Jehoahaz King of Israel

Introduction

I began to name this the ‘Bible Person Study’, but chose to go with the ‘Bible Character Study’. I hesitated to name it that, as I don’t want to diminish the fact that these are real people we’ll be examining. But the reason that it’s named the Bible Character Study is because we’ll be focusing on the person’s character throughout. But don’t forget that these were real people, with real lives that made real choices that had real consequences.

I named or subtitled Jehoahaz's reign as a "managed decline." Because it's very apparent that at this moment in time, the children of Israel's northern kingdom is on the downward slope. They have forsaken God and continued in the sins of Jeroboam, which is the worship of false gods. Yet, instead of an outright turning away, we see Jehoahaz praying in this portion of Scripture to soften the blow as they decline.

Church, it looks like America is in a managed decline. And the reason we are in that state is for the same reason Israel was in that state so many years ago: We have forsaken God.

I. Jehoahaz’s Nature

((What is their History / Background?)

11th King of Israel

Jeroboam; Nadab; Baasha; Elah; Zimri; Omri; Ahab; Ahaziah, Jehoram, Jehu

Reigned for 17 years

9 verses for 17 years… he didn’t leave much of a positive mark.

Son of Jehu

II. Jehoahaz’s Notoriety

(What they are known for?)

Received the Kingdom by Inheritance (v1)

Jehu began a new dynasty for the Northern Kingdom. Jehoahaz was continuing that.

Followed the Sins of Jeroboam (v2)

I believe this to be in particular the encouragement and nurturing of false gods unto the people.

Prayed unto the LORD and Received Deliverance(v4)

III. What Makes him Noteworthy

(What Lessons we can Learn from them?)

A Wicked Influence can Last Generations (v2)

This is the 10th king removed from Jeroboam, but Jeroboam’s influence is still felt.

We are 15 presidents since Franklin Roosevelt, but his influence is still felt. The welfare state he created has done nothing but grown. There was over a hundred years difference between Jeroboam and Jehoahaz. We're working on about 90 right now.

This truth holds true nationally, but also with family

Souls all over America will die and go to hell this year because that's where their daddy led them and their daddy before them.

A “Managed Decline” is still a Decline

I named or subtitled Jehoahaz's reign as a "managed decline." Because it's very apparent that at this moment in time, the children of Israel's northern kingdom is on the downward slope. They have forsaken God and continued in the sins of Jeroboam, which is the worship of false gods. Yet, instead of an outright turning away, we see Jehoahaz praying in this portion of Scripture to soften the blow as they decline.

Church, it looks like America is in a managed decline. And the reason we are in that state is for the same reason Israel was in that state so many years ago: We have forsaken God.

We are increasingly becoming further divided by the haves and the have-nots.

Now let me say I am not against people making money. I am not jealous one bit of a billionaire's money, nor do I think that it should automatically be mine. But we have a fundamental problem within our society when middle-class families cannot afford to buy homes.

I do care that we have a two-tier justice system. There's wickedness in high places where Thousands of children are sex-trafficked, and only a couple of people go to jail for it.

I do care that in order to afford an average home, you need to make 6 figures.

There’s no end of these trends in sight.

And we can rest assured that if we don’t start prioritizing God above all else, we will stay in decline… the more we forsake God, the quicker, the closer we get to Him, the more time we’ll have. WE SEE THIS TRUTH IN THE TWO NATIONS.

We see a managed decline

God’s Justice is Infinite (v3)

The people were following after false gods. God’s anger was kindled against them and brought Judgment.

Leviticus 26:15–17 “And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant: I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.”

Examine the altered worship:

They not only forsook the commandments, but they also forsook the alter that brought forgiveness.

What did Satan tell Eve? ‘Ye shall not surely die’? People still believe that lie even today. That sin has no consequence, BUT IT DOES!

Infinite (def) never ending. There is no pauses or hiccups in God’s Just nature.

Deuteronomy 32:4 “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: For all his ways are judgment: A God of truth and without iniquity, Just and right is he.”

Psalm 89:14 “Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: Mercy and truth shall go before thy face.”

(Ill.) God is the perfect accountant. In the end the books are balanced perfectly.

This is why we should be concerned for our country.

God Hates Sin

Psalm 5:4–6 “For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: Neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: Thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: The Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.”

While many scoff at sin, celebrate it, make a mockery of it - God hates it. AND FOR GOOD REASON.

(Ill.) I hate anchovies. When I worked for Huson's Pizza many years ago, I went out on delivery and came back to my food and someone had put an anchovy underneath the cheese. The experience disgusted me because it affected me.

Sin disgusts God because He was affected by it. It caused Jesus to suffer and die because of it. He has a vested interest in the subject.

God will Judge Sin

Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

We’re all going to die. It’s an appointment that’s been made for each and every one of us if the LORD tarries. There is no escaping or delaying it. It’s inevitable.

God’s Grace is Infinite (v4)

While God’s Justice is Infinite, God’s Grace is as well. God showed them kindness to provide relief, though they certainly didn’t deserve it.

It’s like I said Sunday: “Justice and Mercy collide at the Cross” Because you had God’s perfect Justice come down to punish the sins of the world, but you had Jesus Christ who bore those sins rather than many of the offenders.

God will punish sin, but will forgive and and every sin for you and I if we trust in Jesus for our substitute.

God’s Grace is Infinite

He is Compassionate, not Captious

Captious (def) Disposed to find fault, or raise objections

This speaks to the general view we hold of God.

Some view God that has no problem with sin. They have professed faith in Christ and God is ‘ok’ with their sinful behaviour.

Then you have the other side of the equation: Those who view God as the ultimate taskmaster. That God is on the edge of His seat, looking for and waiting for you to mess up, so He can take pleasure in punishing you.

Let me say this: God is neither of those things. We see here that God didn’t forgive their sin, but showed them Grace and blessed them though they didn’t deserve it.

So here’s the balance: While God will most certainly punish sin, He must, else He is not Just. But God’s desire is to show Grace and forgiveness. He takes NO PLEASURE in punishing mankind!

Ezekiel 33:11 “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”

Ezekiel 18:23 “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?”

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

It is wise not to test the limits on God’s longsuffering compassion. He is not waiting for us to sin so He can punish us, but He will if we keep up in folly.

God is Compassionate, not Captious.

God’s Power Fills the Gaps (v7)

We see how low Israel’s army declined to. An embarrassing low number considering. However, as we continue reading through Joash’s reign, God used this weakened army to deliver them from the Syrians.

God’s power is able to do what we cannot!

Romans 8:31 “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”

No matter what you’re facing, I encourage you to trust in the power of an Almighty God!

God’s Power fills the Gaps you leave behind.

Guard your Children’s Influences (v9)

I’m going to make an assumption here with this point, but regardless, the point is still valid.

There were no wars during Jehoahaz’s days with the Kingdom of Judah. This was during the reign of the boy king Joash. Do you know what Jehoahaz named his son? Joash. Given the circumstances and timing, I don’t think it too much of an assumption that Jehoahaz named his son after their neighboring king. It could be that he admired him and named his son after him.

However, while Joash of Judah started well, he ended evil. And if this was the case, it wasn’t a good example for his son to follow.

Church, we need to be real careful as to who influences our children.

(Ill.) I thought of Taylor Swift - this young, seemingly sweet country girl comes on the scene and parents were like ‘well it’s just country music… nbd’. Then she turned pop and she’s just a little darling. Where’s she at now? Oh, well there’s a song called ‘Down Bad’ where she says the ‘F’ word 18x. ChatGPT said: Sexual or suggestive lyrics are increasingly present. Some critics consider them inappropriate depending on age or cultural standards — but sexually suggestive ≠ inherently immoral by every standard.

So Satan got them hooked WITH PARENTAL PERMISSION, then brought them right along to where she is now.

(Ill.) I think of the popular ‘Ms. Rachel’ YouTuber. She’s raising a generation. These children to admire this woman will soon find out the pro LGBTQ stuff she’s advocating for and will either pervert their minds or at least get them to consider it.

We must diligently guard what’s influencing our children

Conclusion