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2 Kings 1:1-18; 2 Kings 3:1-27; 1 Kings 22:41-49; 2 Chronicles 20:31-37; 1 Kings 22:50; 2 Chronicles 21:1-4; 2 Kings 8:16-22; 2 Chronicles 21:5-7<\/strong><\/span> Today we begin the book of Second Kings!<\/span><\/p>\n Author<\/span>: Unknown 2 Kings 1 today\u2026\u00a0 wow\u2026\u00a0 Elijah is not to be messed with when he is sitting on top of that hill!\u00a0 Elijah asks a very poignant question twice in this chapter \u2013 \u201cIs there no God in Israel?\u201d <\/em>This is a question each of us will need to ask in our lives at some point \u2013 \u201cIs there or is there no God in my life?\u201d\u00a0 Hopefully we\u2019ve already answered this question affirmatively.\u00a0 It\u2019s a sad state of affairs to imagine a country without God.\u00a0 It is a sad state of affairs to imagine our own lives without God.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n In 2 Kings 3 verse 3 today we are reminded that King Jeroboam\u2019s legacy is held out as a unfavorable legacy\u2026 \u201cNevertheless he (Joram) continued in the sins of idolatry that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led the people of Israel to commit.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 That is an interesting thing to think about \u2013 a legacy.\u00a0 Jeroboam\u2019s legacy was obviously not one we\u2019d like to have.\u00a0 So, what type of legacy would you like to have?\u00a0 And what type of legacy are you in fact leaving these days?\u00a0 The more I think about my legacy, the more I simply hope and pray that my legacy is something along the lines of \u201cone who loved God and loved people.\u201d\u00a0 Pretty simple really.\u00a0 But also really tough in our modern world full of so many distractions!\u00a0 And I am not so sure that I am really leaving this legacy some days.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to pursue this type of legacy for the wrong reasons \u2013 for any sort of appearing \u201crighteous\u201d or prideful reasons.\u00a0 But I in fact I really do want to spend the rest of my days simply loving God and loving people.\u00a0 Whatever else I do \u2013 career, ministry, whatever \u2013 pales in comparison to loving God and loving people.\u00a0 I even hesitate to write this hope for a legacy on this blog \u2013 I feel like I should go back and delete everything I just wrote.\u00a0 Except \u2013 I think this might be the type of legacy we are called to as Christians.\u00a0 Remember the two great commands Jesus gave us in Matthew 22:37 & 39 \u2013 \u201c\u2018Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Love God and love people.\u00a0 So \u2013 whaddya think?\u00a0 Is this a good legacy for us to aim for?\u00a0 Should we be aiming for a legacy at all?\u00a0 What will your legacy be?<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong> 2nd Kings today reminds me of the song \u201cLegacy\u201d by Nichole Nordeman:<\/span><\/p>\n \n
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Date<\/span>: Sixth century B.C.
Content<\/span>: Second Kings covers a period of approximately 250 years during which time two national tragedies occurred. In 722 B.C. the northern kingdom of Israel was destroyed by the Assyrians, and in 586 B.C. the southern kingdom of Judah was destroyed by the Babylonians. The reigns of the various kings are described in some detail with care being taken to show the spiritual significance of what they were doing. Throughout this whole time of good and bad kings, war and peace, prosperity and ruin, God is seen to be at work, in particular sending prophets to preach his word and warn of judgment to come.
Theme<\/span>: God\u2019s control over the affairs of men and nations is constantly seen throughout this book. The rulers of men may think they are in control, but even the enemies of God\u2019s people fit into God\u2019s plan by executing judgment upon the wayward nations of Israel and Judah. It must be stressed that sin invariably brings judgment upon the people and righteousness brings God\u2019s blessing. Second Kings also shows that God never sends his judgment without a warning first; in this instance, the warning came through the prophets who were sent. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers \u201cThe One Year Bible Companion\u201d pp. 6-7) <\/em>More commentary on Second Kings is at these 3 links \u2013<\/span>
https:\/\/bible.org\/article\/introduction-books-first-and-second-kings<\/span>
https:\/\/bible.org\/article\/argument-first-and-second-kings<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
https:\/\/bible.org\/seriespage\/1-introduction-and-historical-setting-elijah<\/span> (Introduction to Elijah)<\/span><\/p>\n