Sun.’s Devo - God Reigns

Read: 2 Kings 15:1-16:20; Acts 19:13-41; Psalm 147:1-20; Proverbs 18:4-5 Today’s reading sounds as if Israel changed kings like we change clothes. I’m going to try to simplify it for us. Jeroboam II ruled for a total of 41 years over Israel. In his 27th year, Uzziah became the king of Judah. Uzziah reigned 52 years. He was a good king who pleased the Lord except he didn’t destroy the pagan shrines. He was struck with leprosy and when he died, his son Jotham became king. *** In Uzziah’s 38th year, Zechariah began to rule in Israel. He was king for six months before he was assassinated. He was the fourth generation of Jehu’s descendants which fulfilled Gods word to Jehu. *** Shallum, a man not related to Jehu, became king of Israel. He only ruled one month. Menahem killed him to become Israel’s next king. He was a ruthless killer and ruled for 10 years. He was invaded by King Tiglath-pileser from Assyria and Menahem made the rich people pay 50 pieces of silver each to pay for the lives of Israel. When Menahem died his son, Pekahiah became king. He lasted 2 years and was assassinated by his army commander, Pekah. He reigned for 20 years. During his reign Tiglath-pileser returned and began capturing towns in Israel. Pekah was assassinated by Hosea. *** All the kings of Israel were idolators who did not please God, while in Judah, there were kings who did worship the Lord and pleased him in everything except none of them took down the pagan altars and the people still worshiped their gods on them. Uzziah of Judah was succeeded by his son Jotham. He rebuilt the upper gate of the Temple of the Lord. *** Jotham died and was succeeded by his son, Ahaz. He did not please the Lord but followed the idolatry of Israel’s kings. He was attacked by King Rezin of Aram and Jerusalem was besieged. Ahaz began to lose other territory to the Edomites. Ahaz went to Damascus to discuss peace with King Tiglath-pileser. While he was there he noticed his altar and drew a picture of it and had it sent to Uriah his priest. He had him make one just like it and used it to offer sacrifices. He removed the bronze altar from the Temple of the Lord and placed it on the north side and put his new altar in front of the Temple. Ahaz instructed his priests to start using the new altar instead. He would use the old altar for his own personal use. He made more alterations to the Temple to please the King of Assyria. *** Jesus was crucified north of the Temple. He was replaced by what the Jews thought was a better way just like this new altar Ahaz had copied from the heathen. The worship of the Jews had become so diluted and changed by the time Jesus arrived, he didn’t recognize it. *** King Ahaz worshiped idols so his priests were not Levites. They were heathen priests… Judah had stooped to a new low. When Ahaz died, Hezekiah became the next king. He would have a lot of ungodliness to clean up. *** In Acts, the seven sons of Sceva tried to do what Ahaz was doing. They tried to get godly results with heathen means. They were trying to cast demons out of people using the name of Jesus when they were not even regenerated themselves. They ended up being defeated. This only strengthened the church. Others who had been sorcerers renounced their idolatry and burned their books of evil spells. *** Paul was led by the Spirit to go to Achaia and Macedonia then to Rome. *** The idol makers, led by Demetrius, in Ephesus united together against the Christians because their business had suffered so much by the converts. His main concern was his loss of income but he cloaked it by defending their goddess Artemis. His speech inspired the people to riot. They all ran to the amphitheater taking Gaius and Aristarchus, (Paul’s workers in the ministry) with them. *** The mayor stood up to speak and told them that this was no way to solve the problem. Paul and his men had not broken any laws so if Demetrius and the craftsmen wanted to make a legal charge agains them, they were welcome to do that. Otherwise, they didn’t want to arouse the attention of Rome and then all be in trouble. *** He then dismissed them all to go home. *** The truth stirs up a lot of hornet’s nests. That is what has been going on in our nation. The truth that has been hidden for so long is coming out and people don’t know how to handle it. *** Lord, may we have wisdom to navigate the times we are in. May we not let our emotions cause us to do rash things. May we wait upon you for our marching orders. Thank you that your plan is perfect and right.