Today’s Reading, 2 Kings 15-17
Focal Scripture: 2 Kings 17:9 “The Israelites secretly did things against the Lord their God that were not right. They built high places in all their towns from watchtower to fortified city.”
What is done in secret will come out at some point. I know I have personally been struggling with this in my own life. I was involved in a situation that was ungodly and unbiblical. A situation that caused pain to many people. A situation where people knew the right thing to do but instead chose to not address it biblically. I have had numerous opportunities to speak out and say what I know. However, I have been convicted to let the Lord handle it in his timing and not be the reason it is handled. It is difficult to see sin go unpunished especially when others act like nothing is happening and the truth is avoided at all cost. Then I am reminded of accounts from scripture like today.
In today’s reading we see that many leaders of Israel became King. A small handful were God honoring men but the majority of them did evil in the sight of the Lord. The verse today explains how the Israelites did sin in secret against the Lord. Things that not everyone saw in a daily basis. Then they built altars that went against the Lord.
We see later in the chapter the wrath that comes upon the nation because of their secret sin and their worship of idols. They were warned and commanded to fix the problem but the ignored God. Kings and prophets told them of the coming judgement if they didn’t change and yet they continued in their sin and wouldn’t move.
The consequences were severe and public. The Lord removed them for his presence. He allowed foreigners to come in and rule the people. He made sure the judgment for the nation was public, bold, and intense. He made what was done in secret, public.
This is where I find my hope that one day God will vindicate his glory and not mine. Ultimately, the evil that took place will eventually come to light. The ones who allowed it to happen will be held accountable and the organization will be exposed. One thing that I have learned from scripture is that God takes sin serious. He honors those who follow his statures. In no way am I saying I am perfect but I have been consistent and tried to honor him in all that I do and say.
So if you are struggling because you haven’t seen vindication yet, just know that God handles it at the perfect time not our time. The sins that have been hidden will be exposed. Those who did the evil and covered it up will also be held accountable. We see here in the book of Kings that everything they did was written down and recorded.
I encourage you to trust God and his process. Don’t take matters into your own hands. God will deal with sinners and he will deal with them publicly. Nobody will get away with sinning against the Lord.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading 2 Kings 18-19
