Total Defeat

He burned the house of the Lord, the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down. All the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem. Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried into exile the rest of the people who were left in the city and the deserters who had defected to the king of Babylon - all the rest of the population. But the captain of the guard left some of the poorest people of the land to be vinedressers and tillers of the soil. II Kings 25:9-12 NRSV

Total defeat.

Jerusalem is not just besieged, it is totally destroyed. The Lord's house, the king's house, all the houses of the rich, the important, the talented and the intellectual are torn down. The last of the city's protection is broken: the walls around Jerusalem. The king, the royal family, the priests and their families, all the ruling upper classes and creative middle classes have already been taken into exile. All the rest, except for the poorest laborers, are now carried away. This is total defeat of God's city.

Was this defeat carried out on the orders of the King of Babylon? Yes. But it was by God's will, God who was so angered by the people's unfaithfulness that he "expelled them from his presence" (II Kings 24:20).

Have you ever felt expelled from God's presence? What did you do about it? What would it look like if you were to be expelled today?

God, we pray that we may never anger you so much that you expel us from your presence. Have mercy on us, dear Lord! In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims 

Holding Fast to God

He trusted in the Lord the God of Israel; so that there was no one like him among all the kings of Judah after him, or among those who were before him. For he held fast to the Lord; he did not depart from following him but kept the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses. II Kings 18:5-6 NRSV

At this point in 2 Kings, it sure is nice to see that there was at least one king that did as God commanded.

In fact, Hezekiah did more than just keep God's commandments -- he also removed every idol and worship place in Judah. He was thorough in his obedience. He kept God's commandments and under his rule the people did as well. So, they all prospered and lived well under his reign.

Today's reading reminds us how thoroughly God asks us to obey. God does not want us just to go to worship; God wants us to live Christian lives. God does not want us just to tithe; God wants us to love our neighbor. God doesn't just want us to obey 9 out of 10 commandments or to love God but not love ourselves. God wants all of us, all of the time.

Are you holding fast to God?

God, you ask us to fully obey you and follow your commandments. Sometimes that is so hard! We try, Lord, but often we fall short. Help us to be more obedient in all areas of our lives. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims

Doing Evil in the Sight of the Lord

He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, yet not like the kings of Israel who were before him. King Shalmaneser of Assyria came up against him; Hoshea became his vassal, and paid him tribute. But the King of Assyria found treachery in Hoshea; for he had sent messengers to King So of Egypt, and offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year; therefore the king of Assyria confined him and imprisoned him.  II Kings 17: 2-4 NRSV

Here we see the continuation of the kings who followed Solomon - both those in the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Even the kings who did not do evil in the sight of the Lord still never got rid of all the idol worship in their country. Then we get to Hoshea. He not only does evil but begins to let Israel fall under the vassalage of Assyria. In trying to get out of that situation, Hoshea ends up making it worse for himself and he is put into prison.

Hopefully, if you are reading this devotional, you would not be considered doing "evil in the sight of the Lord!" However, neither you nor I can say we are following God 100%. We both probably have some idols still around our house and in our lives.  We must continue to do what God asks of us, following in God's footsteps each day. And if we find ourselves becoming vassals of something or someone other than God, may God help us from digging ourselves into an even worse situation!

Amen.

Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims

Deception on God's Behalf

The Lord said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in carrying out what I consider right, and in accordance with all that was in my heart have dealt with the house of Ahab, your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel." II Kings 10:30 NRSV

From the moment of his anointing, Jehu uses deception as God's instrument of justice:

The killing of the King of Israel on Naboth's former vineyard.

Encouraging the eunichs to throw Jezebel to the ground where the dogs licked up her blood.

Tricking the advisers to kill all 70 of the previous king's sons, then killing all the advisers.

The complete slaughter of the Baal worshippers with the destruction of their temple, after commanding all of them to attend a sacrifice.

How has God asked you to be deceptive on God's behalf in order to bring about justice?

God, although you don't ask me to kill on behalf of justice, you may sometimes ask me to be deceptive. Please guide me, Lord, so that whatever I do is your will not mine. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Windows In the Sky

Then the captain on whose hand the King leaned said to the man of God, "Even if the Lord were to make windows in the sky, could such a thing happen?" But he said, "You shall see it with your own eyes but you shall not eat from it." II Kings 7:2 NRSV

II Kings is full of stories about Elishah who has certainly received double the Spirit of Elijah. In fact, I find it interesting that many of the miracles Elishah does are mirrowed by Jesus' miracles. The biggest exception has to be the  prediction of disease and death most closely associated with disbelief.

Here the King of Israel' captain doesn't see any way out of the seige of Samaria, not even if God opened up windows in the sky to provide food for the starving people.

How confident are you of God's miraculous solution to your challenges or obstacles? What kind of siege are you experiencing right now? What would it look like if God provided a miracle in your life right now?

God, please excuse us and forgive us when we doubt that you can do a miracle in our current situation. We lift our current sieges up to you now. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims

What's Your Jar of Oil?

She came and told the man of God, and he said, "Go sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your children can live on the rest." II Kings 4:7 NRSV

Elisha is providing protection for the widow of a prophet so that the son is not taken into slavery. We don't know how they got in this situation but to get out they must look closely at what they have. Elisha tells them to take the small jar of olive oil, get every vessel they can get their hands on (including their neighbors') and start filling these vessels with oil. The oil keeps on pouring out until all the vessels are used up. They are able to pay off their debts and live on the remainder.

Oh, how many of us could use one of Elisha's miracles right now! I would love to be able to pay off our debts. And to live off the rest!  My family has been trying hard to become debt-free but it seems like an uphill battle most days.

However, no one is threatening to come take my child as their slave.

What could you gather and sell in order to prevent yourself or your family members from becoming slaves ... to the credit card companies? It may be simpler than you think and so essential to your future.

God, it doesn't seem like we are in such desperate situations as the widow and her son but perhaps we are closer than we think. We ask for your provision, protection and salvation. In Jesus' name. Amen.


Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims