Second Kings is the second half of a single book that was divided into two parts, 1 and 2 Kings because together they were too long to fit on one scroll. The book of 2 Kings continues the history of the two separate kingdoms of Judah and Israel.
The book of 2 Kings has two main parts. The first part (1-7) is the history of the two kingdoms until 722 B.C., when the northern kingdom was conquered by the Assyrians. Samaria, the capital city of Israel, was destroyed and the people of that kingdom were taken as prisoners to Assyria. Only Judah, the southern kingdom, was left.
The second part of the book (18-25) is the history of Judah until 586 B.C., when it was conquered by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia. Jerusalem, the capital city, was completely destroyed, and many of the people of Judah and Jerusalem were led away as prisoners to Babylonia. King Nebuchadnezzar then made Gedaliah ruler of those left in Judah. The book concludes with some hope for Judah's future: King Jehoiachin is released from prison in Babylon and is invited to eat with the Babylonian king every day.
According to the book of 2 Kings, Israel and Judah were destroyed because the people refused to be faithful to the Lord. He had sent prophets over and over to warn the people and their kings to stop worshiping other gods and to turn back to him. Finally, the people were punished. The two kingdoms were destroyed, and the people were forced to live in foreign nations, far from their own land. The fall of Jerusalem is one of the most important events in Israel's history. the book itself explains why this disaster took place:
The people of Judah and Jerusalem had made the Lord so angry that he finally turned his back on them. That's why these horrible things were happening (24.20b)
Here are 11 Lessons From the Book of Second Kings
More Power to You
1 # SShort Commentary & Lesson from second Kings 2.9-15
When Elisha asked for twice as much of Elijah's power, he was asking to be the one who would continue Elijah's work as leader of the prophets. This request was similar to the custom in which the first-born son received a double portion of the father's inheritance.Elisha did not want to outdo Elijah for his own pride; Elisha wanted to do great things for God. And God granted Elisha's request. During his lifetime, Elisha did nearly twice as many miracles as Elijah.
When we ask God for success, fame, power, or ability, we should look closely at our motives. When our motive is to glorify and serve God, he often answers in ways beyond our imagination
Your Part and God's Part
2 # Short Commentary & Lesson from Second Kings 4.1-7
The widow's family had a serious problem. In biblical times, when poor people and debtors could not pay their bills, they not only "lost their shirts," they lost themselves. They were often forced to sell themselves or their children as slaves.
Elisha did not instruct the indebted woman to sit back and do nothing. he told her to gather as many jars as she could. We see in this story how God miraculously provided for the widow as she obeyed Elisha's instructions. Not only did he provide for her debs to be paid, God also gave her an abundance so that she and her sons could live without worrying. Certainly, God is not limited by our faith or our resources. But he often asks us to do our part before he does his.
A Divine Joke
3 # Short Commentary & Lesson from Second Kings 6.8-23
The Syrian king was frustrated because of Elisha's military tactics, so he sent his best troops to arrest Elisha. When they found him, Elisha led them, blinded, into the worst possible trap. Instead of killing the Syrians, Elisha calls for a good meal for them, and afterward, they are let go.
No wonder the Syrians gave up attacking Israel for time! God would prefer that we see our own foolishness rather than punish us. He promises to be "quick to forgive" (See Nehemiah 9.17)
The only True Way to Peace
4 # Short Commentary & Lesson from Second Kings 9.21-28
When Joram asked Jehu if he came in peace, Jehu's answer revealed more than he knew, It is impossible to have true peace when our hearts are divided between worshiping the Lord and worshiping false gods and things. When we allow evil to go on in our lives, any peace we have will be incomplete and short-lived.
Real peace comes from God. Peace is the natural by-product of a loving relationship with him. When we turn from evil ways and things and live according to God's Word, we have peace in our hearts and in our minds.
Almost Doesn't Count
5 # Short Commentary & Lesson from Second Kings 10.18-31
Jehu partially obeyed the lord. He was the man God used to bring judgment upon Ahab's family. He also cleared the country of Baal worship.
But Jehu did not obey God completely. As a king, he continued to allow the worship of the golden calves that Jeroboam had made. This caused the people of the country to continue their downhill slide. God gave Jehu credit for what he had done well, but he also condemned Jehu's unwillingness to totally break away from the sins of the past. We should not condone beliefs or practices that lead people away from God's Word. to almost obey God is to disobey him.
Break the Mold!
6 # Short Commentary & Lesson from Second Kings 15.1-38
In this chapter, we see a series of kings who followed the patterns set by their parents. In Judah, Azriah ruled for a long time and did many things well. But, like his father and grandfather, he did not destroy the pagan shrines in Judah.
Azariah's son, Jotham, followed in his father's footsteps. And, in the northern kingdom of Israel, the kings kept encouraging the people to worship idols, just as their forefathers had done.
We all grow up with habits we have picked up from our parents. We have a legacy, some of which is good and some that is bad. If we continue to make the mistakes of the past, however, we will reap the negative results. When habits go against God's Word, they must be broken.
Just in Time
7 # Short Commentary & Lesson from Second Kings 18.1-12
Hezekiah may have done more to bring the people of Judah back to God than any other king in the Old Testament, except possibly Josiah. No doubt, when Hezekiah saw what had happened to Israel, he took it as a warning from God. The king realized that God was under no obligation to save his people if they refused to obey him.
As such, Hezekiah began destroying Judah's false gods. Later, he not only led the people away from the idols, but he also led them to worship the true God. When we see people's lives destroyed because they have worshiped the "gods" of this world - money, fame, power, and so on - we should take their sad fate as a warning. We should make sure we are not worshiping any false gods as we set our focus on worshiping the Lord.
Living on Borrowed Time
8 # Short Commentary & Lesson from Second Kings 20.1-11
God healed Hezekiah and granted fifteen more years to his life. What would you do if God told you that you only had fifteen more years to live? Would you continue to do the same things you're doing now and have the same attitudes? Or would you feel the need to change some things about your life?
The truth is, we are all living on borrowed time. We are all going to die. We don't know when our time will be up, but we should live each day with a sense of purpose.
A Sudden Departure
9 # Short Commentary & Lesson from Second Kings 21.1-18
Manasseh was the king in Judah longer than any other king. In many ways, he did more evil in Judah than any king before or after him. His father, Hezekiah, had helped turned the people's hearts back to God and away from idols. But Manasseh turned around and opened the door to all sorts of occult practices.
Because of the nations' disgusting deeds under the rule of Manasseh, God revealed that he would destroy Judah, just as Israel had been destroyed. Manasseh's quick departure from his father's good ways reminds us that it takes only one generation to lose a nation. We cannot survive by living on the good done by our ancestors. We must stand against evil and for what is right.
Look What I Found!
10 # Short Commentary & Lesson from Second Kings 22.8
Hilkiah's statement to Shaphan would be like our saying, "Look what I found - a Bible, in church of all places!" Where has The book of God's Law been for so long? Perhaps it had been right there, covered with dust and clutter. While God's people had been busy worshiping false gods, they had totally neglected the powerful Word of God.
We often fall into a similar trap. Most of us have ready access to a Bible, but many of us fail to explore the great riches in its pages. When we read the Bible with a desire to know God better, he will speak to our hearts and minds. The Bible will come alive for us, and we will discover that the god of the Bible is the one true God.
Judgment Will Come
11 # Short Commentary & Lesson from Second Kings 24.1-17
The Lord had been patient with his people for many years. He was often merciful and kind to any group that truly turned from their evil ways. Yet he was not going to go back on his word.
god had said that the nation of Israel would one day be destroyed because of their sins. Now, the judgment of God was coming to pass. Although a historian who does not understand the Bible may offer other reasons for the fall of Israel and Judah, God's Word clearly shows that the reason for their destruction was disobedience to God. This is a warning for us. If we choose to disobey God, we seal
our own tombs; but if we obey God, we will be blessed.
Promises For Us
Children think of "grown-ups" as people who are done growing and changing. They expect the big people in their lives to hum along day after day on an even keel, like well-oiled machines that don't have problems. Biy, do they have a lot to learn!
Adult life is not a smooth interaction of totally mature individuals with easily manageable responsibilities. Adult life is an unending rat race. Experience teaches us that every adult will face at least two major crises, such as loss of employment, death of a loved one, divorce, or natural disaster. Each of those crisis defines the next stage of life.
In 2 Kings, Israel faced two calamities that helped define its identity. Separated by about 150 years, two invasions of Palestine by world powers wiped Israel and Judah from the map and scattered the Israelites among the conquerors. What did this mean for the future of this nation? how would the Israelites respond?
The book of 2 kings calls its readers to decide how they will handle their own difficulties of life. Those who will consistently trust God can expect divine assistance in their lives. Those who consistently ignore God can expect to face disaster alone.
For Consideration
- What were the causes of the crises Israel and Judah faced in 2 Kings?
- How should Israel and Judah have responded to their crises?
- How can you express confidence in God even in the face of a terrible situation?
