Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; and confirm for us the work of our hands; Yes, confirm the work of our hands. - Psalm 90:17
Hello again. In today’s message we will consider 3 kings - 2 in the northern kingdom of Israel and 1 in the southern kingdom of Judah. Their names are Jehoahaz, Jehoash, and Amaziah. As always, we will read from the book of 2 Kings and incorporate additional details from 2 Chronicles where appropriate. Are you ready? Here we go!
I. JEHOAHAZ STRUGGLES (2 Kings 13:1-9, 22-23)
During the 23rd year of Joash’s reign in Judah, Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, became the new king of Israel. He reigned from Samaria for 17 years and did evil in the sight of the LORD just as Jeroboam had done. As a result, God’s anger burned against Israel and He allowed Hazael and the Aramaeans to oppress them continuously. Over time, Jehoahaz’s army was decimated and reduced to just 50 horsemen, 10 chariots, and 10,000 footmen. However, when Jehoahaz finally prayed for the LORD’s favor, God listened and determined to deliver Israel from the heavy hand of Aram. Even still, the northern kingdom continued in its idolatrous ways. When Jehoahaz died, his son Jehoash (also called Joash) succeeded him as king.
II. ELISHA DIES (2 Kings 13:14-21)
During the early years of Jehoash’s rule, the renowned prophet Elisha became gravely ill. By this point, Elisha was an old man who had served God faithfully for over 60 years. Jehoash went to visit the dying prophet and wept over him and the weakened military condition of Israel at that time. On his deathbed, Elisha instructed Jehoash to take a bow and arrow and shoot arrows out through the east window of the room. He prophesied that these arrows symbolized Israel’s upcoming victory over Aram at Aphek. Then Elisha told Jehoash to strike the ground with the remaining arrows. The king did so 3 times, but Elisha became upset and explained that he should have done so 5 or 6 times. Because he only did so 3 times, Elisha prophesied that Israel’s coming destruction of the Aramaeans would be incomplete.
After making this final prophecy, Elisha died and was buried. Sometime later, during the spring, a group of men were in the process of burying an anonymous man somewhere near Elisha’s grave. When they saw a marauding band of Moabites approaching, they abandoned their own grave digging, hastily threw the man’s body into Elisha’s existing grave, and fled. When the body touched the remains of Elisha, the man was miraculously resurrected to life. This somewhat peculiar episode is the 3rd instance of physical resurrection recorded in the Bible, and likely occurred many years after Elisha’s death.
III. JEHOASH SUCCEEDS (2 Kings 13:10-13, 24-25)
Jehoash became the king of Israel during the 37th year of Joash, king of Judah. He reigned from Samaria for 16 years. Like his father and all of the rulers in the northern kingdom, he walked in the sinful ways of Jeroboam and led Israel away from the LORD. Jehoash waged war against Amaziah for much of his reign. We will discuss this conflict more extensively next week. When Jehoash died, he was buried with the kings in Samaria and his son Jeroboam (that is, Jeroboam II) took the throne.
As mentioned in the previous point, Elisha prophesied to Jehoash early in his reign that he would defeat the Aramaeans, though not completely, and finally end their lengthy oppression of Israel. It was around this time that Hazael, the mighty king of Aram died, and was replaced by his son Ben-hadad (ie, Ben-hadad III). Ben-hadad was not the skilled military leader that his father was, and Jehoash was able to defeat him 3 times and recover Israelite cities that had been taken by the Aramaeans. These victories fulfilled Elisha’s prophecy.
IV. AMAZIAH SINS (2 Kings 14:1-7; 2 Chronicles 25:1-16)
In the 2nd year of Jehoash, king of Israel, Amaziah became the new king of Judah replacing his father Joash who was assassinated by his own servants. Amaziah was 25 years old when he became king and he ruled in Jerusalem for 29 years. His mother’s name was Jehoaddin. He did right in the sight of the LORD for the most part, but the high places where people offered profane sacrifices and burned incense were still not removed. As soon as he was able, Amaziah had those conspirators who murdered his father put to death. However, he spared their sons in keeping with the Law of Moses.
Amaziah organized and conducted a census in Judah, and in the process enlisted 300,000 choice and skilled men for his army. In addition, he hired 100,000 warriors from Israel for 100 talents of silver. An anonymous man of God warned him to release the Israelite soldiers or else God would stand against his army and bring it down. Having already paid the money to them, Amaziah asked what he should do to redeem it. The prophet stated that having God’s blessing was much more valuable than the money he’d paid, so Amaziah dismissed the Israelite soldiers. They felt humiliated and returned home bitter and angry towards Judah.
Later, the army of Judah marched against Edom (aka, the sons of Seir, Genesis 36:20-30) and struck down 10,000 men in the Valley of Salt. They also captured and killed another 10,000 Edomites by throwing them off a cliff. They took the city of Sela and renamed it Joktheel. However, while the army of Judah was engaged in battle against Edom, the Israelite soldiers whom Amaziah had previously dismissed raided many of the cities in northern Judah, killing some 3,000 people and plundering much spoil. This act of aggression would be a factor leading to the upcoming civil war between Judah and Israel, under Amaziah and Jehoash respectively.
After returning from his resounding victory, Amaziah set up some of Edom’s pagan gods that he’d taken and began to worship them. An unnamed prophet, most likely the same man mentioned a few verses earlier, challenged Amaziah by asking him why he’d seek after the god of a nation that he’d thoroughly defeated. The king threatened the prophet to keep his mouth shut or else, but the prophet bravely predicted that Amaziah would soon be defeated for his idolatry and rejection of the LORD’s counsel.
CONCLUSION
Although the northern and southern kingdoms had split apart many years before, up until now they had never fought against each other. They were all brothers, descendants of Jacob, and despite their many differences they were still family. Judah followed God and used the temple in Jerusalem, while Israel had turned to idolatry and the worship of false gods, but both had been able to maintain the peace with each other.
However, Jehoash’s victory over the Aramaeans after years of Hazael’s oppression gave him confidence in Israel’s military abilities. Meanwhile, Amaziah’s success over the Edomites inflated his bravado concerning Judah’s strength. Both kings were brash and impudent, seemingly more inclined to war than diplomacy, which set the stage for a looming conflict between the north and the south.
I close today’s message with a lesson from the text… bigger is not always better. If having more people actually costs us the blessing of God, it's not worth it. Even if we’ve invested great amounts of money and resources towards increasing our numbers, it is not comparable to the presence of God. This was the prophet’s message to Amaziah. Of course, we want to have both if possible, but if not, it is always better to have the Lord’s favor than to have a larger group.
Hello again. In today’s message we will consider 3 kings - 2 in the northern kingdom of Israel and 1 in the southern kingdom of Judah. Their names are Jehoahaz, Jehoash, and Amaziah. As always, we will read from the book of 2 Kings and incorporate additional details from 2 Chronicles where appropriate. Are you ready? Here we go!
I. JEHOAHAZ STRUGGLES (2 Kings 13:1-9, 22-23)
During the 23rd year of Joash’s reign in Judah, Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, became the new king of Israel. He reigned from Samaria for 17 years and did evil in the sight of the LORD just as Jeroboam had done. As a result, God’s anger burned against Israel and He allowed Hazael and the Aramaeans to oppress them continuously. Over time, Jehoahaz’s army was decimated and reduced to just 50 horsemen, 10 chariots, and 10,000 footmen. However, when Jehoahaz finally prayed for the LORD’s favor, God listened and determined to deliver Israel from the heavy hand of Aram. Even still, the northern kingdom continued in its idolatrous ways. When Jehoahaz died, his son Jehoash (also called Joash) succeeded him as king.
II. ELISHA DIES (2 Kings 13:14-21)
During the early years of Jehoash’s rule, the renowned prophet Elisha became gravely ill. By this point, Elisha was an old man who had served God faithfully for over 60 years. Jehoash went to visit the dying prophet and wept over him and the weakened military condition of Israel at that time. On his deathbed, Elisha instructed Jehoash to take a bow and arrow and shoot arrows out through the east window of the room. He prophesied that these arrows symbolized Israel’s upcoming victory over Aram at Aphek. Then Elisha told Jehoash to strike the ground with the remaining arrows. The king did so 3 times, but Elisha became upset and explained that he should have done so 5 or 6 times. Because he only did so 3 times, Elisha prophesied that Israel’s coming destruction of the Aramaeans would be incomplete.
After making this final prophecy, Elisha died and was buried. Sometime later, during the spring, a group of men were in the process of burying an anonymous man somewhere near Elisha’s grave. When they saw a marauding band of Moabites approaching, they abandoned their own grave digging, hastily threw the man’s body into Elisha’s existing grave, and fled. When the body touched the remains of Elisha, the man was miraculously resurrected to life. This somewhat peculiar episode is the 3rd instance of physical resurrection recorded in the Bible, and likely occurred many years after Elisha’s death.
III. JEHOASH SUCCEEDS (2 Kings 13:10-13, 24-25)
Jehoash became the king of Israel during the 37th year of Joash, king of Judah. He reigned from Samaria for 16 years. Like his father and all of the rulers in the northern kingdom, he walked in the sinful ways of Jeroboam and led Israel away from the LORD. Jehoash waged war against Amaziah for much of his reign. We will discuss this conflict more extensively next week. When Jehoash died, he was buried with the kings in Samaria and his son Jeroboam (that is, Jeroboam II) took the throne.
As mentioned in the previous point, Elisha prophesied to Jehoash early in his reign that he would defeat the Aramaeans, though not completely, and finally end their lengthy oppression of Israel. It was around this time that Hazael, the mighty king of Aram died, and was replaced by his son Ben-hadad (ie, Ben-hadad III). Ben-hadad was not the skilled military leader that his father was, and Jehoash was able to defeat him 3 times and recover Israelite cities that had been taken by the Aramaeans. These victories fulfilled Elisha’s prophecy.
IV. AMAZIAH SINS (2 Kings 14:1-7; 2 Chronicles 25:1-16)
In the 2nd year of Jehoash, king of Israel, Amaziah became the new king of Judah replacing his father Joash who was assassinated by his own servants. Amaziah was 25 years old when he became king and he ruled in Jerusalem for 29 years. His mother’s name was Jehoaddin. He did right in the sight of the LORD for the most part, but the high places where people offered profane sacrifices and burned incense were still not removed. As soon as he was able, Amaziah had those conspirators who murdered his father put to death. However, he spared their sons in keeping with the Law of Moses.
Amaziah organized and conducted a census in Judah, and in the process enlisted 300,000 choice and skilled men for his army. In addition, he hired 100,000 warriors from Israel for 100 talents of silver. An anonymous man of God warned him to release the Israelite soldiers or else God would stand against his army and bring it down. Having already paid the money to them, Amaziah asked what he should do to redeem it. The prophet stated that having God’s blessing was much more valuable than the money he’d paid, so Amaziah dismissed the Israelite soldiers. They felt humiliated and returned home bitter and angry towards Judah.
Later, the army of Judah marched against Edom (aka, the sons of Seir, Genesis 36:20-30) and struck down 10,000 men in the Valley of Salt. They also captured and killed another 10,000 Edomites by throwing them off a cliff. They took the city of Sela and renamed it Joktheel. However, while the army of Judah was engaged in battle against Edom, the Israelite soldiers whom Amaziah had previously dismissed raided many of the cities in northern Judah, killing some 3,000 people and plundering much spoil. This act of aggression would be a factor leading to the upcoming civil war between Judah and Israel, under Amaziah and Jehoash respectively.
After returning from his resounding victory, Amaziah set up some of Edom’s pagan gods that he’d taken and began to worship them. An unnamed prophet, most likely the same man mentioned a few verses earlier, challenged Amaziah by asking him why he’d seek after the god of a nation that he’d thoroughly defeated. The king threatened the prophet to keep his mouth shut or else, but the prophet bravely predicted that Amaziah would soon be defeated for his idolatry and rejection of the LORD’s counsel.
CONCLUSION
Although the northern and southern kingdoms had split apart many years before, up until now they had never fought against each other. They were all brothers, descendants of Jacob, and despite their many differences they were still family. Judah followed God and used the temple in Jerusalem, while Israel had turned to idolatry and the worship of false gods, but both had been able to maintain the peace with each other.
However, Jehoash’s victory over the Aramaeans after years of Hazael’s oppression gave him confidence in Israel’s military abilities. Meanwhile, Amaziah’s success over the Edomites inflated his bravado concerning Judah’s strength. Both kings were brash and impudent, seemingly more inclined to war than diplomacy, which set the stage for a looming conflict between the north and the south.
I close today’s message with a lesson from the text… bigger is not always better. If having more people actually costs us the blessing of God, it's not worth it. Even if we’ve invested great amounts of money and resources towards increasing our numbers, it is not comparable to the presence of God. This was the prophet’s message to Amaziah. Of course, we want to have both if possible, but if not, it is always better to have the Lord’s favor than to have a larger group.