Sunday Morning Service (II Kings 14:23-II Kings 15)

II Kings 14:23-II Kings 15

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“To The Point Of No Return” • 9.3.17 • Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service

Intro

- We'll begin our study today in the Northern Kingdom.

Text

• II Kings 14:23-27 : "In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, became king in Samaria, and reigned forty-one years. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. He restored the territory of Israel from the entrance of Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord God of Israel, which He had spoken through His servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet who was from Gath Hepher. For the Lord saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter; and whether bond or free, there was no helper for Israel. And the Lord did not say that He would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven; but He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash." : Jeroboam II is a King of distinction among the Kings of the North. He reigns a decade more than any other King.

- For forty-one years, he held the reins of power and he was completely corrupt spiritually. He maintained the religious traditions of his name's sake all the days of his rule.

- Aside from being a spiritual disaster, Jeroboam was strong King boasing of one of the largest territorial expansions among any of the Kings, from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea!

- God had prophecied that this would be through Jonah, the son of Ammitai! Yes, the same one! God delivered a word through him and Israel experienced this victory. Why?

- God works wonders among the godless people of Israel to remind them that He is the true God. It is our working thesis that He left abundant proof of His love and care for Israel.

- The only other purpose is discovered in verse 26. "He saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter." The word "bitter" speaks of a stroke, as from a whip.

- The allusion to the Exodus and God's oversight since then cannot be missed! Even here, in their deepest rebellion and rejection of Him, He casts His eye over them and chooses to act.

- This is the message that God repeatedly leaves for us in II Kings! There wasn't anyone that would give aid to them so He saved Israel by Jeroboam's hand.

- God did not say that He would erase Israel but It had nothing to do with the Kings or their righteousness. It was all because of His mercy!

- That is the only way that God is compelled to act, either in the Old or the New Testament! God saved Israel and they prospered as a nation for forty-one years!

- That time of stability was meant to be a time of repentance. Paul will later remark that it's His kindness that leads us to repentance. (Romans 2:4) They missed the cue! Verse 28.

• II Kings 14:28,29 : "Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did—his might, how he made war, and how he recaptured for Israel, from Damascus and Hamath, what had belonged to Judah—are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? So Jeroboam rested with his fathers, the kings of Israel. Then Zechariah his son reigned in his place." : Jeroboam's spiritual life was non-existent, but his civic career was incredible. His knack for expansion continued, even into the realm of Syria!

- Additionally, archeologists tell us that Israel's housing during this time was much more impressive than in times past. Did their prosperity point to God's favor? Not at all!

- Which wealthy celebrity best represents God's view to our nation? I'm sure there are a few, but they are exceptions to the rule!

- Instead of acknowledging God, glorifying Him for His goodness, they gloried instead in His gifts toward them, not knowing how close they were to their own doom! Chapter 15.

• II Kings 15:1-4 : "In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah the son of Amaziah, king of Judah, became king. He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done, except that the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places." : As with his contemporary in the North, Azariah, also known as "Uzziah," held the distinction of having the longest reign at the time of his ascension to the throne.

- Uzziah came to power after his Father Amaziah disgraced himself by adopting the idols of Edom and pridefully attempting to defeat Israel in an ill-advised war. He was ultimately assassinated.

- Incredibly, his son is allowed to take the throne, which wasn't normally the standard procedure of the ancient near east. When you removed a Father, your removed a dynasty.

- But because of God's providential hand, Uzziah did ascend to power and maintained that vital connection to the throne of David, just as God had promised!

- As you can see, his reign was marked by doing right in God's sight, except for his unwillingness to deal with the forbidden worship at the high places.

- That remains a sticking point with God and one that I feel compelled to address: Don't think that God looks the other way in areas of our compromise! God keeps recording this for us to see.

- Areas of compromise which we believe are not worthy of our attention because God's hand has not come down upon us or because the action is widely accepted, cannot be tolerated!

- As for Uzziah's reign, we'll get our details from II Chronicles 26. Please turn there and I'll present the highlights.

- Verse 5 tells us that he sought the Lord in the days of Zechariah and that as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper. I'd hold onto that verse if I were you!

- Verse 8 summarizes his foreign policy, even as his fame reached the gates of Egypt! Verses 9 and 10 speak of his domestic agenda and the ambitious repairs he made in Jerusalem.

- Remember that Israel had greatly damaged the defense structure during his Father's reign.

- Verses 11 through 15 speak of his military genius, as he provided the latest technology for his fighting men. Listen to the summary given in verse 15.

• II Chronicles 26:15 : "And he made devices in Jerusalem, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and large stones. So his fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously helped till he became strong." : Uzziah was marvelously helped till he became strong. The NET says that "he received tremendous support." God's wisdom and power were his.

- He prospered in what he did, but it was that prosperity that led to his downfall. Verse 16.

• II Chronicles 26:16-18 : "But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. So Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him were eighty priests of the Lord—valiant men. And they withstood King Uzziah, and said to him, 'It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed! You shall have no honor from the Lord God.'" : When Uzziah became strong, his heart was lifted up!

- Before he knew of his strength, there was a dependence and a heart that was willing to yield to God. Don't miss out on the grace of weakness! When you are weak, He is made strong!

- The King's heart lifted him to destruction and this was how it happened.

- Uzziah had the idea that he wanted to burn incense inside of the Temple of God. He's an incredibly successful King, but even Solomon was not allowed in God's Temple.

- God reserved that for the Priests alone who had been born from the specific line of Levi.

- When they realized the King's intentions, the High Priest and 80 of his fellow priests ran in after him! These men are noted as being men of bravery because they stood against the King!

- They are blunt with the King that He cannot do what he set out to do. The world would bow and give him honor, but God wouldn't and that would be clear in just a moment. Verse 19.

• II Chronicles 26:19,20 : "Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the incense altar. And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and there, on his forehead, he was leprous; so they thrust him out of that place. Indeed he also hurried to get out, because the Lord had struck him." : The King was confronted by the Priests knowing that he was wrong and he was still furious!

- The word speaks of "boiling over" with anger, like a covered pot of water on the stove.

- He only continued for a moment longer and then the King became aware that he had physically changed. Everyone was staring in shock until Azariah the Priest ushered him out.

- In that moment, even the King realized his error. He hurried to comply because he knew that this was not random chance. God had struck him. Let's go back to II Kings 15.

• II Kings 15:5-7 : "Then the Lord struck the king, so that he was a leper until the day of his death; so he dwelt in an isolated house. And Jotham the king’s son was over the royal house, judging the people of the land. Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? So Azariah rested with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the City of David. Then Jotham his son reigned in his place." : What is worse than the Lord taking your life? Leaving you as a living example of His judgment!

- The King was a leper until the day of his death! We don't know how long he lived in that condition, but he faced a daily reminder of his foolishness and did so alone!

- Lepers were generally confined to colonies outside of the city, but when you are the King, you have a house that you can stay in near your son's side, as he rules in your stead.

- In these last few sections, we have seen relatively stable conditions for both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms. That is about to change in the godless north.  

- We are about to witness the final record of five of the last six Kings of Israel. Verse 8.

• II Kings 15:8-12 : "In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as his fathers had done; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. Then Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and struck and killed him in front of the people; and he reigned in his place. Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah, indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. This was the word of the Lord which He spoke to Jehu, saying, 'Your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.' And so it was." : Zechariah followed his Father's example in religion, but without any of His Father's civic ingenuity.

- He was pure evil and lasted only 6 months before Shallum assassinated him in the sight of all the people, meaning that they all agreed that he should die! Nobody raised an objection!

- When you think of the consequences of a godless life, think of this: What do evil people think that evil is? The evil people of Israel looked at Zechariah as a needless evil!

- Even here God fulfilled his promise. Zechariah was Jehu's fourth descendant to be King!

- I wonder if he knew of that prophecy of II Kings 10:30. If he did, it's a wonder that he lived in such an evil way.

- He might have reasoned, "Since He had already promised, why not live any way that I want to?" God's mercy allowed him to reign 6 months more than he deserved! Verse 13.

• II Kings 15:13-16 : "Shallum the son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria. For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, came to Samaria, and struck Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria and killed him; and he reigned in his place. Now the rest of the acts of Shallum, and the conspiracy which he led, indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. Then from Tirzah, Menahem attacked Tiphsah, all who were there, and its territory. Because they did not surrender, therefore he attacked it. All the women there who were with child he ripped open." : Jehu had 4 descendants that sat on the throne. Shallum, the assassin, had 4 weeks, the second shortest reign in Israel's history! Interestingly, the two stories are similar.

- When Zimri assasinated Elah, his General Omri was away on business. History repeats itself.

- Menahem was a general in Jeroboam's army who He had also been away when the conspiracy took Jeroboam's son.

- When he came into Samaria, he quickly disposed of the interloper and took his place. Verse 16 let's us know what kind of man we are dealing with.

- When he left Tirzah on his way to Samaria, he destroyed the city and mercilessly made sure that there wouldn't be any descendants to rise to power again. Verse 17.

• II Kings 15:17-22 : " In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi became king over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not depart all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. Pul king of Assyria came against the land; and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to strengthen the kingdom under his control. And Menahem exacted the money from Israel, from all the very wealthy, from each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and did not stay there in the land. Now the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? So Menahem rested with his fathers. Then Pekahiah his son reigned in his place." Menahem provided more of the same for Israel and it's in his reign that God begins to allow the Assyrians to begin sniffing around.

- Menahem has displayed his cruelty for all the world to see. He hasn't seen anything yet! Assyria specialized in cruelty! At first, Menahem sought to control their mayhem.

- He paid them off and then sought to make them his enforcers. That seemed to suffice for the moment. But having received such an easy bounty, you know they will be back! Verse 23.

• II Kings 15:23-26 : "In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. Then Pekah the son of Remaliah, an officer of his, conspired against him and killed him in Samaria, in the citadel of the king’s house, along with Argob and Arieh; and with him were fifty men of Gilead. He killed him and reigned in his place. Now the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel." : Pekahiah reigned for two years only to be assassinated by his own officer! A conspiracy arose and he died in the citadel of the King's house.

- With the carousel of Kings moving so rapidly, there is now no safe place to stand within the Kingdom of Israel.

- Strongholds have become seed beds for conspiracy and subterfuge. Pekahiah dies at the hand of a trusted officer and his gang of Gileadites. Verse 27.

• II Kings 15:27-31 : "In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah the son of Remaliah became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maachah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali; and he carried them captive to Assyria. Then Hoshea the son of Elah led a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and struck and killed him; so he reigned in his place in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah. Now the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel." : Pekah reigned for 20 years with the same commitment to the idolatry that plagued Israel since the days of Jeroboam.

- Assyria had been happy to leave Israel alone since the time of Menahem, but the temptation to acquire Israel's land was too great to ignore. With such weak leadership, the time was right.

- Tiglath Pileser came and took away the cities on the East Side of the river, as well as the region of the Galilee. Remember the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh?

- They stayed on the other side of the river because it made financial sense. They did not get the benefit of being near the majority of Israel's forces and were often plagued by rival nations.

- Here we see that they were the first to be taken captive and it remains the truth today: If you live on the fringe, you are the enemy's first target! It's always best to be in the center of God's will!

- With Assyria's actions, the Northern Kingdom is now only 30 miles wide and 40 miles long!

- When this took place Hoshea saw an excellent opportunity to assume the throne and he killed the King! Hoshea is the final King in Israel's history. Verse 32.

• II Kings 15:32-38 : "In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok. And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord; he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done. However the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. He built the Upper Gate of the house of the Lord. Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? In those days the Lord began to send Rezin king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah against Judah. So Jotham rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David his father. Then Ahaz his son reigned in his place." : Mercifully, we move back to the south and find Jotham, whose reign is marked by doing right, though he didn't address the high places.

- What he did do was to build the "Upper Gate" of the house of the Lord. It was a link between the royal house and the Temple complex.

- Unlike his Father, Jotham, whose name means "Jehovah is perfect," sought to establish a true relationship between the King and the Priests! This is quite encouraging spiritually for Judah.

- But with that, you can also see that it wasn't enough. God began to allow pressure from Syria and Israel to bear upon the people of Judah. We'll get into this next time.

Conclusion
- It's easy to say that Israel's fate was secured when they abandoned God. Their prosperity for a time was a chance given by God to repent. Their chaos is their reward. Let every nation beware.

- In the South, things are also headed for disaster, but there are rays of hope. Uzziah was the King who restored what the enemy had taken from his Father.

- He went too far when he attempted to enter the Temple. It was his son, "Jehovah is perfect," who restored the bridge leading from the palace to the Temple. Is this not an apt picture of Christ!

- When He came, He was not only a bridge builder, but the Bridge Himself, who restored access to the presence of God.

- He responded to our need, became our sacrifice and now serves as our High Priest!

- He is the Bridge to God and the Temple where God is met! That acknowledgement was Judah's hope and is ours as well.