Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=2Kings+013
2 Kings Chapter 13 (ESV)
1 In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years. 2 He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin; he did not depart from them. 3 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them continually into the hand of Hazael king of Syria and into the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael. 4 Then Jehoahaz sought the favor of the Lord, and the Lord listened to him, for he saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Syria oppressed them. 5 (Therefore the Lord gave Israel a savior, so that they escaped from the hand of the Syrians, and the people of Israel lived in their homes as formerly. 6 Nevertheless, they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin, but walked in them; and the Asherah also remained in Samaria.)
REFLECTION:
- If time permits, please read the whole chapter about the kings of northern kingdom and the last happenings of Elisha.
- Do I find this pattern of “blessings → sins → judgment → repentance → deliverance → sins” familiar? We saw that in the Book of Judges. The term “deliverer” (v5) refers to the person whom God calls and equips to deliver God’s people from danger and oppression.
- We have seen examples of genuine repentance from sin (i.e. David). We saw God responded to such repentance with mercy and overflowing blessings. But the cycle of shallow and superficial repentance which resists a wholehearted turnaround, has such a serious effect that led to the ultimate destruction of Israel.
- Do we only see the repeated pattern in Biblical times or is this a portrayal of human condition? Do I have any recurring sin that also falls in this pattern? What is this particular sin that I often find difficult to overcome?
PRAYER:
Commit this particular sin to God and pray:
Lord, have mercy on me as I’ve committed ____________ ______________against you!
Lord, help me to overcome my tendencies to go back to my old ways!
Lord, I thank You for Your blessing and Your mercy despite of my shortcomings.
HYMN:
Forgive Me, Lord – youtu.be/_x-1-oVxeu4
