2 Kings 13 & 14: A Saviour
Verse of the Day: (13:5) (And the LORD gave Israel a saviour, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians: and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents, as beforetime. 

1. Saviour (13:1-25)
Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked therein: and there remained the grove also in Samaria.) (13:6)

Though all the 19 kings of Israel sinned against God, yet He was merciful towards them as many times He delivered them from their enemies. However, there shall also be times when God allowed Israel’s enemies to defeat them, so that they would repent of their sins and turned to Him. King Jehoahaz of Israel sinned against God, and again God answered him, and sent him a saviour to deliver Israel from the Syrians. Prophet Elisha was now old and sickly, and before God promoted him to heaven, he told King Joash of Israel, who succeeded Jehoahaz, his father, to shoot as many arrows as possible out of the window that was opened eastward. However, Joash only shot thrice, and thus there would only be thrice that Israel defeated Syria. When Elisha died and was buried in a grave, a dead man miraculously revived when his body touched Elisha’s bones. Indeed, Elisha was a type of Jesus, our Saviour, who gave His life a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)

2. Son (14:1-22)
And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle. (14:9)

After the victory over Edom, King Amaziah of Judah thought that he could defeat King Jehoash of Israel though the latter had a more powerful army. Subsequently Israel won the battle, and took all the treasures and hostages to Samaria. Jehoash had correctly predicted the victory as he had used an analogy of the thistle or Amaziah, who had asked the cedar or Jehoash, to give his daughter to his son to wife, and subsequently, a wild beast or Israel would destroy the thistle. Subsequently, Amaziah was killed, and his son, Azariah, became the King of Judah. Though Amaziah was a good king, yet pride caused his downfall. Indeed, let us humble ourselves before the Almighty God. (James 4:6-10)

3. Sin (14:23-29)
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. (14:24)

Though Jeroboam, the son of Joash, became the King of Israel, and again sinned against God, yet God still preserves Israel, because of His promise to Abraham that Israel shall be a great nation. Indeed, let us trust God’s promises for they never fail. (Genesis 12:1-3)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You for sending Your Saviour and Son, Jesus, to die for my sins.