He did what was pleasing in the Lord ’s sight, just as his father, Amaziah, had done. But he did not destroy the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there.
But Menahem did what was evil in the Lord ’s sight. During his entire reign, he refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit. (2 Kings 15:3, 4, 18 NLT)
Observation:
There definitely was a difference in kings, from utterly wicked to the few that did not do only that which was right in God's sight, but destroyed pagan worship out of the land.
Application:
I want to be like those righteous kings so devoted to their God they couldn't turn a blind eye to the evil around them. And definitely not like the kings that, while they themselves kept the law, tolerated all manner of wickedness in their kingdoms. There's a difference in their levels of devotion and motivation.
I've seen a difference between those two types of people. And it's tectonic in nature. It's like the second group have, like the KJV says, the word written upon their inward parts, as opposed to keeping the word carefully contained in their phylacteries.
Prayer:
God, lead me to You. Show me the way to deeper belief and a more convicted heart. Where You lead, I will follow. When You command, I will obey. You bless me so richly, and Your love literally has changed me into someone completely new . . . my life is fresh and my optimism has returned. And it's so, so good. Thank You for this rebirth--this wholly new life in Christ. I love You! :-) In Jesus' name, amen!
