2 Kings

2 Kings 14: The LORD saw Israel's pain

Begin in prayer

Before we read about Amaziah, Azariah, and Jeroboam, let us come to the Lord together. Ask Him to show us our need, and to show us Jesus, the Savior who hears His people.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but Yahweh delivers him out of them all.

Psalm 34:19

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You see the affliction of Your people and save them. Help us to bring our troubles to You and to trust Jesus. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Amaziah becomes king of Judah and does what is right, though not like David. He puts to death the servants who killed his father, but he does not put their children to death, as the law of Moses commands. He defeats ten thousand Edomites and then challenges Jehoash king of Israel to battle. Jehoash answers him with a parable about a thistle and a cedar, but Amaziah will not listen. Jehoash defeats Judah at Beth Shemesh, takes Amaziah, breaks down part of the wall of Jerusalem, and carries off the treasures. Jeroboam II reigns over Israel and does evil, yet the LORD sees the bitter affliction of Israel and saves them by Jeroboam's hand.

As you read 2 Kings 14, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD saw the affliction of Israel and saved them, as He had promised through Jonah.

Amaziah king of Judah did what was right, yet not like David, and the high places stayed (verses 3 and 4). He put to death his father's killers, but he spared their children, as the law of Moses says (verses 5 and 6). After beating Edom, Amaziah challenged Israel's king, who said his heart had lifted him up (verses 7 to 10). Amaziah would not listen, and Judah lost the battle, and Jerusalem's wall was broken (verses 11 to 13). In Israel, King Jeroboam did evil in the LORD's sight (verse 24). Yet the LORD saw that Israel's affliction was bitter and that there was no helper (verse 26). He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam, and He did not blot out the name of Israel (verse 27). Jonah had spoken the LORD's word that Israel's border would be restored (verse 25). This shows that the LORD sees affliction and does not forget His people.

How does 2 Kings 14 show us that the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, and saved them as He had promised through Jonah?

The LORD sees the affliction of His people.

Israel's affliction was bitter, and there was no helper for them (verse 26). The LORD saw it, and He did not forget His people (verses 26 and 27). Jesus saw the crowds and was moved with compassion, because they were harassed and scattered (Matthew 9 verse 36).

The LORD's word by Jonah comes true.

Jeroboam restored the border of Israel from Hamath to the sea of the Arabah (verse 25). This was according to the word of the LORD, which He spoke by His servant Jonah (verse 25). Jonah was the son of Amittai, a prophet (verse 25).

The LORD saves by the hand of a king who did evil.

Jeroboam the son of Joash did evil in the LORD's sight (verse 24). Yet the LORD saved Israel by his hand (verse 27). Jonah the prophet had spoken the LORD's word about this (verse 25).

Memorise

Yahweh didn’t say that he would blot out the name of Israel from under the sky; but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.

2 Kings 14:27

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I bring my troubles to the LORD, and will I come to Jesus?

Israel's affliction was bitter, and there was no helper. Yet the LORD saw it and saved them by the hand of a king who did evil. Jesus is the greater Savior, and He never fails.

Sin makes every person a slave, and no king or army can free anyone from it. Jesus carried the sin of His people to the cross. He finished that work there, and nothing can be taken from it. God raised Him on the third day, and He saves to the uttermost.

So turn from your sin, and come to Jesus with your cry. Forgiveness is for all who come in trust, for God will abundantly pardon them (Isaiah 55 verse 7).

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD saw the trouble of His people and saved them, and that Jesus is the Savior. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Parents, you may want to explain verses 19 to 20 in your own words. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He sees His people and hears their cry, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

For the people will dwell in Zion at Jerusalem. You will weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the voice of your cry. When he hears you, he will answer you.

Isaiah 30:19

Father, thank You that You see the affliction of Your people and save them. Thank You for Jesus, the Savior who hears the cry of those who come to Him. Bring each child to turn away from sin and trust Jesus. Help us to bring every trouble to You this week. Amen.