Sun.’s Devo - Israel’s Kings

Read: 2 Kings 13:1-14:29; Acts 18:23-19:12; Psalm 146:1-10; Proverbs 18:2-3 Jehoahaz, Jehu’s son, reigned over Israel and followed the sins of Israel serving the golden calves of Israel. Jereboam had made priests of the lowest people that were not Levites and they offered incense to the Lord. Jehoahaz did the same thing. He made the wrong people the leaders; he put unholy people in charge of holy things. Because he did this, God allowed King Hazael of Aram to defeat them over and over. Finally, Jehoahaz called out for God’s help and God sent a deliverer to rescue them from the tyranny of the Arameans and Israel had peace. Israel continued to sin so God reduced their army and their defense. Jehoahaz died and his son, Jehoash began to rule over Israel in the 37th year of King Joash. He continued to appoint unholy people to lead in spiritual matters and worshipped idols so he only ruled 16 years and died. Before he died, he went to visit Elisha who was dying himself. Elisha told him to take a bow and arrow and shoot it out the window as a sign of victory over Aram. Then he told him to pick up the remaining arrows and strike the ground with them. He struck them three times making Elisha mad. He said that they would only defeat the Armeans three times. If he had struck them over four times they would have completely destroyed them. Elisha died and was buried in a tomb. Years later, a group of Israelites were burying their friend when some Moabite raiders showed up. They hurriedly threw their friend in the tomb of Elisha to flee and he came alive the moment his body touched Elisha’s bones. King Hazael of Aram died and his son, Ben-hadad became king. Jehoash defeated him three times just as Elisha had said and recovered the territory they had lost. Meanwhile in Judah, Amaziah son of Joash began to reign. He reigned for 29 years. He was a good king like his father but still didn’t rid the nation of the idols. He killed the officers who had assassinated his father. He conquered the Edomites and Sela. He challenged Israel to a battle. King Jehoash of Israel tried to dissuade him but Amaziah was too determined. They fought and Israel won. The Israelite army chased the Judeans to Jerusalem where they tore down 600 feet of Jerusalem’s wall and carried off gold and silver and all the articles from the Temple of the Lord and the treasures of the royal palace. They took them and some hostages back to Samaria. Fifteen years later, Amaziah was assassinated like his father and his 16 year old son, Uzziah was crowned king of Judah. Jeroboam II became king of Israel. He was evil, but God used him to recover stolen land of Israel’s for the people’s sake. He died and his son Zechariah became the next king of Israel. In Acts, we meet a new teacher of the gospel, Apollos. He only knew about the baptism of John so Pricilla and Aquila told him about he baptism in the Holy Spirit. He began traveling and teaching in Corinth. Paul went on to Ephesus and taught about the baptism in the Holy Spirit. He laid his hands on them and they received it and spoke in tongues. They were also given the power to perform unusual miracles and saw people healed and delivered. Lord, we are living in these days where your healings and deliverances are being poured out on the streets. May your power spread through us.