Title: Taking Down the High Places
Theme: Showing the importance of taking down the high places.
Text: 2 Kings 12:2 - 3
2 Kings 12:2-3 Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him. (3) But the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
Introduction
Since the beginning of the year it has been my goal to read through the Bible. I have done this a few times, I believe it is important that I become familiar with God's Word. A little over two months ago I came across this passage in 2 Kings 12:2-3.
I began to ponder why this verse was written as it is. Jehoash did right in the sight of the Lord. This should be the end of it. Yet we see another note that said "the high places were not taken away". Why this note about Jehoash's life. Then it hit me. God was not just interested in how Jehoash lived but also how he prepared the way for the next generation.
God wanted him to get things ready for the people after Jehoash was gone. So I wonder what walls am I tearing down so that the ones who follow me won't have to break through?
Or am I just focusing on myself and making it through to get to heaven?
This is what happened to Hezekiah
Hezekiah was . . .
• Mighty King of God
• Prayed to the Lord for his help in fighting the King of Assyria
• He was out manned by the largest army, yet he understood "Greater is He than is in me than He that is in the world"
• The Lord destroyed the nation, 185,000 troops 2 Kings 19
• God sick and prayed to the Lord and the Lord healed him.
• The Lord gave him 15 more years
• Yet he opened up the kingdom to be viewed by the foreign nations, his pride
God's Judgment
2Ki 20:12-19 At that time Berodach-Baladan [36] the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been sick. (13) And Hezekiah was attentive to them, and showed them all the house of his treasures--the silver and gold, the spices and precious ointment, and all [37] his armory--all that was found among his treasures. There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them. (14) Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah, and said to him, "What did these men say, and from where did they come to you?" So Hezekiah said, "They came from a far country, from Babylon." (15) And he said, "What have they seen in your house?" So Hezekiah answered, "They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them." (16) Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the Lord: (17) 'Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,' says the Lord. (18) 'And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.' " (19) So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good!" For he said, "Will there not be peace and truth at least in my days?"
Also let us look at Elisha
Elisha was . . .
• Heritage passed down from Elijah
• a double portion
• twice as many miracles as Elijah
2Ki 2:9-14 And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?" Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." (10) So he said, You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so." (11) Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. (12) And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!" So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. (13) He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. (14) Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.
Miracles in the Career of Elisha:
1) Parting of the Jordan (2Ki 2:14)
2) Healing of the waters (2Ki 2:21)
3) Curse of the she bears (2Ki 2:24)
4) Filling of the valley with water (2Ki 3:17)
5) Deception of the Moabites with the valley of blood (2Ki 3:22)
6) Miracle of the vessels of oil (2Ki 4:4)
7) Prophecy that the Shunammite woman would have a son (2Ki 4:16)
8) Resurrection of the Shunammite's son (2Ki 4:34)
9) Healing of the gourds (2Ki 4:41)
10) Miracle of the bread (2Ki 4:43)
11) Healing of Naaman (2Ki 5:14)
12) Perception of Gehazi's transgression (2Ki 5:26)
13) Cursing Gehazi with leprosy (2Ki 5:27)
14) Floating of the axe head (2Ki 6:6)
15) Prophecy of the Syrian battle plans (2Ki 6:9)
16) Vision of the chariots (2Ki 6:17)
17) Smiting the Syrian army with blindness (2Ki 6:18)
18) Restoring the sight of the Syrian army (2Ki 6:20)
19) Prophecy of the end of the great famine (2Ki 7:1)
20) Prophecy that the scoffing nobleman would see, but not partake of, the abundance (2Ki 7:2)
21) Deception of the Syrians with the sound of chariots (2Ki 7:6)
22) Prophecy of the seven-year famine (2Ki 8:1)
23) Prophecy of Benhadad's untimely death (2Ki 8:10)
24) Prophecy of Hazael's cruelty to Israel (2Ki 8:12)
25) Prophecy that Jehu would smite the house of Ahab (2Ki 9:7)
26) Prophecy that Joash would smite the Syrians at Aphek (2Ki 13:17)
27) Prophecy that Joash would smite Syria thrice but not consume it (2Ki 13:19)
28) Resurrection of the man touched by his bones (2Ki 13:21)
Elisha's death
2 Kings 13:20-21 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.
Conclusion
Am I living a life of character and removing the barriers for others? Am I defeating the demons today so that the next generation won't have to fight the same ones on top of what else they are being bombarded with.
Prayer: Lord help me not to run from or avoid the battles for today. Let me fight the fights that can help the next generation. Amen.
