And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. - Ecclesiastes 4:12
Good morning. As we pick up where we ended last Sunday, Uzziah is still the king in Judah. Thus far, Jeroboam II, Zechariah, Shallum, and Menahem have all reigned for some or all of their tenures in Israel during Uzziah’s long administration.
In this message we will meet Pekahiah and Pekah, who also ruled in Israel during the days of Uzziah. We will also introduce Jotham, Uzziah’s son, who became king of Judah after his father died. This is the 26th sermon in our current historical Bible study over the divided kingdom era. Let’s get started!
I. PEKAHIAH (2 Kings 15:23-26)
During the 50th year of King Uzziah’s reign in Judah, Pekahiah became the new king of Israel. He was the son of Menahem and he ruled from Samaria, the capital city of the northern kingdom, for 2 years. Like all of the other kings of Israel, Pekahiah was an evil leader who walked in the sins and idolatry of Jeroboam. He led his kingdom away from the LORD.
Pekah, the son of Remaliah, conspired against Pekahiah. He was joined in his murderous plot by Argob, Arieh, and 50 men of Gilead. Together, they went up against the king and Pekah assassinated him in the palace. Then Pekah took the throne for himself.
II. PEKAH (2 Kings 15:27-31)
Pekah became the king of Israel during Uzziah’s 52nd and final year over Judah. As previously stated, he was the son of Remaliah. He reigned from Samaria for 20 years. He too followed in the sinful ways of Jeroboam and provoked God with his sinful leadership.
During his kingship, Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria returned to the region, no longer content with the bribe of silver that Menahem had paid him a few years earlier. He captured the cities of Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, and Hazor. He invaded Gilead, Galilee, and all the land of Naphtali. The Assyrians essentially seized the northern and Transjordan regions of Israel, and carried away many captives. However, the southern portion of Israel, where Samaria was located, still remained.
Pekah’s reign ended when Hoshea, the son of Elah, assassinated him during the 20th year of Jotham in Judah. Hoshea became the new king of Israel. He would also be its last…
Over the past few chapters, we have discovered a turbulent period of Israel’s history marked with frequent assassinations and royal turnover. Before moving on, let’s take a moment to look back and review the numerous dynasties that ruled over the northern kingdom.
The first was: Jeroboam and Nadab. Second was: Baasha and Elah. Third was: Zimri. Fourth was: Tibni. Fifth was: Omri, Ahab, Ahaziah, and Jehoram. Sixth was: Jehu, Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam II, and Zechariah. Seventh was: Shallum. Eighth was: Mehahem and Pekahiah. Ninth was: Pekah. Tenth, and last, was: Hoshea.
So, during the divided kingdom era, there were 10 different royal dynasties over Israel. By my count, there were 8 assassinations of a sitting king during these years. Meanwhile, in Judah, there was 1 continuous royal dynasty that spanned the entire period. Although it came very close to being severed during the days of Athaliah and Joash, by God’s hand and in accordance with His promise, the line of David remained intact. Quite a contrast between the 2 kingdoms…
III. JOTHAM (2 Kings 15:32-38; 2 Chronicles 27:1-9)
In Pekah’s 2nd year ruling over Israel, Uzziah finally died and his son Jotham became the king in his place. As you might recall from last week’s sermon, Uzziah was a leper during the later years of reign and Jotham served as his coregent. This coregency likely lasted less than 10 years, as Jotham was just 25 years old when he became the singular king of Judah. He ruled for 16 years and his mother’s name was Jerusha. Jotham was a good king who walked in the ways of the LORD, and he didn’t inappropriately enter the temple as his father had done. Still, he didn’t remove the high places where false worship continued to be made.
Jotham built the Upper Gate on the south wall of the temple, which allowed another means of entry into the temple court. He also rebuilt the wall of Ophel, which fortified the area of Jerusalem where the temple and the king’s palace were located. He also built cities in the hill country of Judah, placing fortresses and towers on the wooded hills.
During his reign, Jotham fought against and defeated the Ammonites. They paid him an annual tribute for 3 years in a row which included 100 talents of silver, 10,000 kors or wheat, and 10,000 kors of barley. In today’s measurements, a talent is approximately 75-100 lbs and a kor is just over 5 bushels. Jotham became mighty and renowned because he feared the LORD.
In those days, Rezin, the king of Aram, and Pekah, the king of Israel, formed an alliance. Doesn’t that seem peculiar? These 2 kingdoms had been enemies for many years, as we have seen throughout this series. Why would they join together? Perhaps, it was an effort to deter the Assyrians whose strength was increasing by the day. Rezin and Pekah hoped to add Judah to their alliance, thereby making themselves even more formidable.
For reasons not given in Scripture, Jotham died at the relatively young age of 41. He was buried in Jerusalem with his fathers, the kings who preceded him. Ahaz, his son, took his place.
CONCLUSION
There is an ancient proverb which states, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend”. This saying suggests that 2 opposing parties can and/or should work together against a common enemy. During World War II in the 1940’s, the United States and other western nations allied themselves with the Soviet Union (now Russia) in order to oppose Nazi Germany. Though they were not usually friendly with each other, they agreed that Hitler must be stopped above all else. So they put their differences aside temporarily and joined forces. In today’s message, we read of a similar occurrence between Aram and Israel hoping to deter mighty Assyria.
Another example of this is found in the gospels. Typically the Pharisees and the Sadducees hated one another, but they were united in their contempt for Jesus. The same can be said for the Romans and the Jews, who worked together in concert to crucify Him. Beloved, Jesus taught that Christians would be persecuted for their faith just as He was (John 15:20). Though this world is divided into many competing factions who often rage against one another, there is nothing that unites them more than their mutual hatred of Christ, His people, and His truth.
So as we close today, I encourage Christians everywhere to stand strong in the face of persecution. Though this world may beat us down and try to silence us, we must not relent. The multifaceted forces of darkness will not prevail. Remember, this world is not our home and “He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world.” May God bless you.
Good morning. As we pick up where we ended last Sunday, Uzziah is still the king in Judah. Thus far, Jeroboam II, Zechariah, Shallum, and Menahem have all reigned for some or all of their tenures in Israel during Uzziah’s long administration.
In this message we will meet Pekahiah and Pekah, who also ruled in Israel during the days of Uzziah. We will also introduce Jotham, Uzziah’s son, who became king of Judah after his father died. This is the 26th sermon in our current historical Bible study over the divided kingdom era. Let’s get started!
I. PEKAHIAH (2 Kings 15:23-26)
During the 50th year of King Uzziah’s reign in Judah, Pekahiah became the new king of Israel. He was the son of Menahem and he ruled from Samaria, the capital city of the northern kingdom, for 2 years. Like all of the other kings of Israel, Pekahiah was an evil leader who walked in the sins and idolatry of Jeroboam. He led his kingdom away from the LORD.
Pekah, the son of Remaliah, conspired against Pekahiah. He was joined in his murderous plot by Argob, Arieh, and 50 men of Gilead. Together, they went up against the king and Pekah assassinated him in the palace. Then Pekah took the throne for himself.
II. PEKAH (2 Kings 15:27-31)
Pekah became the king of Israel during Uzziah’s 52nd and final year over Judah. As previously stated, he was the son of Remaliah. He reigned from Samaria for 20 years. He too followed in the sinful ways of Jeroboam and provoked God with his sinful leadership.
During his kingship, Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria returned to the region, no longer content with the bribe of silver that Menahem had paid him a few years earlier. He captured the cities of Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, and Hazor. He invaded Gilead, Galilee, and all the land of Naphtali. The Assyrians essentially seized the northern and Transjordan regions of Israel, and carried away many captives. However, the southern portion of Israel, where Samaria was located, still remained.
Pekah’s reign ended when Hoshea, the son of Elah, assassinated him during the 20th year of Jotham in Judah. Hoshea became the new king of Israel. He would also be its last…
Over the past few chapters, we have discovered a turbulent period of Israel’s history marked with frequent assassinations and royal turnover. Before moving on, let’s take a moment to look back and review the numerous dynasties that ruled over the northern kingdom.
The first was: Jeroboam and Nadab. Second was: Baasha and Elah. Third was: Zimri. Fourth was: Tibni. Fifth was: Omri, Ahab, Ahaziah, and Jehoram. Sixth was: Jehu, Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam II, and Zechariah. Seventh was: Shallum. Eighth was: Mehahem and Pekahiah. Ninth was: Pekah. Tenth, and last, was: Hoshea.
So, during the divided kingdom era, there were 10 different royal dynasties over Israel. By my count, there were 8 assassinations of a sitting king during these years. Meanwhile, in Judah, there was 1 continuous royal dynasty that spanned the entire period. Although it came very close to being severed during the days of Athaliah and Joash, by God’s hand and in accordance with His promise, the line of David remained intact. Quite a contrast between the 2 kingdoms…
III. JOTHAM (2 Kings 15:32-38; 2 Chronicles 27:1-9)
In Pekah’s 2nd year ruling over Israel, Uzziah finally died and his son Jotham became the king in his place. As you might recall from last week’s sermon, Uzziah was a leper during the later years of reign and Jotham served as his coregent. This coregency likely lasted less than 10 years, as Jotham was just 25 years old when he became the singular king of Judah. He ruled for 16 years and his mother’s name was Jerusha. Jotham was a good king who walked in the ways of the LORD, and he didn’t inappropriately enter the temple as his father had done. Still, he didn’t remove the high places where false worship continued to be made.
Jotham built the Upper Gate on the south wall of the temple, which allowed another means of entry into the temple court. He also rebuilt the wall of Ophel, which fortified the area of Jerusalem where the temple and the king’s palace were located. He also built cities in the hill country of Judah, placing fortresses and towers on the wooded hills.
During his reign, Jotham fought against and defeated the Ammonites. They paid him an annual tribute for 3 years in a row which included 100 talents of silver, 10,000 kors or wheat, and 10,000 kors of barley. In today’s measurements, a talent is approximately 75-100 lbs and a kor is just over 5 bushels. Jotham became mighty and renowned because he feared the LORD.
In those days, Rezin, the king of Aram, and Pekah, the king of Israel, formed an alliance. Doesn’t that seem peculiar? These 2 kingdoms had been enemies for many years, as we have seen throughout this series. Why would they join together? Perhaps, it was an effort to deter the Assyrians whose strength was increasing by the day. Rezin and Pekah hoped to add Judah to their alliance, thereby making themselves even more formidable.
For reasons not given in Scripture, Jotham died at the relatively young age of 41. He was buried in Jerusalem with his fathers, the kings who preceded him. Ahaz, his son, took his place.
CONCLUSION
There is an ancient proverb which states, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend”. This saying suggests that 2 opposing parties can and/or should work together against a common enemy. During World War II in the 1940’s, the United States and other western nations allied themselves with the Soviet Union (now Russia) in order to oppose Nazi Germany. Though they were not usually friendly with each other, they agreed that Hitler must be stopped above all else. So they put their differences aside temporarily and joined forces. In today’s message, we read of a similar occurrence between Aram and Israel hoping to deter mighty Assyria.
Another example of this is found in the gospels. Typically the Pharisees and the Sadducees hated one another, but they were united in their contempt for Jesus. The same can be said for the Romans and the Jews, who worked together in concert to crucify Him. Beloved, Jesus taught that Christians would be persecuted for their faith just as He was (John 15:20). Though this world is divided into many competing factions who often rage against one another, there is nothing that unites them more than their mutual hatred of Christ, His people, and His truth.
So as we close today, I encourage Christians everywhere to stand strong in the face of persecution. Though this world may beat us down and try to silence us, we must not relent. The multifaceted forces of darkness will not prevail. Remember, this world is not our home and “He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world.” May God bless you.