Day 339 – Life

2 Kings 15:1 In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam, king of Israel, Azariah the son of Amaziah, king of Judah, became king. 2 He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem. 3 He did what was right in the sight of JEHOVAH, according to everything his father Amaziah had done, 4 except the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

 5 Then JEHOVAH struck the king, so that he was a leper until the day of his death; so, he dwelt in an isolated house. Jotham the king’s son oversaw the royal house, judging the people of the land. 6 Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and everything he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 7 Then Azariah rested with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the City of David. Then Jotham, his son, reigned in his place.

 8 In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria for six months. 9 He did evil in the sight of JEHOVAH, as his fathers had done; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin.

 10 Then Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, struck and killed him in front of the people; and he reigned in his place.

 11 Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah, indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

 12 This was the word of JEHOVAH which He spoke to Jehu, saying, “Your sons will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” Thus, it happened.

 13 Willum the son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria. 14 For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, came to Samaria, and struck Willum the son of Jabesh in Samaria and killed him; and he reigned in his place. 15 Now the rest of the acts of Willum, and the conspiracy which he led, indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

 16 Then from Tirzah, Menahem attacked Tiphsah, everyone there, and its territory. Because they did not surrender, he attacked it. The women with child he ripped open.

 17 In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi became king over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria. 18 He did evil in the sight of JEHOVAH; he did not depart throughout his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin.

 19 Pul king of Assyria came against the land; and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to strengthen the kingdom under his control. 20 Menahem exacted the money from Israel, from the wealthy, from each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. Thus, the king of Assyria turned back, and did not stay in the land. 21 Now the rest of the acts of Menahem, and everything he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 22 Thus, Menahem rested with his fathers. Then Pekahiah, his son reigned in his place.

 23 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem became king over Israel in Samaria and reigned two years. 24 He did evil in the sight of JEHOVAH; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin.

 25 Then Pekah the son of Remaliah, an officer of his, conspired against him and killed him in Samaria, in the citadel of the king’s house, along with Argob and Arieh; and with him were fifty men of Gilead. He killed him and reigned in his place. 26 Now the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and everything he did, indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

 27 In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah the son of Remaliah became king over Israel in Samaria and reigned twenty years. 28 He did evil in the sight of JEHOVAH; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. 29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria took Ijon, Abel Beth Maachah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, the entire land of Naphtali; and carried them captive to Assyria.

 30 Then Hoshea the son of Elah led a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah and struck and killed him; then he reigned in his place in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah. 31 Now the rest of the acts of Pekah, and everything he did, indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

 32 In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, began to reign. 33 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok. 34 He did what was right in the sight of JEHOVAH; he did according to everything his father Uzziah did. 35 However, he did not remove the high places; the people continued to sacrifice and burn incense on the high places. He built the Upper Gate of the house of JEHOVAH. 36 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and everything he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

 37 In those days JEHOVAH began to send Rezin king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah against Judah.

 38 Then Jotham rested with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the City of David his father. Then Ahaz his son reigned in his place.

God’s names:

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Yeshuwa – Jesus

Elohiym – Supreme God

God’s character:

Promise Keeper

Merciful

Gracious

Kings of Judah and Israel

Judah: Azariah – reigned 52 years – good king

Jotham – oversaw the king’s house while his father had leprosy

Israel: Zechariah – reigned 6 months – evil king

Shallum/Willum – reigned one month – evil king

Menahem – reigned ten years – evil king

Pekahiah – reigned two years – evil king

Pekah – reigned twenty years – evil king

Judah: Uzziah – good king

Jotham son of Uzziah reigned 25 years – good king

Every day people can see how long a person lived when they read the obituaries. They can also see whether they were good by what they read about the person. What will your obituary say about you?

During Azariah’s fifty-two-year reign in Judah, Israel had five evil kings. Every king died by conspiracy and takeover of the kingdom. Judah’s kings died of natural causes at the end of a long life.

You only need to go back to the Law of Moses to see what JEHOVAH promised His people.

Exodus 20:3 “You will have no other elohiym before Me. 4 You will not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth; 5 you will not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, JEHOVAH your Elohiym, am a jealous Elohiym, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Israel’s kings served false elohiym and caused the people to bow to them also. Therefore, JEHOVAH, brought conspiracy against the kings of Israel and shortened their reigns.

When you accepted Yeshuwa as Savior and Lord, you agreed to walk in His ways. When you do, you will live a long life. You will see His mercy and grace in your life. It’s JEHOVAH’S promise to everyone who obeys Him.

What does your life look like? Do you see Yeshuwa’s blessings, or do you face constant trouble? Trouble follows those who ignore JEHOVAH’S law, the Ten Commandments. Ignorance of the Law is no excuse. JEHOVAH will not hold you guiltless when you disobey Him. He will do whatever it takes to bring you back into a right standing with Him.

Judah’s kings obeyed the Law and did right in JEHOVAH’S sight. They lived long lives and reigned for many years.

When you obey Yeshuwa, you will live a long life and see His many blessings in your life. Will you have trouble? No life comes without trouble. Your trouble comes from Satan who will do whatever he can to turn you away from Yeshuwa. He wants your life to look like the lives of the kings of Israel – short and disobedient. However, when you determine to live a life of obedience to Elohiym, you will see His grace and favor on your life. Azariah had trouble, leprosy, however, he was a good king in JEHOVAH’S sight.

People see how you live your life. When you pass from this life, they will remember you for the kind of person you were. What will they say about you? How will they remember you?

Let’s pray: Father, let my life be a life of obedience to You. Help me when Satan comes against me to turn me away from You. Let Your Word be in my mouth and heart so I can thwart every scheme Satan brings against me to turn me away from You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 23 December 2024 by Valerie Routhieaux