DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR MONDAY APRIL 17:
WORD OF WISDOM
Where there's a will, there are relatives.
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DAILY DEVOTION
Never Satisfied
"Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by
the field. He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he
that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. When goods
increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the
owner's thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?"
Ecclesiastes 5:9-11
In his book, Salt Sugar Fat, Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalist
Michael Moss explains how the food industry gets us hooked on empty
calories. He says companies spend an enormous amount of time and money
developing irresistible blends that prevent "sensory specific satiety." This
fosters misdirected cravings that trigger greater food consumption. No
matter how much of this kind of food we eat, we will never be satisfied. And
that is by the design of the manufacturers.
Temptation works in much the same way. The devil tells us that if we just
sin this one time it will make us happy and content. Yet there is no
contentment or true satisfaction in the pleasures of the world. The more we
indulge ourselves in sin, the more we want. And if we continue to sin, we
simply go deeper and deeper into evil without ever reaching the state of
satisfaction. No one sets out to lose a job through addiction or a family
through immorality or freedom through embezzlement, but sin spirals and
brings down everyone who comes into its clutches.
The illusion that we are in control of our sin is one of Satan's most
effective weapons. Like Samson assuming that he still had his power after
his hair was cut, we think that we can handle sin and stop at any point. But
sin always brings bondage in place of its promised pleasure and
satisfaction. The only path to freedom is in promptly confessing, repenting
of, and forsaking sin. The longer we continue in sin, the stronger the
chains become.
Seek your satisfaction in the things of God, and you will know true peace
and contentment.
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DAILY BIBLE READING
2 Kings 13-15New King James Version (NKJV)
Jehoahaz Reigns in Israel
13 In the twenty-third year of Joash[a] the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah,
Jehoahaz the son of Jehu became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned
seventeen years. 2 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and followed
the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. He did not
depart from them.
3 Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel, and He delivered
them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Ben-Hadad
the son of Hazael, all their days. 4 So Jehoahaz pleaded with the Lord, and
the Lord listened to him; for He saw the oppression of Israel, because the
king of Syria oppressed them. 5 Then the Lord gave Israel a deliverer, so
that they escaped from under the hand of the Syrians; and the children of
Israel dwelt in their tents as before. 6 Nevertheless they did not depart
from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin, but walked
in them; and the wooden image[b] also remained in Samaria. 7 For He left of
the army of Jehoahaz only fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand
foot soldiers; for the king of Syria had destroyed them and made them like
the dust at threshing.
8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, all that he did, and his might, are
they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 9 So
Jehoahaz rested with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. Then Joash
his son reigned in his place.
Jehoash Reigns in Israel
10 In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash[c] the son of
Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years. 11
And he did evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart from all the
sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin, but walked in them.
12 Now the rest of the acts of Joash, all that he did, and his might with
which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the
book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 13 So Joash rested with his
fathers. Then Jeroboam sat on his throne. And Joash was buried in Samaria
with the kings of Israel.
Death of Elisha
14 Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die. Then Joash
the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over his face, and said, "O my
father, my father, the chariots of Israel and their horsemen!"
15 And Elisha said to him, "Take a bow and some arrows." So he took himself
a bow and some arrows. 16 Then he said to the king of Israel, "Put your
hand on the bow." So he put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the
king's hands. 17 And he said, "Open the east window"; and he opened it.
Then Elisha said, "Shoot"; and he shot. And he said, "The arrow of the
Lord's deliverance and the arrow of deliverance from Syria; for you must
strike the Syrians at Aphek till you have destroyed them." 18 Then he said,
"Take the arrows"; so he took them. And he said to the king of Israel,
"Strike the ground"; so he struck three times, and stopped. 19 And the man
of God was angry with him, and said, "You should have struck five or six
times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it! But now
you will strike Syria only three times."
20 Then Elisha died, and they buried him. And the raiding bands from Moab
invaded the land in the spring of the year. 21 So it was, as they were
burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of raiders; and they put the
man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the
bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.
Israel Recaptures Cities from Syria
22 And Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. 23
But the Lord was gracious to them, had compassion on them, and regarded
them, because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not
yet destroy them or cast them from His presence.
24 Now Hazael king of Syria died. Then Ben-Hadad his son reigned in his
place. 25 And Jehoash[d] the son of Jehoahaz recaptured from the hand of
Ben-Hadad, the son of Hazael, the cities which he had taken out of the hand
of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times Joash defeated him and recaptured
the cities of Israel.
Amaziah Reigns in Judah
14 In the second year of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel, Amaziah
the son of Joash, king of Judah, became king. 2 He was twenty-five years
old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His
mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. 3 And he did what was right in
the sight of the Lord, yet not like his father David; he did everything as
his father Joash had done. 4 However the high places were not taken away,
and the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
5 Now it happened, as soon as the kingdom was established in his hand, that
he executed his servants who had murdered his father the king. 6 But the
children of the murderers he did not execute, according to what is written
in the Book of the Law of Moses, in which the Lord commanded, saying,
"Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be
put to death for their fathers; but a person shall be put to death for his
own sin."[e]
7 He killed ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt, and took Sela by
war, and called its name Joktheel to this day.
8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash[f] the son of Jehoahaz, the son of
Jehu, king of Israel, saying, "Come, let us face one another in battle." 9
And Jehoash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, "The
thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying,
'Give your daughter to my son as wife'; and a wild beast that was in Lebanon
passed by and trampled the thistle. 10 You have indeed defeated Edom, and
your heart has lifted you up. Glory in that, and stay at home; for why
should you meddle with trouble so that you fall-you and Judah with you?"
11 But Amaziah would not heed. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went out; so
he and Amaziah king of Judah faced one another at Beth Shemesh, which
belongs to Judah. 12 And Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled
to his tent. 13 Then Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah,
the son of Jehoash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh; and he went to
Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to
the Corner Gate-four hundred cubits. 14 And he took all the gold and
silver, all the articles that were found in the house of the Lord and in the
treasuries of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.
15 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did-his might, and how he
fought with Amaziah king of Judah-are they not written in the book of the
chronicles of the kings of Israel? 16 So Jehoash rested with his fathers,
and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. Then Jeroboam his son
reigned in his place.
17 Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the
death of Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel. 18 Now the rest of
the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of
the kings of Judah? 19 And they formed a conspiracy against him in
Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish and
killed him there. 20 Then they brought him on horses, and he was buried at
Jerusalem with his fathers in the City of David.
21 And all the people of Judah took Azariah,[g] who was sixteen years old,
and made him king instead of his father Amaziah. 22 He built Elath and
restored it to Judah, after the king rested with his fathers.
Jeroboam II Reigns in Israel
23 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah,
Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, became king in Samaria, and
reigned forty-one years. 24 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord; he
did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made
Israel sin. 25 He restored the territory of Israel from the entrance of
Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord God of
Israel, which He had spoken through His servant Jonah the son of Amittai,
the prophet who was from Gath Hepher. 26 For the Lord saw that the
affliction of Israel was very bitter; and whether bond or free, there was no
helper for Israel. 27 And the Lord did not say that He would blot out the
name of Israel from under heaven; but He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam
the son of Joash.
28 Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did-his might, how
he made war, and how he recaptured for Israel, from Damascus and Hamath,
what had belonged to Judah-are they not written in the book of the
chronicles of the kings of Israel? 29 So Jeroboam rested with his fathers,
the kings of Israel. Then Zechariah his son reigned in his place.
Azariah Reigns in Judah
15 In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah the son of
Amaziah, king of Judah, became king. 2 He was sixteen years old when he
became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name
was Jecholiah of Jerusalem. 3 And he did what was right in the sight of the
Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done, 4 except that the
high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense
on the high places. 5 Then the Lord struck the king, so that he was a leper
until the day of his death; so he dwelt in an isolated house. And Jotham the
king's son was over the royal house, judging the people of the land.
6 Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not
written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 7 So Azariah
rested with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the City of
David. Then Jotham his son reigned in his place.
Zechariah Reigns in Israel
8 In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of
Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months. 9 And he did evil in
the sight of the Lord, as his fathers had done; he did not depart from the
sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. 10 Then Shallum
the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and struck and killed him in front
of the people; and he reigned in his place.
11 Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah, indeed they are written in the
book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
12 This was the word of the Lord which He spoke to Jehu, saying, "Your sons
shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation."[h] And so it
was.
Shallum Reigns in Israel
13 Shallum the son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of
Uzziah[i] king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria. 14 For
Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, came to Samaria, and struck
Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria and killed him; and he reigned in his
place.
15 Now the rest of the acts of Shallum, and the conspiracy which he led,
indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of
Israel. 16 Then from Tirzah, Menahem attacked Tiphsah, all who were there,
and its territory. Because they did not surrender, therefore he attacked it.
All the women there who were with child he ripped open.
Menahem Reigns in Israel
17 In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of
Gadi became king over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria. 18 And he
did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not depart all his days from the
sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. 19 Pul[j] king
of Assyria came against the land; and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of
silver, that his hand might be with him to strengthen the kingdom under his
control. 20 And Menahem exacted the money from Israel, from all the very
wealthy, from each man fifty shekels of silver, 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 acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not
written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 22 So Menahem
rested with his fathers. Then Pekahiah his son reigned in his place.
Pekahiah Reigns in Israel
23 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of
Menahem became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years. 24 And
he did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not depart from the sins of
Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. 25 Then Pekah the son
of Remaliah, an officer of his, conspired against him and killed him in
Samaria, in the citadel of the king's house, along with Argob and Arieh; and
with him were fifty men of Gilead. He killed him and reigned in his place.
26 Now the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, indeed they
are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
Pekah Reigns in Israel
27 In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah the son of
Remaliah became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years. 28
And he did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not depart from the sins of
Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. 29 In the days of Pekah
king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel
Beth Maachah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of
Naphtali; and he carried them captive to Assyria. 30 Then Hoshea the son of
Elah led a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and struck and
killed him; so he 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, indeed they are
written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
Jotham Reigns in Judah
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 became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
His mother's name was Jerusha[k] the daughter of Zadok. 34 And he did what
was right in the sight of the Lord; he did according to all that his father
Uzziah had done. 35 However the high places were not removed; the people
still sacrificed and burned incense 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 king of Syria and Pekah the son of
Remaliah against Judah. 38 So Jotham rested with his fathers, and was
buried with his fathers in the City of David his father. Then Ahaz his son
reigned in his place.
Footnotes:
a.2 Kings 13:1 Spelled Jehoash in 12:1
b.2 Kings 13:6 Hebrew Asherah, a Canaanite goddess
c.2 Kings 13:10 Spelled Joash in verse 9
d.2 Kings 13:25 Spelled Joash in verses 12-14, 25
e.2 Kings 14:6 Deuteronomy 24:16
f.2 Kings 14:8 Spelled Joash in 13:12 and 2 Chronicles 25:17
g.2 Kings 14:21 Called Uzziah in 2 Chronicles 26:1, Isaiah 6:1, and
elsewhere
h.2 Kings 15:12 2 Kings 10:30
i.2 Kings 15:13 Called Azariah in 14:21 and 15:1
j.2 Kings 15:19 That is, Tiglath-Pileser III (compare verse 29)
k.2 Kings 15:33 Spelled Jerushah in 2 Chronicles 27:1
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James VersionR. Copyright C 1982 by Thomas
Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
