Read: 2 Kings 15:1-16:20; Acts 19:13-41; Psalm 147:1-20; Proverbs 18:4-5
The kingdom changed kings so often, with only a few good kings like Judah’s kings Uzziah and Jotham. Their fear of God didn’t pass to their posterity because Jotham’s son, Ahaz was as evil as they came. Because of his idolatry, God sent the kings of Aram and Israel against Judah. Ahaz went to Damascus to meet with King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria to ask for help. While he was in Damascus, he noticed their altar and took notes. He sent a model of it with instructions to Urijah, the priest to make one just like it. It was made by the time he got home. The king offered sacrifices and offerings on it profaning God’s law. He removed the basin that was used for washing the priests’s hands off of the snacks of the bronze oxen and placed in on the stone pavement. He did everything to pervert God’s way. He reigned 16 years which is a long time of sin and evil reign. His son, Hezekiah ruled after him.
In Israel, there was no good king, only a line of short-lived kings who led Israel further and further away from God.
In Acts, we have total chaos caused by the truth. While in Ephesus, the truth was being proclaimed and it was a huge threat to the silversmiths who made idols. If they started believing in Jesus, their business would greatly suffer. So, they started a riot on the basis of religion. Demetrius led this chaos which people were there and didn’t even know what they were yelling for. The city clerk calmed them down and assured them that this was the city of Ephesus and keepers of the shrine of Artemis which wouldn’t go down over a few dissenters. Since Paul and his men had not done anything wrong legally, they needed to settle this in court. Little did this city clerk know the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It could bring down every demon in hell and one day he would
Lord, help us to remember the power of the gospel.
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