Today's Daily Bread

IN THE EYES OF THE LORD

Date : Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Passage : 2Kings 15:17~38
Keyverse : 34  
17
In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem son of Gadi became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria ten years.
18
He did evil in the eyes of the LORD. During his entire reign he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.
19
Then Pul[v] king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem gave him a thousand talents[w] of silver to gain his support and strengthen his own hold on the kingdom.
20
Menahem exacted this money from Israel. Every wealthy person had to contribute fifty shekels of silver to be given to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and stayed in the land no longer.
21
As for the other events of Menahem’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?
22
Menahem rested with his ancestors. And Pekahiah his son succeeded him as king.
23
In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned two years.
24
Pekahiah did evil in the eyes of the LORD. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.
25
One of his chief officers, Pekah son of Remaliah, conspired against him. Taking fifty men of Gilead with him, he assassinated Pekahiah, along with Argob and Arieh, in the citadel of the royal palace at Samaria. So Pekah killed Pekahiah and succeeded him as king.
26
The other events of Pekahiah’s reign, and all he did, are written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel.
27
In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah son of Remaliah became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twenty years.
28
He did evil in the eyes of the LORD. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.
29
In the time of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maakah, Janoah, Kedesh and Hazor. He took Gilead and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali, and deported the people to Assyria.
30
Then Hoshea son of Elah conspired against Pekah son of Remaliah. He attacked and assassinated him, and then succeeded him as king in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah.
31
As for the other events of Pekah’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?
32
In the second year of Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel, Jotham son of Uzziah king of Judah began to reign.
33
He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother’s name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok.
34
He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done.
35
The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the temple of the LORD.
36
As for the other events of Jotham’s reign, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?
37
(In those days the LORD began to send Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah.)
38
Jotham rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David, the city of his father. And Ahaz his son succeeded him as king.
During Menahem’s reign, the Assyrian king invaded and demanded a huge sum of silver from Israel. Menahem paid it to the Assyrian king by extracting money from the wealthy, and preserved his kingship. The Assyrians withdrew, and Israel had temporary peace. During the reign of Pekah, the Assyrians invaded Israel again, occupied huge regions of Israel, and deported the people to Assyria. These godless kings of Israel did evil in God’s eyes and did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam (18, 24, 28). When God raised his hand of discipline, they should have turned their hearts back to God. Instead, they kept on Jeroboam’s evil way, and ultimately perished forever soon after.

While northern Israel was heading towards disaster, Judah remained in a state of peace. King Jotham honored God by rebuilding the Upper Gate of the temple. He did what was right in God’s eyes and so God blessed Judah. The allied forces of Aram and Northern Israel invaded Judah, but could not disrupt the peaceful state. Rather, northern Israel fell shortly thereafter. In God’s presence, his people will be at peace no matter how troubled and chaotic the world becomes. Prayer: Lord, in times of trouble and confusion, help us rely more on you and find true peace in you.
One Word: Live in the eyes of the LORD