Day 116

The Persistence of Evil

Read: 2 Kings 14-16

Israel had one wicked king after another. The problem was that they continued the evil practices started by Jeroboam, the first king of Israel, who set up golden calves at Bethel and Dan. Once evil practices have taken root, they are difficult to eradicate. Today, also, there is wickedness which has been practiced for so long that it is taken to be acceptable. We must measure all actions, our own and those of people in our society, by the standard of the Word of God and work for changes to conform life to his will.

Even in the case of the good kings of Judah, we read that while they did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, “Nevertheless, the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places” (15:4). Worship was to be centered in the temple where orthodox views could be promoted, but the people worshiped in other places where there was the danger of combining the worship of the Lord with that of idols. Again, the evil persisted and even the good kings were unable to eradicate it.

Not all of the kings of Judah were good. Ahaz went so far as to build a replica of the pagan altar he had seen in Damascus. Furthermore, he tore down the altar dedicated to the Lord at the temple as well as the laver where the priests washed themselves.

PRAYER
Father, help us to see what is evil and to fight against it with all diligence. In Jesus’ name. Amen.