The Jesus Christ of
II Kings--
Taking Every Thought Captive to Christ
Memory verse--II Corinthians 10: 5, 6--"5We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 6and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete."
Today's text: II Kings.
Narrative: The book of II Kings is a sad book, with the saddest chapter being the 17th one. This chapter reviews why Israel fell: It failed to keep the first and second commandments.
Bible Study:
I. What did Israel fail to carry out?
A. "The ten commandments?"
B. Actually the first of 613, listed both in Exodus 20 and in Deuteronomy 5.
C. "Thou shalt have not other gods before me" and "Thou shalt not make unto thyself any graven image."
D. II Kings 17--entire chapter.
II. Where did they go wrong?
A. Israel's mistakes began in the hearts of their leaders, when they failed to put Godfirst in their hearts. Idolatry begins in the heart, not at the altar of some pagan god.
B. Our God is a jealous God. He says as much in both OT passages.
C. And we read it again in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 6: 24--"4"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
D. Idolatry follows naturally after man has failed to make the place for Jehovah in his heart. Man will always serve some god.
III. A personal story of idolatry and of deliverance.
IV. Idolatries of today.
A. Wealth. Matthew 6: 19-21.
B. Fame or approval. See John 12: 42-50.
C. Leading singing etc. to show technical prowess.
D. Preaching if it is to get a certain job--the preacher who worked underground to get the other preacher's job.
E. Being an elder or deacon if we covet the title rather than to do the service. (Matthew 6)
F. Spending the church's money if it is not for evangelism, edification, or benevolence.
IV. Israel in a chaotic time.
A. Ahaziah, II Kings 1.
B. From Elijah to Elisha, II Kings 2
C. Jehoram, chapter 3
D. Widow's oil, Shunammite's son.
E. Healing of Naaman, Chapter 5.
F. Defeat of the Arameans.
"Those who are with us are more than those who are against us"--6: 16. So often, this is the case with us today as well.
G. Elisha's ministry with the Shunammite Woman--8.
H. Jehu's reign--chapter 9
I. Jehu's eradication of Baal from Israel (10).
J. Jehoash--a breath of spiritual fresh air. (chapter 12).
However the trend of most kings in Israel in this time was downward. For the most part, most kings were more corrupt than their fathers before them.
K. Summary of the remaining kings before the overthrow--II Kings
17: 41--"So while these nations feared the LORD, they also served their idols; their children likewise and their grandchildren, as their fathers did, so they do to this day."
V. Are you serving idols today?
Do you :take every thought captive to Christ?
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