Four Successful Generations – Scripture Dissection

“Generations” is not only the title of a Star Trek movie. It’s also an important dynamic for families and individuals. Whether or not you are a Star Trek fan, you must agree there’s something important about generations – for family, country, businesses, royal lines, and franchises. Generations can be blood relatives or simply the next legitimate persons. Today’s content focuses on four successful generations of a royal family – with one exception. It’s fascinating.

Tear Into It – Four Successful Generations

First, I suggest – take a look at Tear Into It. That article explains how and why we introduce Scripture dissection exercises every few weeks in our article rotation.

To tear into “Four Successful Generations,” we’ll focus on 2 Kings 15:1-38. For this content’s purposes, here’s a bullet backstory in my words.

Previous Backstory

The backstory starts before today’s passage.

• King after king – especially in Israel – are murderers, conspirators, and idolaters that form a chain of bad kings. They create a legacy of constant chaos.
• In Judah, however, there is a lineage of stable, faithful kings starting with Joash. He is “Successful King #1” in this string of four successful generations.
• A previous passage records Joash became king at seven years old and kept God’s nation on the right path. At his coronation, the priest, Jehoida, makes a covenant between three parties:
  1. God
  2. King
  3. People
• Joash engages Jehoida as his mentor. Consequently, he makes himself accountable to excellent leadership.
• Amaziah, son of Joash, is “Successful King #2.” He pleases the Lord.

 

Now Today’s Passage Backstory – 2 Kings 15:1-38

Now, today’s Scripture Dissection passage.

• Azariah is “Successful King #3.” He begins to reign at sixteen years old. He is son of Amaziah (“Successful King #2”) and is also called Uzziah. He rules fifty-two years and, seemingly, is the same king Isaiah mentions in Is. 6:1 – “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.”
• Azariah’s son is “Successful King #4”, Jotham. He does what is right in God’s eyes – like his father.

 

Yes, these four successful generations govern God’s people well. Incidentally, Scripture says of each of them – they “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” This is a rare legacy! An honorable picture of good leadership.

HOWEVER – none of these four kings tore down the high places! Scripture points this out with each mention of the four kings. Apparently, this is important.

A Bit More Backstory

• Jotham’s son is Ahaz – and he is a Bad King – the unfortunate exception in this line of successful kings. What happened in this guy’s life that he turned away from four successful generations?
• Well, it flips again. Ahaz’ son is Hezekiah. Skipping his Bad Dad King , Hezekiah is “Successful King #5.” And I ask the same question – what happened in this guy’s life that he turned back to four successful generations – to add generation five?
• Hezekiah is twenty five years old when he starts reigning and rules for twenty-nine years.
• By the way – Hezekiah does something super special. But we’ll explore that in the next Scripture Dissection. Look for “The Fifth King” in 3 weeks.

 

Now Let’s Dissect – Four Successful Generations

Every Scripture Dissection article, we engage four focuses.

1. What Does It Say?
2. What Does It Mean?
3. Make It Personal.
4. Make A Commitment.

 

1. What Does It Say?

These passages make a clear point – there were good kings and bad kings. Apparently, each king’s decisions, plus their state of heart, determined whether they were good or bad.

Once-in-awhile, there’s a chain of generational leaders that follow God. Men (or women) with honorable character. In that case, citizens have good leadership for many years. In other words – regular folks like you and me have healthy, helpful options to live in family, community, and nation.

This passage also suggests – if leadership is not Focused, Disciplined, and Resolved – important things get missed. Unfortunately, that can bring severe consequences. Tearing down high places is one of them.

High Places

Let’s explore high places. During the years of God’s Temple in Jerusalem, God instructed worship by two methods:

1. In one’s heart during daily life.
2. At the designated temple in Jerusalem.

 

To worship at a high place rather than in one’s heart or at the temple in Jerusalem was considered pagan. Here’s why. Cultures outside Israel built elevated (high) places of worship for their idols. Israel is never instructed to build high places to Jehovah. Interestingly, His “high place” is in a person’s heart first – and His temple (His church).

Sadly, Israel adopts pagan high places from other idol-worshipping nations.

This passage shows:

• Affections of the heart in leaders – plus
• Active or inactive obedience to God – influences generations.

 

2. What Does It Mean?

Your choices, plus the state of your heart, directly influence your spiritual condition. And these also influence the spiritual condition of others around you. Whether it’s family, friends, business partners, or community relationships, your choices and state of heart show if you are a “good king” or “bad king.”

Keep in mind, when Jesus lived on earth, conditions of worship change at the cross. Jesus, the “once-for-all” sacrifice, funnels future flow of worship through His cross into individuals. Consequently, worship is established primarily from the heart. It also includes corporate worship with other Jesus followers.

Additionally, “being good” is no longer just “good works.” It’s being forgiven – cleansed of sin by the blood of Jesus. Being good now centers around God’s mercy (His part) while repenting of sin to love God first, most, and best (your part). So, now proof of “good” is a life of gratitude that lines up with Scripture, from your heart.

To tear down a high place opens doors to full freedom and power to live well. Do you have any high places in your heart?

So, are you a good king or a bad king?

3. Make It Personal

To make this content personal, here’s where we need to start.

Root And Proof

There is always a “root” under a high place that’s not been torn down. Roots are critical to spiritual health. You need discernment over which roots to tear down under high places in your life. This helps you “agree with God” by your choices as a proof you are a new creation.

2 Cor. 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone; the new is here!”

But this “newness” involves your choices. It doesn’t just magically happen. Poof! You decide what kind of “king” you’ll be. Your God-given free will gives you the privilege of partnering with God as a new creation. He doesn’t force you to change. You have to want to. And you have to choose to. Wanting is really a choice.

What is a high place today? Let’s list some:

• Patterns that prevent being completely surrendered to God.
• Habits that tear down your health and well-being.
• Practices that don’t please God and interfere with your freedom, yet are allowed to remain.
• Anything more important to you than Jesus.
• Any desire or lust that consumes your heart.
• Whatever you think about A LOT may be a high place.
• Anything not yielded to God is a root allowed to remain in your life.

 

But God’s message is still the same as what He expected the four successful generations to do. And it was the one thing they failed to do. – –

– – Tear down all the high places! 

 

It’s time to define three terms we used earlier in this content under “What Does It Say.” Focus, Discipline, and Resolve.

Let’s look at each definitions:

• Focus – A central point of attention. To concentrate. To direct your effort.
• Discipline – Training, drill, exercise, regimen that develops or improves skill. Bring into a state of obedience.
• Resolve – Definite, earnest decision. Make up your mind. Firmness of purpose or intent.

 

Now, taking these definitions, let’s indeed make it personal.

• Are you tearing down your high places by directing your efforts, using all your attention and concentration? Are you focused?
• Are you drilling and exercising your freedom in Christ to develop and improve godly skills into obedience? Are you pulling out destructive roots? Are you disciplined? 
• Have you firmly and earnestly decided your purpose is to put Christ first in your life? Are you resolved?

 

It’s time to make up your mind. Let God be your only remaining High Place!

4. Make A Commitment

1. So, are you a good king or a bad king?
2. Are you focused, disciplined, and resolved? Take a minute to identify how you apply these qualities in your daily life.
3. Are you missing things – skipping over – important details? Has God whispered directions to your heart and you’ve decided to do something else?
4. Do you need to pull out any roots?
5. What kind of influence are you practicing over others?
6. What high places do you need to tear down? Have you surrendered your heart and every practice to God?

 

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