2 Kings: Who Are God’s People

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Monday, April 18, 2016
Chapters: 2 Kings 9-11
Message: 2 Kings: Who Are God’s People

Hello My Friend,

God’s people, those of us who know God and have read the Bible know that Israel is God’s people. In fact, many nations will never admit that the reason they defend and become allies with Israel is because they are God’s people, nevertheless, nations rise and fall when they join or support Israel. But who are God’s people really? Yes, God chose Israel to put His name on them and He even proclaims them as His people, but does that mean they are all exempt from the same judgment that all people are because they are called His people? No. Every soul created faces the same judgment, Jew or Gentile, we must all believe in God and turn to Him to escape judgment. Being God’s people means that He has chosen a specific group of people to reveal Himself as the only true God who in not only the powerful God of Israel, but everyone who believes. “Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:” -Romans 2:9,10.

If you were to study world history you would discover that every nation had its own god that they worshiped. Before the children of Israel came into their country it was called Canaan and was full of man made gods, which is why God told them to remove the people from the land once they got there. They did not, and before long they began forsaking God and turning to these false gods. It was bad enough that Israel made up their own god when Israel split, but now not only was the Northern Kingdom worshiping Baal so was Judah, which all began with Ahab and the great influence of his wife Jezebel. Now, twenty years after Elijah warned Ahab that his entire seed would be destroyed and the kingdom would be taken from them because they caused His people to turn to Baal, the prophecies were being fulfilled. God began by first anointing a new king, Jehu.

“And he arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel. And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel. For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel: And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many? And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah. And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote Jehoram between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot. But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. And Jehu followed after him, and said, Smite him also in the chariot. And they did so at the going up to Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo, and died there.” - 2 Kings 9:6-8,22-27.

“Smite him also in the chariot.” Ahaziah was related to Ahab because his mother, who was a granddaughter to Ahab married Joram, king of Judah. However, under the influence of his mother Ahaziah followed and allowed Baal worship in Judah when he became king, and as a result he was also killed. God will eliminate anyone who causes His people to forsake Him and turn to other gods. When God proclaims a nation as His, it has nothing to do with their obedience to Him, it has everything to do with His promise that He made to a God fearing person. Each person is responsible for their own soul, if they choose Him they choose life, if they choose another god, they choose death and hell. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” - Romans 3:10-12,23,24.

Just as God promised, Ahab's family, friends, and anyone else associated with his family, including Jezebel was executed. Jehu did not stop there, all the worshipers, priests, and prophets of Baal were executed, making sure that not a prophet, priest, or servant of God would be harmed.

“Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal. And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it. And Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was full from one end to another. And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal. And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel. But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin. In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short: and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel;” - 2 Kings 10:19-21,25,30-32.

“Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes,” God will use anyone to prove His point and bring judgment to those who cause His people to sin. While many people do get saved under dire circumstances, very few actually leave the lives they live and turn completely to God. Jesus compares a persons faith to branches on a vine, Jew or Gentile, only those who receive Christ, and allow Him to live in and through them are fruitful, all the rest get cut off and burned in the fire. “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” - John 15:4-6.

Quite often, God’s judgment brings retaliation, when Jehu had all of the house of Ahab killed, he forgot one, Athaliah. When she found out that her son was dead, she called for vengeance upon the house of Judah, every male child was killed, except one. God used the bravery of one woman, Athaliah’s daughter, to save one boy.

“And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal. But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain. And he was with her hid in the house of the LORD six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land. And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the LORD, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD, and shewed them the king's son. But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD. And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king's house. Seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign.” - 2 Kings 11:1-4,15,20,21..

“took Joash the son of Ahaziah,” Joash might have had some of the genes that came from the seed of Ahab, but he was not of the seed of Ahab because because his father was the seed of Judah. As we know, it was important for a male of the house of Judah to keep the seed of David alive as God promised David that His seed would come through the lineage in which David's seed would come. Today, God’s people are those who believe in His Son. “Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.” - Romans 9:24-26.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Elisha, who sent one of the sons of the prophets with oil to anoint Jehu to be king. Oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit, and the Lord sent the Holy Spirit to anoint all believers of Christ. “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” - 1 John 2:27.

Today's Prayer: God, You have proved time and time again that we do not have to be royalty, perfect, or carry a special degree to be one of Your people, we just have to believe on and receive Your Son. Lord, I know I belong to You because I put my faith and trust in Jesus to save me from my sins, death, and hell through His finished work on the cross. I want to live a life that is pleasing and fruitful, lead me and guide me, help me to be the godly example and testimony that brings others to Your Son. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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