IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

In the Eyes of the Lord

Date: May. 13, 2025

Passage

2 Kings 15:17-38 (ESV)

17 In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi began to reign over Israel, and he reigned ten years in Samaria. 18 And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not depart all his days from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin. 19 Pul the king of Assyria came against the land, and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that he might help him to confirm his hold on the royal power. 20 Menahem exacted the money from Israel, that is, from all the wealthy men, fifty shekels of silver from every man, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back and did not stay there in the land. 21 Now the rest of the deeds of Menahem and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 22 And Menahem slept with his fathers, and Pekahiah his son reigned in his place.

23 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned two years. 24 And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin. 25 And Pekah the son of Remaliah, his captain, conspired against him with fifty men of the people of Gilead, and struck him down in Samaria, in the citadel of the king’s house with Argob and Arieh; he put him to death and reigned in his place. 26 Now the rest of the deeds of Pekahiah and all that he did, behold, 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 began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twenty years. 28 And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin.

29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and he carried the people captive to Assyria. 30 Then Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah and struck him down and put him to death and reigned in his place, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah. 31 Now the rest of the acts of Pekah and all that he did, behold, 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 began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok. 34 And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah had done. 35 Nevertheless, the high places were not removed. The people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD. 36 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 37 In those days the LORD began to send Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah against Judah. 38 Jotham slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 15:34

And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah had done.

During Menahem’s reign, the Assyrian king invaded and demanded a huge sum of silver from Israel. Menahem paid it to the Assyrian king by extracting money from the wealthy, and preserved his kingship. The Assyrians withdrew, and Israel had temporary peace. During the reign of Pekah, the Assyrians invaded Israel again, occupied huge regions of Israel, and deported the people to Assyria. These godless kings of Israel did evil in God’s eyes and did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam (18, 24, 28). When God raised his hand of discipline, they should have turned their hearts back to God. Instead, they kept on Jeroboam’s evil way, and ultimately perished forever soon after.

While northern Israel was heading towards disaster, Judah remained in a state of peace. King Jotham honored God by rebuilding the Upper Gate of the temple. He did what was right in God’s eyes and so God blessed Judah. The allied forces of Aram and Northern Israel invaded Judah, but could not disrupt the peaceful state. Rather, northern Israel fell shortly thereafter. In God’s presence, his people will be at peace no matter how troubled and chaotic the world becomes.

Prayer: Lord, in times of trouble and confusion, help us rely more on you and find true peace in you.

One Word: Live in the eyes of the LORD

Daily Bread

Israel Worshiped in Vain

Hosea 8:1-14

Key Verse: 8:1

Israel Will Reap the Whirlwind

8:1   Set the trumpet to your lips!
    One like a vulture is over the house of the LORD,
  because they have transgressed my covenant
    and rebelled against my law.

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