Skip to main content

Jehoahaz and Recoginizing Blessing

 


In the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah king of Judah Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not there from. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, all their days. 2 Kings 13:1-3

            When do you thank God for all the blessings you have? When you are really successful, on the way up, or at the lowest point? Jehoahaz king of Israel was yet another in the line of evil kings. God, subsequently, did not bless Israel and allowed them to face the consequences of their sin. A great deal of the hurt is simply from the fact that a majority of the world does not honor God. God has no obligation to bless them in their rebellion and thus the wages of sin are paid out at death, certainly, but also in living. Yet, the Lord relents from time to time when people will turn to Him.

            This happened when Jehoahaz besought the Lord, and it is said that the Lord listened to him (cf. 2 Kings 13:4), and He provided a savior for Israel (cf. 2 Kings 13:5).  The Lord saw the pain and the suffering that Israel was going through, and He heard the prayer of Jehoahaz. Yet, after being delivered, the people went right back to the sins that had plagued the kingdom from its outset.  

            When things get really bad in this nation and world, we often have a people who will run to God, but, as soon as the bad times seem to fade, we see many fade back into the sin from which they once ran. Part of this is our failure to recognize the blessings of God in every day and only focus on the present circumstance that seems like the end of the world. My hope is that you will take a few minutes each day to thank God for all the little things with which you are blessed: your boss who can be really mean (it is nice to have a job), your dented up car (it is nice to have one to drive) your aching body (it is nice to be able to have movement). We need to be thankful always and, in turn, remain faithful always. When we fail to recognize all the blessing around, we are tempted to go our own way like Israel of old. We need to let thankfulness be the standard each day no matter what comes. Praise Jehovah!

Grace and Peace,

R.D. Beavers

 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Don't Raise an Ahaz

           Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and he did not that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah his God, like David his father. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations, whom Jehovah cast out from before the children of Israel.   And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree . 2 Kings 16:2-4                   When was the first time you drove a car? What about the first time you jumped off a diving board or gave a speech? After that first time, it certainly became easier. What about the first lie you told? Did it become easier? King Ahaz of Judah was evil and far from the example of David. Ahaz was the first to offer child sacrifices to t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Abijah and Totality

  Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam (also Abijah) over Judah.Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father. 1 Kings 15:1-3        Do you ever wonder how someone who gets things mostly right can still be so wrong? It is mind-boggling if we do not consider that God judges man in totality. From our text above, it is hard to see anything good that can be said about Abijam (Abijah) son of Rehoboam. After all, it is evident that he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.      So where do we learn the details? 2 Chronicles 13:1-22 gives us further evidence of Abijah’s issues. We know he i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Can a Christian Celebrate a Secular Christmas?

         Can a Christian celebrate a secular Christmas? This is a good question and one that deserves an honest answer. This week I read the following, “If you don’t talk about Jesus at Christmas time, you miss Jesus. If you do not sing those scriptural songs focusing on Jesus, you miss Jesus. You might have grown up in a church where “Christmas” was a “Jesus-free” day.” These were some accusations leveled against some brethren by a well-known preacher in our brotherhood. In this article, I wish to set the record straight on how it is rather simple to celebrate a secular Christmas and it not be a “Jesus-free” day. I contend that no day is “Jesus free” for a New Testament Christian.            First, this brother accuses the church “of not knowing what to do with Christmas. They celebrate it in their homes, but avoid it at all costs in church.” I contend that the preachers who preach the whole counsel of God know what to do with...
Post a Comment
Read more