2 Kings 25: He Did Eat Bread Continually
Verse of the Day: (25:29) And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life.

1. Besiege (25:1-4)
And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. (25:2)

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon besieged and defeated Jerusalem under King Zedekiah. They took Zedekiah, and killed his sons before him, and then blinded him and brought him to Babylon. Indeed, let us humble ourselves and draw near to God because our enemy, the devil, shall do all things to discourage and destroy our lives. (1 Peter 5:6-11)

2. Burn (25:5-26)
And he burnt the house of the LORD, and the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man’s house burnt he with fire. (25:9)

After their victory over Jerusalem, the Babylonians looted all the treasures and then burnt God’s house, the king’s house and all the great man’s houses of Jerusalem with fire. They then appointed Gedaliah as the ruler over the people, particularly the poor. Gedaliah was encouraged them to settle down and accept the rule of the Babylonians, and just looked to God who shall be their great Help. However, Ishmael, one of the princes, came with 10 of his men and murdered Gedaliah. The people then fled to Egypt because of the chaos and conflicts. Indeed, let us look to God, our great Help, as one day He shall save us from the destruction of this earth, and this time it shall not be the great flood as in the days of Noah, but the great fire that shall burnt the earth and all who reject God. (2 Peter 3:10-18)

3. Bread (25:27-30)
And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the day of his life. (25:30)

By God’s mercies, during the reign of King Evilmerodach of Babylon, he decided not only to release King Jehoiachin of Judah from prison, but also reinstated him as the king of Judah, and gave him a continual allowance as well to eat with him continually all the days of his life. Indeed, God is good all the time, and all the time God is good. Though we may not fully understand God’s plan, yet we keep trusting Him to the end as He is truly our Bread of life. As we come to the close of the history of all the kings of Israel and Judah, we can only conclude that it is God’s grace and mercy that had preserved the line of King David until the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. All throughout the time, most of the kings together with the people of Israel had rebelled and sinned against God. Indeed, let us and our families continue to love and serve God because only by loving and serving Him shall we have His greatest blessings now and forever. Christ is truly our Bread of life, and we shall never grow hungry in this life and forever! (John 6:48-51)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I believe in You, the Bread of life and shall live forever.

2 Kings 23 & 24: The Man Of God Proclaims
Verse of the Day: (23:16) And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchres that were there in the mount, and sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burned them upon the altar, and polluted it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words.

1. Proclaim (23:1-20)
Then he said, What title is that I see? And the men of the city told him, It is the sepulchre of the man of God, which came from Judah, and proclaimed these things that thou hast done against the altar of Bethel. (23:17)

King Josiah did what was right before God as he read God’s Words before Judah, that they must obey Him. He removed and destroyed all the false priests, and also disposed all the false altars by placing them with human bones. However, he preserved the bones of a man of God, when he discovered that the latter had prophesied his name that he would be the one who removed idolatry from Judah, and made them worship the true God. (1 Kings 13:1-2) Indeed, let us proclaim that Jesus is our Saviour and Lord! (Isaiah 61:1-3)

2. Passover (23:21-37)
And the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the passover unto the LORD your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant. (23:21)

Josiah reinstituted the Passover celebration held yearly where a lamb was slaughtered and its blood applied to the homes and its meat was eaten by each family in obedience to God. (Exodus 12:21-30) However, he made a grave mistake at the end of his life when he aligned himself with Assyria which was at war with Egypt, and King Pharaohnechoh of Egypt killed him. Jehoahaz, son of Josiah, then became the king, and he did evil before God. God allowed the Egyptians to control Judah, and Pharaohnechoh removed Jehoahaz, and made Jehoiakim, another son of Josiah, the king. Jehoiakim did evil before God. Let us thus repent of our evil, and believe in Jesus Christ, our Passover. (1 Corinthians 5:7-8)

3. Poorest (24:1-20)
And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land. (24:14)

When Jehoiakim died, his son, Jehoiachin became the king, and he did evil before God. Soon the Babylonians were in power, and King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeated Judah, and looted all their treasures and took many including Jehoiachin as captives, except the poorest. Nebuchadnezzar then made Zedekiah, Jehoiakin’s uncle, as the king, and he did evil before God. Indeed, we may be the poorest in this world but we shall be the richest in heaven when we believe in God, and trust and obey Him. (Matthew 5:3)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to always proclaim that You are my Saviour and Lord.

2 Kings 21 & 22: Wipeth A Dish
Verse of the Day: (21:13) And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down.

1. Wipe (21:1-18)
Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD. (21:16)

King Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, of Judah, did evil before God, unlike his father who did right before Him. Manasseh provoked God when he built altars for both God and the devil, and sacrificed his sons to the devil, and even murdered countless innocent people.  God then judged Jerusalem and almost wiped them out, like we wipe a dish, but for His name’s sake, King David’s sake, and the faithful remnant, He preserved them. Let us thus believe and obey God, and one day, He shall wipe away all our tears, and there shall be no more death, as we shall dwell with Him forever in glorious heaven. (Revelation 21:1-7)

2. Worship (21:19-26)
And he walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them: (21:21)

King Amon, the son of Manasseh, reigned in Judah after his father’s death, and he was evil before God, and worshipped the idols just like his father, and subsequently, his servants conspired and murdered him. The people of Judah then destroyed the murderers, and made Josiah, Amon’s son, to be the next King. Let us therefore flee from evil and sins, and worship God in spirit and truth, as only He deserves our worship. (John 4:19-24)

3. Words (22:1-20)
And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes. (22:11)

King Josiah, the son of Amon, of Judah, was 8 years old when he reigned, and he did right before God, and walked in His ways as well as King David’s ways. He began to repair God’s house. While repairing God’s house, Hilkiah, the high priest, discovered the book of the law or God’s Words, and passed it to Shaphan, the scribe, who then read them to Josiah. Josiah rent his clothes when he heard God’s Words, as he had not heard them for a long time. Huldah, the prophetess, then prophesied to Josiah that God shall send enemies to destroy Jerusalem because they forsook Him. However, God shall preserve Jerusalem because of the faithful remnant, and He will not destroy it during Josiah’s reign as he was a humble and good king. Indeed, let us study and apply God’s powerful Words into our hearts to live holy lives for His glory and praise. (Hebrews 4:12)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that one day You shall wipe away all my tears forever.

2 Kings 19 & 20: Take Root Downward
Verse of the Day: (19:30) And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward. 

1. Rent (19:1-19)
And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD. (19:1)

King Hezekiah of Judah rent his clothes and prayed to God when he received news that King Sennacherib of Assyria was planning to invade them. He then consulted Prophet Isaiah through his servants as to how they could ride over this crisis. Isaiah encouraged them never to fear or be discouraged by the provocation and blasphemy from Rabshakeh, the representative of the King of Assyria, as God shall deliver Judah from them. Indeed, let us call upon God in all our crises, and He shall deliver us for His glory. (Psalms 50:15)

2. Root (19:20-37)
And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. (19:35)

God through Isaiah rebuked Judah that they had time and again rebelled against Him. However, for God’s sake, King David’s sake, and the faithful remnant who had taken root downward in their love for Him, and bear fruit upward for His glory, He shall again deliver them from their enemies. God then sent His angels, and destroyed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers, and the rest fled and dwelt at Nineveh. In Nineveh, Sennacherib was killed by his sons, and one of his sons, Esarhaddon, then became the King of Assyria. Amid this wicked world, let us be rooted in God’s love, and bear His fruit of love and peace by sharing the gospel that all may truly come to know Christ. (Ephesians 3:13-21)

3. Recover (20:1-21)
And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered. (20:7)

Hezekiah again prayed to God, but this time he was praying for God’s healing as he was dying. Though God through Isaiah told Hezekiah to set his house in order, and to prepare to anoint his successor, yet He extended another 15 years to him when Hezekiah wept and prayed to Him. Isaiah took a lump of figs and put it on his boil, and he recovered. As a sign of Hezekiah’s recovery, God actually slowed down the movement of the planets and let the shadow turned backward by 10 degrees. However, it was better that Hezekiah died, as the next 15 years, he sinned against God as he aligned himself with King Berodachbaladan of Babylon who invaded and defeated Judah. Indeed, only God knows best, and let us trust Him for both our physical and spiritual recovery. (2 Timothy 2:22-26)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be rooted and grounded in Your love for others.

2 Kings 17 & 18: Israel Did Secretly
Verse of the Day: (17:9) And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.

1. Secret (17:1-23)
Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. (17:19)

God allowed King Shalmaneser of Assyria to invade and defeat King Hoshea of Israel, as Israel had sold themselves to do evil before Him by offering their children as sacrifices to Baal, the Devil. Hoshea then incurred the anger of Shalmaneser as he ceased his support for him, and aligned himself with the King of Egypt. Subsequently, God judged Israel and allowed their enemies to attack and defeat them. Let us therefore submit to God who not only knows all about us and our works, but even our deepest secrets. (Romans 2:16)

2. Service (17:24-41)
So these nations feared the LORD, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children’s children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day. (17:41)

God judged and scattered Israel until today, as they grievously rebelled and sinned against Him by serving and fearing both Him and the devil, not just their own generation, but even the generations after them, just like the unbelievers of the world. Indeed, let us and our generation after us only serve and fear God as He is the true God. (Matthew 6:24)

3. Servant (18:1-37)
Because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them. (18:12)

Unlike many of the kings of Israel and Judah, King Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz, of Judah, truly trusted and obeyed God, just like King David, his forefather, a man after God’s heart, and Moses, God’s faithful servant. In the 4th year of King Hezekiah and the 7th year of King Hoshea of the son of Elah of Israel, King Shalmaneser of Assyria invaded and defeated Israel. Then in the 14th year of Hezekiah, King Sennacherib, who succeeded Shalmaneser, sent his representatives, namely, Rabshakeh, to mock Hezekiah and his people, and ordered them to surrender to him. Hezekiah commanded his people to remain silent, as he prayed to God. God then delivered them out of the Assyrians. However, God eventually allowed Judah, like Israel, to fall into the hands of their enemies, primarily, because they had rebelled and sinned against Him. Indeed, let us yield ourselves as servants of righteousness trusting and obeying God now and forever. (Romans 6:12-23)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to truly live for You even in my secret moments.

2 Kings 15 & 16: Written In The Book
Verse of the Day: (15:36) Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

1. Women (15:1-31)
Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the coasts thereof from Tirzah: because they opened not to him, therefore he smote it; and all the women therein that were with child he ripped up. (15:16)

Throughout man’s history, God’s principle of sowing and reaping prevails even until today. When Shallum conspired and killed King Zachariah of Israel, he too was subsequently killed by Menahem from Tirzah. Menahem even ordered the killing of all including pregnant women who opposed him. During the time of wicked King Jeroboam of Israel, King Azariah, the son of Amaziah, of Judah, was righteous before God. However, even righteous Azariah reaped the consequences of his sins when he allowed Judah to worship idols. God afflicted him with leprosy until his death. Indeed, God shows no favouritism, and the only way to please Him is to trust and obey Him. (Galatians 6:7-8)

2. Written (15:32-38)
In those days the LORD began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah. (15:37)

King Jotham of Judah, succeeded his father, Azariah or Uzziah, and he was righteous before God. However, like his father, he allowed Judah to worship idols, and God then judged him for his sins. God knows the works of His people and through the Holy Spirit, He inspired His men to record the works of His people so that today we have His book, the Bible, to learn how to live righteously in this wicked world. Another of God’s books is the book of life which He writes the names of all who believe in Him, and in which He promises us that we shall have a heaven to gain and a hell to shun. (Revelation 20:12-15)

3. Walk (16:1-20)
But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel. (16:3)

King Ahaz, the son of Jotham, of Judah, walked in the ways of all the wicked kings of Israel, and even sacrificed his son as an offering to the idols just like the unbelievers of this world. God then punished him as He sent King Rezin of Syria to besiege Judah. Ahaz then gave King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria silver and gold, and sought him to help Judah. King Tiglath-pileser consented, and defeated Syria, and killed Rezin. However, God punished Ahaz, because he did not seek Him. Indeed, let us seek God and not man, and walk in His Spirit and not our flesh, so as to receive eternal life and peace. (Romans 8:1-6)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that my name is in Your Book because I believe in You.

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.

2 Kings 11 & 12: Will You Rejoice?
Verse of the Day: (11:20) And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king’s house.

1. Royal (11:1-3)
And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal. (11:1)

Since the beginning, God created archangel, Lucifer, who fell into sins because of pride. After the fall, Lucifer was called the devil as he seeks to destroy God’s plan including deceiving Adam and Eve, God’s first couple, to fall into sins. (Isaiah 14:12-15) However, God already has a redemption plan as He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for the sins of the world so that whoever believes in Him shall never spiritually die. Before Jesus’ birth, the devil, seek to exterminate all the Jews as Jesus shall come from the Jewish race, in particular the line of David. Now Queen Athaliah almost destroyed all her royal grandchildren or children of her dead son, King Ahaziah of Judah (who was killed by Jehu’s men) as she wanted to remain in power as the queen of Judah even without the King. (2 Kings 9:27) However, God persevered the line of David as Joash, one of her royal children survived the massacre, as Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram of Israel, hid him in God’s house. Indeed, God shall protect His royal children. (Romans 8:14-18)

2. Rejoice (11:4-21)
And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew the trumpets: and Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason. (11:14)

God used Jehoiada, the priest, to organise a campaign against Athaliah as he gathered the leaders to install Joash as the King. Athaliah then called them traitors, and subsequently they killed her. The people rejoiced as Jehoiada made a covenant between God and them and King Joash that they shall only worship the true God and destroy the house of Baal and all their idols. Indeed, let us rejoice in God as He is good all the time (Philippians 4:4)

3. Repair (12:1-21)
But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the house of the LORD. (12:14)

Though the people gave their money for the repair of God’s house, yet they failed to repair it. God again used Jehoiada, and this time, he prepared a chest to collect the money, and His house was finally repaired. Though Joash was a good king, yet his servants conspired and killed him. Again, God preserved the line of David, as Amaziah, Joash’s son, became the next King of Judah. Indeed, let us trust God in everything. (Romans 8:28)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to always rejoice in You in good as well as bad time.

2 Kings 9 & 10: Is It Peace?
Verse of the Day: (9:22) And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?

1. Prophet (9:1-15)
And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this box of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramothgilead: (9:1)

God through Prophet Elisha commanded one of his young prophets to go to Ramothgilead to anoint Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat to be the next king of Israel who shall then destroy King Joram of Israel and all who were related to the wicked King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel. Indeed, there is no escape from God’s judgment. (Galatians 6:7-8)

2. Peace (9:16-37)
And there stood a watchman on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a company. And Joram said, Take an horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, Is it peace? (9:17)

Not only Jehu killed King Joram, he also killed King Ahaziah of Judah as both of them faced off with him after they had thought that he would make peace with them. Never did Joram and Ahaziah thought that Jehu would have the audacity to attack and kill both of them. Jehu then faced off with Jezebel, and it was her eunuchs who betrayed her, as they caught and threw her down the palace. Jehu with his fast chariot then trod her under foot, and dogs were seen eating her corpse even before she could be buried, and all these were in fulfilment of God’s prophecy as prophesied by Prophet Elijah. Indeed, let us flee from wickedness, and have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1-2)

3. Priests (10:1-36)
So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his priests, until he left him none remaining. (10:11)

Jehu continued his judgement upon Ahab and his descendants as he wrote letters to the rulers of Jezreel who were responsible for raising Ahab’s 70 sons to challenge them to fight against him. However, they were fearful of Jehu as they already knew that he had killed both the kings of Israel and Judah. Jehu then wrote the second time ordering them that if they were for him, then they must kill Ahab’s sons to pledge allegiance with him. The rulers then killed all of Ahab’s 70 sons. Jehu also proceeded to kill all who were related to Ahab including his priests. Though Jehu obeyed God in destroying Ahab and his descendants, yet he did not fully trust and obey God with his heart. Indeed, let us trust and obey God with our hearts as He shall judge and destroy all the ungodly. (Jude 14-16)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that there is peace in my heart as I fully trust and obey You.

2 Kings 7 & 8: Always A Light
Verse of the Day: (8:19) Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David his servant’s sake, as he promised him to give him alway a light, and to his children.

1. Lepers (7:1-20)
And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it. (7:8)

One of the king’s adviser had mocked at Prophet Elisha’s prophecy when he prophesised that God shall supply their needs amid the famine because the Syrians had besieged their city. Indeed God supplied their needs when 4 lepers after much debate as to whether they would die in the besieged city or in the camp of the Syrians, finally went to the Syrians, and to their shock, found out that there was no one in the camp. God had made them flee as He made a loud noise as if a great army like the Hittites or the Egyptians that Israel had hired to attack them. The lepers then took the valuable stuff and return to Israel and told the king of the news. The king confirmed it and there was a stampede as Israel rushed to the camp, and amid the stampede, the king’s adviser, who had mocked at Elisha’s prophecy, was killed. Indeed, let us trust God for all our needs. (Philippians 4:19)

2. Life (8:1-15)
Then spake Elisha unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for the LORD hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years. (8:1)

God through Elisha made the king of Israel restored to a woman, whose dead son Elisha had restored to life, all her land in Israel, after she obeyed Elisha, and stayed in Philistines for 7 years to avoid the famine. Elisha then prophesied to Hazael, that he shall succeed his master, Benhadad, King of Syria, who shall die, not from his sickness, but in his hand as he would killed him, enthrone himself, and then subsequently destroyed Israel. Indeed, let us repent of our wicked hearts, and turn to our holy God. (Jeremiah 17:9-10)

3. Light (8:16-29)
And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign. (8:16)

Not only Jehoram, King of Judah, did evil against God, even his son, Ahaziah, who succeeded him also did evil. However, God always leave a remnant in Judah for David’s and His sake, just like He preserves us to be the lights in this dark world. (Matthew 5:16)   

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to always be Your light who shines in this dark world.