Justin Houtz

2 Kings 15, Titus 1, Hosea 8, Psalms 123–125

DateVersionReading Plan
November 2, 2024ESV (2016)M’Cheyne Plan 2024

2 Kings 15

2 Kings 15:5 (ESV) 5 And the LORD touched the king, so that he was a leper to the day of his death, and he lived in a separate house. And Jotham the king’s son was over the household, governing the people of the land.

We are not given the specific reason here as to why the LORD struck Azariah with his skin disease, but we do know from 2 Chron. 26:16-19 that Azariah arrogantly entered the temple and burned incense, a task that only priests were allowed to perform. Azariah’s condition was so severe that he finished his life in quarantine and his son, Jotham, handled the day-to-day matters of governing the land. We see in this both God’s direct involvement in Azariah’s compromised condition as well as the consequences of pride and that acting in rebellion brings no honor from the LORD God.

Titus 1

Titus 1:15–16 (ESV) 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

Paul gives a stark contrast between the pure and defiled, most likely in this context referring to the legalistic adherence to food laws. However, this is analogous of the person in a general sense as the BBC makes note:

If a man’s inner life is impure, if he does not have faith in the Lord Jesus, then nothing is pure to him. The observance of dietary rules won’t do a thing for him. More than anything else he needs to be converted, to receive salvation as a free gift rather than trying to earn it through rituals and legalism. The very minds and consciences of defiled people are corrupted. Their mental processes and their moral powers are defiled. It is not a question of external ceremonial defilement, but of inward corruption and depravity.

Hosea 8

Hosea 8:4–6 (ESV)

4  They made kings, but not through me. They set up princes, but I knew it not. With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction. 5  I have spurned your calf, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence? 6  For it is from Israel; a craftsman made it; it is not God. The calf of Samaria shall be broken to pieces.

Israel made kings for themselves but not through the LORD. The FSB is helpful in describing that “The kingship in Israel had passed through the hands of numerous usurpers since the time of Jeroboam I (1 Kgs 11–12). Few of those kings were divinely appointed.” The people had also insolently fashioned idols, specifically a golden calf of Samaria (referring to Israel in general). God spurned this calf and His anger burned against the people for their moral obtuseness, for their loss of all decency. While the creation of pagan calves has ceased, the heart of idol worship persists today as strong as it ever was in the time of Hosea. We wrongfully place ultimate value on created things over the Creator of all things. May the saints remain healthily steeped in God’s Word, seeing the impotence of earthly things to deliver, thus driving our wholehearted faith and trust in the One who never fails.

Psalms 123–125

Psalm 125:1–5 (ESV)

1  Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. 2  As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore. 3  For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous stretch out their hands to do wrong. 4  Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts! 5  But those who turn aside to their crooked ways the LORD will lead away with evildoers! Peace be upon Israel!

LORD, may my heart trust in you who, like Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever. You forever surround Your people as the mountains surround Jerusalem. The wicked have no place in the land You have allotted to the righteous. May not the righteous be tempted to reach out their hands to do wrong. LORD, I ask that your countenance would be on those who are good, who are upright heart. But for the wayward and rebellious, lead them away with evildoers and bring peace to Your people, a peace only to be found by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Resources