SOAP 03/30/2016; 2 Kings 14:23-25

Today's reading: Judges 8; Psalm 42; 1 Corinthians 15*

S) "²³ In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel became king in Samaria, and reigned forty-one years. ²⁴ He did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel sin. ²⁵ He restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, which He spoke through His servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was of Gath-hepher."

2 Kings 14:23-25 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read 2 Kings 14

O) My first thought, "Come on, people. Can't you think of some original names?" Sure, the full name of the king of Israel was "Jehoash" but it's just a different spelling of the same name, which the king of Judah just had! Also, if the first king of your land was evil and it cost him the kingdom, and you had a son who was probably going to be king, wouldn't you think naming him after that first king was just going to cast a pall over his whole reign? Maybe J(eh)oash thought his son could redeem the name of Jeroboam?
The second thought I had, "Wait, Jonah did other stuff besides what was covered in the VeggieTales movie?" There can be little doubt it is one and the same. Both were prophets. Both lived near the end of the kingdom of Israel. Both named Jonah... then again, we did just see how they liked to repeat names... but, both are said to be the son of Amittai... It's the same guy.
My final thought, "Interesting that v.24 describes this Jeroboam as evil, too. Then the very next verse describes how he fulfilled the words of a prophet, seemingly righting a wrong." But, that's just the way God operates. He has no choice but to use broken and sinful people, since that's all that is available to Him. Sometimes, the people He uses are quite evil. But, God is sovereign and just. Only in Jesus Christ, did He have a perfect servant to do His will.

A) Every nuance in the Bible humbles me, as to how God preserved His scriptures. Every time I read about a wicked man being used for God's purposes, it humbles me to remember that I go only by the grace of God. I am used only by the grace of God. I am being made perfect, into the likeness of my Lord Jesus Christ, only by the grace of God. However God might use me, the Bible is replete with men used by God, who are not humble, who then have to be humbled by God. I would much rather that I humble myself before Him. It's comforting and reassuring to know that I could never be such a mess as to be beyond God's use or help. At the same time, it's encouraging and motivating to know, that as I pursue God, He can equip me and build me up, to be used more and more for His glory.

P) Father, thank You for the grace You have given me, Lord God. You are holy and just, righteous and true, sovereign and powerful. You could choose to have nothing to do with this sinful world, with this sinful servant, but still You choose to redeem me. You choose to bring me into Your plan, to use me for Your glory. I am so blessed. Thank You for what You have done in me, and through me. Thank You for what You will still do in me, and through me. Let Your will be done on earth, and in my life, as it is in heaven. To Your name be all glory and praise. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.