Sunday Service #72 2 Kings 16-18 By Josh Monday

maybe twenty depending, but uh yeah, thank you. And like I always do, like to give shout outs to those that commented last week on Sunday Service on Spotify, So we have MDNP twenty two, Angela Kelly, thank you, Catalyst Jones, what's up? Brother? Thank you so much, Bro, appreciate you. And we also had seven people last week on Sunday Service, So if you haven't listened yet, please go and listen to. When you listen to this, please listen to Wednesday Service

where I was going over first Thessalonians one through four. Okay, please go check that out, and if you could comment below on there, I'd really appreciate it, because on Sunday Service we killed it. We got seven comments. We had MDMP twenty two Whiskers White Mike, kay, I always listen to this after church. Now, oh awesome after church. Wow, that's amazing, Bro. Thank you, Mike. I appreciate you, Brother, Angela Kelly, thank you, Brad Gillis as always, Thank you,

b Thank you so much. Really appreciate you. So I gotta make an announcement first. I don't know this is you guys might not care about this, or you do care about this, but I am going to go to Edmonton, Canada, which is fifty three degrees north. I just bought my tickets for June nineteenth through the twenty second, so I'll be there from June nineteen to the twenty second and I'm going to be filming the sunrise sunset at fifty three degrees north right, so we're at fifty three degrees

latitude north. And then so I'm going to complete that and then six months later, I'm gonna go to Puta Arenas Chili and I'm gonna we're gonna film the sunset sunrise from fifty three degrees south and we're gonna see if it mirrors but reversed. You know, that's what's supposed to happen on the globe, it's supposed to be reversed. So let's say the sun did this on you know,

basically went like this on fifty three years north. Well, it's supposed to do this exact thing on fifty three degrees south, but reversed, right, So that is something that the globe claims, and I would like to go check it out and make sure that it does it. Also, putter Arenas, if you're looking south, you know, and you see the sun, it's supposed to December twenty first, which I'm gonna be there is a time when it does a twenty four hour sun in Antarctica, and that's what

they filmed for the final experiment. So I want to go there to putter Arenas, to go and look south and see if the sun is actually south like they said, and make sure it's gonna be something that I want to do because obviously I do biblical cosmology and I want to make sure that I'm teaching correctly, right, So I'm want to go and check it for myself. So me and this guy Jared are gonna go. H He's

gonna go, He's gonna be the globe side me. I'm obviously the biblical cosmology side, and we're gonna kind of do some experiments there. You know, We're gonna do a few different things besides just filming the sun. Right. So, I just want to let you guys know that. And if you're interested in being a part of that, like you know, donating some money just to help out and assist just to make the wife happy, that'd be cool. You can you could go to my Yeah, you could

go to let me tell you what it is. I'm sorry, I wasn't prepared to even announce this, but I'm just announcing it right now. If you want to. If you guys have to do cash app or something, then you could do. You can go to money Sign Josh Monday Music. That's my cash app. If you guys are interested in donating to the ministry for that, that'd be cool. If you're not interested, it's all good. I totally get it. And then yeah, so if you want to do that, and if you don't have cash up, then you can

email me at Josh Monday Music Josh Monday. Sorry, you can email me at Josh Monday at rockamel dot com and I'll show you how you can donate. If you want to donate to it, and if you don't, obviously I understand some people don't really care about that too much. Some people do. So if you want to see a good observation, it'll be posted on my YouTube and I'll do a live from Edmonton, Canada and also do a

live from Putina's Chili. And I just want to see what's going on, you know, I think you know, I want to make sure that I'm teaching correctly and I want to find out what's happening with the world. So anyways, much loved everybody, and you know, I don't ever ask you guys to donate to anything, but if you were interested, then you know, like I said, you can email me or DM me at Josh Monday Underscore podcast and say, hey,

I'm interested in donating. How do I do so? And I could send you a link so let me know. But anyways, thank you guys so much for joining me. I am wanting to get into this second Kings, which is the most important part. That part that I just announced right now is just something that's extracurricular that I'm looking to do. So yes, and I already bought the tickets for Edmonton, so like I said, if you guys do donate, it's going to be going towards the Putin

Renas one, which is the expensive one. That's the one that's gonna cost me about fifteen hundred dollars give or take, you know, with hotel and everything. So that's kind of a pretty penny to spend on my own. So, you know, it's not a pretty penny to spend when I'm going somewhere with my family, you know, like I'm going with my wife, my kids. But this is like extracurricular and I have to try to put you know, make my wife happy in all ways, right, happy wife, happy life.

So if you're interested, let me know. But anyways, thank you guys so much for joining me again this week. Let me just go ahead and share screen. There we go. Perfect. So we're in Second Kings, chapter sixteen, and before we start, I always like to do a little intro. But let's see if there's anything besides that going on. Besides that, I think everything is good. Besides that, the show's been doing phenomenal. A lot of people are commenting, which is amazing.

My YouTube's kind of been a little slow lately, but it is what it is. You know when you do Bible studies. Obviously YouTube is not going to be like, Hey, I can't wait to push this guy up the list. This guy's doing great Bible studies. Now, yeah, let's put him in front of everybody. But no, don't see that happening. So at least Spotify and Apple are doing amazing. So let's go ahead and jump into Second King's Chapter sixteen, and this is going to be the introduction for chapter sixteen.

Second King's Chapter sixteen introduces us to one of the darkest periods in the history of Judah, the reign of King the reign of King a Has, a ruler more drawn towards idolatry than faithfulness. A has leads his people away from God, bringing disastrous consequences upon his kingdom. That chapter explores the depths of AHAs apostasy, the political political ambitions, and the troubling alterations of the Jerusalem Temple. Troubling alterations

of the Jerusalem Temple. That's been pretty interesting, right, wonder what he tried to pull off. So let me just go ahead and pull that up. Pull up both notes here, perfect, and let's go ahead and start without further ado. Second Kings chapter sixteen, verse one, it says a Has reigns in Judah. In the seventeenth year of Pakah, the son of Remilah, a Has, the son of Jotham, king of Judah, began to reign. AHAs was twenty years old when he

became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not do what was right in the side of the Lord his God, as his father David had done. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel. Indeed, he made his son pass through the fire according to the abomination of the nations, whom the Lord had cast out from before the children of Israel. Okay, let's stop there real quick. So what does that mean that he

had his son pass through the fire. Well, Moloch was one of the gods that they were worshiping, and Moloch had his hands out like this, and they put fire. They basically lit fire there, and then they would sacrifice their children to Moloch. Now are they specifically talking about that right now? I could kind of see real quick, let me just take a a look. I didn't didn't really check that out. Putt oh, oh, you know what it might be. Actually, it might be in my notes.

I might not even have to pull that up. Let me just see. It might be in there, it might not. We'll go through this first and i'll look, you know, but that's one of the main ones when they were sacrificing the children to Moloch. That was the main one where they were passing their children through the fire. So

it looks like he did that, which is which is terrible. Right, It's kind of similar to what people are doing now, you know, when they do abortions, right, I would compare that to abortions where they're sacrificing children to Moloch, you know, or a bale however you want to look at that. You know, basically it's satanic, right, it's killing children. So Moloch is to me, it would be false god compared to you know, all of them are false gods. I

think represented by fallen angels. That's what I believe is happening. But that's just my interpretation of that. But anyways, let's go out and continue reading, and then we'll go over some notes. It says and he sacrificed and burn incense on the high places, on the hills and under every green tree. So let's look at my notes real quick and see if it goes over that portion. A has Rain and idolatry. AHAs was twenty years old when he became king. This is in my notes, okay. And he

reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. I'm like David his father. He did not do what was right in the side of the lord. That's second king sixteen verse two. A has Rerain is characterized by idolatry and a departure from the covenanial faithfulness expected by Judas kings. Ah Has the son of Jotham, was the king of Judah who reigned for approximately seven hundred and thirty two from approximately seven

hundred and thirty two to seven sixteen BC. His reign is notably marked by a departure from religious practices of his forefathers and a significant turn towards idolatry, which had profound implications for the spiritual and political state of Judah. Background and ascension to the throne. A Has ascended to the throne at the age of twenty, succeeding his father Jotham. Unlike his predecessors, who largely adherd to the worship of Yahweh, a Has his reign characterized by a stark deviation from

these practices. The biblical count of his reign is primarily found in Second King sixteen and Second Chronicles twenty eight and Isaiah seven. Religious and practices in idolatry A has reigned is an infamously noted and idolatious practice. He described having walked in the ways of the Kings of Israel and Second Kings sixteen three, a reference to Northern Kingdom's

notorious idolatry. A has adopted the worship of foreign gods, including a detestable practice of child sacrifice, as he even sacrificed his son to the fire according to the abomination of the nations of the Lord, and driven out before the Israelites. Second King sixteen, verse three. A has idolatry extended to the construction of high places sacred sites often been associated with pagan worship on the hills under every

green tree. Sorry about that, guys. This proliferation of Idolatrist sites represented a significant departure from the centralized worship of Yahweh and Jerusalem. Political alliances and consequences is going to be talked about in Second Kings sixteen verses seven through eight, which we're going to go over and then in Ah

has political and religious decisions dire consequences for Judah. The kingdom suffered military defeats and incursions from neighboring nations, including Edom and the Philistines, which is in Second Chronicles twenty eight seventeen through eighteen. The spiritual decline of AHAs leadership set a precedent that would have lasting effects on the nation. All right, so King I don't want to go over the other part because it's going to be like spoiler alert.

So we have legacy Ah has. His reign is remembered as a period of significant spiritual decline in Judah. His idolatrous practices and political alliances weakened the nation and set a troubling precedent for future generations. Despite his failures, the biblical narrative continues to emphasize God's faithfulness and the hope of redemption, themes that resonate throughout the political literature of

the time and then influence of pagan practices. He has adopted the detestable practice of surrounding nations, including child sacrifice. He even sacrifices is set on the fire. Let's go look a little deeper. Into that the influence of pagan practices on people of Israel and the early Christian Church is a real Ukrainan theme throughout the Bible. The influence often led to idology, moral corruption, and a departure from

the worship of the One True God. The Bible provides numerous accounts and warnings against adopting the customs and religious practices of surrounding pagan nations. In the Old Testament, the Israelites were repeatedly warned against the influence of pagan nations. God commanded them to remain separate and not to adopt the idolatrous practices of the Canaanites and the other neighboring peoples.

In Deuteronomy twelve, verses thirty through thirty one, God warns, be careful not to be ensnared by their ways after they have been destroyed before you do not inquire about their gods, asking how do these nations serve their gods? I will do likewise? Will I will do likewise? You must not worship the Lord your God in their way. Despite these warnings, the Israelites often fell into the trap of syncretism, blending the worship of Yahweh with pagan rituals.

The account of the Golden Calf in Exus thirty two is an example of this, were the Israelites, influenced by Egyptian and practices, created an idol while Moses was on Mount Sinai. Similarly, during the period of Judges, the Israelites repeatedly turned to the bales and astros, as noted in

Judges two eleven through thirteen. The monarchy period also saw a significant pagan influence, particularly during the reigns of king kings like Solomon, who, despite his wisdom, allowed his foreign wives to lead him into idolatry One Kings eleven, verses one through eight. The prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel frequently condemned the people for their idolatrous practices and

called them to repentance. In the New Testament, the early Christian Church faced the challenge of pagan influence as it spread throughout the Roman Empire. The apostle Paul addressed this issue in his later letters, urging believers to remain distinct from the pagan culture around them. In One Corinthians ten, verses twenty through twenty one, Paul writes, no but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to participate, to be participants

with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too. You cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Their early church struggle with the temptation to incorporate pagan practices in the Christian worship, particularly in regions where paganism was deeply entrenched. The Jerusalem Council was recorded in Acts fifteen, addressed the issue of gentile converts and extent to which they could adhere to Jewish law, ultimately emphasizing the need

to extrain from idolatry and immortality or immorality. I was gonna say immortality, immorality. Warnings and exhortations throughout scripture, the influence of pagan practices is constantly portrayed as a threat to the purity and fullness faithfulness of God's people. The Bible exhorts believers to become vigilant and to resist the

temptation to conform to the world. Romans twelve to two admonishes do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you will be able to test and approve what is good and pleasing and perfect will of God. The influence of pagan practices serve as a cautionary tale, reminding believers to the importance of maintaining a distinct identity rooted in the worship

of the One True God. The call to holiness and separation from worldly influence is a central theme that resonates throughout the Biblical narrative, urging God's people to live in obedience and faithfulness. So it didn't go over exactly what the child sacrifices, but I can kind of check it out real quick, Okay, So let's go second Kings sixteen, verse three, right, verse three, Let me see if that's

what it is. So this verse is talking about King Haas to continue to spiritual decline among God's people, but there's three But verse three here says he took it things to a whole new level. He burned his son as an offering. He sacrificed son according to his practices. Yes, of course that's the way I knew that. I just wonder who I wonder who the I guess it doesn't matter. You know, it's either gonna be Bail or a Moloch

or Astroth, one of the three. Okay, he sacrificed his son to one of these, you know, fake gods that don't that don't have any power and anyway. Right, and that's proven by Elijah the prophet and when he was going against Bale's prophets. Right. So let's go ahead and go back to my notes and will continue. We're gonna start at verse five. Start back up at verse five.

So second King sixteen verse five says, then Resin, king of Syria, and Paka, the son of Ramalah, King of Israel, came up to Jerusalem to make war, and they beseized he has but could not overcome him. At that time, Resin, King of Syria, captured Allah Aloth for Syria and drove the men of Judah from Alath. Then the Edomites went to Alath and went there to this and dwell there

to this day. So Ahaz sent messengers to Tilgath Pilzer, king of Assyria, saying, I am your servant and your son, come up and save me from the hand of the king of Syria and from the hand of so the King of Syria. Not so Pizzler is the king of Syria, right, It says, I'm a servant, your son, comes save me from the hand of the King of Syria and from the hand of the King of Israel, who rise up

against me. And AHAs took silver and gold that was found in the house of the Lord and the treasures of the house of the king's house and send it as a present to the King of Assyria. So the King of Assyria heeded him. For the King of Assyria went up against Damascus and took it, carried its people, took its people captive to cur and killed resin. Okay, so very interesting. So let's go ahead and check out what it says here in Second King sixteen verse seven,

when it's talking about this alliance that was made. I got some oops. Let's go ahead and stop there and let me make sure I know where I'm at all right, So political alliances over divine trust. Facing threats from Israel and Aram, A has sought help from Assyria instead of relying on God. So A has sent messengers to Tilgath Pazer, King of Syria, saying I am your servant, your son, come up and save me, which we already read. Let's going and go over some notes of that and the

biblical narrative. The tension between political alliances and divine trust is a reoccurring theme, illustrating the challenges faced by leaders and nations when choosing between reliance on human power and faith in God's sovereignty. This theme is particularly evident in the history of Israel and Judah, where kings often grappled with the temptation to form alliances with surrounding nations rather than relying on God's protection and guidance. Here's some Old

Testament examples King Solomon's alliances. Solomon, known for his wisdom, also engaged in numerous political alliances, often through marriage. These alliances, while politically advantageous, led to spiritual compromise and first kings eleven one through four states. King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women from the nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, you must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts from their gods after

their God. Sorry, they will turn your hearts after their gods. Yet Solomon clung to these women in love. These alliances ultimately led to Solomon's heart led Solomon's heart away from God, demonstrating the spiritual dangers of prioritizing political relationships over divine commands. And then King A has of Judah in Isaiah seven, this is speaking of this King Has. King A has faced the third of invasion from Israel and Syria. Instead of trusting in God's promise of deliverance, A has sought

assistance from Assyria, a decision that Isaiah condemned. Isaiah seven nine warns if you do not stand firm in your faith, then you will not stand at all. A has reliance on Assyria brought temporary relief but ultimately led to judah sub judication and increased idolatry. And then in a King has A caused trust is going to be in Second

Kings nineteen fourteen through nineteen. I'm not going to read about that one because we're probably going to go over nineteen tonight, and I don't want to give you any spoiler alerts, but that's one that you can look up later if you like, or one that we're going to go over probably tonight. King Hazekiah, okay. And then prophetic warnings. The prophets frequently worn against the dangers of police alliances.

Hoseah seven to eleven describes Ephrium as a dove, easily deceived and senseless, now calling Egypt, now calling to Egypt, now turning to Assyria. This imagery underscores the futility and instability of relying on foreign powers. Similarly, Jeremiah sec Jeremiah two, verse eighteen questions, now what will you gain by traveling along the road of Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile. These warnings emphasize the true security and prosperity

come from faithfulness to God, not from political maneuvering. And the New Testament. While the New Testament does not focus on political alliances in the same way as the Old Testament, the principle of divine trust over worldly reliance remains. Jesus teachings remains. Jesus teaching often highlight the futility and worldly power,

and the importance of seeking God's kingdom first. In Matthew six thirty three, Jesus instructs, but seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. This teaching reinforces the idea that reliance on God to take precedence over any earthly strategy, strategy, or alliance. And then, from a theological standpoint, the Bible's treatment of political alliances over divine trust serves as a

reminder of God's sovereignty and faithfulness. It challenges believers to evaluate where they place their trust and to prioritize their relationships with God above all else. The narratives and prophetic warnings serve as a cautionary tale use urging a return to faithfulness and dependence on God's provision and protection. See, there's lessons for us to be learned there to seek first the kingdom of God. Don't place anything over the Kingdom of God. Right, That's just something we need to

know as Christians. Sometimes I need to know too, you know, sometimes I obviously would place things over God as well, just like any of you guys would. So we all need to understand that, and it's so important to know, and sometimes we forget that. So it's kind of good to, you know, go over these these stories of these kings to find out, you know, what, where they went wrong. That way we can learn from them and understand, you know that we cannot put anything that's worldly over God right,

and and that's what Solomon was doing, right. He was like, any this political alliance instead of what God said, you know, So he's basically breaking God's law just to have a political alliance. And he feels like he's doing right because he's you know, he feels like it's wise because he's got this woman, this woman, this woman, and no one's

going to attack. Is real because I got all these wives now, and I'm making all these political you know, alliances, and instead of following God's law, right, And that's something that is very important that we need to understand. You know, we're we also sometimes we do that, you know, we're replacing things are our needs of the world over placing

over God. Right. We shouldn't do that. So all right, next up, we're gonna read verses ten through twenty, and I have notes on ten through eighteen, so let's go ahead and start reading. So we're gonna be in verse ten, so it's gonna be second King sixteen, Verse ten. Now, Now King A has went to Damascus to meet till God Pilzer, king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus. And King A has sent to Uriah, the priest the design of the altar and its pattern,

according to all its workmanship. Then Uriah the priest built an altar according to the king AHAs had sent from Damascus. So Uriah the Priest made it before King A has came back from Damascus. And then the King came back from Damascus. The king saw the altar, and the king approached the altar and made offerings to it. So we burned his offerings and his grain offering, and he poured out his drink offering and sprinkled the blood of his

peace offerings on the altar. He also brought the bronze altar which was before the Lord, from the front of the temple and from between the new altar and the house of the Lord, and put it on the north

side of the new altar. Then King A has commanded you ride, the priest, saying, on the great new altar, burn the morning burnt offering, the evening grain offering, the King's sacrifice and his grain offering, with the burnt offering of the people of the land, their grain offering and their drink offerings, and sprinkle it on the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice, and the bronze altars shall be for me to inquire by. Thus did you ride the priests according to all that

the King A has commanded. And King A has cut off the panels of the carts and removed the layers from them. And he took down the sea from the bronze oxen that were under it and put it on the pavement of stones. Also he removed the sabbath pavilion which they had built in the temple. He removed the king's outer entrance from the house of the Lord on account of king, on the account of the King of Assyria.

And the rest of the acts of AHAs which he did, are they not written in the book of Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. So A has rested with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. Then has Akiah, his son, reigned in his place, which we're going to talk about right as Akiah. So the desecration of the temple is something that he did that I like to talk about.

here and there. We're going to read about here. The destruction of the temple is a significant theme in Biblical history, symbolizing the violation of sacred space dedicated to the worship of God. This act is often associated with idology, sacrilege, and defilment of what is holy. The Temple in Jerusalem, originally built by King Solomon, serves as a central place of worship for the Israelites and was considered the dwelling place of the presence of God on Earth. The dwelling

place of God presence on Earth. Historical instances Antioch Antiochus Epiphanus. One of the most notorious instances of the temple desecration occurred during the reign of Antios Epiphanus, a Hellenic Hellenistic king of the Seligate Empire, as part of the campaign to Hellenize the Jewish people. Antiochs erected an altar to Zeus in the temple and sacrifice swine on it an act of profound sec sacrilege of the Jewish faith, and that was in one sixty seven BC in the Act

the Profound Saclege of the Jewish Faith. This event is detailed in the apocryphal books First and Second Maccabees and is referred to as the Abomination of desolation. In the Book of Daniel, eleven thirty one states his forces will rise up and desecrate the temple. Some people believe, okay, I'll just put it this way, this portion. Some people believe that that was the abomination of desolation. Some people believe that that is just a precursor to the abomination

deathlations that's going to happen in the future. Obviously, some people don't believe that. Are not all futurists where they believe that something's gonna happen in the future, they believe that was actually the case. But yeah, so just reading you the notes here, this is something that's in Bible hubs, So I'm not trying to say I believe that. But there's also the Roman destruction AD seventy, the Roman destruction of the Second Temple and AD seventy is another pivotal

moment of desecration. Following a Jewish revolt, Roman forces led by General Titus besieges Jerusalem, ultimately destroying the temple. This event fulfilled Jesus's prophecy and the New Testament where he warned of the temple impeding destruction. In Matthew twenty four two, Jesus said, do you see all these things? Truly? I tell you, not one stone will be left on another until one everyone will be thrown down. So let's see if I So this little portion is not really talking

too much about king. So that's just a couple instances where the temple was also we're actually was destroyed. This is actually what a has did is just some alterations of the temple, right, So they just want to give a few examples of that. So we are done with tewod King sixteen. That was a good little forty minute set that we just did. So that's cool. Let me go ahead and go over some practical applications for this chapter. Guard against Idolatry is one of the main ones. Oh

you know what, I do have some notes. Let me go over a brief description of what we just read first before I go over the practical applications. So Second King sixteen the sixty details the sixteen year reign of a Has, one of Judah's most wicked kings, who abandoned God to embrace idolatry, including child sacrifice and re reconstructing the temple to match a pagan altar from Damascus. Facing military pressure, Aas foolishly allied with Assyria instead of trusting God,

resulting in spiritual and political degradation. Degradation of Judah key themes in Second King sixteen apostcy of a Haas is talked about in verses one through four, aged twenty, rejects the righteous example of his father Jotham and David, instead

mimicking the corrupt kings of Israel. He practices detestable pagan rituals, including causing his son to pass through the fire, child sacrifice, and worshiping in high places, and then the SiO Ephemite War in verses five through six, Resin from Syria and Picaf from Israel attack Jerusalem but cannot defeat it. Yet AHAs still faces immense pressure and then allied with the

Assyria and verses seven through nine. Rather than relying on God, a Has drains the silver and gold from the temple and palace to bribe Tilgap Pilsir of Assyria for help. This leads to the fall of Damascus, which is in Syria, but makes Judah a vassal state of Assyria, and then a profanation of the temple is going to be in

Verses ten through eighteen. After visiting Damascus, a Has copies a pagan altar, has it built in Jerusalem by the compressed priests Uriah compromised to compress compromise priest Uriah and replaces the bronze altar of God. He further breaks down the temple furniture to appease the king of Assyria, and in conclusion Versus nineteen through twenty eight, Has dies and is inburied in Jerusalem and succeeded by his son Hezekiah.

This chapter acts as a downward path for Judah, marked a severe decline in national spiritual leadership and a loss of sovereignty due to trust in human power over divine protection. Perfect Now, let's go over these practical applications guard against idolatry. Evaluate areas in your life where cultural influences may lead away from God's commands. Are there modern idols that you need to remove? I think we all have modern idols that we need to remove from our life right now.

We just might not understand that there's idols. One of the idols that I would say that I have to remove from my life, well, first was when I first became a Christian rapper. You kind of get this feeling of just keep on checking, you know, when people are watching your music and you're literally constantly checking and it becomes like almost obsessive where people are commenting on your music.

And it was like my dream since I was sixteen to become a professional rapper, right So it was like I was so I was like, it became like an idol for me. Just put it that way. So when I sat when I came out as a Christian rapper and I got like, you know, six or seven thousand views on my keep Me Away video, I was like, oh my goodness. And then I made another song. You know, next song I made didn't do as well, maybe got

nine hundred views. And then I made another song you know that that ended up getting fifty four hundred views. You know, it was signs of things to come where I was talking about COVID and all this other stuff, and it's kind of becomes an idol in your life where you're like looking for you know, oh, looking for gratification through your music. You know, oh, people were like like in my music cool, But it does become an idol. So that's something that happened to me, you know, and

then I don't do music anymore because of that. I just said, you know what, I got to get rid of that. Let me just do podcasting. And you kind of get you can kind of think, you know, like in the beginning of podcasting, it kind of happens as well, you know, where you're just looking at all the comments and so do people like me? Do they like my show? And then it gets to a point where you're just like, who cares, you know, just do your thing for God and that's it. And that's where I got to the

point where I'm like, cool, podcasting I could do. I'm just gonna do things for the Lord and give all glory to God at all times. And I feel comfortable with this. But the music thing I had some type of I had some type of it was almost like some kind of idol was there. You know. Another thing that I had to kind of deal with was the

flat earth idol. You know, I had flat Earth. I kept on study and studying, studying flat out, searching, searching, searching all this stuff, you know, and not saying that I don't believe in flat earth anymore. Biblical cosmology just I had to make sure that I just open up my you know, just don't content shit so much on just Genesis. I need to do the whole entire Bible, which I'm obviously doing with you guys. So thank you

guys for helping me with that idol. But I was really stuck in Genesis and kind of every time someone had me on their show, I'm doing nepheline or I'm doing biblical cosmology. But now you guys have obviously expanded my horizons since I'm doing these Bible studies with you guys, which is amazing. So other idols in my life, well, I used to have drugs back in the day. I had alcohol lust, I had you know, obviously TV can be an idol. Netflix can be an idol, cell phones

can be an idol. There's a lot of things that I could admit that I that I had been, you know, obviously involved in, you know, so now now there's obviously things that I need to place God in front of and sometimes I don't. And sometimes there's things that I need to place my family in front of some of the stuff that I'm doing business wise as well. So I'm trying to balance that and do my very best. But that's kind of the things that I have going on that I try to remove and that I dealt

with in my life. And it's a blessing now that the music thing is not as I don't really have that feeling anymore where I have to impress with music not so I don't have that anymore. Okay, Next, trust in God's sovereignty in times of crisis. Resists that resist, sorry, in times of crisis, rely solely on human solutions, seek God's guidance and trust in his provisions. Yes, resist the temptation and really solely on human solutions. That's definitely true.

And rely on the Lord for sure. That's that's a good one, and it's it's kind of harden. Whenever you get into situations, sometimes you want to act fast, you know, and sometimes it's hard to wait on God. So you gotta wait. Resist the temptation relies solely on God instead of human solutions. Value godly leadership. Pray for leaders who will uphold biblical values and lead with integrity. Consider how you can support and encourage godly leadership in your community.

What that is probably saying is for you to go out and vote and kind of for your local leaders. And I think that's what it's talking about there, you know, I think that, yeah, the elections that are local don't seem to be as corrupt as the elections that are on a national level. Right, So the people that get

put in the position of becoming president. I mean I've broke it down on a lot of my shows where you know, they've been from secret societies, they've gone to Yale, they've been in secret societies in college and high school, and it's almost like they're bred to become president. You know. It's kind of hard to get some guy that graduated from Samardian Valley College, which is a junior college, and all of a sudden make that person a president of

the United States. So yeah, I think on a local level, if you're into politics and all that stuff, you know, I just think that the you know, the right, left, and all that stuff. It's all the same bird, and they're all the same, they're all doing the same stuff, you know. So anyways, don't want to talk too much about that. But if you're in to voting, then it says here pray for leaders who are uphold biblical values. So we definitely need to pray for them no matter what.

That's that's a given. And lead with integrity. Right, consider how you can support an occurreags goally leadership in our community. Of course. Now let's go ahead and check out some additional scriptures that connect. We have Deuteronomy eighteen, verses nine through twelve. This passage warns against adopting the detestable practices of other nations, which has a as ignored. Let's go ahead and check out that versal quick, so we know

what they're talking about here. So it's gonna be Deuteronomy eighteen. So Deuteronomy eighteen, verses nine through twelve. Let's see what it says. Avoid wicked customs is what it says in the title. When you come into the land which the Lord your God has given you, you shall not learn

to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or who practices witchcraft, or a sooth sayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjure spells, or a medium or a spiritust, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are abomination to the Lord. And because these abominations, because of these abominations, the Lord God drives them out from before you. You shall be

blameless before the Lord of your God. For these nations will which you will dispose, you will disposees. Listen to soussayers and divineers. Diviners are something I don't know what, just devinears, I guess. But as for you, the Lord your God has not appointed such for you. Okay, So this passage warns against adopting the detestable practices of other nations, which A has ignored. Then we have Proverbs three, verses

five through six. It's a reminder to trust the Lord with all your heart and lean out on your own understanding. Contrastean A has reliance on Assyria. Next one is going to be Psalms twenty verse seven. Some trust in chariots, some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord, our God, highlighting the importance of divine trust over military alliances. The psalmist is speaking game right there, right, King David perfect. So that is the end of chapter sixteen.

Let me just go over the introduction for chapter seventeen. Let me find it looks like, yeah, this is a little bit little longer chapter here, Okay. So Second King seventeen is a sobering account of the fail of the Kingdom of visual due to their abandonment of God's commands and their persistent idolatry. The chapter sheds light on God's righteous judgment, the consequences of disobedience, and the dangers of syncretism. Okay, so let's go ahead and go to the teaching points.

We have six Okay, so let's go ahead and read. We're going to read Second Kings seventeen one through what one through four real quick, and then I should I'll have some notes to kind of go over that, and then I should have some notes on six, seven through eight, ten through twelve, thirteen, and also eighteen through twenty. So

got some pretty good stuff here, all right. So First Kings seventeen, Chapter seventeen, verse one Hosea's reign in Israel, oh Hoshia in the twelfth year of Ahaz, King of Judah, Hoshea, the King of Allah, became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned nine years. And he did evil on the side of the Lord, but not as the kings of Israel who were before him. Shalman Nazir, king of Assyria, came up against him, and Hoshia became his vassal, and

he paid him tribute money. And the King of Assyria uncovered a conspiracy by Hoshia, who had sent messengers to so King of Egypt, and brought no tribute to the King of Assyria, as he had done year by year. Therefore the King of Assyria shut him up and bound him in prison. Wow.

for nine years. While he did evil in the eyes of the Lord, the text notes he was not as wicked as the kings before him, Assyria's vassilage and Shamanizir shall Manir Mensir, the fifth, King of Assyria, invaded, making Hosea a vassal subject forced to pay annual tribute. The failed conspiracy, Hoshea sent messengers to sow the King of Egypt and stopped paying tribute to Assyria. The act of rebellion prompted sham Mazir to imprison Hoshia, initiating the final

downfall of the Northern Kingdom. Spiritual context, this political maneuvering represents a reliance on foreign powers rather than on God, reflecting a continued lack of faith by the nation that led their eventual exile. This section sets the states for the fall of Samaria by the Assyrians, highlighting the consequences of rebelling against a superior power Assyria, and more importantly,

disregarding God perfect. Now let's go ahead and check out tewod King seventeen verse five, Israel carried captive to Assyria. So we'll read five through five and six, and I have some notes. Then we'll do seven through twelve, and I have some more notes. Okay, Now the King of Assyria went through this, says Israel carried captive to Assyria. We're going to be in Second King seventeen verse five. Now the King of Assyria went throughout the land and

went to Samaria and besieged it for three years. In the ninth year of Hosheia, the King of Assyria took Samaria and carried Israel away to Assyria and placed them in Halla by the harbor the river of Gazan and the cities of Medize. Medis Okay, the fall of Israel and Second King seventeen six states In the ninth year of Ossea, the King of Assyria captured Samaria deported the Israelites to Assyria. This marks the end of the Northern

Kingdom due to their unfaithfulness. The fall of Israel refers to the conquest and subsequent exile of the Northern Kingdom of Israel by the Assyrian Empire in seven twenty two BC. This pivotal event in Biblical history is a significant demonstration of divine judgment due to the persistent idolatry and disobedience

of the Israelites. The narrative of Israel's fall is pibki excuse me, primarily chronicled in the Books of Second Kings and Second Chronicles, with prophetic insigns provided by Amos, Hoseiah and Isaiah historical contexts. Following the reign of Solomon, the United Monarchy of Israel split into two kingdoms, the Northern Kingdom known as Israel and the Southern Kingdom known as Judah. The Northern kingdoms, compromising ten tribes, established as capital in Samaria.

From its inception, Israel struggled with idolatry, beginning with Jerobohm's establishment of the Golden calfs in Bethel and Dan One Kings twelve twenty eight through thirty. The idolatrists practices set a precedent for future kings, leading the nation further away from the covenanial laws given by God prophetic warnings history, God sent prophets to warn Israel of impending judgment due

to their unfaithfulness. The prophet Amos, active during the reign of Jeroboehm the second, warned of Israel's social injustices and religious hypocrisy, declaring therefore that this is what I will do to you, Oh Israel. And since I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, Oh Israel, Amos four, verse twelve. Joseiah, another prophet, used his own marriage as a metaphor for god relationship with Israel, highlighting

their spiritual adultery and calling them to repentance. Return O Israel to the Lord, Oh God, you have stumbled by your iniquity, Hoseiah fourteen, verse one. The Assyrian Conquest, the culmination of Israel's disobedience, came during the reign of Oshia, the last king of Israel and second King seventeen verse six. It is recorded in the ninth year of Oshaeia, the king of Assyria, captured Samaria, deporting the Israelites to Assyria. He settled them in the halog Gaza on Gazan, on

the Harbor River, and in the cities of medice. The deportation marked the end of the Northern Kingdom as a political entity and fulfilled the prophetic warnings of exile. Reasons for the fall, The biblical narrative attributes the fall of Israel to several key factors. Idolatry, the persistent worship of foreign gods, and the establishment of high places provoked the

Lord to anger. Second King seventeen seven through twelve highlights the spiritual infidelity of Israel, stating they worship other gods and followed the customs of the nations, and the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. Covenant unfaithfulness. Israel's failure to adhere to the covenanial laws given through Moses is

highlighted as a primary cause for their downfall. Second King seventeen, verse fifteen notes they rejected his statutes and his covenant he had made with their fathers, and the testimonies he had decreed for them. Social injustice. The prophets frequently condemned the social injustices prevalent in Israel, including the oppression of the poor and corruption among the leaders. Amos five eleven

through twelve speaks against such practices, emphasizing God's displeasure. The fall of Visuel serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God. It underscores the seriousness which God views idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness. Despite the judgment, the prophetic literature also contains promises of restoration and hope, pointing to a future where God would gather as people once more. The theme of judgment and hope is woven

throughout the biblical narrative, illustrating God's justice and mercy. The fall of Israel had lasting implications for the Jewish people and their understanding of their relationship with God. It served as a historical lesson to the Southern Kingdom of Judah, which witnessed the consequences of apostacy firsthand. The event also set the stage for the later Babylonian exile of Judah,

reinforcing the need for faithfulness to God's covenant. The account of Israel's fall continues to be a poignant reminder for believers today to the importance of remaining faithful to God and the dangers of allowing idolaty and disobedience to take root in one's life. Wow a lot to learn there from that. Now, let's go ahead and read verses seven through through twelve and see what we can learn from

this one. In Verse seventeen, sorry, Chapter seventeen, Verse seven says, for it was up, for it was that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh, King of Egypt. And they had feared other gods, and had walked in the statutes of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel, and the kings of Israel, which

they had made. Also, the children of Israel secretly did against the Lord their God things that were not right, and they built for themselves high places in all the cities, from watchtower to fortified city. They set up for themselves sacred pillars and wooden images on every high hill, and under every green tree. They had burned incenses all on all the high places, like the nations whom the Lord

had carried away before them. They did wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger, for they served idols of which the Lord had said to them, you shall not do this thing. Okay, So let's go ahead and stop there so reasons for exile. Verses seven through eight highlights Israel's exile was due to their sin against God, as they feared other gods and walked in the customs of the nations that God had driven out before them. The concept of exile is a significant theme throughout the Bible,

particularly in the Old Testament. Exile refers to the force removal and displacement of individuals or groups from their homeland, often as a result of divine judgment. The reasons for exile and the Biblical narrative are multifaceted, encompassing spiritual morale and covenanial dimensions. Disobedience to God's commandments. One of the primary reasons for exile in the Bible is the disobedience of God's commandments. The Israelites were given the Law through Moses,

which outlined their covenantial obligation to God. However, repeated violations of these laws led to severe consequences of Leviticus sixteen, verse thirty three. God warns, but if you do not obey me and do not carry out all these commandments, I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out his sword after you and your land becomes desolate and the cities become waste. Number two. Idolatry, or the worship of false gods, is another critical reason for exile.

The Israelites frequently turned to the gods of the surrounding nations, violating the First Commandment. The spiritual. Spiritual adultery provoke God's ink, provoke God to anger, and led to their punishment. In Second King seventeen seven through eight, it has recorded all this thing took place because Israelites had senned against the Lord, their God, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh, the King

of Egypt. They had worshiped other gods and walked in the customs of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. Next, social injustice. The prophets often highlighted social injustice as a reason for God's judgment and the subsequent exile. The exploitation of the poor, corruption, and perversion of justice were rampant in Israel and Judah. In Isaiah one verses twenty three twenty four, the prophet declares, your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love bribes

and chase their gifts. They do not defend the fatherless, and the plea for the widow never comes before them. Therefore, the Lord, God of Host and the Mighty One of Israel, declares all, I will vent my wrath on my foes and avenge myself against my enemies. Failure to observe the Sabbaths. The failure to observe the Sabbaths, including the Sabbath year, was another reason for exile. The land was very land. The land was to rest every seventh year, but that

Israe realized neglected this command. As a result, the land itself was to enjoy at Sabbaths during the period of exile, and Second Chronicles thirty six thirty one it has stated this fulfillment of the word of the Lord through Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed a Sabbaths, as long as they lay desolate, it kept the Sabbath to fulfilled seventy years. Prophetic warnings are ignored. God sent prophets to warn the people of an independent judgment in exile, they do not repent. However,

these warnings were often ignored to meet with hostility. Jeremiah, known as the Weeping Prophet, repeatedly warned Judah of the coming Babylonian exile. And Jeremiah twenty five, verses four through five, it is written, and the Lord has sent all his servants the prophets to you again and again, but you

have not listened or inclined your ear to hear. They said, Turn now, each of you from your evil ways and your evil deeds, and you can dwell in the land the Lord has given to you and your father's forever and ever. Another is Divine sovereignty and purpose. Ultimately, the exile serves as a demonstration of God's sovereignty and his purpose in history. While it was a punishment for sin, it had a redemptive aspect, purifying the people and preparing

them for a future restoration. And Deuteronomy thirty verses one

through three. God promises, when all these blessings and curses I have sent before you come upon you, and you take them to heart, wherever the Lord your God disperses you among the nations, and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul, according to everything I command you today, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again among the nations where He scattered you.

The reasons for exile in the Bible are deeply intertwined with the covenant relationship between God and his people, highlighting this seriousness of sin, the necessity of obedience, and the hope of restoration. So it's kind of cool that we got to kind of discover right here where the point where the noise northern Kingdom of Israel was taken out, you know, and you still had Judah right. It's interesting that we got to, you know, read that together and

know that portion. Idolatry and disobedience is spoken about in verses ten through twelve, describing how the Israelites set up sacred pillars and astroth polls and burn incense on all high places, directly disobeying God's commandments. Idolatry is something we've talked about in the past, but it says idolatry and Biblical terms refers to the worship of idols, or the elevation of anything or anyone to a status that rivals

or replaces the worship of the One True God. It is often a recurring theme throughout the Bible, often depicted as a grave sin that leads to spiritual or moral decay. The first commandment given to the Israelites explicitly forbids idolatry. You shall have no other gods before me. This command underscores the exclusivity and supremacy of God in the lives of his people. The Old Testament is replete with instances where the Israelites fe and idolatry out and influenced by

neighboring cultures and their deities. For example, the worship of the golden calf in Exos thirty two is a notable incident. Or the Israelites, in Moses' absence, demanded Aaron to make them gods to lead them. The act of idolatry provoked God's wrath and Moses's interceding, interceding on the behalf of the people to avert their destruction. Idolatry is not limited to the worship of physical idols, but extends to anything

that takes presidence over God in one's life. The prophet Ezekiel speaks of idols in the heart, indicating that idology can be an internal disposition as much as an external practice. Son of Men these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. The New Testament continues to warn against idolatry, emphasizing its

incompatibility with Christian faith. The apostle Paul admonishes believers to flee from my idology in one Corinthians ten, verse fourteen, and identifies the work of the flesh in Galatians five, verses nineteen through twenty. In this letter to the Colossians, Paul equates covesouness with idolatry howl in the broader application of the term put to death. Therefore, the components of earthly nature sexual morality, impurity, lost, evil, desires, and greed,

which is idolatry. Okay, So I just want to go over that with you, guys. And then we have prophetic warnings ignored in verse thirteen, which we're about to read now. So we'll continue to read. So Sewod King seventeen, verse thirteen, it says, yet the Lord testified against Israel, against Judah by all his prophets, every seer, saying, turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to the law which I commanded your fathers, and which

I sent to you by my servants and the prophets. Nevertheless, they would not hear, but stiffened their necks, let their necks of their fathers, who did not believe in the Lord their God. And they rejected his statutes and his covenant that he had made with their fathers, and his

testimonies which he had testified against them. They followed idols, became idolators, and went after the nations that were all around them, concerning whom the Lord had changed them, that they should do not like them, that they should not do like them. And they left all the commandments of the Lord their God, made for themselves a molded image, and two calves made a woman it would an image, and worshiped all the hosts of heaven and served bail.

And they caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, practice witchcraft and soothsaying, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger. Therefore, the Lord was very angry with is removed them from his sight, and there was none left but the tribe of Judah alone. Okay, so this is all explaining that whole situation versus thirteen through eighteen. All right, so let's go ahead and stop there and

check out Prophetic warnings ignored in verse thirteen. Verse thirteen reveals that God sent prophets to warn Israel, saying, turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments, but they would not listen. Prophetic warnings ignored throughout the biblical narrative, God, in his mercy and justice, has sent prophets to deliver warnings to his people. These warnings often called for repentance

and a return to righteousness. Yet history records numerous instances where the divine messages were ignored, leading to dire consequences. For example, Noah's generation in Genesis sick, God warned. In Genesis six, God warned of impeding judgment due to the wickedness of humanity. Noah, described as a righteous man, blames among all contemporaries. His contemporaries is instructed to build an arc.

Despite Noah's obedience and the clear warning of the coming flood, the people of his time continued in their ways, ultimately perishing in the deluge. Sodom and Gomorra. The cities in Salom Gomora were notorious for their sinfulness. In Genesis nineteen, God sends angels to warn Lot of impeding destruction. Despite the warning, Lot's sun in Law dismissal as a jest, and the cities are subsequently destroyed by the fire and

brimstone and the Israelites in the wilderness. Throughout the Exodus journey, the Israelites frequently ignored God's commands and warnings delivered through Moses in Numbers fourteen, after the report of the spies that people rebelled against entering the Promised Land. Despite God's warning of the consequences, they persist in their disobedience, resulting in a forty year wilderness wandering Numbers fourteen, verse thirty four.

The Prophets of Israel and Judah, the books of the Prophets are replete with warnings of the Kingdom of Israel and Judah. Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel called the people to repentance, warning of exile and destruction if they continued in idolatry and injustice. Jeremiah, known as the Weeping Prophet, laminated the people's refusal to heed God's warning and ultimately led to the Babylonian exile in Jeremiah twenty five, verses

four through eleven. New Testament examples John the Baptist as the forerunner of Christ. John the Baptist called for repentance, warning the coming of Wrath and Matthew three seven through twelve. Many, including the religious leaders, ignored his message, failing to recognize the significance of the Messiah's arrival, and then Jesus's warnings

to Jerusalem. Jesus himself issued warnings to the people of his time, and Luke nineteen forty one through forty four he weeps over Jerusalem for seeing its destruction due to the people's failure to recognize the time of the time of your visitation Luke nineteen forty four. Despite his miracles and teachings, many rejected his rejected his message, leading to the city's fall in eighty seventy. The Apostolic warnings the Apostle warned continue to warn of spiritual dangers and the

need for vigilance. Paul and his letters frequently admonish the early Church who remain steadfast in faith and avoid false teachings. Two Timothy four, verses three through four. The Book of Revelation continues contains warnings to the Seven churches, urging them to repeat and return to their first love Revelation two and three. The theological implications ignorant ignoring prophetic warnings is a reoccurring theme that underscores the human tendency towards spiritual

deafness and rebellion. These biblical accounts serve as a sobering reminder of the consequences of disregarding God's word. They highlight the importance of heeding divine warnings, embracing repentance, and aligning one's life with God's will. The narratives also reflects God's patient and desire for his people to turn back to him, even in the face of persistent disobedience. Right, and eighteen through twenty we haven't read yet, so I'm going to leave that. I'm going to leave that until I get

done with verses nineteen through twenty three. We did read eighteen, but we didn't read eighteen through twenty yet, so let's go ahead and read starting at nineteen. Also, Judah did not keep the commandments of the Lord their God that walked in the statues of Israel which they made, and the Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel afflicting them and delivered them in the hand of plunders until he

had cast them from his sight. For he tore Israel from the house of David, and they made Jeroboam, the son of the Bat King. Then Jeroboam drove Israel from following the Lord and made them commit a great sin. From the children of Israel walked in all the ways of Jereboam, which he did, and he did not depart about them. He did not depart from them until the Lord removed Israel out of his sight. And he had

said by all his servants the prophet. So Israel was carried away from their own land in Assyria, as as it is to this day, is what it says. So Consequences of Rebellion Verses eighteen through twenty explained that God's anger led to the removal of Israel from his sight, leaving only the tribe of Judah. So rebellion against God and his ordained authority is a reoccurring theme throughout the Bible, and its consequences are depicted with gravity and seriousness the Bible.

The Bible provides numerous accounts and teachings that illustrate the spiritual and moral, physical repercussions of rebellion. Old Testament examples Adam and Eve in Genesis three. The first act of rebellion in the Bible is disobedience of Adam and Eve and the gardener Eden by eating the forbidden fruit. They defiled God's command, resulting in the fall of humanity. And then the Tower of Babel is an one. Humanities, well, I would say Genesis six was a huge rebellion, right,

It doesn't even mention it here. Genesis six, where the sons of God came down and had sex with human women and had giants is another one. And then the Tower of Babbles another one. Humanity's attempt to build a tower to reach the heavens was an act of was an act of collective rebellion against God's command to fill the earth. As consequences, God confused their languages that scattered them across the earth, thwarting their plans and demonstrating his

sovereignty over human pride and ambition. Then we had Cora's rebellion in number sixteen. Cora, along with Dathan and Abriam and two hundred and fifty other leaders, rebelled against Moses and Aaron's leadership. Their defiance met with severe judgment as the Earth opened up and swallowed them, illustrating the dire consequences of challenging God. God's records hold on and challenging

God's appointed leaders. Sorry, not records a number. It says number sixteen thirty two through thirty eight records, not records. And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, all Cora's men, and their possessions. And they went down alive into Shield with all they have owned, and the earth closed over them, and they vanished from there from the assembly. Try explaining that on the current cosmology. Okay, I'm not trying to say that that can happen on

the globe. But what I'm trying to say is biblical cosmology, Shield is in the earth. Okay, sheal is in the earth. And that's pretty that's a pretty telling tell That's a pretty telling thing that if the Earth opens up and it swallows these people and they go into Shield, that shield is in the earth. Right, So that's what the

Bible talks about. What scientists try to tell us is scientists try to tell us that there's magma in there and just that you know, and We've only dug eight miles down, so we really couldn't tell you what's actually in the earth. But they're going to give you a test on you know, you have to answer how hot the core of the earth is when they have no idea, But the Bible right there in numbers is talking about the earth opening up and swallowing these people and them

going into Shield. And then also in Samuel, first Samuel where they go to the witch of Ornd or king Saul and he brings up Samuel right or she brings up Samuel. Where is he located at that time? Well, he's located in Shield inside the earth. So he's going to be on Abraham's bosom. He's going to be on the side with the paradise, and then the other side is going to be like Shield, which is talked about

in Luke sixteen. So I don't want to get too deep into that because it's not part of our study tonight, but I'll continue The Bible consists instantly portrays rebellion as a grave sin with serious consequences. It caused believers to a life of obedience, humility, and submission to God's will,

emphasizing the blessings of faithfulness and the dangers of defiance. Okay, excuse me, perfect not let me go back, And since we read all the way to twenty three, let me just go over a brief description of what we just read, since I went over so many notes. So in Second King seventeen, Verses five through twenty three explains that the fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel to Assyria in seven twenty two BC was not merely a geopolitical event,

but divine judgment for covenant disobedience. It highlights centuries of idolatry, rejection of prophets, and syncretism, culmating an exile as the justified consequences of their spiritual infidelity. Key themes of the passages include the cause of exile and seven through twelve. The text emphasizes that Israel's captivity was punishment for sinning against God, who brought them out of Egypt by worshiping other gods and following the customs of nations driven out

before them. Persistent idolatry in verses thirteen through seventeen, despite constant warnings from prophets and seers to turn from evil, that Israel actual remained stubborn and worship bail, made idols calves, and even caused their children to pass through the fire. Rejection of the Covenant in Verses fifteen through eighteen, they rejected God's statutes the Covenant made with their ancestors and

despised his warnings. This led to God's rejection of all the descendants of Israel, allowing them to be removed from his site. Historical review nineteen through twenty three. The passage acts as a theological review, noting that even Judah did not keep the commandments, resulting in godds allowing the entire nation to be afflicted and eventually removed from the land. Essentially, this passage serves as a warning that disregard for divine commands.

That disregard for divine commands leads to spiritual ruin and physical destruction, separating people from God's protection. Okay, all right, so let's go ahead and check out Versus twenty three through forty one. Yeah, I don't think I have any notes there. Let me just that go on. No more practical or no more teaching points for this side. But I think I have some over here, So all right, so let's go ahead and read verses twenty four through

forty one. Here Assyria resettles Samaria. Then the King of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Katal aval Hamath, and from Seprevium and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel. And they took possession of Samaria and dwelt in its cities. And it was so at the beginning of their dwelling there they did not fear the Lord. Therefore the Lord sent lions among them,

which killed some of them. So they spoke to the King of Assyria, saying, the nations whom you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the rituals of the God of the land. Therefore he has sent the lions among them, And indeed they are killing them because they do not know the rituals of the God of the land. Then the King of Assyria commanded, saying, sen, send they're one of the priests whom you brought from there. Let him go and dwell there, and let him teach

them the rituals of the God of the land. Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel and taught them how they should fear the Lord. However, every name continue to make gods of its own and put them in the shrines on the high places which the Samaritans had made.

Every nation in the cities there where they dwelt. The men of Babylon made Sakoth Banath, the men of Culth made Negrel, the men of Hamath made Ashamah, and Avites made Nibha's tar Tartak, and the Seprovides burned their children in fire, and Admelek and Animelek, the gods of Sifrivium. So they feared the Lord, and from every class they appointed for themselves priests of the high places who sacrificed. See it says they feared the Lord. This is, they

feared the Lord. From every class. They appointed from themselves priests of high places who sacrificed for them, and then shrines and high places. They feared the Lord, yet served their own gods according to the rituals of their nations, among whom they were carried away. To this day they

continue practicing former rituals. They do not fear the Lord, nor do they follow the statutes of their ordinances or the law and commandment which the Lord had commanded the children of Jacob, whom he had named Israel, with whom the Lord had made a covenant and charged them, saying, you shall not fear other gods, nor bow down to them,

nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them. But the Lord, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and the outstretched arm him, you shall fear him, you shall worship, and to him you shall offer sacrifice. And the statutes and ordinance, the laws of the Commandment which he wrote for you, you shall be careful to observe forever. You shall not fear other gods. And the covenant that I have made with you shall not forget,

nor shall you fear other gods. But the Lord, your God, you shall fear, and he will deliver you from the hand of your enemies. However, they did not obey, and they not they but they followed their former rituals. So these nations feared the Lord yet serve their carved images. Also their children and their children's children have continued doing as their fathers did even to this day. So very very interesting there, you know, So what do we just kind of go over or go over a brief description. Okay,

I want to make sure on the right portion perfect. Okay. So in Second King seventeen twenty four through forty one, we'll go over a brief description of what we just read.

Describes the Assyrian policy of resettling conquered Israel with foreigners leading with the synchronistic religion, where these new inhabitants mixed worship of their own idols with a grudging superstitious fear and service of the God of Israel Yahweh due to lions attacking them, creating the foundation of the Samaritans mixed faith, he compromised God rejected because true worship requires devotion to Him alone, a less than apthical today against lukewarm faith

and key themes. In Second King seventeen twenty four through forty one force repopulation, Assyria moved people from other conquered lands in a Samaria, the former northern Kingdom of Israel. The lion problem. These newcomers were plagued by lions, which they had attributed to not knowing the God of the land. A priest's return and Israelite priests was sent back from Assyria to teach them the manner of the God of the land, mixed worship syncretism. The result was a blend.

They feared the Lord, but also continued to worship their own gods and identity. This mixed religion formed the basis of the Samaritan people who later worshiped at Mount Jerseem not Jerusalem, and then compromise with God. Commentators highlight the spiritual danger of fear and form, where people acknowledge God but not but serve idols, showing true devotion to neither

idolatry's deception. The passage warns that worldly settlements are temporary, and trying to reconcile God with lust or the world leads to spiritual failure, as seen in Israel's downfall. Warning against luke warmness, the passage serves as a timeless reminder from prophets like Elijah one Kings eighteen twenty one that one must choose to follow God fully and not serve two masters, God and Mammon or idols. God's discipline and policy.

Discipline and policy, God uses the Assyrian policy as part of his judgment on his showing that even seemingly neutral actions like we settlement can serve his purposes. Authentic worship the core message to a worship God alone with a sincere heart. The core message is to worship God alone with a sincere heart, not just going through religious motions or seeking God as a good luck charm. Beware of syncretism.

Just as the Samaritans mix God's modern believers must avoid mixed worldly values idols like money, pleasure, status, and priorities with genuine faith in Christ. Okay, so let me just go over That's all that I have to go over for chapter seventeen. Let me go over some practical applications first, and then we'll go over some additional scriptures that connect. So practical applications is guard against idolatry, just as Israel

filling and idolatry. We must be vigilant and identifying and moving anything that takes presidents over God in our lives. We talked about that earlier. Heed God's warning. God often send warnings through his word and his people. We should

be a tentative and response to his guidance. So sometimes when you're reading, sometimes when I'm reading to you guys, I get little warnings here and there, you know, Like for example, I was, you know, looking to get another job for a second there, you know, I feel that application, got it, went to an interview, did all that stuff, and then as I'm reading some of the Bible, you know,

to you guys. I don't remember the specific verses that I read, but it was kind of like it kind of reminded me that the position that you're in right now at your job, you prayed for that, you know. I prayed for to be in the position I'm at in my job right now, my current job, to be in production, you know, to know the whole entire treatment system and to be able to just know it, you know, like the back of my hand. And now I'm in

that position now. So God kind of humbled me and kind of said, hey, you prayed for this position, enjoy it? Why you can, you know, And that's kind of where where I'm at right now. I just just realize, like, Okay, I just need to, you know, just keep things simple, you know, continue this Bible study that I'm doing, continue what I got going on in work, and then when something opens up, you know, I could take it, but but you know, just just kind of realize that, you know.

So it's something in my life that I feel like God was kind of warning me to kind of just to stay the course, you know, instead of jumping to a new job right now. Stay the course. So that's what I did. You know. I prayed about it, and I think that's what God wants me to do. Next. Value obedience. Obedience to God's commandment is crucial. We should strive to live according to his word, recognizing his laws are for our good. Next, reflect on God's faithfulness. Despite

Israel's unfaithfulness, God remained faithful to his covenant. We shall trust in his steadfast love and mercy. Amen. Some additional scriptures that connect would be Deuteronomy six fourteen through fifteen, which says, do not follow other gods the gods of the peoples around you, For the Lord, your God is among you is a jealous god. Okay. For Samuel fifteen twenty two. Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much he as in obeying the voice of

the Lord. Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice. First Samuel fifteen, verse twenty two, where Samuel was talking to King Saul. Right there, Okay, Jeremiah seven twenty three. But this is what I commanded them obey my voice, and I will be God and you will be my people. Amen. We are done with chapter seventeen. Moving right along to chapter eighteen. Let's see how many do we have. We still got quite a bit of Second Kings to go over, So

now we get to learn about Hezekiah. Right, So let's go ahead and go over a brief introduction of eighteen. Chapter eighteen. Second Kings eighteen portrays a time of religious reform and political upheaval in the kingdom of Judah. This chapter tells the account of Hezekiah, a king who chooses to devout himself, to devote himself and his kingdom to God, yet faces an enormous challenge in the form of the Assyrian threat. So let's go ahead and check out Hezekiah

and see what he's got going on here. Let me get to my teaching points. Okay, all right, So Hazekiah reigns in Judah. Now, it came to pass in the third year of O'Shea, the son of a law king of Israel, that has Akiah, the son of AHAs king of Judah, began to reign. He was twenty five years old, and he became king, and he reigned twenty nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abby. It's a bye maybe a Abi, the daughter of Zechiro. And he did what was right in the side of the Lord of

Coin into all that his father had done. So we'll read, okay, so let me just go over that real quick. So you know what, We'll go over the destruction of Idolatry first. Okay, we'll go over second King's eighteen. Verse four says he removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image, and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made for until those days. The children of Israel burned incense to it and called it

now Who's ten. He trusted in the Lord, God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among the kings of Judah, nor were nor who were before him. For he held fast to the Lord. He did not depart from following him, but kept his commandments which the Lord had commanded Moses. The Lord was with him. He prospered wherever he went, and he rebelled against the King of Assyria and did not serve him. He subdued the Philistines as far as Gaza and his territory from watchtower

to fortified city. We'll stop there real quick. So destruction of idolatry. So Hezekiah removed the high places of the sacred pillars and cut down the astrooth polls. His actions demonstrate the importance of eliminating idolatry and false worship from our lives. The destruction of idolatry as a reoccurring theme throughout the Bible, reflecting God's demand for exclusive worship and

the rejection of false gods. Idolatry, the worship of idols or false deities, is constantly condemned in scripture as a violation of the First and Second Commandments, which call the worship of the One True God and prohibit the making of graven images in the Old Testament context. In the Old Testament, the Israelites were repeatedly worn against idolatry. The law given to Moses explicitly forbids the worship of other gods and the creation of idols Deuteronomy twelve, verse three.

The history of Israel is marked by cycles of idolatry and reform. During periods of hypostacy, the Israelites often adopted the adopted the gods of surrounding nations, leading to divine judgment. The Book of Judges, for example, records several instances where Israel turned to idolatry, resulting in oppression by foreign powers until they repented and returned to the Lord Judges to Verses eleven through nineteen. Prominent reformers such as King Hezekiah

and King Josiah. King Josiah are noted for their efforts to destroy idolatry. In Judah, has Akaia removed all high places, shattered the sacred stones, and cut down astroft polls. Josiah's reforms were even more extensive, as he smashed the altars and the astroft polls and covered their sites with human bones. Second Kings twenty three, verse fourteen. It's going to get to that. That's going to be something we're gonna read.

I didn't realize I was in the future. There. The prophets of Israel frequently denounced idology, warning of its consequences and calling the people back at the covenant faithfulness. Isaiah, for instance, ridicules futility of idle work worship, declaring they lift it to their shoulders and carry it. They set it on its place, and there it stands. It does

not move from its place Isaiah forty six seven. Jeremiah similarly condemns this practice, stating every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols for his multen images or a lie. There is no breath in them Jeremiah fourteen, verse ten. Jeremiah ten, verse fourteen dyslexic. Right there you see that Ezekiel vividly portrays the idolatry of Israel as spiritual adultery, emphasizing the severity of their unfaithfulness to God and Ezekiel

sixteen fifteen through nineteen. The prophets consistently link idolatry with moral and social decay, illustrating how turning away from God leads to injustice and corruption. In the New Testament, which we talked about earlier, Paul tells us to flee from idolatry in One Corinthians ten, verse fourteen. He further explains the idolatry as incompatible with the Christian life, as believers are temples of the Holy Spirit in One Corinthians six,

verses nineteen through twenty. Then, the Book of Acts records instances where the apostles confronted idolatry directly in emphasis Paul preaching led to a significant number of conversions, resulting in the burning of magic books and the decline of idolmaking trade and acts nineteen eighteen through twenty. The event highlights the transformative power of the Gospel to overcome idolterous practices.

That's what we're trying to do here. The ultimate destruction of idolatry is depicted in eschological terms of the Book of Revelation. In the Book of Revelation, the vision given by John includes the fall of Babylon, a symbol of idolatrous corrupted system opposed to God. Revelation eighteen, verse two declares fallen. Fallen is Babylon the Great. The imagery signifies the final judgment and eradication of all forms of idolatry

at the end of the age. Throughout Scripture, the destruction of idolatry portrayed as an essential maintaining the purity of worship and the holiness of God's people. The consistent Biblical message is that idology leads to spiritual ruin, while faithfulness to God brings blessings and life. Okay, so and then

we have trusting in the Lord. He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, so that after him there was none like him among the gods are the kings of Judah, nor among those who were before him and second kings. Eighteen verse five, hezekiahs trust in God was unparalleled, highlighting the power of faith. All right, so trusting in the Lord. Let's look a little deeper in that. Trusting in the Lord is a central theme in Christian theology, emphasizing reliance

on God's wisdom, strength, and faithfulness. It is the act of placing one's confidence in God's character and promises, acknowledging his sovereignty and goodness in all circumstances. Biblical foundation would be in Proverbs three, verses five through six, where Solomon says, trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, and all your ways acknowledge him.

He will make your paths straight. This passes highlights a necessity of wholehearted trust and futilely of relying solely not on human understanding, the futility of relying solely on human understanding. Sorry, and then Old Testament examples. The Old Testament provides numerous

examples of individuals who exemplify trust in the Lord. Abraham, often called the Father of Faith, demonstrated trust by obeying God's call to leave his homeland and by believing God's promise of a son despite his and Sarah's old age, which is in Genesis twelve, verses one through four and then Genesis fifteen, verse six. Similarly, David, in the face of adversity, consistently express his trusts in God, as seen

in Psalms fifty six, verses three through four. When I am afraid, I put my trust in you, in God whose word I praise. In God I trust. I will not be afraid. What can a man do to me? And then in the New Testament and the New Testament, trust in the Lord is further emphasized throughout the teachings

of Jesus and the Apostles. Jesus himself encourages followers to trust in God for their needs, as seen in Matthew six, verses twenty five through thirty four, where he instructs them not to worry about their lives, but to seek first the Kingdom of God. The apostle Paul also underscores the importance of trust in passages like Philippians four, verses six through seven. Be anxious for nothing, Put everything by prins, petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God in peace and

the peace of God. What surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds. In Christ Jesus, Trusting in the Lord involves recognizing his omnipotence and omnience and omnipresence. It requires believers to surrender their own plans and desires, acknowledging that God's ways are higher than human ways Isaiah fifty five, verses eight through nine. This trust is not a passive, but active manifesting in obedience, prayer, and a

steadfast hope in God's promises. For Christians, trusting in the Lord is a daily practice that influences decision making, relationships, and response to life's challenges. It calls for a commitment to prayer, meditation on scripture, and a community of faith that encourages and supports one another and trusting God. Trust in the Lord is both a personal and communal journey,

fostering spiritual growth and resilience challenges to trust. Despite its importance, trusting in the Lord can be challenging, especially in times of suffering and uncertainty, doubts and fears may arise, but Scripture encourages believers to persevere in faith. James One, verses two through four reminds Christians that trials test their faith,

producing perseverance and maturity. Conclusion. While the entry does not include a conclusion, it is evident that trust in the Lord is a vital aspect of Christian faith, deeply rooted in Biblical teachings, and essential for spiritual growth and stability. Perfect right, so good stuff. And then we have the rebellion against Assyria. Hezekiah rebelled against the king of Assyria

and did not serve him. His defiance against a formidable enemy underscores that courage that comes from trusting in God. So the rebellion against a Siia is a significant theme in the historical narrative the Old Testament, particularly during the

period of the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah. The Assyrian Empire, known as its military proudness and expansionist policies, posed a consistent threat to the Similar to the smaller kingdoms of the ancient Near East, including Israel and Judah, of the Biblical accounts provide insight into the political, spiritual, and moral dimensions of these rebellions. We've kind of gone all this already, so I don't really need to get

too deep into that. Despite the Assyrian king's intimidation, Hezekiah remained steadfast, seeking God's guidance and intervention, which will go over right now after we're done reading nine through sixteen. All right, so let's go back to nine through sixteen.

We have verse nine says, now it came to pass in the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventeenth year of Hosea, the son of Allah e Law, not Allah e Law, King of Israel, that Shalmanzir, the king of Assyria, came up against Samaria and besieged it. And at the end of three years they took it. And the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is the ninth

year of Hosea, King of Israel, Samaria was taken. The king of Assyria carried Israel away captive to Assyria, and they put them in Halla and by the harbor of the river of Gauzan, and in the cities of Mediz because they did not obey the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed as covenant and all that Moses, the servant of the Lord, had commanded, and they would neither hear nor do them. So facing threats with faith despite the Assyrian king's intimidation, this is in my notes,

has Akia remained steadfast seeking God's guidance and intervention. So facing threats is a reoccurring theme throughout the Bible, where individuals, communities encountered various forms of danger, opposition, and adversity. The Biblical narrative consistently emphasizes the importance of responding to these threats with faith in God. This entry explores key Biblical examples and teaching that illustrate how faith can be a powerful response to threats. Old Testament examples David and Goliath.

One of the most iconic accounts of facing threats with faith is the account of David and Goliath. The young shepherd David confronts the philistine giant Goliath, who threatens the armies of Israel despite the overwhelming odds. Okay, so which we know about the David and Goliath story, Then Daniel in the Lions den is another one, and Daniel six. Daniel's on wavering faith in God is tested when he has thrown into a den of lions for praying to

God despite a world decree. Daniel's trusting God is evident as he faces the life threatening situation. The Bible records that God sent an angel to set the lion's mouth, and Daniel emerged unharmed. Daniel's faith serves as a testament to God's protection and deliverance in the face of mortal danger. And then Jehosephad's prayer and Second Chronicles twenty King Jehosephad of Judah faces a form rule enemy from a coalition of enemies armies. In response, he leads the nation to

prayer and fasting, seeking God's guidance and intervention. Jehosaphat praise. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you. God answers by assuring them in victory without the need for the battle, demonstrating that faith in God can lead to miraculous deliberance. And then in the New Testament, Jesus calms the storm mark four verses thirty

five through forty one. In the New Testament, Jesus exemplifies faith in the face of threats when a violent storm threatens to capsize the boat carrying Jesus and his disciples. Jesus rebukes the wind and the sea, bringing calm. He then questions his disciples, why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith? This account highlights the power of faith in Jesus to overcome fear and threats, and then Paul's courage and persecution enacts sixteen sixteen through forty.

The Apostle Paul frequently faced threats and executions for his faith, and Philippi Paul and Silas are imprisoned. Silas are imprisoned, yet they respond by praying and singing hymns to God. Their faith leads to a miraculous earthquake that opens the prison doors. Paul's steadfast faith in the faith of persecution serves as an example for trusting God's sovereignty and purpose. The Armor of God Apheesians six, verses ten through eighteen. The Apostle Paul instructs believers to put on the full

armor of God to stand firm against spiritual threats. This passes emphasizes faith as a shield, stating, in the addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, for which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Faith is depicted as a vital defense against spiritual and extens existential threats. The Bible consistently teaches that faith is not merely a passive belief, but an active

trust in God's power, presence, and promises. Facing threats with faith involves you lying on God's strength rather than one's own ability. It requires a confident expectation that God is in control even in the most daunting circumstances. This trust is rooted in the character of God, who is faithful, sovereign, and loving. Throughout scripture, faith is portrayed as a means

of accessing God's protection and deliverance. It is a response that aligns believers with God's will and purpose, enabling them to overcome fear and adversity. The Biblical call to face threats with faith is a call to live in the assurance of God's unfailing presence and provision. So the reason why I read all that is it's very important for us. I think facing threats with faith is something that we should definitely do in our own lives. You know, it's

very important. So I think we should definitely understand that it's very important to do that right, and we should learn from all these little experts that that I go through in between these verses. Right, So let's go ahead and go to verse thirteen. Now it's going to be second Kings eighteen verse thirteen. And in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, sena Cherub, king of Assyria, came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them.

Then Hezekiah, King of Judah, sent the King of Assyria at Lashi, saying, I have done I have done wrong. Turn away from me. Whatever you impose on me, I will pay. And the King of Assyria assessed Hezekiah, King of Judah, three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. So Hezekiah gave him the silver that was found in the house of the Lord and in the

treasures of the king's house at the time. Hezekiah stripped the gold from the doors of the Temple of the Lord and from the pillars which Hezekiah, King of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the King of Assyria from the pillars which king is overlaid, and gave it to the King of Assyria. Okay, so let's go ahead and go over a brief description of what we just read,

so it says. In Second Kings eighteen who one through sixteen highlights King Hezekiah of Judah as a remarkably righteous leader who restores tru worship by destroying idols, including the bronze serpent. His trust in God leads to prosperity, yet he faces immense pressure from Assyria, ultimately resulted in a compromise where he empties the temple treasures to pay tribute.

In Second Kings eighteen, verse one through six Hezekiah's Faithfulness or one through sixteen Hezekiah's Faithfulness, Hezekiah is praised for doing what is right in the side of the Lord. Following the example of his ancestor David, he trustingly relied on God, refusing to follow the ungodly ways of his father AHAs reformation of worship, Hezekiah removed the high places, altars and false gods, broke the sacred pillars, and destroyed the bronze serpent made by Moses, which the people had

begun to worship as an idol. Independence from Assyria. Has Akiah rebelled against the King of Assyria, refusing to serve him and successfully broke free from the yoke of tribute that had previously burdened Judah the Assyrian threat and compromised. Despite his righteousness, Judah faced invasion by the Assyrian king Sheni Cherub. In a moment of fear of pragmatism, has Akiah paid a heavy tribute to Assyria, even stripping gold

from the temple doors to satisfy them. This highlights, this passes highlights that even righteous leaders face severe trials, and it sets the stage for dramatic showdown between God and Assyria in the following chapters. Wow, let's see what happens. Let's see what happens. Right, Let's dig deep into this. So we're gonna read seventeen through thirty seven now and see what happens. Here Sena Cherub boasts against the Lord.

So it's then verse sevento. We start with verse seventeen. Here, King of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rabbi Sirius and Rabbis Shaka from Lashish with a great army against Jerusalem to King Hezekiah. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. When they had come up, they went and stood at the aqueduct from the upper Pool, which was on the highway of the Fueller's Field, Fueller's Field on the highway

to the Fueller's Field. And when they had called to the king, Alikam, the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household of Shinbah or Shebnah described and Joah, the son of a saff the recorder, came out to them. Then rab Shaka said to them, say now to Hezekiah, thus says the great King, the King of Assyria, what confident is it in which you trust? What confidence is this in which you trust? You speak of having plans and power for war, But there are mere words in

whom do you trust that you rebel against me. Now look, you are trusting in the staff of this broken reed Egypt. On which a man leans, it will go into his hands and pierce it. So is Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to all who trusts in him. But if you say to me we trust in the Lord, our God, it is not he whose high places and whose altars Hezeki has taken away and said to Judah and Jerusalem, you shall worship before the altar in Jerusalem. Now, therefore I urge you give a pledge to the master of the

King of Assyria. And I will give you the two thousand horses, if you are able to put your part to put riders on them. How then will you repel one captain at least of my master's servants to put your trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen. Now have I now come without the Lord against the place to destroy it? Have I now come up without the Lord against the place to destroy it? The Lord said to me,

go up against this land and destroy it. Then, Aleikium, the son of Hilkaya Shevnah and Joah, son of rap Chaka, please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it, and we do not speak to us in Hebrew, and do not speak to us in Hebrew. And the hearing of the people who are on the wall, and Rep. Schakav said to them, has my master sent to me your master? And do you to speak these words and not to the men who sit on the wall, who

will eat and drink their own waste with you? Then rap Schakas stood and called out with a loud voice in Hebrew and spoke saying, hear the word of the great King, the King of Assyria. Thus says the king. Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he shall not be able to deliver you from this hand. Nor let Isekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying the Lord will surely deliver us. This city shall not be given

into the hand of the King Assyria. Do not listen to Hezekiah, For thus says the King of Assyria, make peace with me, and present and by a present, and come out to me, and every one of you eat from his own vine, and every one of you from his own fig tree, and every one of you drink the waters of his own cistern, until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive groves of honey,

that you may live and not die. But do not listen to Hezekiah unless he persuade you, saying the Lord will deliver us. Has any of the gods of the nations of all delivered its land and the hand of the King of Assyria. Where are the gods of the Hamath and Arpad. Where are the gods of the Shimaviem and Heina and Eva? Indeed they were delivered Samaria from my hand, who among all the gods of the lands were delivered their countries from their hand. The Lord shall

deliver Jerusalem from my hand. But the people held their peace and answered him not a word, For the king's commandment was do not answer him. Then Elikiam, the son of Ilika, who was over the household of Shebnah the Scribe, and Joah, the son of Assah the recorder, came to Azekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of repsh rap shaka. Okay. So that's the end of chapter eighteen. O go over a brief description of what

we just read. It says in Second Kings eighteen seventeen through thirty seven details of psychological warfare raised waged by the Assyrian official the rap Chakab, against King Hezekiah of Judah during the siege of Jerusalem. Using propaganda, he mocks Juda's reliance on Egypt and God, urging surrender to avoid starvation, while Hezekiah's officials remain silent. It highlights a test of faith, contrasting Assyrian pride with Judaean reliance on God. Key aspects

of the meeting psychological warfare and propaganda. The rap Shakhaw speaks Hebrew to the people on the wall, intending to break their morale and create distrust in King Hezekiah, warning that trusts in either Egypt or Jehovah is futile or Yahweh is futile. The accusation of blasphemy. The Assyrians directly challenged the power of God, arguing that no other nations God saved them from Assyria to why would Yahweh save them save Jerusalem? Second Kings, eighteen thirty three through thirty five.

The call to surrender. Rapt Shakha promises safety and prosperity if they surrender, painting a horrific picture of survival in a besieged city to tempt them into submission. The response of faith silence. Following Hezekiah's orders, the official offer no response to the insults, demonstrating a calculated silence that refuses to engage with blasphemy, choosing instead to trust in God's intervention.

Context of crisis. The passage follows Hezekiah's tribute payment from eighteenth Chapter eighteen thirteen through sixteen, and serves as a moment of absolute extremity where only divine help could save Judah from destruction. The passage illustrates that while the world represented by Assyria may mock faith, trusting God's portrayed as the only true source of deliverance even when faced by overwhelming power. So looks like we are doing pretty good

on time. I'm going to probably not get into nineteen because it's a lot, even though I would love to get into it. I mean, this is getting interesting, yeah, Like I love all this right here. You know, this stuff was getting interesting. It's like I would like to find out what happens right here, so copy. I'll tell you what. Back in the day, when I used to read the Bible with my wife, you know, before I started my podcast, and we would just read. I think

I told you guys this before. But I was trying to read as much as I could of the Bible, you know, and just that was like my focus, like it just just read, read, read as much as I can. But I wasn't able to absorb all this information. Like right now when I'm reading it to you guys, it's so much easier to absorb because we're going verse by verse and we have all these notes and all this stuff,

you know, So to help us and assist us. So it's a lot better, you know, Like I don't even honestly, when I read this before with my wife, where we read through the Bible, it was like we're who would read. I would read as much as I could. My wife would try to tell me, hey, we need to try to absorb some of this information, you know, and didn't realize how important it was. So it's so awesome to be able to study this with you guys. Verse by verse.

I think it's amazing. So since we're done with chapter eighteen, let's go over some practical applications we have evaluate remove idols. It's similar to the other chapters, right. It says, identify and remove anything in your life that takes presidents over your relationship with God. Next, cultivate trust in God. Strengthen your faith by recalling God's past faithfulness and promises. Next,

stand firm and adversity when facing with challenge. When faced with challenges, rely on God's strength rather than succumbing to fear or pressure. Next, seek godly counsel in times of christis seek guidance from scripture and prayer, just as Hezekiah did, and then additional scriptures that connect. We have Psalms twenty verse seven, which we talked about in past chapters. It says some trust in chariots and others and horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord, our God.

And then Isaiah forty verse ten, do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. And then Ephesian six, verses ten through eleven. Finally, be strong in the Lord, in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can make your stand against the devil's schemes. Right. That's a great verse for this that connects so perfect. So we are done

with chapter eighteen. We will pick up a chapter nineteen next week and we can find out what happens with Hezekiah. Like I said, I wish I had time to go over that whole chapter nineteen, but we're already two hours in, so I don't want to go over that chapter because it'll push me over the two hour mark. And I usually like to keep these for two hours because it's hard enough for people who listen to a sixty minute or sixty second TikTok clip much less than two hour podcast.

So for those of you that have stuck around to the end, like sometimes I like to say, please comment below and let us let me know that you let me know that you stay stuck around to the end. But thank you guys so much for tuning in. I really appreciate it. If you want to check out my show, it's Josh Monday, Christian and conspiracy podcast on all audio platforms. I have three hundred and fifty three hundred and forty I don't know what it is, three hundred and forty episodes.

Let me just give you an accurate number. So I have exactly three hundred and forty one episodes as of today, which is January twenty third, So three hundred and forty one episodes. And you'll see that there's a lot of Bible studies on the you know on them which are these being released slowly, But I also have a ton of interviews if you want to check those out, you know, a bunch of different interviews, and you know also a lot of Bible studies and stuff like that. Other if

you want to check it out. And then my YouTube is Josh Monday music and podcast. If you want to subscribe to my YouTube, i'd appreciate it, And if you want to check out some of the videos on there, if you want to see it in video instead of seeing it on Spotify or Apple or any of those other podcast platforms. But I do appreciate you guys tuning in. Let me just go ahead and end this in prayer

like I always do. So, Father God, in the name of Jesus, thank you so much for this glorious time allowing me to go over second Kings, it's getting you know, everything in the Bible is interesting. Lord, it's just it's getting really interesting here. Just allow us to learn from what these kings were doing, you know, and and and learn from the what the kings are doing right, you know, like Hezekaya, who was doing right in your sight, you know.

And we understand that we're all humans and sometimes we're put in situations where we feel like we want to make our own decisions. Lord, So allow us to trust in you and allow you to supernaturally assist us in our life, you know. So these kings sometimes they're like they were put in positions where there's a whole nation coming against them, you know, and they feel like they want to protect the people. You know, they don't want to go through starvation or you know, they don't want

to go through you know, suffering or people dying. So it was like big decisions back then. Lord. So I know sometimes in our in our little lives that we have, we we have decisions that we have to make. Lord, So assist us to trust in you whenever we make those decisions, Lord, and wait on you. So thank you for everything little we appreciate, and thank you for these Bible studies. And anybody that's out there that's struggling with any type of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, whatever, Lord, just please

the system in their life. Lord, Please, thank you. We love you in Jesus name. Amen. All right, thank you guys so much for tuning in. I really appreciate you. We'll talk to you on Wednesday's service coming up. Looking forward to it, and much love to you and God bless