One Story That Leads to Jesus, Day 104
2Kings 12
12Joash began to rule over Judah in the seventh year of King Jehu's reign in Israel. He reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother was Zibiah from Beersheba.H7651H8141H3058H3060H4427H705H8141H4427H3389H517H8034H6645H8842All his life Joash did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight because Jehoiada the priest instructed him.H3060H6213H3477H5869H3068H3117H3077H3548H33843Yet even so, he did not destroy the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there.H1116H5493H5971H2076H6999H11164One day King Joash said to the priests, "Collect all the money brought as a sacred offering to the LORD's Temple, whether it is a regular assessment, a payment of vows, or a voluntary gift.H3060H559H3548H3701H6944H935H1004H3068H3701H376H5674H3701H5315H6187H3701H5927H376H3820H935H1004H30685Let the priests take some of that money to pay for whatever repairs are needed at the Temple."H3548H3947H376H4378H2388H919H1004H919H46726But by the twenty-third year of Joash's reign, the priests still had not repaired the Temple.H7969H8141H6242H8141H4428H3060H3548H2388H919H10047So King Joash called for Jehoiada and the other priests and asked them, "Why haven't you repaired the Temple? Don't use any more money for your own needs. From now on, it must all be spent on Temple repairs."H4428H3060H7121H3077H3548H3548H559H2388H919H1004H3947H3701H4378H5414H919H10048So the priests agreed not to accept any more money from the people, and they also agreed to let others take responsibility for repairing the Temple.H3548H225H3947H1115H3701H5971H1115H2388H919H10049Then Jehoiada the priest bored a hole in the lid of a large chest and set it on the right-hand side of the altar at the entrance of the Temple of the LORD. The priests guarding the entrance put all of the people's contributions into the chest.H3077H3548H3947H259H727H5344H2356H1817H5414H681H4196H3225H376H935H1004H3068H3548H8104H5592H5414H3701H935H1004H306810Whenever the chest became full, the court secretary and the high priest counted the money that had been brought to the LORD's Temple and put it into bags.H7200H7227H3701H727H4428H5608H1419H3548H5927H6696H4487H3701H4672H1004H306811Then they gave the money to the construction supervisors, who used it to pay the people working on the LORD's Temple—the carpenters, the builders,H5414H3701H8505H3027H6213H4399H6485H6485H1004H3068H3318H2796H6086H1129H6213H1004H306812the masons, and the stonecutters. They also used the money to buy the timber and the finished stone needed for repairing the LORD's Temple, and they paid any other expenses related to the Temple's restoration.H1443H2672H68H7069H6086H4274H68H2388H919H1004H3068H3318H1004H239413The money brought to the Temple was not used for making silver bowls, lamp snuffers, basins, trumpets, or other articles of gold or silver for the Temple of the LORD.H6213H1004H3068H5592H3701H4212H4219H2689H3627H2091H3627H3701H3701H935H1004H306814It was paid to the workmen, who used it for the Temple repairs.H5414H4399H6213H2388H1004H306815No accounting of this money was required from the construction supervisors, because they were honest and trustworthy men.H2803H582H3027H5414H3701H5414H4399H6213H53016However, the money that was contributed for guilt offerings and sin offerings was not brought into the LORD's Temple. It was given to the priests for their own use.H817H3701H2403H3701H935H1004H3068H354817About this time King Hazael of Aram went to war against Gath and captured it. Then he turned to attack Jerusalem.H2371H4428H758H5927H3898H1661H3920H2371H7760H6440H5927H338918King Joash collected all the sacred objects that Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, the previous kings of Judah, had dedicated, along with what he himself had dedicated. He sent them all to Hazael, along with all the gold in the treasuries of the LORD's Temple and the royal palace. So Hazael called off his attack on Jerusalem.H3060H4428H3063H3947H6944H3092H3088H274H1H4428H3063H6942H6944H2091H4672H214H1004H3068H4428H1004H7971H2371H4428H758H5927H338919The rest of the events in Joash's reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.H3499H1697H3101H6213H3789H5612H1697H3117H4428H306320Joash's officers plotted against him and assassinated him at Beth-millo on the road to Silla.H5650H6965H7194H7195H5221H3101H1004H4407H1037H3381H553821The assassins were Jozacar son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer—both trusted advisers. Joash was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. Then his son Amaziah became the next king.H3108H1121H8100H3075H1121H7763H5650H5221H4191H6912H1H5892H1732H558H1121H4427
2Kings 13
13Jehoahaz son of Jehu began to rule over Israel in the twenty-third year of King Joash's reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria seventeen years.H7969H8141H6242H8141H3101H1121H274H4428H3063H3059H1121H3058H4427H3478H8111H7651H6240H81412But he did what was evil in the LORD's sight. He followed the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat, continuing the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit.H6213H7451H5869H3068H3212H310H2403H3379H1121H5028H3478H2398H54933So the LORD was very angry with Israel, and he allowed King Hazael of Aram and his son Ben-hadad to defeat them repeatedly.H639H3068H2734H3478H5414H3027H2371H4428H758H3027H1130H1121H2371H31174Then Jehoahaz prayed for the LORD's help, and the LORD heard his prayer, for he could see how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel.H3059H2470H3068H3068H8085H6440H7200H3906H3478H4428H758H39055So the LORD provided someone to rescue the Israelites from the tyranny of the Arameans. Then Israel lived in safety again as they had in former days.H3068H5414H3478H3467H3318H3027H758H1121H3478H3427H168H8032H85436But they continued to sin, following the evil example of Jeroboam. They also allowed the Asherah pole in Samaria to remain standing.H5493H2403H1004H3379H3478H2398H1980H5975H842H81117Finally, Jehoahaz's army was reduced to 50 charioteers, 10 chariots, and 10,000 foot soldiers. The king of Aram had killed the others, trampling them like dust under his feet.H7604H5971H3059H2572H6571H6235H7393H6235H505H7273H4428H758H6H7760H6083H17588The rest of the events in Jehoahaz's reign—everything he did and the extent of his power—are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.H3499H1697H3059H6213H1369H3789H5612H1697H3117H4428H34789When Jehoahaz died, he was buried in Samaria. Then his son Jehoash became the next king.H3059H7901H1H6912H8111H3101H1121H442710Jehoash son of Jehoahaz began to rule over Israel in the thirty-seventh year of King Joash's reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria sixteen years.H7970H8141H7651H8141H3101H4428H3063H3060H1121H3059H4427H3478H8111H8337H6240H814111But he did what was evil in the LORD's sight. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit.H6213H7451H5869H3068H5493H2403H3379H1121H5028H3478H2398H198012The rest of the events in Jehoash's reign and everything he did, including the extent of his power and his war with King Amaziah of Judah, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.H3499H1697H3101H6213H1369H3898H558H4428H3063H3789H5612H1697H3117H4428H347813When Jehoash died, he was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. Then his son Jeroboam II became the next king.H3101H7901H1H3379H3427H3678H3101H6912H8111H4428H347814When Elisha was in his last illness, King Jehoash of Israel visited him and wept over him. "My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!" he cried.H477H2470H2483H4191H3101H4428H3478H3381H1058H6440H559H1H1H7393H3478H657115Elisha told him, "Get a bow and some arrows." And the king did as he was told.H477H559H3947H7198H2671H3947H7198H267116Elisha told him, "Put your hand on the bow," and Elisha laid his own hands on the king's hands.H559H4428H3478H7392H3027H7198H7392H3027H477H7760H3027H4428H302717Then he commanded, "Open that eastern window," and he opened it. Then he said, "Shoot!" So he shot an arrow. Elisha proclaimed, "This is the LORD's arrow, an arrow of victory over Aram, for you will completely conquer the Arameans at Aphek."H559H6605H2474H6924H6605H477H559H3384H3384H559H2671H3068H8668H2671H8668H758H5221H758H663H361518Then he said, "Now pick up the other arrows and strike them against the ground." So the king picked them up and struck the ground three times.H559H3947H2671H3947H559H4428H3478H5221H776H5221H7969H6471H597519But the man of God was angry with him. "You should have struck the ground five or six times!" he exclaimed. "Then you would have beaten Aram until it was entirely destroyed. Now you will be victorious only three times."H376H430H7107H559H5221H2568H8337H6471H5221H758H3615H5221H758H7969H647120Then Elisha died and was buried. Groups of Moabite raiders used to invade the land each spring.H477H4191H6912H1416H4124H935H776H935H814121Once when some Israelites were burying a man, they spied a band of these raiders. So they hastily threw the corpse into the tomb of Elisha and fled. But as soon as the body touched Elisha's bones, the dead man revived and jumped to his feet!H6912H376H7200H1416H7993H376H6913H477H376H3212H5060H6106H477H2421H6965H727222King Hazael of Aram had oppressed Israel during the entire reign of King Jehoahaz.H2371H4428H758H3905H3478H3117H305923But the LORD was gracious and merciful to the people of Israel, and they were not totally destroyed. He pitied them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And to this day he still has not completely destroyed them or banished them from his presence.H3068H2603H7355H6437H4616H1285H85H3327H3290H14H7843H7993H6440H570424King Hazael of Aram died, and his son Ben-hadad became the next king.H2371H4428H758H4191H1130H1121H442725Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz recaptured from Ben-hadad son of Hazael the towns that had been taken from Jehoash's father, Jehoahaz. Jehoash defeated Ben-hadad on three occasions, and he recovered the Israelite towns.H3060H1121H3059H3947H7725H3027H1130H1121H2371H5892H3947H3027H3059H1H4421H7969H6471H3101H5221H7725H5892H3478
2Kings 14
14Amaziah son of Joash began to rule over Judah in the second year of the reign of King Jehoash of Israel.H8147H8141H3101H1121H3099H4428H3478H4427H558H1121H3101H4428H30632Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Jehoaddin from Jerusalem.H6242H2568H8141H1121H4427H4427H6242H8672H8141H3389H517H8034H3086H33893Amaziah did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight, but not like his ancestor David. Instead, he followed the example of his father, Joash.H6213H3477H5869H3068H7535H1732H1H6213H3101H1H62134Amaziah did not destroy the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there.H1116H5493H5750H5971H2076H6999H11165When Amaziah was well established as king, he executed the officials who had assassinated his father.H4467H2388H3027H5221H5650H5221H4428H16However, he did not kill the children of the assassins, for he obeyed the command of the LORD as written by Moses in the Book of the Law: "Parents must not be put to death for the sins of their children, nor children for the sins of their parents. Those deserving to die must be put to death for their own crimes."H1121H5221H4191H3789H5612H8451H4872H3068H6680H559H1H4191H1121H1121H4191H1H376H4191H23997Amaziah also killed 10,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He also conquered Sela and changed its name to Joktheel, as it is called to this day.H5221H123H1516H4417H6235H505H8610H5554H4421H7121H8034H3371H31178One day Amaziah sent messengers with this challenge to Israel's king Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz and grandson of Jehu: "Come and meet me in battle!"H558H7971H4397H3060H1121H3059H1121H3058H4428H3478H559H3212H7200H64409But King Jehoash of Israel replied to King Amaziah of Judah with this story: "Out in the Lebanon mountains, a thistle sent a message to a mighty cedar tree: 'Give your daughter in marriage to my son.' But just then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and stepped on the thistle, crushing it!H3060H4428H3478H7971H558H4428H3063H559H2336H3844H7971H730H3844H559H5414H1323H1121H802H5674H7704H2416H3844H7429H233610"You have indeed defeated Edom, and you are very proud of it. But be content with your victory and stay at home! Why stir up trouble that will only bring disaster on you and the people of Judah?"H5221H5221H123H3820H5375H3513H3427H1004H1624H7451H5307H306311But Amaziah refused to listen, so King Jehoash of Israel mobilized his army against King Amaziah of Judah. The two armies drew up their battle lines at Beth-shemesh in Judah.H558H8085H3060H4428H3478H5927H558H4428H3063H7200H6440H1053H306312Judah was routed by the army of Israel, and its army scattered and fled for home.H3063H5062H6440H3478H5127H376H16813King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah's king, Amaziah son of Joash and grandson of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. Then he marched to Jerusalem, where he demolished 600 feet of Jerusalem's wall, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate.H3060H4428H3478H8610H558H4428H3063H1121H3060H1121H274H1053H935H3389H6555H2346H3389H8179H669H6438H8179H702H3967H52014He carried off all the gold and silver and all the articles from the Temple of the LORD. He also seized the treasures from the royal palace, along with hostages, and then returned to Samaria.H3947H2091H3701H3627H4672H1004H3068H214H4428H1004H1121H8594H7725H811115The rest of the events in Jehoash's reign and everything he did, including the extent of his power and his war with King Amaziah of Judah, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.H3499H1697H3060H6213H1369H3898H558H4428H3063H3789H5612H1697H3117H4428H347816When Jehoash died, he was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. And his son Jeroboam II became the next king.H3060H7901H1H6912H8111H4428H3478H3379H1121H442717King Amaziah of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of King Jehoash of Israel.H558H1121H3101H4428H3063H2421H310H4194H3060H1121H3059H4428H3478H2568H6240H814118The rest of the events in Amaziah's reign are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.H3499H1697H558H3789H5612H1697H3117H4428H306319There was a conspiracy against Amaziah's life in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But his enemies sent assassins after him, and they killed him there.H7194H7195H3389H5127H3923H7971H310H3923H419120They brought his body back to Jerusalem on a horse, and he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David.H5375H5483H6912H3389H1H5892H173221All the people of Judah had crowned Amaziah's sixteen-year-old son, Uzziah, as king in place of his father, Amaziah.H5971H3063H3947H5838H8337H6240H8141H1121H4427H1H55822After his father's death, Uzziah rebuilt the town of Elath and restored it to Judah.H1129H359H7725H3063H310H4428H7901H123Jeroboam II, the son of Jehoash, began to rule over Israel in the fifteenth year of King Amaziah's reign in Judah. Jeroboam reigned in Samaria forty-one years.H2568H6240H8141H8141H558H1121H3101H4428H3063H3379H1121H3101H4428H3478H4427H8111H705H259H814124He did what was evil in the LORD's sight. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit.H6213H7451H5869H3068H5493H2403H3379H1121H5028H3478H239825Jeroboam II recovered the territories of Israel between Lebo-hamath and the Dead Sea, just as the LORD, the God of Israel, had promised through Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath-hepher.H7725H1366H3478H935H2574H3220H6160H1697H3068H430H3478H1696H3027H5650H3124H1121H573H5030H166226For the LORD saw the bitter suffering of everyone in Israel, and that there was no one in Israel, slave or free, to help them.H3068H7200H6040H3478H3966H4784H657H6113H5800H5826H347827And because the LORD had not said he would blot out the name of Israel completely, he used Jeroboam II, the son of Jehoash, to save them.H3068H1696H4229H8034H3478H8064H3467H3027H3379H1121H310128The rest of the events in the reign of Jeroboam II and everything he did—including the extent of his power, his wars, and how he recovered for Israel both Damascus and Hamath, which had belonged to Judah—are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.H3499H1697H3379H6213H1369H3898H7725H1834H2574H3063H3478H3789H5612H1697H3117H4428H347829When Jeroboam II died, he was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. Then his son Zechariah became the next king.H3379H7901H1H4428H3478H2148H1121H4427
Psalms 104
104Let all that I am praise the Lord. O Lord my God, how great you are! You are robed with honor and majesty.H1288H3068H5315H3068H430H3966H1431H3847H1935H19262You are dressed in a robe of light. You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens;H5844H216H8008H5186H8064H34073you lay out the rafters of your home in the rain clouds. You make the clouds your chariot; you ride upon the wings of the wind.H7136H5944H4325H7760H5645H7398H1980H3671H73074The winds are your messengers; flames of fire are your servants.H6213H4397H7307H8334H3857H7845You placed the world on its foundation so it would never be moved.H3245H4349H776H4131H5769H57036You clothed the earth with floods of water, water that covered even the mountains.H3680H8415H3830H4325H5975H20227At your command, the water fled; at the sound of your thunder, it hurried away.H4480H1606H5127H6963H7482H26488Mountains rose and valleys sank to the levels you decreed.H5927H2022H3381H1237H4725H2088H32459Then you set a firm boundary for the seas, so they would never again cover the earth.H7760H1366H5674H7725H3680H77610You make springs pour water into the ravines, so streams gush down from the mountains.H7971H4599H5158H1980H202211They provide water for all the animals, and the wild donkeys quench their thirst.H8248H2416H7704H6501H7665H677212The birds nest beside the streams and sing among the branches of the trees.H5775H8064H7931H5414H6963H996H607313You send rain on the mountains from your heavenly home, and you fill the earth with the fruit of your labor.H8248H2022H5944H776H7646H6529H463914You cause grass to grow for the livestock and plants for people to use. You allow them to produce food from the earth—H2682H6779H929H6212H5656H120H3318H3899H77615wine to make them glad, olive oil to soothe their skin, and bread to give them strength.H3196H8055H3824H582H8081H6440H6670H3899H5582H582H382416The trees of the Lord are well cared for—the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.H6086H3068H7646H730H3844H519317There the birds make their nests, and the storks make their homes in the cypresses.H6833H7077H2624H1265H100418High in the mountains live the wild goats, and the rocks form a refuge for the hyraxes.H1364H2022H4268H3277H5553H822719You made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to set.H6213H3394H4150H8121H3045H399620You send the darkness, and it becomes night, when all the forest animals prowl about.H7896H2822H3915H2416H3293H743021Then the young lions roar for their prey, stalking the food provided by God.H3715H7580H2964H1245H400H41022At dawn they slink back into their dens to rest.H8121H2224H622H7257H458523Then people go off to their work, where they labor until evening.H120H3318H6467H5656H615324O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures.H3068H7231H4639H2451H6213H776H4390H707525Here is the ocean, vast and wide, teeming with life of every kind, both large and small.H1419H7342H3027H3220H7431H4557H6996H1419H241626See the ships sailing along, and Leviathan, which you made to play in the sea.H1980H591H3882H3335H783227They all depend on you to give them food as they need it.H7663H5414H400H625628When you supply it, they gather it. You open your hand to feed them, and they are richly satisfied.H5414H3950H6605H3027H7646H289629But if you turn away from them, they panic. When you take away their breath, they die and turn again to dust.H5641H6440H926H622H7307H1478H7725H608330When you give them your breath, life is created, and you renew the face of the earth.H7971H7307H1254H2318H6440H12731May the glory of the Lord continue forever! The Lord takes pleasure in all he has made!H3519H3068H5769H3068H8055H463932The earth trembles at his glance; the mountains smoke at his touch.H5027H776H7460H5060H2022H622533I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath!H7891H3068H2416H2167H430H575034May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.H7879H6149H8055H306835Let all sinners vanish from the face of the earth; let the wicked disappear forever. Let all that I am praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!H2400H8552H776H7563H1288H3068H5315H1984H3050
Dublin, OH
Joash began to rule over Judah in the seventh year of King Jehu's reign in Israel. He reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother was Zibiah from Beersheba.H7651
