Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel became king in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD and did not turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit. He was the one who restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath to the Dead Sea,in accordance with the word of the LORD, the God of Israel, spoken through his servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher.
The LORD had seen how bitterly everyone in Israel, whether slave or free, was suffering there was no one to help them. And since the LORD had not said he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash. - 2 Kings 14:23-27 NIV
Reading these chapters it is easy to see that the end is at hand. Israel was spiraling down him. But God was still acutely aware of everything that was transpiring in both Israel and Judah, and when even the most sinful of the kings called out to him he heard their cries. We often labor under the misconception that God is only interested in the lives of those that follow him. But God is interested in everything and everyone. It's all his after all, whether or not it is acknowledged. He may use ungodly rulers to protect his people. He may use ungodly rulers to punish his people. He may use the ungodly any time he wants. He is God, they are all under his influence whether they or we acknowledge it or not.
2010 Post - 2 Kings 14-16: How Do You Live?
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