Sun.’s Devo - The Downfall of the Kings

Read: 2 Kings 13:1-14:29; Acts 18:23-19:12; Psalm 146:1-10; Proverbs 18:2-3 Jehu rid the land of Baal worship but worshipped the golden calves Jeroboam had set up in Bethel and Dan. The Lord was not happy with him and gave them over to the Syrians who oppressed them. When Jehu died, his son Jehoahaz reigned over Israel for 17 years. When he died, Joash his son reigned in his place. *** When Jehoash came to rule in Israel, Joash had been ruling in Judah sixteen years. Jehoash was also evil and walked in the sins of Israel. Israel and Judah had warred against each other now for years. *** Elisha became very sick and Joash went to see him and wept over him. Elisha told him to take a bow and arrow and shoot the arrow out the window toward Syria. When he did, Elisha told him that it was the Lord’s arrow of victory over Syria. Then Elisha told him to take the rest of the arrows and strike the ground. He only struck the ground three times so that was how many times he would defeat the Syrians. Elisha lamented that he should have struck it six or seven times and then they would have totally ended the Syrians. *** Just as the sign told them, Joash defeated the Syrians three times. In Judah, Amaziah became king and he reigned 29 years in Jerusalem. He was a good king who did what was right in God’s eyes, though not like David. The people still worshipped in the high places. When he had established his kingdom, he killed the people who had killed his father but he did not kill their children. *** Amaziah also killed 10,000 Edomites and took Sela and renamed it Joktheel. Then he sent a message to Jehoash in Israel saying he wanted to face off with his army. Jehoash warned him not to get so confident just because he had defeated Edom; he should be content with his victory and go home. *** Amaziah wound’t listen to his advice so Jehoash came with his army to meet him at Beth-shemesh in Judah. Israel defeated Judah and took Amaziah captive. The army of Israel entered Jerusalem and took down part of the wall and stole all the gold and silver and the vessels in the Temple and the king’s palace. They also took hostages. *** Jehoash died and his son Jeroboam became king of Israel. Amaziah lived 15 more years after Jehoash’s death. Amaziah was killed by his own men in Lachish and brought back to Jerusalem to be buried. The people of Judah made Azariah, his sixteen year old son king. Azariah built Elath and restored it to Judah. *** Jeroboam was reigning in Israel and reigned 41 years. He was an evil king and caused Israel to sin. He restored the border of Israel, Damascus and Hamath because of the mercy of God according to the words of Jonah the prophet. When he died, Zechariah his son reigned in Israel. *** In Acts, Paul left Antioch and went to Galatia and Phrygia encouraging the believers. *** Priscilla and Aquilla met Apollos who came to Ephesus and was a great teacher. He knew about Jesus and John’s baptism. Priscilla and Aquilla told him about the baptism in the Holy Spirit and he believed them. He wanted to go to Achaia and the church wrote him letters of recommendation. He took the letters and went to Corinth. Paul came to Ephesus and they had not heard about the baptism in the Holy Spirit. So he explained to them how the Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost to give them power and boldness to be witnesses. Then he laid his hands on them and prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. About 12 of them did and spoke in tongues. Paul stayed there three months boldly speaking in the synagogue about Jesus and salvation. Some were stubborn and refused to believe. They spoke negatively about Jesus but Paul continued to preach for two years. *** God was doing miracles through Paul so that even handkerchiefs and aprons Paul had prayed over were sent to people that were sick and they were healed and delivered. *** Lord, we long to see that kind of power to save and deliver return to the church. Thank you that we will see that in our day.