Topic: “Live Wisely” By Pastor W. F. KumuyiDCLM Daily Manna Key Verse: 2 Kings 15:13-14 (NIV)
13 Shallum son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah, and he reigned in Samaria one month.
14 Then Menahem son of Gadi went from Tirzah up to Samaria. He attacked Shallum son of Jabesh in Samaria, assassinated him and succeeded him as king.
DCLM Daily Manna Text: 2 Kings 15:13-26 (NIV)
13 Shallum son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah, and he reigned in Samaria one month.
14 Then Menahem son of Gadi went from Tirzah up to Samaria. He attacked Shallum son of Jabesh in Samaria, assassinated him and succeeded him as king.
15 The other events of Shallum’s reign, and the conspiracy he led, are written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel.
16 At that time Menahem, starting out from Tirzah, attacked Tiphsah and everyone in the city and its vicinity, because they refused to open their gates. He sacked Tiphsah and ripped open all the pregnant women.
17 In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem son of Gadi became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria ten years.
18 He did evil in the eyes of the LORD. During his entire reign he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.
19 Then Pul king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem gave him a thousand talents of silver to gain his support and strengthen his own hold on the kingdom.
20 Menahem exacted this money from Israel. Every wealthy person had to contribute fifty shekels of silver to be given to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and stayed in the land no longer.
21 As for the other events of Menahem’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?
22 Menahem rested with his ancestors. And Pekahiah his son succeeded him as king.
23 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned two years.
24 Pekahiah did evil in the eyes of the LORD. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.
25 One of his chief officers, Pekah son of Remaliah, conspired against him. Taking fifty men of Gilead with him, he assassinated Pekahiah, along with Argob and Arieh, in the citadel of the royal palace at Samaria. So Pekah killed Pekahiah and succeeded him as king.
26 The other events of Pekahiah’s reign, and all he did, are written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel.
DCLM DAILY MANNA FOR TODAY 17TH SEPTEMBER 2020 – LIVE WISELY
Sometimes, life is like a movie. Movies tell us stories of men or events that keep us on the edge of our seats and make us think, smile or even cry. One uniqueness of movies is the ability to compress a whole lifetime into hours or even minutes. Movies give a picture of how brief life can be.
Our passage today is like a movie clip of the story of the northern kingdom of Israel. While the southern kingdom of Judah was relatively stable during the reign of Uzziah, Israel was changing kings like garments. First was Shallum, the conspirator who assassinated Zachariah.
He lasted only one month on the throne before he was killed by Menahem who replaced him as king. Menahem reigned for ten years and after his death, his son Pekahiah took over. Even though these kings differ in their tenure, some things are common about them all. Firstly, they did evil in the sight of the Lord.
Though at variance with one another, yet they all agreed to keep up idolatry. Secondly, with the exception of Pekahiah, his two predecessors were traitors who violently killed their lords.
While it is true that change is inevitable in life, it is important that we watch out for the kind of change that takes place. Crass ambition blinded the vision of these kings such that they created instability in the kingdom and without any specific goals and pursuit, they drove the nation into idolatry the more.
The believer must watch against unbridled ambition. Each life is a movie being shot at different locations. Generations unborn will eventually see and praise God or condemn you for your actions.
Every wasted opportunity will count in eternity when the heavenly Father will finally review the movie clips of your life in full. We should be wiser than these Israelite kings and live consciously for the glory of God.
DCLM THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Our years are tales being told.
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria. Read more…
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