The God of Scripture: 2 Kings #11
This is an exposition of 2 Kings 8:1-15. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, August 28, 2016.
Intro:
The crowning moment of creation was when God created man in His own image and likeness. Male and female, created in the image and likeness of God. Created to be in relationship with God. Made to fellowship with God. Image bearers. With the fall came consequences. Man was separated from God. Fellowship was broken. Intimacy was replaced with distance. Love and transparency was replaced with enmity and cover-up. Yet man retained the image and likeness. Granted the image of God was now marred but not eliminated. Man was an imperfect reflection of God. Salvation begins the reversal of all that damage. The one who was estranged is reunited. The alien is brought near. The one declared righteous is now in the process of being made righteous. As redeemed sons and daughters of Adam we are now to accurately represent our heavenly Father. As we seek to live and declare the Gospel we are to seek to make God known. We are to reveal the God of Scripture. God as He is not as we think of Him. Not as we image Him but as He is. This is especially relevant in our day. A day in which people surf the internet and have access to every imaginable religious teaching not to mention some you would never imagine!
As we speak to our friends, neighbors and families we must make certain the God we present is the God who reveals himself in Scripture. The true is, the God of Scripture is far more interesting, surprising and shocking than any you could image. Our responsibility is not to make Him desirable, or palatable, or acceptable to modern thinkers – our responsibility is to declare Him as He is revealed. He wants to be known and He has given us this book in order to reveal himself. Scripture is God’s revelation. It is God saying, “This is who I am.” Keep that in mind as we approach our text this evening found in the 8th chapter of 2 Kings.
Text: 2 Kings 8:1-15
This is not exactly a spellbinding narrative.
I could easily skip over it.
After all, why should we care about a woman involved in a land dispute after a 7 year absence?
What interest is there in this conversation between a prophet’s servant and a king?
Who cares about another coup in the ancient near east?
What does any of this have to do with me seeking to live my faith in the 21st century?
We should care because it is a revelation of God. We should care because God makes himself known through these various encounters. It is here we learn of the character and nature of our God. Whenever we approach Scripture we must view the narrative through a God-centered perspective. We are not looking for historical trivia or seeking interesting tidbits concerning world players. We are in search of the living God. We are pursuing the knowledge of God. What does this passage reveal about our God? What can we glean from these encounters?
I’m convinced that as we work our way through this text we learn that…
Thesis: The God of the Bible holds men accountable and dispenses righteous judgment yet is endowed with incredible kindness and exhibits remarkable compassion.
Our God is holy and Our God is merciful.
He does what is right and He is compassionate.
He slays and He revives.
This text is yet another reminder to me that our God refuses to be pigeonholed.
He just doesn’t fit neatly into our categories.
Just when you think you have him nailed down – He wiggles.
There are three things I want to note quickly from this text.
- The Bible reveals a God who shows kindness to the nameless and helpless. (8:1-2)
- The Bible reveals a God who holds accountable those who have heard the truth. (8:3-6)
- The Bible reveals a God who mixes tears with brimstone. (8:7-15)
Conclusion:
God is holy and righteous and so will do what is right but there is a note of divine sadness in his judgment. There is no fiendish delight in God’s judgment. Andrew Bonar saids, “Jesus wept as he said, Depart, ye cursed.” Bonar went on to say of the judgment of God, “I think that the shower of fire and brimstone was wet with the tears of God as it fell, for God has no pleasure in the death of him that dieth.”
The God of the Bible holds men accountable and dispenses righteous judgment yet is endowed with incredible kindness and exhibits remarkable compassion.
He is a God who shows kindness to the nameless and helpless.
He is a God who holds accountable those who have heard the truth.
He is a God who mixes tears with brimstone.
This is the God we worship and serve.
This is the God of Scripture.