But God's hand was on Israel

  

2 Kings 13:22-25

 

October 15, 2021

 

 

Now Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.   But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion on them, and he turned toward them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, nor has he cast them from his presence until now.

When Hazael king of Syria died, Ben-hadad his son became king in his place.   Then Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again from Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the cities that he had taken from Jehoahaz his father in war. Three times Joash defeated him and recovered the cities of Israel.

 

 I’m sure you recall that he only struck the arrow three-time and Elijah got upset and told him Syria would always be a problem in that he did not strike the arrows 5 or 6 times.

 

Amaziah Reigns in Judah

In the second year of Joash the son of Joahaz, king of Israel, Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, began to reign.   He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddin of Jerusalem.   And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not like David his father. He did in all things as Joash his father had done.   But the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places.  And as soon as the royal power was firmly in his hand, he struck down his servants who had struck down the king his father.   But he did not put to death the children of the murderers, according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, where the Lord commanded, “Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. But each one shall die for his own sin.”

 

Amaziah, dad had done a good job passing on his values to his son, and the son made sure the royal powers were firmly in his hand, and he put to death the servants that struck down the king and his father.  Do you wonder if the servants believe the son would give them a pass for making him, king?

 

As I observe our nation, I often wonder how did we get to this point, of no regard for the people who have died to give the rest of us a standard of life where the poorest live better than in many nations in our world.  Where there is no fear of God and many followers of Christ are looked on as evil, for believing in absolutes.   Most have a poor understanding of history, and the family unit is being destroyed.  People are looking to the government and not to God.  

 

Where have all the dads gone?  

 

From the Back porch,

Bob Rice