2 Kings 23

Bible Passage: 2 Kings 23

Not too long ago, OurKing’sWatchman commented that the kings he was talking about had similar names. S/he called them the ‘-oboams’ if I remember correctly. In today’s chapter, we too have kings that have similar names. I’ll call them the ‘je-jo-s’. 🙂

As we near the end of the book which is also near the complete collapse of the Southern Kingdom, let us look at these ‘je-jo-s’ and their deeds as well as circumstances they found themselves in to examine and improve ourselves so that we do not end up being taken captive like the Southern Kingdom who did not learn from the mistakes of her Northern counterpart.

Josiah – Supported of YHWH

Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him. (2 Kings 23:25)

Nevertheless the LORD did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath, with which His anger was aroused against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked Him. And the LORD said, “I will also remove Judah from My sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, ‘My name shall be there.'” (2 Kings 23:26-27)

Having read the verses above, you might ask the following question.

If King Josiah was such a good king, why is it that the good deeds of Josiah could not avert disaster from the kingdom?

My study Bible describes it as such, “Judah‘s sin was so entrenched that judgement was inevitable“.

If we were to look at verse 13 of the chapter, we discover that the multitude of sins listed could actually be traced back to King Solomon. A quick calculation tells us they span a time period of almost about 330 years. From time to time, there would be a king who tried to reform the country but it was always without much success.

From the above observation, we can see that sin that is ‘entrenched’ does not happen overnight. God, being the merciful God He is, always gives us more than enough warnings (the prophets) and time (over 300 years! Are you serious?!?!) to turn from our sins.

The question is, are we going to heed these warnings and make use of the time given? Or are we just being more and more ‘entrenched’ in our sins to face the time where grace is no longer available but only judgement awaits?           

Jehoahaz – Jehovah seized/Jehovah holds

Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done. Now Pharaoh Necho put him in prison at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and he imposed on the land a tribute of one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. (2 Kings 23:31-33)

Jehoahaz only reigned for 3 months before he was taken captive by Pharaoh.

Strangely, being the son of such a god-fearing man did not seem to help him build up his faith in God. He should have been about 8 to 9 years old when the Book of Law was found and the Passover observed. Although not very old at that time, shouldn’t the relentless reform of his father have impacted him somewhat?

We can only surmise that it was not due to ignorance but by choice that he chose not to live up to his name, to be seized by Jehovah.

What is the outcome of such a choice then?

A person who chooses not to be seized by the LORD will ultimately be seized by the devil and taken away from the Promised Land.

Do we want that to happen to us?

Jehoiakim (aka Eliakim) – he whom Jehovah has set up

So Jehoiakim gave the silver and gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give money according to the command of Pharaoh; he exacted the silver and gold from the people of the land, from every one according to his assessment, to give it to Pharaoh Necho. (2 Kings 23:35)

After the captivity of Jehoahaz, things did not seem to become better. In fact, they became worse. It was truly the end of the kingdom, according to God’s will.

In case we do not know much about this king, this is the third last king in the land of Judah. He was a wicked king that took advantage of his people (Jer 22:13-14, 17), filled the land with every sort of vice and violence (Jer 18:18-20) and opposed all that was holy (Jer 25:1-7). Also, at this point in time however, we can see that Judah was already a vassal of Egypt and not a real sovereign nation.

Despite all the doom and gloom surrounding the chapter, we can still see the faithfulness of God shining through. For the sake of His promise to David, He allowed David’s descendants to remain kings till the very end.

Today, we may be surrounded by similar turmoil and gloom; as if our world is on the verge of collapse like the kingdom of Judah.

Take heart from this chapter then! Hold fast to Him and His promise and in the end, His deliverance will come after the night.