Podcast appearances and mentions of king jotham

Lessons from the life of King Jotham

What happens when a nation ignores God's warnings for generations? Find out in this episode of the Bible Book Club Podcast where we explore: 2 Kings 152 Kings 16 2 Kings 17Themes of this podcast episode:Partial Obedience Leads to Spiritual Decay – King Azariah (Uzziah) and King Jotham's lukewarm faith serves as a warning that half-hearted obedience to God is still disobedience.Trusting the Wrong Savior is Costly – King Ahaz turned to Assyria for help instead of seeking God, reminding us that placing our trust in worldly solutions instead of the Lord will always lead to spiritual and moral decline.Sin Has Consequences, Even for a Nation – After centuries of rejecting God's warnings, Israel is conquered and the ten northern tribes are lost forever. Their downfall is a sobering reminder, when we repeatedly choose sin over God, we eventually get what we choose—separation from Him.

September 02, 2024 Daily Devotion:   "The Types of Believers" 2 Chronicles 29:2 New International Version 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done. We meet prophet Micah in today´s verses. He was from Moresheth, near Gath, about twenty-five miles southwest of Jerusalem. Micah prophesized social justice in a time when the rich people were buying small farms, affecting the poor. As the other prophets, he remarked the sin of the people and called them to repentance. Micah was a prophet during the reigns of Jotham , Ahaz and Hezekiah. We see today three very different kings that represent three types of believers. King Jotham was not a very bad king, but he didn´t fully commit to God and didn´t stop the idolatry of the people as they still followed corrupt practices. King Ahaz was openly against God and King Hezekiah was a right king. What kind of Christian are you? Are you fully committed to follow God and His commands as King Hezekiah? Are you living according to the world as King Ahaz? Or are you somewhere in between, putting God aside and remembering Him only on Sunday services and special occasions, as King Jotham?

We begin today's reading with a brief historical account from the book of 2 Chronicles covering the reign of Uzziah's son, King Jotham of Judah, before jumping back into Isaiah. Isaiah chapter 9 begins a prophecy about the birth of the Prince of Peace, a passage that many of us read in our church services during Advent or Christmas. In stark contrast, Isaiah moves on to consider the coming of Assyria, the instrument of God's wrath against his people. Remember that earlier in our reading plan, God's covenant at Mount Sinai with the people of Israel came with abundant blessings through obedience, or with dreadful curses for ignoring God's statutes. In chapter 11, Isaiah prophesies of a shoot that will grow from the stump of Jesse, pointing both to the judgment of God against Israel and a Messianic promise.  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.facebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

II Chronicles 27 recounts the reign of King Jotham of Judah, the son of Uzziah. Jotham becomes king at the age of 25 and rules for 16 years. The chapter highlights Jotham's dedication to following God's commandments, contrasting him with his father by emphasizing that he did not repeat Uzziah's mistake of entering the Temple to perform priestly duties. Jotham's reign is marked by significant building projects, including the construction of the Upper Gate of the Temple and extensive fortifications in the hill country of Judah. He also successfully wages war against the Ammonites, securing tribute from them for three years. The chapter concludes by noting Jotham's military and architectural achievements and his adherence to a righteous path, resulting in his prosperity and stability for Judah. His reign is characterized by a strong and obedient leadership, which brings peace and strength to the kingdom. Donation can be given through these portals: CashApp -https://cash.app/$ShariseJohnsonMoore PayPal - PayPal.me/SNJMoore --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sharise-johnson-moore/message

2 Chronicles 27 - 1:06 . Isaiah 9 - 2:55 . Isaiah 10 - 7:44 . Isaiah 11 - 15:05 . Isaiah 12 - 18:34 . Psalm 133 - 19:58 . We begin today's reading with a brief historical account from the book of 2 Chronicles covering the reign of Uzziah's son, King Jotham of Judah, before jumping back into Isaiah. Isaiah chapter 9 begins a prophecy about the birth of the Prince of Peace, a passage that many of us read in our church services during Advent or Christmas. In stark contrast, Isaiah moves on to consider the coming of Assyria, the instrument of God's wrath against his people. Remember that earlier in our reading plan, God's covenant at Mount Sinai with the people of Israel came with abundant blessings through obedience, or with dreadful curses for ignoring God's statutes. In chapter 11, Isaiah prophesies of a shoot that will grow from the stump of Jesse, pointing both to the judgment of God against Israel and a Messianic promise. :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.facebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Featuring how we can learn from the mistakes of those who come before us from 2 Kings 15:32-38 and 2 Chronicles 27. Don't forget to check out our website! https://treasurehuntpodcast.wixsite.com/realtreasure --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/treasurehuntintheword/message

1 Chronicles 5 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 The oldest son of Israel was Reuben. But since he dishonored his father by sleeping with one of his father's concubines, his birthright was given to the sons of his brother Joseph. For this reason, Reuben is not listed in the genealogical records as the firstborn son. 2 The descendants of Judah became the most powerful tribe and provided a ruler for the nation, but the birthright belonged to Joseph. 3 The sons of Reuben, the oldest son of Israel, were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 4 The descendants of Joel were Shemaiah, Gog, Shimei, 5 Micah, Reaiah, Baal, 6 and Beerah. Beerah was the leader of the Reubenites when they were taken into captivity by King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria. 7 Beerah's relatives are listed in their genealogical records by their clans: Jeiel (the leader), Zechariah, 8 and Bela son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel. The Reubenites lived in the area that stretches from Aroer to Nebo and Baal-meon. 9 And since they had so many livestock in the land of Gilead, they spread east toward the edge of the desert that stretches to the Euphrates River. 10 During the reign of Saul, the Reubenites defeated the Hagrites in battle. Then they moved into the Hagrite settlements all along the eastern edge of Gilead. 11 Next to the Reubenites, the descendants of Gad lived in the land of Bashan as far east as Salecah. 12 Joel was the leader in the land of Bashan, and Shapham was second-in-command, followed by Janai and Shaphat. 13 Their relatives, the leaders of seven other clans, were Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber. 14 These were all descendants of Abihail son of Huri, son of Jaroah, son of Gilead, son of Michael, son of Jeshishai, son of Jahdo, son of Buz. 15 Ahi son of Abdiel, son of Guni, was the leader of their clans. 16 The Gadites lived in the land of Gilead, in Bashan and its villages, and throughout all the pasturelands of Sharon. 17 All of these were listed in the genealogical records during the days of King Jotham of Judah and King Jeroboam of Israel. 18 There were 44,760 capable warriors in the armies of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. They were all skilled in combat and armed with shields, swords, and bows. 19 They waged war against the Hagrites, the Jeturites, the Naphishites, and the Nodabites. 20 They cried out to God during the battle, and he answered their prayer because they trusted in him. So the Hagrites and all their allies were defeated. 21 The plunder taken from the Hagrites included 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep and goats, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 captives. 22 Many of the Hagrites were killed in the battle because God was fighting against them. The people of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh lived in their land until they were taken into exile. 23 The half-tribe of Manasseh was very large and spread through the land from Bashan to Baal-hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon. 24 These were the leaders of their clans: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. These men had a great reputation as mighty warriors and leaders of their clans. 25 But these tribes were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors. They worshiped the gods of the nations that God had destroyed. 26 So the God of Israel caused King Pul of Assyria [...]

2 Chronicles 27Jotham King of Judah (v 1-9)**********Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.The “NIV”, “New International Version”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.  Used with permission.BIBLICA, THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY, provides God's Word to people through Bible translation & Bible publishing, and Bible engagement in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. Through its worldwide reach, Biblica engages people with God's Word so that their lives are transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.Support the show

How can we have Strength every day? We have an interesting example from King Jotham.

King Jotham-2 Chronicles 27 Mark Carpenter -Heritage Baptist Church-Woodbridge, VA

King Jotham-2 Chronicles 27 Mark Carpenter -Heritage Baptist Church-Woodbridge, VA

King Jotham2 Chronicles 27 Mark Carpenter Heritage Baptist ChurchWoodbridge, VA

2 Chronicles 27 - 1:06 . Isaiah 9 - 2:55 . Isaiah 10 - 7:44 . Isaiah 11 - 15:05 . Isaiah 12 - 18:34 . Psalm 133 - 19:58 . We begin today's reading with a brief historical account from the book of 2 Chronicles covering the reign of Uzziah's son, King Jotham of Judah, before jumping back into Isaiah. Isaiah chapter 9 begins a prophecy about the birth of the Prince of Peace, a passage that many of us read in our church services during Advent or Christmas. In stark contrast, Isaiah moves on to consider the coming of Assyria, the instrument of God's wrath against his people. Remember that earlier in our reading plan, God's covenant at Mount Sinai with the people of Israel came with abundant blessings through obedience, or with dreadful curses for ignoring God's statutes. In chapter 11, Israel prophesies of a shoot that will grow from the stump of Jesse, pointing both to the judgment of God against Israel and a Messianic promise. :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.facebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

A fascinating seal seems to be conclusive that Jotham was King of Judah, and was father of Ahaz, as mentioned in Scripture. Thank you for listening! Please subscribe and leave a five star review!

The book of Micah opens with: “The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem” (1:1). Half the Minor Prophets have historical superscriptions in their introductions, but Micah's is the fullest in detail. Superscriptions are helpful in our reconstruction of the historical, political, and religious environments that shaped the messages of the prophets. We know a good bit about the reigns of these kings from the books of Kings and Chronicles, and we know a good bit about the Assyrian political scene because of their numerous records. So, first, let me paint the historical backdrop for Micah's world.With Micah's ministry overlapping King Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, he dates anytime between 740—690 BCE. Most likely though, from historical clues in his text, his main ministry lasted from 722—701 BCE, uttering the bulk of his prophecies during the reign of Hezekiah.. Around this same time, Hosea and Amos were prophesying in Israel and Isaiah was in Jerusalem. Micah seems to be on the backend of these other prophets. Considering all that was coming for Israel and Judah, God had to speak extra loud at this time. One interesting thing to note is that Micah's superscription does not name the contemporary kings of Israel at the time of his ministry, probably because they were considered illegitimate. Micah ministered in Jerusalem, even though he was from Moresheth, a rural town 25 miles outside Jerusalem. His prophecies are directed at both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms. He often references both of them as Israel, treating the divided kingdom as if it were still a unified whole. 

In this podcast you will hear about the prophet Isaiah's message to the sinful, idol worshipping kings and people of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. They wouldn't stop worshipping idols in high places so God was angry that they faked their sacrifices to Him and gave all their attention to idols. He had warned them that other nations would come to mess With them if they didn't repent. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/bobslone)

One theme that keeps coming up as I tell these stories is the theme of obedience. God expects His children to obey His commands. And if we do obey Him, God promises that He will bless us. In this week's story, we hear the story of King Jotham and his choice to obey and to not waver in that obedience. By doing so, God blesses him and, by extension, the kingdom of southern Israel. Hear his inspiring story and the call God gives to all his children to live a life of obedience. Read 2 Kings 15 and 2 Chronicles 27 to follow along.

The reigns of King Jotham, a very good king, and Ahaz, a very bad king.

2 Chronicles 27 - 1:06 . Isaiah 9 - 2:55 . Isaiah 10 - 7:44 . Isaiah 11 - 15:05 . Isaiah 12 - 18:34 . Psalm 133 - 19:58 . We begin today's reading with a brief historical account from the book of 2 Chronicles covering the reign of Uzziah's son, King Jotham of Judah, before jumping back into Isaiah. Isaiah chapter 9 begins a prophecy about the birth of the Prince of Peace, a passage that many of us read in our church services during Advent or Christmas. In stark contrast, Isaiah moves on to consider the coming of Assyria, the instrument of God's wrath against his people. Remember that earlier in our reading plan, God's covenant at Mount Sinai with the people of Israel came with abundant blessings through obedience, or with dreadful curses for ignoring God's statutes. In chapter 11, Israel prophesies of a shoot that will grow from the stump of Jesse, pointing both to the judgment of God against Israel and a Messianic promise. :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.facebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

A Legacy That Impacts Eternity (Exodus 20:4-6)Exodus 20:4-6, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”As fathers, we pass on a legacy to our family—one that is godly or one of sin and idolatry. Fathers pass on God's blessing or sin's curse to their posterity in ways that will last for over a century!A father who refuses to live a godly life passes on to his children a life of sin, idolatry, and captivity. Often a father's sin is reproduced generationally – the sins of the father are visited to third and fourth generations!A father will pass to his descendants the blessing of God or the curse of sin and control of Satan!  There is a direct tie between generational bondage and generational sin, which is why you find certain sins wreaking havoc on a family line generation after generation.A biblical example of the principle of Exodus 20:5:First generation: King Uzziah obeyed partially. (2 Chronicles 26:4, 16)Second generation: King Jotham compromised spiritually. (2 Chronicles 27:2)Third generation: King Ahaz embraced idolatry! (2 Chronicles 28:1-4) What began in the first generation of failing to take God seriously and obeying God completely was reproduced in the second generation with spiritual apathy and compromise with idolatry. It has now been reproduced in thethird generation with a rejection of God completely and full-blown idolatry. It ends with the fourth generation being sacrificed in the fires of Molech.Fourth generation: Destroyed completely! (2 Chronicles 28:3). Long before his children were offered to idols, those idols were accessible to the young and impressionable mind of Ahaz. But it began when Uzziah left them, and Jotham refused to tear them down. Consequently, the atrocity that Jotham chose to ignore was exactly the atrocity that would snare his own son and destroy his own grandsons.The penalty of a father's sin on an entire family is great, BUT…God's promise of blessing on a godly father's family is even greater! (See Exodus 20:6) While the curse of a father's sin can impact hundreds in his lineage, the blessing of God on fathers who love Him is multiplied to thousands!Proverbs 20:7 “The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.”Regardless of your family history, as a godly father, you can begin a “legacy of blessing”!You can tear down the family idolatry, end the cycle of captivity, and pass on generational blessing!You can leave your children a “legacy of blessing” that will stretch clear into eternity!

In this message, King Jotham became great because he prepared his ways before the Lord. Listen and be blessed.

Judah's King Azariah / Israel's King Zechariah / Israel's King Shallum / Israel's King Menahem / Israel's King Pekahiah / Israel's King Pekah / Judah's King Jotham, Greeting / Titus Ministry in Crete, Israel's False Hopes, Looking for GOD's Favor / The LORD is on Our Side / Israel' Stability.

King Jotham; Ahaz defeated by Israel; Hezekiah restores temple worship and Passover

Is doing the right thing enough. King Jotham did what was right in the sight of God but why were the people still currupted? Lets discuss.

Isaiah 36:1 This was the 14thyear of the reign of Hezekiah. Isaiah was called in the year King Uzziah died (Isaiah 6:1). Isaiah’s ministry then spanned the time of four kings of Judah (Isaiah 1:1) and lasted at least 47 years. Uzziah 1 year (Isaiah 6:1) King Jotham 16 years (2Kings 15:32-33) King Ahaz16 years (2Kings 16:1-2) Hezekiah 14 years (or more) (Isaiah 36:1) ------------------------------------ A minimum of 47 years The geopolitical map of the world changed dramatically during this time in history. When Isaiah began his ministry,Assyria was not the dominating world power that it had become. The northern kingdom of Israel was still a sovereign nation with Samaria as its capital city. King Ahaz brought much evil to Judah(2Kings 16:2-4; 2Chronicles 28:16-25; Isaiah 7:1ff). Rather than trusting in Yahweh, he relied on the king of Assyria for help. This was his downfall. The Assyrian Empire rose to greatness during this time, defeating many nations including northern Israel and Syria. And now this mighty nation was about to defeat Judah as well. Under King Sennacherib,all the fortified cities were seized. The only thing remaining for the nation of Judah was the city of Jerusalem and King Hezekiah. All of the other fortified cities had been defeated. Isaiah 36:1ff King Sennacherib had sent Rabshakeh to speak to the leaders and people of Jerusalem in a propaganda campaign to weaken their resolve. Isaiah 37:1-7 Hezekiah tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth -a way of showing humility, penitence, and mourning.Isaiah’s first words to Hezekiah “Do not be afraid.” Isaiah 37:10-13 More of the message was sent to Hezekiah in a letter. Isaiah 37:14-20 Hezekiah took the letter and spread it out before Yahweh in the temple. Isaiah 37:21-35 Isaiah receives an answer from Yahweh to Hezekiah’s prayer. Isaiah 37:36-37 One angel of Yahweh defeated 185,000 Assyrians in one night! Total deliverance! Praise Yahweh!

Day 137 of the podcast, reading 2 Chronicles 25-28 NET, read along at: https://netbible.org/bible/2+Chronicles+25-28/ This is day 137 of our journey. Today we read about the reigns of 4 kings of Judah. The religious life of Judah during these reigns was a roller coaster. King Amaziah started out well by following the Lord as he led Judah into battle, but, after defeating Edom, he took their gods back home and began to worship them. King Uzziah followed the Lord well as long as his advisor Zechariah was alive, but then he decided to go into the temple and offer incense before the Lord (a job assigned only to the priests). God struck him with a skin disease until the day he died. King Jotham finally served the Lord for his whole life and grew strong because he was determined to serve God. Last, we see King Ahaz. King Ahaz followed the ways of the surrounding nations worshiping other gods, as a result, the Lord humiliated Judah. They were defeated over and over. These defeats caused Ahaz to move further and further from the Lord as he worshiped gods from the nations that defeated him. Join me in 2 Chronicles 25-28 to see the roller coaster of religion in Judah. Key verses: 2 Chronicles 25:2 He did what the Lord approved, but not with wholehearted devotion. 2 Chronicles 26:16 But once he became powerful, his pride destroyed him. He disobeyed the Lord his God. He entered the Lord’s temple to offer incense on the incense altar. 2 Chronicles 27:6 Jotham grew powerful because he was determined to please the Lord his God. 2 Chronicles 28:19 The Lord humiliated Judah because of King Ahaz of Israel, for he encouraged Judah to sin and was very unfaithful to the Lord. All Scriptures are from the NET.

I read 2 Chronicles 27 today: King Jotham did well, and he did not enter the temple as his father had done, so there was no notable failure at the end of his reign described in this short chapter.

2nd Chronicles 26-27

FOUNDATIONAL FRAMEWORK. PART 42Foundational Truths: The Bible is God’s self-revelation.God is the Eternal, Sovereign Creator; all that He creates is good.Man is a responsible agent, held to a moral standard.Sin originates within a person, separating us from God.God declares one righteous by faith alone, apart from works.The glory of God is the centerpiece and goal of all existence.God’s glory is maximally realized in the promised, coming Kingdom.The time period between the Old and New Testaments is known as the “400 Years of Silence.” During this span of time a prophet speaking on behalf of YHWH could not be found. However, this does not mean that history was without Guidance. What brought about this “divine silence?”Ezekiel 8:1-18. This vision took place on September 17, 592 BC (8:1). Ezekiel was a priest in the Temple and a prophet of YHWH. He is noted as part of those who were exiled from the land at the Babylonian invasion in 597 BC. While there, he lived in Telabib next to the Chebar River (Ezek 3:15) and served as a mouthpiece for YHWH, seeing that the elders of Judah sought regular counsel from him in this trying time (8:1; 14:1; 20:1). In 8:1, a vision from the “Lord GOD” (“Adonai YHWH”) comes to him, lifting him up and bringing him to Jerusalem (8:3-4). It is clear from the context of Ezekiel 1:26-27 that the being that appears to the prophet in 8:2 is YHWH Himself. Upon arriving in Jerusalem, the “glory of the God of Israel” is seen. This is none other than the “Skekinah Glory” of YHWH. (“Shekinah” means “to dwell.”)This chapter is broken up into four levels of abominations (meaning “horrible, detestable”). Each pattern is the same with YHWH asking Ezekiel, “do you see?”, followed by “you will see” as each abomination progresses. Each instance makes a solid case against Israel as to why their intimacy with YHWH has been forfeited. This is seen in the remark that YHWH makes in 8:6 where He states, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations which the house of Israel are committing here, so that I would be far from My sanctuary? But yet you will see still greater abominations.” Indulgence in evil, especially after a heightened period of revelation from YHWH, is such that repels Him,moving Him to vacate His intimacy with His chosen people. Or to put it another way, sin separates people from God, regardless if they are believers in Him or not. For the unbeliever, he or she is separated from a relationship with Him because they are still dead in their trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1), while the believer is separated from their fellowship with Him if sin is persistent, habitual, and/or unconfessed (1 John 1:9).#1. 8:5-6. While we are not exactly sure what the “idol of jealousy” is, we do know that YHWH is a jealous God, as stated in the Ten Words in Exodus 20:5. This should not be understood that YHWH experiences jealousy like human beings, but that He experiences jealousy perfectly. This may sound strange, but if YHWH desires the best for His creatures and they are settling for far less than an active relationship and a vibrant fellowship with the Creator of all things, the jealousy of YHWH is rational and warranted because the inferior has been deemed more preferable than the Superior. YHWH will not compete with any god or idol and He most certainly will not make His dwelling place tolerable of such lesser fixtures. He is GOD, the Creator, the Sustainer, the Lord, YHWH.The location specified is the entrance of the altar gate to the north. This was the north gate of the inner court that would lead to the sacrificial altar. Constable writes that, “King Jotham (750-732 B.C.) had built this gate, which apparently did not exist when Solomon first constructed the temple (2 Kings 15:35). Other names for it were the upper Benjamin gate (Jer. 20:2), the new gate (Jer. 26:10; 36:10), the altar gate (Ezek. 8:5), and the upper gate (2 Kings 15:35; Ezek. 9:2).” For such an idol to stand in the way of one making their way to the altar of sacrifice is to deter obedience to YHWH and to encourage allegiance to another.#2. 8:7-12. Ezekiel is told to look through a hole in the wall and to dig away the excess around the hole by which he comes upon a secret door. This secret door leads to a room where seventy elders of Israel are found worshiping created things rather than the Creator of things (Deut 4:16-19; Rom 1:22-23). This is a dangerous scene, for throughout theScriptures we see replete evidence that leaders speak for their nation and when the leaders have gone astray, the people are sure to follow.The one leading the elders of Israel in their secret idolatry is “Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan” (8:11b). Shaphan was the scribe that read the Law to King Josiah for the first time, setting off national reforms with Josiah leading Judah back to YHWH, while at the same time tearing down the altar, idols, and high places that had been built (2 Kgs 22:8-14).The mention is made that these acts were done “in the dark” (8:12b), with the statements of the elders regarding YHWH being made known to Ezekiel. Their mindset/attitude is one that believes that they can hide their idolatry from YHWH, while simultaneously accusing Him of forsaking the Land of Promise. This conclusion would make their belief a result of unbelief.Such secrecy is believed by some to be a result of the worship of Egyptian idols while under Babylonian rule (the two were at fierce odds with one another), while others see such secrecy as an attempt to hide themselves from the eyes of the Almighty. According to the context of the passage, the latter explanation is the correct one, seeing the attitude of the elders is made manifest in their collective statement: “The Lord does not see us; the Lord has forsaken the land” (12b). The depths of idolatry had robbed the leaders of Israel of their awareness of the basic attribute of God’s omnipresence (Psalm 139:7-12; Prov 15:3; Jer 23:23-24) and His promise to care for them while in the land if they would be faithful to Him, obeying His Law (Deut 5:32-33).#3. 8:13-14. The Lord brings Ezekiel to the north gate, which would lead to the inner court of the Temple. This gate is significant because it was the gate that would have been used by the king. The scene before him is of women who are weeping for Tammuz, who was known as the Babylonian god of vegetation, who they believed to be dying and resurrecting each year with the cycle of the seasons. McClain notes that Tammuz was “a heathen god corresponding to the Greek Adonis whoseworship was attended by such licentious orgies that the cult was finally suppressed by Constantine the Great.”With only this one mention of “Tammuz” in the Bible, we may be quick to disregard the seriousness of this moment as seen by Ezekiel. Cooper provides us with some insight as to how deep the seedbed of Tammuz idolatry ran in Israel. He writes, “After the exile the Hebrew calendar included a month called Tammuz, the fourth month (June–July). This was the time for grapes to be harvested. The preservation of the name Tammuz in the calendar suggests the impact this form of pagan worship had on Jewish life and worship, both during and after the exile.”Such devotion to this false deity is an affront to YHWH who is “YWHW Yireh,” the Provider of Israel (Gen 22:14).#4. 8:15-17. Moving into the inner court and standing at the entrance to the Temple, Ezekiel finds himself stationed between “the porch and the altar” just outside the Holy Place (8:16b). The inner court was a place for priests only, which makes their identity clear. “They were the priesthood of the nation, represented here by the presidents of the twenty-four courses with the high priest at their head!” Oh, the violation; seeing that they have prostrated themselves in worship to the sun, meaning that this was the worship of Ra, the god of the sun, as previously seen in Egyptian culture. With their back to the Temple and their faces to the east, toward the sun, their posture symbolizes that they had turned their back on YHWH and the wholly-devoted oath that they had committed to (Exod 19:8), choosing instead to bow before the created, inferior objects of this world (Rom 1:18-21).The First Temple which was built by Solomon was not destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar until 586 BC, so this “transportation” (vision) that Ezekiel is experiencing was likely revealing real-time events to him (remember, this chapter takes place in 592 BC). This further solidifiedthe reason for YHWH allowing for their captivity and for the destruction that was to come.Ezekiel 9:1-11. This is an awful scene, and one that could have been avoided had the Israelites heeded the Word of YHWH and obeyed His commands. While this passage is plain in speaking for itself, it is important to note that the “glory of the God of Israel” (9:3a) moves from His place over the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of holies to the threshold of the Temple, which is the doorstep.Such judgment is merited because of Israel’s gross sin. YHWH declares that the iniquity of Israel and Judah “is very, very great,” with the land full of blood and perversion being found throughout the city (9:9).Ezekiel 9:1-11. This may seem to be a slight detail, but it is significant nonetheless. The “glory of the Lord,” the Shekinah Glory moves from over the cherubim to the point of filling the court, which could be specified as being only the inner court, in contrast to the mention of the sound of angel’s wings in the outer court (10:5). This would be the same “court” that was previously mentioned in 8:16.YHWH being “over the cherubim” should not be seen as the cherubim that were part of the Mercy Seat that sat upon the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of holies in the Temple, but rather as the cherubim that accompanied YHWH wherever He would go from chapter 1.Ezekiel 11:12, 22-24. This passage captures the third movement of the glory of the Lord away from the Holy of holies, eventually leaving Jerusalem altogether. Verse 12 summarizes the atrocities of the Jews. In a sentence, they have repeatedly broken the Mosaic Covenant. Verses 22-24 find the glory of the Lord, hovering above the cherubim that follow Him, leaving Jerusalem, and positioning Himself outside of the city to the east, above the Mount of Olives. YHWH was no longer dwelling with His people. Cooper writes, “The most severe aspect of God’s judgment was his absence from among his people.” This is known as Ichabod meaning “the Departed Glory.” Hosea 5:14-15 had been fulfilled.Thankfully, we are told in Zechariah 14:4 that when the Lord returns to set up the Millennial Kingdom, He will set His foot down on the Mount of Olives, returning again at the Second Coming in the exact same way that He left.Ezekiel 21:24-27. The charges against Israel are clear: Their sins were something of public knowledge. The Hebrew word translated “remembered” in the NASB is hazkar meaning, “to remember, to be mindful, to bear something in mind, to account, to consider, to contemplate things called back to memory.” It is almost like the sins of Israel had become a memorial to their destruction, being complete self-inflicted and deserving of judgment.The “wicked one, the prince of Israel” is understood to be King Zedekiah who was Judah’s last king. Zedekiah was installed as king of Judah by King Nebuchadnezzar, and was little more than a puppet with little power (2 Kgs 24:11-16). Though he had sworn an oath of allegiance to Babylon, and though he was warned to allow for the wrath of YHWH to proceed without retaliation by Jeremiah (Jer 27:1-17), Zedekiah eventually sided with Egypt in rebellion against the chosen discipline of the Lord, breaking his oath (2 Chr 36:13). The breaking of his word as sworn unto YHWH classified him as a wicked king. He is commanded to remove his turban and to take off his crown (Ezek 21:26b). The crown would remain vacant in Israel until “He comes whose right it is, and I will give it to Him” (Ezek 21:27b), that being the Lord Jesus Christ, the rightful king of Israel.These passages touch upon the reasons for the discipline that fell upon Israel, the vacancy of the Shekinah Glory of YHWH in the Temple, and the absence of a king worthy to rule and lead the people in pursuing righteousness. This justifies the Silent Years. However, YHWH was still moving in history.With the division of Israel into the Northern (Israel) Kingdom and the Southern (Judah) Kingdom, the nation fell into a tailspin spiritually withthe Northern Kingdom being overtaken by the Assyrians in 721 BC and the Southern Kingdom first being attacked in 605 BC (of which the prophet Daniel was taken away) and finally falling to Babylon in 586 BC after a series of invasions in between. Showing themselves to be the dominate superpower of the day, Babylon conquered Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, in 612 BC.In 539 BC, the Medo-Persian Empire invaded Babylon, conquering it and bringing new names to the geographical territories of the Middle East, most notable of which is the renaming of the “Province of Megiddo in the north” to Galilee , which contains Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee, and Capernaum, just to name a few of the places that would later be prominent New Testament locations in the life of Jesus Christ.With the Jews being taken captive by Babylon, the Idumeans moved into the southern territory that was once Judah. These people were descended from Esau, being “carryovers” from the Edomites. With the conquering forces of Alexander the Great in 330 BC causing a sweeping infection of Hellenistic culture, a change in the common language and the renaming of many provinces reflected the domination of Greece.When Alexander the Great died, his kingdom was divided between his top four generals. It did not take long for two of these generals to fall to the others, creating the powers of the Ptolemies, which ruled over the provinces of Egypt (which included Israel and Jerusalem), and the Seleucids who reigned over Syria. “Until 198 BC Israel remained under the Ptolemies of Egypt, who did not disturb the Jewish way of worship or forcefully Hellenize the people.” However, Hellenism was zealously promoted by the Seleucids, who in 198 BC set out to conquer Egypt, which resulted in the exchange of Israel to the Seleucids’ control.Though there were a succession of leaders at this time, one leader stood out among them all. Antiochus Epiphanes IV was king of the Syrians who took control of Judea, profaning the Second Temple by sacrificing pigs on the altar and smearing its chopped flesh across the wall of the Templewhile forcing the Levitical Priests to drink the blood. His army killed an estimated 40,000 Jews over a period of three days. Such acts foreshadow the desecration of the Temple of YHWH and the ensuing slaughter that the “man of lawlessness” will enforce during the future seven-year tribulation (Matt 24:15-21; Dan 9:24-27; 2 Thess 2:3-4).When the tyranny and violence of Antiochus seemed at its worst, the Lord God rose up a family that took him and his army to task. Led by their father Mattathias, the Maccabees family (whose name means “the hammer of God”) took a stand for the righteousness of YHWH God. Ironside recounts the story:“There came one day to Modin, Apelles, king Antiochus’ commissioner, to force all the inhabitants to conform to the heathen rites. Recognizing in Mattathias a ruler and an honorable man, Apelles came first to him, demanding that he set the example by sacrificing on the heathen altar which had been set up in the midst of the village. Mattathias indignantly refused, and declared without reservation that neither he nor his sons would harken to the king’s words. As he spoke, a renegade Jew pressed through the throng to offer before the idol. This so stirred the venerable old man that he ran forward and slew not only the transgressor himself, but ere the astonished commissioner realized his danger, he also was slain by Mattathias, who then destroyed the altar. Thus had a second Phinehas arisen in Israel.The breach was made; the king was openly defied.”Such an act set off a firestorm, fueling the flames of insurrection, and paving a path for restoration for the Jewish people. Upon Mattathias’ death in 166 BC, his son Judas took up the cause, leading victory after victory against the Syrians. Again, Ironside captures the scene:“Another and greater army, commanded by Seron, was sent by king Antiochus to annihilate the Jewish company. The two forces met at Beth-horon. Seron, haughty and defiant, at the head of a vast host; Judas, intrepid and strong in faith, but leading a small company, who had been obliged to fast all that day, and were weak and discouraged as theybeheld their insolent foes. ‘How,’ they asked, ‘shall we be able, being so few, to fight against so great a multitude, and so strong?’ Like a second Asa, Judas replied: ‘With the God of heaven it is all one to deliver with a great multitude, or a small company.’ Nor was his faith disappointed. Encouraged by the remembrance of the past mercies of Jehovah, the Jews threw themselves, in the apparent recklessness of faith, upon their disdainful foes, and under the daring leadership of Judas, scattered them like chaff before the flails, and completely defeated the Syrians, who fled wildly in all directions, leaving a vast number of dead and wounded on the bloody field. Thus was it demonstrated that one should chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, in reliance upon God their strength.”After 11 years of reigning as king, Antiochus succumbed to a flesh-eating disease. With news of his death, Judas Maccabees led the people in cleansing the Temple of God in 165-164 BC, which is now commemorated as Hanukkah. Eventually winning their independence, the Jews soon experienced in-fighting between the traditional Jews and those Jews who had been heavily influenced by Hellenistic culture. The dispute was such that it eventually attracted the attention of a rising kingdom; a kingdom “as strong as iron; inasmuch as iron crushes and shatters all things, so, like iron that breaks in pieces, it will crush and break all these in pieces” (Dan 2:40). This new world superpower was Rome, who took control of Israel in 63 BC. Though the Jews were in the land, oppression was present once again, setting the perfect stage for the Jewish people to cry out to YHWH for salvation. It was time for His presence to be reintroduced into Israel.John 1:14. While more will be said in the next lesson about the “Word,” what is seen in this verse is that the Word takes on flesh, becoming fully human, even to the point of “dwelling” (or setting up shop if you will) among the human race. Not only does the Word have flesh, and manifests His existence as flesh, but He takes up personal residence among flesh, though they are sinful and depraved.John’s account here is personal. Almost like unleashing a climax of sight and sound, he tells us that he, along with others, beheld His “glory, gloryas of the only begotten from the Father.” This was not just any man, but One who could, and did at one time, radiate the glory of God among people. This “glory” once dwelled upon Mount Sinai after audibly speaking forth the Ten Words to the congregation of Israel (Exod 24:16; 20:1-20). This “glory” is the same glory that dwelt among Israel in the Holy of holies, residing behind a curtain, with demands of cleansing and the appropriation of lamb’s blood for acceptance… the same “glory” that was heartsick over the sins of people that He loved deeply, so much to the point that He judged them by scattering them abroad and removing His personal presence from among them.Sin is tragic, but the God of all glory desires to dwell among His people! In the flesh-person of the “Word,” His residence on earth would be a reintroduction of Himself into the lives of the Israelites, a reintroduction that would be “full of grace and truth.”

Pastor Michael Torres – 2 Kings 15:32-28 – Wednesday, January 18, 2018

When Uzziah was struck with leprosy, Jotham became king In Jerusalem. He proves to be a faithful and great king. Upon his death, Ahaz becomes king and proves to be one of the wickedest kings to ever rule in Israel. In this episode, we emphasize the wickedness of Ahaz and set the scene for one of the greatest prophecies of all time. 2 Chronicles 27 www.messagetokings.com

So often, the ways that we act in this world communicate more about who we are than any words we might express. King Jotham was such a leader - Scripture tells us that the things he did were pleasing to the Lord, and were in contrast with the rest of Israel, who continued to follow evil. Jotham became mighty because he ordered his ways before the Lord his God.

So often, the ways that we act in this world communicate more about who we are than any words we might express. King Jotham was such a leader - Scripture tells us that the things he did were pleasing to the Lord, and were in contrast with the rest of Israel, who continued to follow evil. Jotham became mighty because he ordered his ways before the Lord his God.