25 April

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2 Kings 12-14

2 Kings 12

Coming to the throne at seven years of age, Jehoash reigned for forty years. All that was beneficent in his reign would seem to have been directly due to the influence of Jehoiada, the priest, for "he did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him."

During this period the Temple was rebuilt. In order to do this, there was, first, the correction of official abuses; and then the institution of a voluntary system of giving. Yet the reform was not complete, for the high places were not taken away, and the people were still committing idolatry thereon.

The chapter ends with a threatened invasion by Hazael, and Jehoash, in craven cowardice, bought him off by giving him all the vessels and treasures of the house of God. Such a method of averting attack is always perilous, and transitory in its effect.

2 Kings 13

Under Jehoahaz the story of corruption ran on in Israel. It was the story of continuation of evil as moral, and its consequent continuation as punishment. Readiness of God to forgive is revealed in the parenthesis. A consciousness of the terrible condition of the people seems to have taken possession of the king, and he besought the Lord. In answer to his prayer a saviour was raised up. No particulars are here given. In all probability they are to be found in chapter fourteen.

Jehoahaz was succeeded by Jehoash, the chief event of whose reign was his visit to Elisha. The prophet was now sick and feeble. In the midst of his perplexities, Jehoash went to see him. It is interesting to notice that he addressed him with the selfsame words which Elisha had used of Elijah at the moment of his translation, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel, and the horsemen thereof!" and here evidently with the same meaning. The king recognized that the true strength of the nation was not its military equipment, but its possession of such as interpreted the will of God. In his intercourse with Elisha the weakness of the king was manifest. While following the prophetic signs, he lacked that passion and consecration which were necessary to the full accomplishment of his purpose. There was no heart in his striking on the ground with the arrows, and the prophet foretold his limitation and ultimate failure.

2 Kings 14

Turning back to Judah, we find Amaziah on the throne. "He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, yet...".  The constantly repeated story of limitation in loyalty is told again. Success attended his arms, but issued in the lifting up of his own heart, and his foolish challenge to Jehoash the king of Israel, whose answer was characterized by contempt for Amaziah and yet evidenced a desire for peace. To this the king of Judah would not yield, with the result that he was defeated, and seems to have been kept a prisoner until the death of Jehoash. He was succeeded by his son Azariah.

In Israel, Jeroboam II occupied the throne. In his life, he also was evil before God. A man of war, he brought about the restoration of some lost territory, restoring the boundary line. This was accomplished under the influence of Jonah, the son of Amittai, who, without doubt, was the one sent to Ninevah. In the Book which bears his name we have only the account of that mission. It is evident, however, that he also exercised a ministry among his own people.

Jeroboam's victories were directly due to God's vision of the diction of His people. His final doom was not yet pronounced, and in all likeliliood Jeroboam was the saviour promised to Jehoahaz, who, for a while, restored a measure of liberty to the nation.