Overview June 26

What is happening in the Big Story?

Israel has forsaken the Lord. Jehu served the Lord briefly, but quickly rejected the Lord like all of the kings of Israel.

Judah has experience one major reform (they returned to the Lord) under Asa. This reform lasted through Jehoshaphat’s reign.

2 minor reforms (Joash and Amaziah)

Joel was sent to Judah early, probably around 913 BC during Abijah (Rehoboam’s son). Consider this text:

Joel 1:2–3 CSB

2 Hear this, you elders; listen, all you inhabitants of the land. Has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days of your ancestors? 3 Tell your children about it, and let your children tell their children, and their children the next generation.

joel 1 2-

This dating of Joel allows for 80 years to be considered a generation.

The TOYCB places Joel at the end of the prophets…I believe this is a mistake.

This week’s reading focuses on the reign of Ahaz in Judah and the last 6 kings of Israel.

We are roughly 146 years until Babylon besieges Jerusalem and 60 years until Assyria conquers Israel. (It can be confusing, because the TOYCB is following story lines from the northern kingdom and the southern kingdom. Some of the storylines unfold over several decades, so you don’t get a true parallel between the two kingdoms…but it is close enough to follow and make sense of.)

During the period of time, God sends 5 writing prophets to His people. (Judah: Micha and Isaiah, Isreal: Amos, Jonah, and Hosea)

Isaiah, Micah, and Hosea preach during the same period (Uzziah - Hezekiah).

Amos preaches during the reigns of (Uzziah and Jeroboam II), two years before the earthquake. ( references this earthquake.)

Amos (Uzziah and Jeroboam II), two years before the earthquake. ( references this earthquake.)

We are going to focus on

What is happening in Judah?

As we begin reading Isaiah’s writing, we must understand that he preaches during Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (60-70 years).

Uzziah

Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (60-70 years)

Uzziah reigned for 52 Years. He obeyed the Lord as long as Zechariah was alive. Zechariah was a Levite and teacher of the fear of the Lord.

Uzziah reigned for 52 Years. He obeyed the Lord as long as Zechariah was alive. Zechariah was a Levite and teacher of the fear of the Lord.

When Uzziah became successful, he was filled with pride. He attempted to offer incense in the temple (for Levites only). The Lord struck him with leprosy.

Jotham

When Uzziah became successful, he was filled with pride. He attempted to offer incense in the temple (for Levites only). The Lord struck him with leprosy.

Jotham, Uzziah’s son, served the Lord His whole life and reigned 16 years. Although he obeyed the Lord, the people did not follow him.

Jotham, Uzziah’s son, served the Lord His whole life and reigned 16 years. Although he obeyed the Lord, the people did not follow him.

Ahaz

Son of Jotham, who loved the Lord

He reigned 16 years

Sacrificed his sons to Molech (through the fire). He was the first King in Judah to do this.

Sacrificed in the high places (syncretism and idol worship)

God delivered him to Syria and Israel. If we were not studying chronologically, we would not understand this event. We have to gather details from 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and Isaiah.

2 Kings 16:5 CSB

5 Then Aram’s King Rezin and Israel’s King Pekah son of Remaliah came to wage war against Jerusalem. They besieged Ahaz but were not able to conquer him.

2 Chronicles 28:5–6 CSB

5 So the Lord his God handed Ahaz over to the king of Aram. He attacked him and took many captives to Damascus. Ahaz was also handed over to the king of Israel, who struck him with great force: 6 Pekah son of Remaliah killed one hundred twenty thousand in Judah in one day—all brave men—because they had abandoned the Lord God of their ancestors.

-2When Syria and Israel came against Jerusalem, their hearts were like trees in the wind.Ahaz asked the King of Assyria for help. He gave the King of Assyria all of the silver and gold found in the Temple.The Lord sends Isaiah to Ahaz.

Isaiah 7:1–2 CSB

1 This took place during the reign of Ahaz, son of Jotham, son of Uzziah king of Judah: Aram’s King Rezin and Israel’s King Pekah son of Remaliah went to fight against Jerusalem, but they were not able to conquer it. 2 When it became known to the house of David that Aram had occupied Ephraim, the heart of Ahaz and the hearts of his people trembled like trees of a forest shaking in the wind.

When Syria and Israel came against Jerusalem, their hearts were like trees in the wind.

Ahaz asked the King of Assyria for help. He gave the King of Assyria all of the silver and gold found in the Temple.

The Lord sends Isaiah to Ahaz. (This will be the subject of this Sunday’s sermon)

Hezekiah

Hezekiah reigned twenty-nine years. In his first year (25) he began reforming Judah and called them to repentance. (third major reform in Judah in 250 years.)

He became king in the 3rd year of Hoshea’s reign in Israel.

In the 9th year of Hoshea’s reign, Assyria conquered Israel.In the 4th year of Hoshea’s reign, Assyria besieged Israel. 6 years into his reign, Israel fell.

What is happening in Israel?

Hosea (Uziah - Hezekiah)...

he preached over a period of 85-90 years.

They are worshiping the two calves, other gods, sacrificing their children to Molech, committing witchcraft and sorcery.

Jeroboam II

Jeroboam reigned 41 years. He was evil, but the Lord was gracious to Him (Jonah served during his reign)

Zechariah

Zechariah rulled for 6 months

Shallum

Shallum reigns for one month

Menahem

Menahem rules for 10 years

Pekahiah

Pekahiah rules for 2 years

Pekah

Pekah rules for 20 years

Hoshea

Hosea rules for 9 years

The importance of Hosea’s prophecy

Hosea 1:1–2 CSB

1 The word of the Lord that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and of Jeroboam son of Jehoash, king of Israel. 2 When the Lord first spoke to Hosea, he said this to him: Go and marry a woman of promiscuity, and have children of promiscuity, for the land is committing blatant acts of promiscuity by abandoning the Lord.

Hosea is to begin a family that will provide a picture of Israel. God commands him to marry a woman who has already committed adultery against a former husband through prostitution.

Their children will be children of adultery...they will be the product of adultery.

The picture: Israel has committed adultery by prostituting themselves to other gods.

Hosea 1:3–5 CSB

3 So he went and married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. 4 Then the Lord said to him: Name him Jezreel, for in a little while I will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel on the house of Jehu and put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. 5 On that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.

Son, Jezreel, Hosea’s son.Jezreel (God does not forget the shedding of innocent blood.)

Naboth: Ahab killed him to take his garden. (Ahab’s wife Jezebel was killed and thrown into the garden by Jehu.)

Jezreel Valley is where Gideon defeated the Midianites.

Jehu: When he killed the sons of Ahab, he also killed servants and people who held positions in his kingdom.

The battle of Armageddon will be fought in the Jezreel Valley.

Hosea 1:6–7 CSB

6 She conceived again and gave birth to a daughter, and the Lord said to him: Name her Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel. I will certainly take them away. 7 But I will have compassion on the house of Judah, and I will deliver them by the Lord their God. I will not deliver them by bow, sword, or war, or by horses and cavalry.

Daughter, Lo-ruhamah, (No compassion), Hosea’s daughter.

God will not have compassion on Israel.

God will have compassion on Judah. He will save them, not by war, but by Himself. If the Jews in Jesus day wold have only been familiar with this verse. Bible Literacy is so important.

Hosea 1:8–2:1 CSB

8 After Gomer had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived and gave birth to a son. 9 Then the Lord said: Name him Lo-ammi, for you are not my people, and I will not be your God. 10 Yet the number of the Israelites will be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted. And in the place where they were told: You are not my people, they will be called: Sons of the living God. 11 And the Judeans and the Israelites will be gathered together. They will appoint for themselves a single ruler and go up from the land. For the day of Jezreel will be great. 1 Call your brothers: My People and your sisters: Compassion.

Son, Lo-ammi, (Not my people), possibly, not Hosea’s son.

God says to Israel you are not my people and I will not be your God.

But God also gives hope. God will call a people who are not His to be His. This people will be a great number. Paul quotes this passage in (27), to prove that God always had Gentiles in mind. After Israel and Judah’s rejection of God, God will call a people of faith to be the seed of Abraham.

Consider Ez 37:18-25God will take a remnant from Israel and Judah, combine them with a multitude of Gentiles, and they will be one people with one king.

The Samaritan Women and her friends are an example of the remnant of Israel. The Apostles are an example of a remnant from Judah.

Vs 11. The Battle of Armageddon.

Hosea 3:1–5 CSB

1 Then the Lord said to me, “Go again; show love to a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, just as the Lord loves the Israelites though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.” 2 So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and five bushels of barley. 3 I said to her, “You are to live with me many days. You must not be promiscuous or belong to any man, and I will act the same way toward you.” 4 For the Israelites must live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, and without ephod or household idols. 5 Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come with awe to the Lord and to his goodness in the last days.

Hosea is to return his wife from her adultery against him.

Although God is allowing Israel to be destroyed, He loves them, and will take them back again.

This will be through faith in Jesus. (Samaritan woman)