One Year Bible, Wednesday 29th "The Kings in Israel and Judah Continue to Decline and The Assyrian Prepare to Invade Israel" "The Demons Recognize Paul and Jesus but Not the Sons of Sceva"
Uzziah Rules in Judah
Like many other kings, Uzziah generally did what was right in the Lord's eyes, but he did not tear down the pagan shrines and still allowed people to burn incense and offer sacrifices. He lasted for 52 years and then was struck with leprosy and eventually died from it. The king's son, Jotham, was given the throne.
Zechariah Rules in Israel
Zechariah, son of Jeroboam II, did not fare so well. He only lasted six months ruling in Samaria. Shallum, son of Jabesh, assassinated him in public and became the next king in Israel. Zechariah was the fourth descendant of Jehu and thus the reign of Jehu just as the Lord had promised.
Shallum Rules in Israel
Shallum holds the record for the shortest reign at 1 month, and then he was assassinated. Menahem, the man who assassinated him, succeeded as the next king.
Menahem Rules in Israel
Menahem continues the horrific run on the kings of Israel, as he not only attacked a town unprovoked, but also ripped open pregnant women. He did what was in evil in the Lord's sight. During his reign. Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria, started to plan to attack on Israel, but Menahem bought him off by taking money from the treasury and extorting money out of the rich people in his land. This is only the beginning of the Assyrian presence and power in relationship to Israel When he died, his son Pekahiah became Israel's next king.
Pekahiah Rules in Israel
Pekahiah didn't break serve and continued the terrible royal leadership in Israel by continuing to allow idol worship. If this is getting depressing for us as present day readers, we can only imagine how this broke God's heart.
Pekah, the son of Pekahiah's army commander, conspired with 50 other men and assassinated Pekah and became king. You would imagine at this point being a king Israel was not a very comfortable office to be in. Betrayal is the ruling principle in the royal palace and if I were in office I would be checking out my staff pretty closely.
Pekah Rules in Israel
Nothing changes in King Pekah's reign and meanwhile the king of Syria has started capturing towns in Israel. Not good.
Jotham Rules in Judah
Back in the Southern Kingdom, Jotham becomes the next king of Judah. The Judean kings seem to be better than the Israeli kings, as Jotham did some things that were pleasing in God's sight. but like the Judean kings before him, he did not destroy the pagan shrines. It was at this point that King Aram and King Pekah began an alliance against Judah. After Jotham, Ahaz became king.
Ahaz Rules in Judah
Ahaz breaks the reign of decent kings in Judah. He did what was ourright evil in the Lord's sight, including offering his own son as a sacrifice into the fire. Pretty demonic! King Rezin and King Pekah attacked Ahaz, but Israel held own. Meanwhile, the king of Edom took back a city Judah had taken from them, and they maintained control of this city to this day. The erosion of power continues to weaken as Judah has moved far from God.
Ahaz then reached out to the king of Assyria asking him to rescue them from the armies of Israel and Aram. Ahaz took money out of the temple and paid off the King of Assyria, who defeated the Arameans and killed King Resin.
Meanwhile Ahaz noted an altar that the Assyrians had built and took the model back to his priest to have one fashioned in the same way. Not only did Ahaz sell out to this foreign leader, he adopted their religious practices.
Here is a commentary from Guzik which explains why this was not a good thing.
It was unusual for the kings of Judah to make official visits to other kingdoms; they generally stayed within the borders of the Promised Land. Yet this was much more than a visit – this was an official act of submission from Ahaz unto Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria.
b. King Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the design of the altar and its pattern: Using the plans sent from Ahaz, Urijah imitated the pagan altar at Damascus and had it ready by the time Ahaz returned from the Syrian capital. He did this both to please his new lord, Tiglath-Pileser, and to incorporate the latest trends in altar design into the national worship of Judah.
2 Chronicles 28:23 explains why King Ahaz was attracted to the worship he saw in Damascus: For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him, saying, “Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.
While the apostles, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, were casting out real demons, there were those who tried to imitate the disciples by tried to cast out demons "in Jesus' name". The demons responded audibly, "I know Jesus, I know Paul, but who are you?" The 7 sons of Sceva, a local priest, were seven such men.
Then, the man with the evil spirit jumped on the seven sons and beat them up and ripped off their clothes. When this news spread, many believers who dabbled in sorcery brought their incantation books, repented, and burned them in the fire. The said value of the books was $1 million dollars.
It is significant that these practitioners of magic came confessing and telling their deeds. It was thought that the power of these magic spells was in their secrecy, which was renounced in the telling.
These books and scrolls full of magic charms, amulets and incantations were well known in Ephesus, and they were valuable. The value of fifty thousand pieces of silver today has been estimated at anywhere between $1 million and $5 million.
Christians must do this also today, removing books, images, computer files, statues, charms, games, or whatever else might have connection with demonic spirits. They should also destroy them so they are of no use to others. - Guzik
The Riot in Ephesus
As more and more believers rid themselves of pagan idolatry, the business of making of shrines out of gold and silver took a hit. Demetrius, who had a large business in this trade, warned other tradesman that the movement of Christians could eventually destroy their business.
Also, he warned that the great temple of the goddess Artemis would lose its value as interest in her diminished. Here is the background on this temple.
This tremendous temple to Diana (also known as Artemis) in Ephesus was regarded as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It was supported by 127 pillars, each 60 feet high, and was decorated with great sculptures. It was lost to history until it was discovered in 1869, and its main altar was unearthed in 1965. (Guzik)
“The Temple of Artemis was also a major treasury and bank of the ancient world, where merchants, kings, and even cities made deposits, and where their money could be kept safe under the protection of deity.” (Longenecker)
The scene was chaotic and confusing as some started shouting "Great is Artemis". Since the temple in the city was such a huge source of income and jobs, the mayor tried to quiet the crowd and convinced them to disperse, as they were no real charges that could be brought against Paul and his men. As it was they were in danger of breaking the Roman laws for rioting.
We see God's sovereign hand protecting Paul and his men from being mobbed. God often uses non believers in positions of power to aid his people.
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