Christ In The Old Testament: 2ND KINGS
The KINGDOMS
The next historical book to consider is 2nd Kings - The Fourth and Final Book of Kingdoms. Let’s pay keen attention and see how Christ played in the background.
INTRODUCTION
This book serves as a continuation of the narrative found in 1st Kings. It delves into the parallel storylines of the competing Israelite kingdoms and their sorrowful outcomes. The Northern Kingdom’s downfall at the hands of Assyria led to its eternal dispersion, followed by the Southern Kingdom’s fall to the Babylonians, resulting in a similar fate.
PURPOSE
Similar to the messages conveyed in Judges and 2 Chronicles, 2 Kings vividly illustrates God’s unyielding judgment upon those who defy Him. This theme resonates with the warnings outlined in Deuteronomy, which prophesized divine retribution for those who strayed from the Lord’s path.
The narrative of 2 Kings predominantly revolves around themes of disloyalty. God's instructional journey involves impressing upon His people the paramount importance of fidelity to Him, even if it necessitates their exile.
The book concludes with a glimmer of hope: God’s pledges concerning an everlasting Davidic lineage remain unbroken, as the king endures. Hallelujah!
STORY
Key Themes: The significance of the temple, the dynamics of kingship and covenant, and the emergence of prophets.
Timeline: The narrative spans from the death of Ahab through the thirty-seventh year of King Jehoiachin's Babylonian exile (approximately 853 - 561 BC).
During the formative years of the divided kingdom, the adversaries of Israel and Judah consisted of neighboring city-states. Notably, Aram to the north, referred to as "Syria" in the KJV, held Damascus as its capital. Around 900 BC, the Mesopotamian powerhouse, Assyria, with Nineveh as its capital, embarked on an era of aggressive expansion.
In the 730s, under Tiglath-Pileser III (also known as "Pul"), Assyria's dominion extended over most of the eastern Mediterranean. Shalmaneser V besieged Samaria, and his successor, Sargon II, captured both Samaria and the Northern Kingdom in 722 BC.
Subsequently, Sennacherib's invasion of Judah in 701 was thwarted by divine intervention, preserving King Hezekiah and the temple.
The ancient Babylonian Empire surged in influence between 626 and 536 BC, eventually toppling Nineveh in 612. This era, known as the "neo-Babylonian" or "Chaldean" period, featured Nebuchadnezzar as its pivotal monarch. He invaded Judah on multiple occasions, culminating in the razing of the temple and Jerusalem in 586 BC, followed by the exile of the people of Judah.
ORIGINAL HISTORICAL SETTING
Author: The identity of the author remains uncertain, with some attributing it to Jeremiah.
Date of writing: Approximately 560 BC.
Primary Audience and Destination: Likely the Israelites dwelling in Babylonian exile.
ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY
Even after Elisha’s ministry, Israel persisted in idolatry, leading to irrevocable captivity. Despite the presence of prophets and a handful of righteous rulers, Judah’s pervasive wickedness prompted God to employ Babylon as an instrument of exile.
CHRIST IN 2ND KINGS
The prophets featured in 2 Kings, including Elijah, Elisha, Jonah, Huldah, and Isaiah, exhorted the populace to repent from religious apostasy and dedicate themselves solely to the Lord.
Hezekiah exemplified unwavering trust in the Lord for deliverance (2 Kings 18:5-6). Turning away from idolatry and seeking the manifestation of God’s glory could even result in salvation from military threats (2 Kings 19:15-37).
The ministries of Elijah and Elisha, heralded for their miraculous deeds, are central to 2 Kings. Jesus is likened to a Prophet powerful in action and speech before God and all the people (Luke 24:19).
God's preservation of Israel's monarchy was driven by His commitments to David (2 Kings 8:19), and this theme resonates with the enduring presence of a lamp for David in eternity (Rev. 21:23).
