2 Kings: Don’t Be Evil
1:1-18, 17:22-23, 23:27 (Pastor Heo)
The LORD's Judgment on Ahaziah
1 After Ahab's death, Moab rebelled against Israel. 2 Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers, saying to them, "Go and consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if I will recover from this injury." 3 But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, "Go up and meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, 'Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?' 4 Therefore this is what the LORD says: 'You will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!' " So Elijah went. 5 When the messengers returned to the king, he asked them, "Why have you come back?" 6 "A man came to meet us," they replied. "And he said to us, 'Go back to the king who sent you and tell him, "This is what the LORD says: Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending men to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!" ' " 7 The king asked them, "What kind of man was it who came to meet you and told you this?" 8 They replied, "He was a man with a garment of hair and with a leather belt around his waist." The king said, "That was Elijah the Tishbite." 9 Then he sent to Elijah a captain with his company of fifty men. The captain went up to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to him, "Man of God, the king says, 'Come down!' " 10 Elijah answered the captain, "If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!" Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men. 11 At this the king sent to Elijah another captain with his fifty men. The captain said to him, "Man of God, this is what the king says, 'Come down at once!' " 12 "If I am a man of God," Elijah replied, "may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!" Then the fire of God fell from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men. 13 So the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. This third captain went up and fell on his knees before Elijah. "Man of God," he begged, "please have respect for my life and the lives of these fifty men, your servants! 14 See, fire has fallen from heaven and consumed the first two captains and all their men. But now have respect for my life!" 15 The angel of the LORD said to Elijah, "Go down with him; do not be afraid of him." So Elijah got up and went down with him to the king. 16 He told the king, "This is what the LORD says: Is it because there is no God in Israel for you to consult that you have sent messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!" 17 So he died, according to the word of the LORD that Elijah had spoken. Because Ahaziah had no son, Joram succeeded him as king in the second year of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah. 18 As for all the other events of Ahaziah's reign, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?
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17:22 The Israelites persisted in all the sins of Jeroboam and did not turn away from them 23 until the LORD removed them from his presence, as he had warned through all his servants the prophets. So the people of Israel were taken from their homeland into exile in Assyria, and they are still there.
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23:27 So the LORD said, "I will remove Judah also from my presence as I removed Israel, and I will reject Jerusalem, the city I chose, and this temple, about which I said, 'There shall my Name be.' "
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This is not a happy story, but a sad, terrible, evil story. 
Today: Do not be evil in the eyes of God.
In conclusion: I bless us to not be evil in the eyes of God.
Bless your neighbor: Do not be evil in the eyes of God.
Bless again. Be good in the eyes of God.
Amen. May God bless us all to be good in the eyes of the Lord.
If we continually are found to be/do evil in the eyes of God, the end is destruction in Hell.
Continuing from last week, 1/2 Samuel, 1/2 Kings - these 4 books were originally one series of books and record the entire history of Israel’s monarchy - from its rise under Samuel to its fall under Babylon. 
Today - in 2 Kings is one of the worst stories in ALL the OT. It is a story of destruction and captivity of Israel (two kingdoms, North - Israel, South - Judah).
Originally, 1/2 Kings were one book in the Hebrew Bible so this is a direct continuation of 1 Kings without interruption. This continues the narrative of 1 Kings. 
2 Kings divisions:
1: The story of Two Kingdoms
From 9th century B.C. to the fall of the kingdoms in 722 B.C. under the Assyrians.
2: The survival of the Kingdoms 
From the Assyrian capture to the fall of Jerusalem under Babylon (king Nebuchadnezzar)
This is one of the great turning points in the history of Israel - in 1 Kings, the outstanding prophet is Elijah. In 2 Kings, the outstanding prophet is Elisha (successor of Elijah). 
In chp 2, God was going to take Elijah up to heaven without the experience of death (in a whirlwind). Elijah and Elisha were walking and talking in the desert when Elijah said, “OK wait here, I will go to Bethel (the house of the Lord).” Elisha said, “I will never leave you.” So they went together. After arriving, they went on to Jericho again together (in the same manner). They went on again to the Jordan River again together in the same manner. At the Jordan River, Elijah took his cloak off and hit the river. The water divided right/left and they crossed over on dry ground. 
Elijah said to Elisha, “What can I do for you before I am taken from you?”
Elisha, “Let me receive a DOUBLE portion of your Spirit.”
Elijah “You have asked a very difficult thing, but if you SEE me when I am taken from you, it will be given to you.”
They continued talking and walking and the chariots of heaven came down and separated them and took Elijah to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father!” and then began his own ministry in this evil kingdom until chp 9.
2 Kings continues a drama begun in chp 1. 
Part 1: chp 1-17 (Divided Kingdom)
Part 2: chp 18-25 (Surviving Kingdom)
In conclusion: Part 1: the story of the destruction and captivity of the northern kingdom Israel.
Chp 25, this is also the story of destruction and captivity of the southern kingdom Judah.
In the southern area, the kingdom last from Jehoram to Ahaz. 
In the northern kingdom, from Ahazziah to Hosea.
This shows the legacy of sinful/evil kings. The evil in the northern kingdom is ONLY interrupted by the ministry of the prophets Elijah and Elisha. At the end of Elijah’s ministry, Elisha is installed and authenticated as his successor. 
Elisha was a power for righteousness in this kingdom which never served the true God nor worshiped in the temple in Jerusalem.
This story was not written as a true “history” book but was written selectively to make them heed the warnings of God.
The prophets were used by God to remind the kings of their covenant responsibility to God.
When the kings were richly blessed, unhappily, judgment and collapse consistently fall upon those who fail to obey God’s law. 
Yes, God is in control of human history - revealing his plan/purpose to his people (even today). But unhappily, people are often more concerned about their own plans/purpose and their wickedness (in this case) led to their captivity in Assyria.
One time, Elijah instructed one of his prophet assistants to anoint Jehob king of Israel. He fulfilled the prophecies concerning Ahab’s descendants. (It was prophesied last time that ALL his family and children would be killed - he killed Jezebel and all his sons and even the prophets of Baal.)
In the north kingdom’s history, the worst king was Ahab, but his wife Jezebel was WORSE than him!
Jehob himself never turned away from idol worship (originally set up by Jeroboam the first king). 
In the northern kingdom, there were 19 kings - ALL evil, without exception. The conclusion of this was captivity and destruction by Assyria in 722 or 721 B.C. At that time, Assyria was the most powerful country in the world. 
Part Two: Surviving Kingdom (chp 18-25) - these read more easily than Part One because there is no more alternating between the histories of the kingdoms.
Southern kingdom, 20 kings - ALL were David’s descendants (1 dynasty)
Northern kingdom, 19 kings - 9 dynasties
After Assyria conquered the northern kingdom, they also attacked the southern kingdom some time later. King Hezekiah was the king at that time, he was faithful and reformed the country so God saved them from Assyria and brought them some blessing and prosperity.
BUT, Hezekiah’s son, Manasseh - 55 year reign - became VERY idolatrous and his long reign brought the collapse and judgment of Judah again. Judah was finally defeated by Babylon in 586 B.C. (the most powerful country in the world at THAT time).
I’m starting my sermon now.
<Passed out paper>
This is the whole story of Israel’s monarchy. These kings we can see in 4 books. 1/2 Samuel, 1/2 Kings. 
United: Saul, David, Solomon (120 years - each was 40 years)
Saul (1 Samuel 9-31)
David (1/2 Samuel 16-31/1-END, 1 Kings 1-2)
Solomon (1 Kings 1-11 - Israel divided)
1 Kings 12-22 - Southern kingdom Rehoboam to Jehoram (#5)
Northern kingdom Jeroboam to Ahaziah (#8)
2 Kings 1-17
Northern kingdom (#8 - #19) Ahaziah to Hoshea
Southern kingdom (#13 - #20) Hezekiah to Zedekiah
Northern = 19 kings, 9 dynasties (the history of the northern kingdom is the story of BLOOD)
Jeroboam + Nadab (father/son)
Basha killed Nadab to be king + Elah (father/son)
Zimri killed Elah and all the family to be king (7 day reign - good job buddy)
Omri, Ahab, Ahaziah, Joram = new dynasty 
Omri didn’t kill Zimri, Zimri killed himself with fire in his house.
10. Jehu killed all Ahab’s family, Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam II, Zechariah = longest dynasty (5 kings)
15. Shallum killed Zechariah - one king dynasty
16. Menahem killed Shallum + Pekahiah (father/son)
18. Pekah killed Pekahiah - one king dynasty
19. Hoshea killed Pekah
Northern kingdom - 19 kings through 9 dynasties = blood + murder dynasties
Southern kingdom - 20 kings, 1 dynasty
ALL were sons of David EXCEPT Athaliah (woman)
Northern kingdom = worst = Ahab + Jezebel 
Southern kingdom = worst = Athaliah (daughter of Ahab + Jezebel) - she married Jehoram (#5) - Ahaziah = SON of Athaliah (same name, different person) - northern kingdom #8 = Ahab + Jezebel’s son (Ahaziah)
Ahaziah = Athaliah’s son (Jezebel’s grandson)
North Ahaziah (#8) = Jezebel’s son
South Ahaziah (#6) = Jezebel’s grandson
When #7 Athaliah became queen, she killed ALL of David’s descendents except Joash - hidden from her in the temple until he was old enough to become king
Joash is Athaliah’s grandson.
#7 Athaliah wife of #5 Jehoram, mother... grandmother of #8 Joash
Finished....
Not quite. 
2 Kings is one of the WORST stories in the WHOLE OT. “DO NOT BE EVIL IN THE EYES OF GOD.”
2 Kings, the keywords are “captivity” and “destruction.”
Key sentence = “He did EVIL in the eyes of the LORD.” (How many times is this repeated?)
Quickly: 2 Kings 3:2, 8:18, 8:27, 13:2, 13:11, 14:24, 15:9, 15:18, 15:24, 15:28, 17:2, 17:13, 17(destruction of northern kingdom by Assyria) - “the LORD warned them through all the prophets and seers ‘Turn from your evil ways!’”, 17:17, 21:2, 21:6 (MUCH evil - Manasseh), 21:9, 21:11, 21:15, 21:16, 21:20, 23:32, 23:33, 24:9 Jehoiakim, 24:19 Zedekiah - next chapter, Judah is defeated and destroyed
24 times
2 Kings = the book of “he did evil in the eyes of the LORD”
Elisha reminds us of Jesus (a type of Jesus)
He lived among the people and in his ministry emphasized peace, life, hope, grace by returning from their sinful ways to God. But they rejected him - they refused to listen to his message.
Like this, Jesus came into the world, the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us to give us peace, life, hope, grace (John 1). But still today, MANY people reject Jesus.
Today’s title: “Do not be evil in the eyes of God” So, what/who is evil?
Yes, we can say GENERALLY “this/that is evil” - but still a person/thing can also not be evil in the eyes of whom?
For example, a national hero in one country can be demonized and evil/wicked in the eyes of another country.
We should not be evil in the eyes of:
wife, husband, children, brothers/sisters in Christ, neighbors, the lost, co-workers, (most important) GOD - why? If we continue to be found evil in the eyes of God, the end is DESTRUCTION. - in hell, forever and ever. 
So, what is “evil” in the eyes of God?
God is very patient, slow to anger, long suffering - this is true - but it means that there is a time where his patience ENDS. 
What is “evil” in the eyes of God? Rejecting God by rejecting the message of his prophets (Elisha) in the OT.
Rejecting God by rejecting Jesus whom he sent (NT). 
John 3:16 
Also “God is not slow in keeping his promise as some may think... but he wants ALL people to repent.”
1 Timothy “God wants all people to be saved”
Romans 10:9? “If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord and God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
If we have a mouth, we have it to confess Christ as Lord.
If we have a heart, we have it to believe in Christ our Savior.
So, “evil” in the eyes of God = to NOT believe/confess Jesus as Lord, Savior, King.
Repeat Romans 10:9 “...it is with your heart that you believe and are justified. It is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
In conclusion, I want to invite all of you to stand in the presence of God. 
Please, do not continue to be found evil in the eyes of God.
My English is simple and easy. 
If you have a mouth and heart and believe already in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, OR if you have these and WANT to accept and confess Christ as Savior, I want to invite you to confess with me in our prayer. Follow me. This is a matter between you yourselves and God - not me. This is personal/private. 
Be free, but this is your story.
“Oh, dear God. Thank you for Jesus Christ. Oh, God. By nature, I’m a sinner. I need a Savior. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and Jesus rose again for my life. Right now, I open my heart. I accept Jesus Christ in my heart in my heart - truly and sincerely as my personal Savior, and Lord, and King, and God. Come into my life. Come in my heart. I welcome you. I receive you. Truly, Jesus Christ. I commit my whole life to my Lord Jesus Christ. Right now, I’m a child of God. I’m saved simply because what Jesus has done on the cross not what I have done. Father God, control my whole life. Direct my whole life according to your wonderful purpose. I give my life to you. I am not my own because my Lord is Jesus Christ. I’m your child, also I’m your servant. Use me for your kingdom, for your purpose, for your design in this world. Thank you Jesus, you are my Savior, my Lord, my King. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen.”
Let’s pray.