Lessons from a Dying Nation: 2 Kings #19
This is an exposition of 2 Kings 15:1-38. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, November 13, 2016.
Intro:
I don’t know how I lived without it. It is that essential to my happiness. I’ve grow so accustomed to it I barely remember my life before it. The fast forward button on my DVR. I can zip right past those annoying commercials and get right to the good stuff. Or if I’m watching a movie to the umpteenth time I can hurry past the nonessentials to the meat of the story. I have heard from at least one of you – that you love listening to my sermons online because you can hit the fast forward and get through the whole thing a lot faster than listening at normal speed and I sound better! In 2 Kings 15 the biblical writer seems to have his finger on the fast forward button. He covers 30 some odd years and seven kings (2 in Judah and 5 in Israel) in just 38 verses. Obviously he is not interested in giving a lot of detail – he just wants to make an impression. His dismissive style in telling the story of Israel’s last kings adds to the sense that Israel is circling the drain. Israel is in her death rattle. The end is very near. I don’t want to take a great deal of time in this message because that would not be in keeping with the style or the sense of the text. I want to rapidly move through the chapter and just point at a few things along the way.
Text: 2 Kings 15:1-38
2 Kings 15 is the story of the last days of Israel.
The kings of Israel are bookended by 2 kings who served Judah.
Azariah or Uzziah who served for 52 years and Jotham who served for 16.
Sandwich between is the story of 5 kings in Israel who served a total of just under 35 years.
There is stability in Judah and instability, chaos and assassination in Israel.
The story is told so as to heighten the contrast.
While it’s clear the emphasis is on God’s judgment of Israel, Judah is not immune.
As we fly over this text I want us to note that…
Thesis: The death rattles of the nation of Israel served to remind us of the inadequacies of a mostly orthodox faith, the certainty of God’s word and the tragic consequences of spiritual compromise.
- A general obedience with mostly orthodox faith may very well experience the sting of God’s judgment. (15:1-7, 32-38)
- The end of the house of Jehu reminds us of the absolute certainty of God’s word and His sovereignty over all things. (15:8-12)
- The fall of Israel reminds us of the devastating consequences of compromise and the horrifying judgment of God’s letting us have our own way. (15:9, 18, 24, 28)
Conclusion:
Let’s not turn a blind eye or deaf ear to Israel’s death rattle.
Let’s learn from their failure.