him to effect the Lord’s judgment on the house of Omri and Ahab for their great sin against the Lord. He told Jehu that ever possible male heir of Ahab’s line would perish, they would die as though a man would die in war. He also said that Jezebel would receive the consequences of her sin against Naboth and she would experience the same kind of end as he did. She would die and her body would be unmourned and treated with the same respect as Naboth’s body had been.
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)