2 Kings
This is the story of the fall. Just like people fell from God’s presence near the beginning of Genesis, a nation of God’s chosen people, already divided into Israel and Judah, fell from faithfulness to God. By the end of this story, they are ejected from their promised land.
The writer focuses on leaders and their importance in this. God can be seen to act through prophets and priests too, and incredible things happen through Elijah’s successor Elisha especially. But unless the nation can be guided by leaders who trust and respond to God, it can never represent God’s Kingdom.
Thankfully, there are some good leaders here who give us hope and a pattern for what can happen. However, most are shockingly bad, full of pride, false belief about their own strength and questionable intent when it comes to serving for people’s good.
Maybe there’s a warning here for us, or at least guidance on what to look for in good leaders. There is also hope that while human folly and injustice will fall, God’s leadership is needed, life can change and his Kingdom will come.
