Image: Empty hand soap shelves at Kroger, Barracks Rd. Shopping Center, Charlottesville, Virginia, April 2020
Note: Devotion take from last Sunday's sermon on 2 Kings 15.
2 Kings 15 describes the unsettled times that fell upon
Israel during its last days as a nation (see vv. 8-31). In the course of but a
few decades, no less than six kings sat on the throne of Israel. One
(Zachariah) reigned but six months (2 Kings 15:8) and another (Shallum) but a
month (v. 13). Four of the six kings of this time were conspired against and
assassinated.
These unsettled times did not fall upon Israel for no reason
whatsoever. They came about because of Israel’s sin and because of the just
wrath of God. He brought temporal pain for their spiritual gain. Psalm 11:3
says, “If the foundations be destroyed, what shall the righteous do?” No doubt,
many of the godly were dismayed.
There is, however, an unstated but controlling thought that
underlies the whole of this chapter. Though the times are unsettled, God’s Word
is settled, God’s character is settled, God’s plans and his purposes are
settled, and, indeed, God himself is settled. All the turmoil in the world does
not change for one second that God is.
James 1:17 says that with the Lord there is “no variableness,
neither shadow of turning.”
Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and
today, and forever.”
Even in all this confusion and despair God’s plan was being
worked out. As I read the history of these kings, I could not help but think of
Christ, the King of kings, betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, abandoned by
everyone, crucified among thieves, coming to his own but his own receiving him
not (John 1:11).
Nevertheless, God’s perfect plan was being worked out. In
Luke 24, the beloved physician tells us that some of Christ’s disciples fled
Jerusalem for Emmaus after his death. They thought the unsettling crucifixion
was the end of the road for their hopes for Jesus. When the risen Jesus met
them on the road, they did not recognize him, complaining, “But we trusted that
it had been he which should have redeemed Israel” (v. 21).
Christ then said to them, “O fools, and slow of heart to
believe all that the prophets have spoken” (v. 25). He then “expounded unto
them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (v. 27).
The
point we can take from both 2 Kings 15 and Luke 24: In the midst of all the
unsettled times, God was working out his purposes and revealing the glory of
his Son.
Is
he not still doing that even today?
Image: Azalea bush, North Garden, Virginia, April 2020
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