Lessons from a Precarious Yet Secure Kingdom

Lessons from a Precarious Yet Secure Kingdom: 2 Kings #15

Exposition of Second KingsThis is an exposition of 2 Kings 11:1-20. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, October 16, 2016.

Intro:

I don’t consider myself a “nervous Nelly” but I don’t like uncertainty.  I don’t like close games if my team is involved.  I don’t like close calls if it involves the car I’m riding in.  I don’t want to hear, “You passed…barely!”  Thus I find great comfort and encouragement in the doctrine of God’s sovereignty.  I like knowing that His will is going to prevail.  I like knowing that the purposes of God cannot fail.  I’m comforted in knowing that my future is secure in Christ.  I can sing with great gusto, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand!”  That’s why I meet passages like 2 Kings 11 with mixed emotions.  On the one hand greatly encouraged and confirmed in the power and grace of God to perform His word and yet wondering how could failure have been that close?

Back in 2 Samuel 7 God promised David a son would sit on his throne forever.  “And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever” (7:16).  Yet that promise was to be worked out in the turbulence and upheaval of human history.  David died and his son Solomon assumed the throne in the midst of turmoil and struggle.  Following Solomon’s death the kingdom divided.  Ten tribes gathered in the formation of the Northern Kingdom of Israel while David’s heir ruled over the postage stamp sized kingdom to the South, Judah.  Then there came a day in about 840 BC when it looked like there would be no king from the royal linage of David.  The future of the Davidic Kingdom, the eventual arrival of the Messiah and the salvation of the world hung on a single infant hidden away in the house of the Lord!

Our text this evening is the 11th chapter of 2 Kings as we learn some lessons from a precarious yet secure kingdom.

Text: 2 Kings 11:1-20

As I read through and consider the message of 2 Kings 11, it seemed to me the writer was saying in the midst of all the secrecy, assassination, and intrigue, “Do not despair, God ensures the future of His people.”

That really is our hope.  No matter how dark the night, regardless of how precarious the future may seem, God is in control.  He is responsible for the fulfillment of His promise.  He will see to the future of His kingdom and the well being of His people.  This doesn’t mean we have no role to play.  It doesn’t mean that we are mere spectators.  We are responsible for our obedience.  We are to remain faithful and diligent to the task assigned but the burden is on Him, not us.  I, for one, am grateful.

We have in 2 Kings 11 a historical narrative to bring us up to speed on what is happening in the southern kingdom of Judah at the time of Jehu’s coup.  You remember Jehu was anointed king and told to bring an end to the house of Ahab.  He relished this task as he seized power in the North.  He killed Joram and had his body tossed in Naboth’s vineyard.  He went ahead and took out Ahaziah king of Judah since he was there.  Jezebel was tossed out the window and eaten by dogs.  Jehu then called for the heads of the 70 sons of Ahab living in Samaria.  There was the slaughter of the 42 relatives of Ahaziah; followed by the destruction of all who remained from Ahab’s house in Samaria.  He then slaughtered the worshipers of Baal along with their priests and destroyed the temple of Baal.  Jehu then took his seat on the throne of Israel.  But he was not careful to walk in the law of the Lord, the God of Israel with all his heart.  He continued the calf worship of Dan and Bethel.  Though he was promised by God that 4 generations would occupy the throne God began to cut off parts of Israel (10:32).

the 11 could have the heading, “Meanwhile back in Judah…”
What is happening back in Judah given this leadership vacuum?
The king is dead, members of the royal family have been wiped out?
It is a story of a lust for power, cruelty, cunning, deception and redemption.

As we work our way through the text I just want to make some observations.  I want to draw from this tragic tale some lessons that to inform our faith and our living the life to which we’ve been called.

  1. Compromise of the things of God always proves disastrous.
  2. The godless go to great lengths to disrupt the will of God. (11:1)
  3. Our God delights in using the obscure and unknown to accomplish His purpose.  (11:2)
  4. Returning to God demands turning away from any and all competing deities.  (11:17-20)
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