2 Kings 14 Jeroboam II
Another Jeroboam takes the throne in Israel. Jeroboam II is the third generation of the sons of Jehu that the Lord promised would reign in Israel.
We have very little information on Jeroboam II. One thing we do know is that he followed the example set down by the first Jeroboam in serving the ‘substitute gods’ erected in Dan and Bethel. This is the sin that every ruler of Israel was guilty of. They did not return to the Lord their true God.
One thing special about this Jeroboam is that he was graced with the favor of the Lord in battle over and over again. Through the Lord’s hand on Jeroboam, the borders of Israel were restored. I’m wondering how far back those borders went. Did they go to the time of David? Did they portray the time of Joshua? According to Google’s AI, Israel was at its largest time since the reign of David and Solomon at the end of Jeroboam II’s reign.
I checked with the books of Amos, Micah, and Hosea, hoping to find interactions with Jeroboam II, but I didn’t find any. Jonah doesn’t share that part of his walk with the Lord. So, I suppose that we are left with is what we read in 2 Kings 14. I did discover that Jeroboam II reigned longer than any other king in the northern kingdom of Israel. Let’s see where the Spirit takes us with Jeroboam II today.
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Jeroboam II takes the throne of his father. His father, Joash of Israel, aged quickly in the position of king. Even though the Lord gave him victory three times over Ben-hadad, and restored some of the land of Israel to the people, being on the throne took years from Joash’s life. Jeroboam II wishes that he would have held the throne longer, giving him time to mature more before taking the throne.
“I’m not ready yet. I don’t know how to manage a kingdom!”
As Jeroboam II allows this fear room to run in his mind and heart, the Lord is sending him a message. The prophet Jonah, son of Amittai is on his way with a word from the Lord.
Jeroboam II drags himself into the throne room. He sits down carefully, as though expecting the throne itself to bite. Once he is settled, his guard comes in and announces that he has a visitor.
“The prophet Johan, son of Amittai, is here to see you, my king. He says he has a message from the Lord for you.”
Jeroboam II doesn’t know whether to be excited or frightened. There have been very few good words passed to Israel since the time of King David. Then he remembers that the Lord did give his father a fairly good word. Either way, there is nothing to do but to hear what the Lord would say.
“Bring him in” Jeroboam II replies. While Jonah is entering, Jeroboam II is bracing himself for whatever comes from his mouth.
Jonah bows respectfully to the king and waits for Jeroboam II to invite him to speak. “This is a good sign” Jeroboam II thinks. “Speak the words of the Lord, for I am listening” he tells Jonah.
Jonah needs no further encouragement. “My king, the Lord has seen the bitter suffering of Israel. There is neither bond nor free that don’t feel its weight. There is no one to help her stand against it. I will help her. I will restore her boarders through your hand. Be strong for I am doing a great work through you.”
Jeroboam II sinks with great relief into his throne. The word of the Lord is exactly what he needed. This word will be what he looks to from this moment on. “Thank you for bringing me this word from the Lord. I will do all I can in seeing it come to pass.”
Jonah bows again before leaving. He is glad he could bring the king some measure of relief. It was clearly evident on Jeroboam II’s face as he thanked Jonah.
Jeroboam II stops worrying over what direction to take. He begins measuring out the boarders of Israel and Judah. He takes his time and identifies who has taken what from Israel. “The Philistines, the Amorites, the Syrians, the list just keeps going. How am I supposed to know where to start?”
As Jeroboam II is thinking on this problem, a runner from one of the garrisons arrives. He has news of an attack against one of the outlying cities of Israel. His news is brought to the king immediately.
“This must be where I begin” thinks Jeroboam II. “Muster the troops. We will leave right away.”
This is how the next five years of Jeroboam II’s reign goes. One by one, the nations attack Israel’s outer cities, and Jeroboam II responds. The victories are always AMAZINGLY in Israel’s favor. Whatever nation they encounter, they are pushed even farther backwards than when they struck. Little by little, the boarders of Israel are being restored.
Jeroboam II’s confidence is gaining with each year. He knows it is the hand of God working just as the prophet Jonah said. “It’s time to go on the offensive” Jeroboam II tells his commanders in the sixth year. “We need to identify the most crucial areas of Israel to take back first. The areas that we have reached into and retrieved ‘sliver cities’ need to be reinforced around them and a firm boarder remade.”
The next twenty years of Jeroboam II’s reign is dedicated to doing exactly that. As the boarders of Israel resolidify to their previous lines, Israel even takes back for Judah some of its territory. He restored Damascus and Hamath to Judah and it became a buffer for the two kingdoms.
These victories Jeroboam II knows come from the Lord as well. He gives the Lord credit for all He has done and thanks Him profusely. But he still bows down to the golden calves that Jeroboam I made for Israel. And he allows and encourages the people to do the same.
Jeroboam II maintains all that has been retaken for the rest of his time on the throne. He doesn’t push Israel’s boarders any farther than what they were in the time of David. He knows that, if he does, it will invite those they take territory from to try and retake it. He is content with defending what the Lord has restored.
After 41 years on the throne, Jeroboam II breathes his last. Because he refused to bring the people of Israel away from the golden calves, he is not a godly king. But he was blessed by God in battle. After his departure, his son Zechariah reigns in his place.
(to be continued)
I find it harder and harder to go through the kings. The lack of information and date issues are plaguing my mind. I BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEART in the accuracy of God’s word. But not in the accuracy of man’s pen on this point. ALL that is stated happened, but the time keeping between then and now, and the compilation of the material, brings ‘wrinkles’ to the timeline. We are approaching two more of those ‘wrinkles’ with the death of Amaziah of Judah and Jeroboam II of Israel. There are gaps at the end of each of their lines before they pick back up; according to the date-to-date reign system between Israel and Judah. One person surmised that the other kingdom took over ruling both kingdoms during those spans. I seriously doubt that would happen. Why not remerge the two and get rid of Israel’s false gods if they had access to Jerusalem again?
However God worked all this out in the day to day happenings of the world, the retelling of the timeline is giving this ‘math minded’ individual fits! In short; it’s taking the ‘fun’ out of it. But I am NOT going to let Satan steal my joy! I WILL walk on with the kings, no matter how it stretches me. Maybe I need some stretching?
Father God, I LOVE telling Your stories. But You know the struggle I’m dealing with. I like things ordered, or at least orderable. I cannot find a way to clearly combine the journey. I ask You to lead the way and to help me understand what You have laid out for me. I wish I had access to the records You make mention of, especially the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. Fill my heart and mind with Your stories; even the ones you give me. Let me share Your word in a way that honors You and brings others into closer relationship with You and Your word; including me!
