05.16.2014 Old Testament: 2Ki 15.17–22

To read the Bible in a year, read Second Kings 15–17 on May 16, In the year of our Lord 2014

By Don Ruhl

If a writer only had between one hundred fifty and two hundred words to write about your life, what would he say? How would he summarize your life? Read how the writer of Second Kings summarized the life of King Menahem of Israel,

In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi became king over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not depart all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. Pul king of Assyria came against the land; and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to strengthen the kingdom under his control. And Menahem exacted the money from Israel, from all the very wealthy, from each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and did not stay there in the land. Now the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? So Menahem rested with his fathers. Then Pekahiah his son reigned in his place (2 Kings 15.17–22).

The writer said that Menahem did evil and paid off the king of Assyria by taxing Israel, especially the very wealthy. Is that how you would like to have been remembered? How will your family and friends remember you after you have left?