Read: 2 Kings 15:1-16:20; Acts. 19:13-41; Psalm 147:1-20; Proverbs 18:4-5
Just as God had spoken through Jehu, his fourth generation was the last king from his family. Zechariah was assassinated by Shallum whose name means “restitution”. Shallum only reigned one month and the kingship went to Menahem who was a ruthless destroyer and did evil in God’s eyes. He had to pay tribute to Assyria to keep them from attacking Israel. When he died, his son, Pekhiah became king of Israel. He was assassinated by Pekah who reigned for twenty years and did evil. Hoshea assassinated Pekah.
Meanwhile, in Judah, Jotham son of Uzziah ruled for 16 years. He did what was right before God like his father only they continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense to other gods. After him, Ahaz ruled Judah and did what was not right before the Lord. He saw an altar of the Assyrians and came back to Jerusalem and had the priests build him one just like it. He put this new altar in the temple of the Lord and offered sacrifices on it. He removed the laver that the priests used to wash in.
All that Ahaz did to rearrange the worship had to do with offering a different “Jesus” who is the altar and a new way to be sanctified, which is represented in the laver.
In Acts we see that every time the Lord poured out his spirit with manifestations of power, it stirred up the evil spirits that had operated freely. They were threatened and exposed for what they were and fought back for their place.
We have been given the name of Jesus which is more powerful than any other name on earth and in heaven.
Lord, may we use your name as a weapon against the devil and as a blessing of salvation to the people.
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