OVERVIEW OF 2 KINGS
OVERVIEW OF 2 KINGS
This book picks up where 1 Kings left us. Originally these two books were one book. This book opens with the translation of Elijah to heaven and closes with the transportation of the Jews to Babylon.
This book is the most tragic natural historic record ever written. The Jews (elected of God and recipients of the divine blessing and providence of God, go into such a state of moral degradation and idolatry that God Almighty is left with no other choice (according to his just and perfect nature) but to deliver His people into the throes of distress in an effort to being back a remnant to Him.
These once blessed people are forced from their own promised land into a humiliating captivity, never to return as an independent nation under Jehovah again. Such a sad story. They will stay captives for 70 years in Babylon and will come back to the land, but they will never have the status among the nations as they had.
No one need blame all of these trials on God. These people had brought it on themselves, through repeated offenses cast toward God and repeated spiritual adultery committed against Him. The ten tribes fade and intermarry with the heathens they seemed to admire so much. They become known in the NT at Samaritans.
LESSONS LEARNED: ROM. 15:4
GOD IS IN CONTROL
2 Kings teaches us that world affairs rest in the hand of God. The Psalmist says it this way in 99:1- “the Lord reigns, et the people tremble; He is enthroned above the cherubim; let the earth shake.”
The throne that ruled the world at this time or any time in the past, if not from Babylon, Assyria, Egypt, Greece, Rome or any of our modern cities. It is located in heaven and the one who sits on that Throne is LORD OF LORD AND KING OF KINGS (Ps. 24:1; 89:11).
Why would God allow His temple to go up in smoke? He had not lost control; it was just the opposite. He was and is in control. Judah a
Nd Israel had so digressed had so regressed in their dependence on Almighty God that they left God no option but to punish and discipline. In Judah’s case a remnant would return, but not until 70 years of bondage in a heathen nation (Babylon).
Positive affirmation throughout the book that God’s Word Is what counts
“According to the word of Jehovah” “thus says Jehovah” “the word of the Lord that He spoke” “As Jehovah has stated”
All of these phrases and others indicate that God WILL BE HEARD above all men.
LESSON 2 IS NO MAN CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS
CHAPTER 1:6 SHOWS THIS TO BE TRUE. While pretending to worship God, in time of distress, king Ahaziah sends to inquire of the god Baal-zebub Our total devotion and allegiance must be with God Almighty. Far too many follow this way when they have divided allegiance with the world and with God. Matt. 6:24 says divided allegiance is impossible.
Lesson 3- God does not care to consult you about what you think. 2 Kings with Naaman the leper, established this. No cleansing from the stench of Leprosy until you do exactly as God has said in the way He said it. Nothing else brings Him glory. God gives the directions not man (Isa. 55:8-9).
Lesson 4- ALL MEANS ALL. 2 Kings 21:8; 22:8,13; 23:2-3, 21;24-25.
Lesson 5- SIN BRINGS CALAMITY AND CAPTIVITY. God’s promise to be with His people is always conditional on their obedience and faithfulness to Him.
Casting Shadows- This book deals with the casting of two shadows- DAVID’S and JEROBOAM’S. It is said of 15 of the 18 kings that followed Jeroboam to the throne that “he did evil after the example of “Jeroboam, who made Israel to sin.” SO, Jeroboam cast an ungodly shadow over his successors. On the other hand- David’s shadow of righteousness continued to be cast over Solomon, Abijam, Jehoshaphat, Amaziah, Ahaz, Hezekiah and Josiah- see 22:2. All of us have a shadow. We cannot detach ourselves from it, but we can control the kind of shadow we cast. Remember this from this book and that is the fact that our lingering influence will certainly outlive us.
HAVE YOU SEEN THE BOOK???? In chapter 22:8 we read where the book of the Law was found. We are wick to condemn their carelessness but think about it??? All too often many lose the Book of God. When preachers stop preaching the word and preach cute stories or become comedians and major in soothing the people, we have lost the book. When Christians become so self-satisfied with their level of knowledge that they will not come to all the services where the word is taught, we have lost the book. How did the lose the book? They stopped consulting it. How many have pages in their bible that have never been turned? We claim rightly that it is inspire of God and then we lose it to ourselves when it comes to application to our lives to correct our wrongs.
RESTORATION IS ALWAYS VALID- We must be continually about the task of restoring people back to faithful service to God. Judges 2:7-15 shows us that at any given point we are just one generation away from apostasy. Hezekiah and Josiah teach us well the sooty and constant attention we need to give to teaching the next generation not to go in the path of their ancestors.
2 KINGS – THE BOOK OF DISPERSIONS
In chapter 17 we see the 10 tribes going into Assyrian Captivity from which they would never return. While in chapter 25 Jerusalem is destroyed and Judah goes into Babylonian captivity from which only a remnant return.
The two captivities form the main feature of the book. Keep in mind:
1 Samuel- A book of Transitions
2 Samuel- a book of David’s reign
1 Kings- a book of Disruptions
2 Kings- a book of Dispersions.
OUTLINE – WILFUL SIN BRINGS A WOEFUL END
1-10- ANNALS OF ISRAEL- NORTHERN KINGDOM- MINISTRY OF ELISHA TO THE DEATH OF JEHU (Israel’s 10th king)
11-17- ALTERNATING ANNALS OF BOTH KINGDOMS- INCLUDES UP TO THE ASSYRIAN CAPTIVITY OF ISRAEL ALSO THE WORK OF JONAH- AMOST AND HOSEA (TIMELINES WITHIN THIS SECTION).
18-25- ANNALS OF JUDAH, THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM- INCLUDES UP TO THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY OF JUDAH; DURING THIS TIME PROPHETS (OBADIAH, JOEL, ISAIAH, MICAH, NAHUM, HABAKKUK, ZEPHANIAH, AND JEREMIAH WORKED IN JUDAH).
ALL OF THE KINGS OF JUDAH CAME FROM THE HOUSE OF DAVID. SEVERAL TIMES IT APPEARED THE HOUSE OF DAVID WAS IN PERIL OF BEING CUT OFF.
TYPES OF CHRISTS:
ELISHA DIED AND WAS BURIED
JONAH WENT DOWN FOR 3 DAYS AND NIGHTS- AS CHRIST DID IN THE EARTH
ELIJAH- ASCENDED
THE DOWNFALL OF JUDAH- 18-25
3 INFLUENTIAL KINGS
HEZEKIAH- REMARKABLE MAN- SOLDIER, STATESMAN, A GODLY MAN, GREATEST SINCE THE DAYS OF DAVID AND SOLOMON.
Under him- temple was reopened- repaired and the priesthood was reorganized, he recalled all the people to worship God and led by way of good example.
Then there was Manasseh- 20:21-21:6- the most wicked of Judah’s should rule the longest (55 years). 21:11-12.
Josiah- Last bright spot 22:1-2. Josiah led great reforms but it was too little too late for the people. The king could tear down the high places and remove the idols, but he could not destroy the idols in the hearts of the people. Apostasy and idolatry were so engrained in their national character that the king had no effect on his subjects. (Jeremiah 3:10; 13:11).
Judah failed to learn the lessons of her sister. She survived a little longer but, in the end, she fell for the same reasons. About the time Josiah died, the Assyrian Empire also died. The Babylonian supremacy announced by the prophets had now appeared. The destruction of Jerusalem and the captivity are credited to the Sovereign hand of God (24:1-3). The deportation of the people of Judah was in three stages.
Chapter 25- the Babylonian invasion- Jerusalem is broken, the temple destroyed- The walls crushed- and everything that is left is set on fire 25:9-10.
Why is attention given to the dates? (25:1 and Ezekiel 24:1-2?
Because God promised only 70 years of captivity (Jer. 25:4-9,2; Dan. 9:1-2; Zech. 1:12).
When was the 70 years complete? Ezra 1:1-3.
There was still hope- There would still be Messiah---There would still be a remnant- The kingdom would still come as prophesied.