Monthly Study
November 2024For Their Own Good
A Study in 2 Kings
Yet the LORD was not willing to destroy Judah, for the sake of David his servant, since he promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever.— 2 Kings 8:19
The book of 2 Kings concludes the epic saga of the kingdom that Saul founded, David established, and Solomon lost. Throughout the dramatic events described in this book, God reveals His commitment to Israel. Despite their unfaithfulness and rebellion, He refused to abandon His promise to them. Instead, He shepherded them, sometimes with strong discipline.
Rather than be overwhelmed by the discipline found in 2 Kings, I encourage you to see how God can use crisis to wound and win the hearts of those He cherishes, always for their own good.
Your devotional author,
Steven H. Sanchez
Volume 37Edition 11
Managing Editor: Jamie Janosz, Senior Editor: Elena Mafter, Contributing Editor: John Koessler, Writer: Steven Sanchez, Graphic Designer: Rachel Hutcheson, Marketing: JD Hamby, Production: Rhonda AuYeung
About the Author
Steven H. Sanchez
Dr. Steven H. Sanchez is professor of Bible at Moody Bible Institute. His specific areas of study include the Israelite monarchy, the Pentateuch, the Second Temple period, and biblical archeology.
View MoreNovember Devotional Calendar
Podcasts
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Whom Do You Trust?
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Occasionally when conversing with people who have strong opinions about a particular topic, I ask where they found their information.
November 1, 2024
The God of the Next Generation
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Transitions can be difficult. We wonder, Will the new leader lead well? Will circumstances be too difficult for the team to handle? And, as economists will tell you, the market hates uncertainty!
November 2, 2024
A God in Control
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When times get tough, we tend to question fundamental truths of life, asking ourselves: Where is God? Is He powerful enough to help me? Will He provide for my basic needs? If He chooses not to, why?
November 3, 2024
Our God Reigns
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We live in a world that celebrates inclusion. But sometimes this represents a rejection of reality. For example, how many gods are there exactly? And is it possible for all these gods to be equals?
November 4, 2024
Unlike All Others
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Naaman stepped out of the Jordan River a changed man. His leprosy was gone, and he immediately understood who was responsible. It was Yahweh, the god of Israel. This miracle convinced him that there was only one God worthy of worship.
November 5, 2024
A God Who Defends
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The squeaky wheel gets the grease. The early bird gets the worm. Sayings like these remind us that often success is achieved by the prepared, the aggressive, or the calculating. While this may be true, the original audience for 2 Kings was in no position to achieve success.
November 6, 2024
The Windows of Heaven
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It is easy to misinterpret our circumstances when we are blinded by fear and disappointment. Sometimes our sin conceals what the Lord is doing in our lives.
November 7, 2024
Wickedness Anointed
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Do you ever observe the political turmoil of our modern world and wonder, “Where is God in all of this?” The book of 2 Kings teaches that everything is in God’s hand; He lifts up kings and puts them down.
November 8, 2024
A God Who Avenges
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The death of notoriously evil leaders like Hitler, bin Laden, Pol Pot, etc. evoked a sense of relief in the hearts of those who loved righteousness. It seemed that finally God had stepped in and repaid them for their atrocities.
November 9, 2024
A Squandered Opportunity
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Have you ever missed an opportunity and regretted it later? Maybe fear led you to hesitate, or an established habit led you to resist a change.
November 10, 2024
A Risk Worth the Reward
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On a day-to-day basis there are situations where, without a specific person’s contribution, things might happen in very different ways. Chapter 11 highlights one such person by the name of Jehosheba. She was the sister of the assassinated king of Judah, Ahaziah.
November 11, 2024
The End Matters
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The term one-hit wonder is often used to describe an artist who has a popular hit at the beginning of their career but fails to follow up with anything significant. In many ways, Joash was a one hit wonder.
November 12, 2024
Judgment and Mercy
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If you are a parent, you understand that it is possible to discipline children and show mercy at the same time. Perhaps children do not always experience it that way, but parents aim to blend discipline and love together as they train their children.
November 13, 2024
A Win and a Loss
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Victory has a way of going to our heads. After we win once, we think we’re invincible. If we make a killing in stocks during a bullish market, we think we are infallible investors. Or if we earn one advanced degree, we think we’re an expert on everything.
November 14, 2024
Mercy and Love
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The phrase “divided nation” refers to the division of God’s people into two kingdoms. After King Solomon, Israel became the northern kingdom with Judah to the south. Second Kings 14 looks back to when Amaziah was king in Judah, but the focus is on the king in Israel, Jeroboam II.
November 15, 2024
False Confidence
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While success can be wonderful, it can also give us a sense of false confidence. Just because we were able to make a basket from behind the three-point line or score a strike while bowling, it doesn’t ensure that every other attempt will be equally successful.
November 16, 2024
Asking for Help
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We often have a hard time asking for help. The spirit of independence begins early. When we are 8 years old, we want to do everything on our own. As we turn 16, we prize the independence of a car and a driver’s license.
November 17, 2024
The Reason Why
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When someone at our workplace is fired or disciplined, we don’t always find out what happened. Human resources regulations prevent full disclosure, often for good reason. Yet these same regulations can prevent us from learning from that situation. Understanding what went wrong could help us do better.
November 18, 2024
Long-Term Consequences
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When a person commits a crime, the consequences can be enduring. Depending on the severity of the punishment, the consequences can even span generations.
November 19, 2024
Crumbling in Crisis
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Have you ever felt like you didn’t deserve a bad thing that happened to you? You made the right choice, but you didn’t get the recognition you felt you deserved.
November 20, 2024
Questioning God’s Power
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When you encounter challenges do you wonder where God is or why He hasn’t delivered you immediately? Have you ever doubted God’s power to resolve a difficult situation? You are not alone.
November 21, 2024
Delivered in a Moment
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Life can change in a moment. A text message pops up with good news and things may never be the same. A phone call brings bad news, and your world is turned upside down.
November 22, 2024
Taking Credit
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Often our heroes have complicated legacies. No one is perfect, but finding out that someone we respected has made bad or evil choices is disappointing.
November 23, 2024
Divine Judgment
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Every believing parent has a deep desire that their children love the Lord with their whole heart. Yet, there is no way to guarantee this reality. Righteous children follow unrighteous parents, and righteous parents sometimes discover that their children will not follow the Lord.
November 24, 2024
A Righteous Response
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We’ve all seen adventure films where the main character searches for a lost and valuable relic. In his pursuit, our hero must overcome perilous obstacles. He recovers the priceless object but only after breathtaking twists and turns.
November 25, 2024
True Repentance
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What events would cause you to change your behavior? A poor medical diagnosis? A life-threatening accident? Challenging events have a way of making us stop and reassess our priorities. Many times we see spiritual change prompted by a crisis.
November 26, 2024
Leadership Churn
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Turnover at work can be a bad thing, especially at the top level. Constant change in leadership can cause chaos in an organization, as shifting priorities create uncertainty, eventually leading to distrust. Things were no different for Judah after Josiah died.
November 27, 2024
Jerusalem Falls
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What would it take to make you destroy your own home? If you did, would people believe the story when they heard it? Probably not. We love our homes, value them, and care for them. Yet, this is exactly what God did to Jerusalem, the place where His house, the Temple, stood. He destroyed it.
November 28, 2024
A New Hope
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Those who endure punishment wonder if there is ever hope of restoration. Will my spouse ever forgive me? Will my employer give me a second chance? Will my friends still be there when I get back? Do I have any hope?
November 29, 2024
Our Long-Awaited King
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We end our study of 2 Kings by fast forwarding to the book of Luke. As the New Testament opens, Israel is in a tough spot. Under the thumb of a Gentile empire, the Jewish people recalled better days when they controlled their own destiny.
November 30, 2024