Practical Lessons from II Kings (Part 5)
Our next practical lesson from II Kings is this:

14. ONCE WE COME TO TERMS WITH OUR MORTALITY, WE WILL BE MORE ACTIVE & LESS AFRAID.
II Kings 7:3,4 - "Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, 'Why are we sitting here until we die? If we say, "We will enter the city," the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die.'"

The logic of the lepers was good. They would die of starvation if they did nothing or if they went into their own city. If they surrendered to their enemies, they might die or perhaps be spared. Surrendering to the enemies was their best course of action, and it certainly turned out well for them when they got up and acted. Today, we need to come to terms with our mortality and then get busy working to do God's will. Death is inevitable, so let us get up out of our pews and labor for the Master! What's the worst thing that can happen (cf. Matt. 10:28)?

15. TO REMAIN SILENT WITH GREAT NEWS THAT OTHERS NEED TO HEAR IS WRONG.
II Kings 7:9 - "Then they said to one another, 'We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king's household."

These men had news that could save lives of those who were starving back in Samaria, and what were they doing? Feasting and enjoying that which the Syrians had abandoned! They came to their senses, however, and realized that this news had to be shared. Today, for a Christian to remain silent with the greatest of news (the gospel) is wrong. The world needs God's message of deliverance and hope; the world needs Jesus (cf. Mark 16:15,16)!

16. DEATH & DESTRUCTION ARE WHAT GOD HAS IN HIS HEART FOR THE WICKED.
II Kings 10:30 - "And the LORD said to Jehu, 'Because you have done well in doing what is right in My sight, and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, your sons shall sit on the throne to the fourth generation.'"

A reading of II Kings 10 shows that Jehu brought tremendous death and destruction upon Ahab, his family, and all followers of Baal. And this verse shows that it was God's will! Even today God has death and destruction in store for the wicked (cf. Matt. 25:41).

17. LUST FOR POWER CAN LEAD ONE TO COMMIT TERRIBLE ABOMINATIONS.
II Kings 11:1 - "When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal heirs."

The royal heirs were her grandchildren, and she tried to kill them all! She wanted the power so badly that she was capable of this level of brutality. Lust for power still leads people to commit terrible acts of wickedness today.

18. SOMETIMES WHEN THINGS AREN'T GETTING DONE, IT IS BEST TO TAKE CARE OF THEM YOURSELF.
II Kings 12:6,7 - "Now it was so, by the twenty-third year of King Jehoash, that the priests had not repaired the damages of the temple. So King Jehoash called Jehoiada the priest and the other priests, and said to them, 'Why have you not repaired the damages of the temple? Now therefore, do not take more money from your constituency, but deliver it for repairing the damages of the temple.'"

Jehoash wanted the temple repaired, but it was simply not getting done. So, he took over the project personally. Sometimes there is a time and place for this, though delegation to faithful stewards is generally preferred.