Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 15:29-31,36-38; 16:1-2; 17:1-2; 1 Chronicles 5:23-26; 2 Chronicles 28:1-4

On January 5th, we read about the promises made to Abram. By our readings on March 13, the Israelites were settling down in their inheritance. Today’s portion marks the beginning of the end of an era.

It is important to notice the theological cause of the exile. It was because they had forsaken the Lord, not because they didn’t have a strong enough army to defend themselves. The Lord was the one who moved Tiglath-Pileser to defeat the Israelites. Amazing, huh?

If the Lord caused a heathen king to do His will in the lives of His people (Israel), should we not expect Him to use even unbelievers in our own lives? Rebukes at the hands of unbelievers can be hard medicine to swallow, but like Buckley’s Cough Syrup, “it tastes bad, but it works!”