國之將亡 列王記下15
- 馬克牧師
- Oct 3, 2024
- 12 min read
Updated: Nov 2, 2024
猶大王亞撒利雅
（代下26‧1－23）
1 以色列王耶羅波安二十七年，猶大王亞瑪謝的兒子亞撒利雅登基， 2他登基的時候年十六歲，在耶路撒冷作王五十二年。他母親名叫耶可利雅，是耶路撒冷人。 3亞撒利雅行耶和華眼中看為正的事，效法他父親亞瑪謝一切所行的； 4只是邱壇還沒有廢去，百姓仍在那裏獻祭燒香。 5耶和華降災與王，使他長大痲瘋，直到死日，他就住在別的宮裏。他的兒子約坦管理家事，治理國民。 6亞撒利雅其餘的事，凡他所行的都寫在猶大列王記上。 7亞撒利雅與他列祖同睡，葬在大衛城他列祖的墳地裏。他兒子約坦接續他作王。
以色列王撒迦利雅
8 猶大王亞撒利雅三十八年，耶羅波安的兒子撒迦利雅在撒馬利亞作以色列王六個月。 9他行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，效法他列祖所行的，不離開尼八的兒子耶羅波安使以色列人陷在罪裏的那罪。 10雅比的兒子沙龍背叛他，在百姓面前擊殺他，篡了他的位。
11 撒迦利雅其餘的事都寫在以色列諸王記上。 12這是從前耶和華應許耶戶說：「你的子孫必坐以色列的國位直到四代。」這話果然應驗了。
以色列王沙龍
13 猶大王烏西雅三十九年，雅比的兒子沙龍登基在撒馬利亞作王一個月。 14迦底的兒子米拿現從得撒上撒馬利亞，殺了雅比的兒子沙龍，篡了他的位。 15沙龍其餘的事和他背叛的情形都寫在以色列諸王記上。 16那時米拿現從得撒起攻打提斐薩和其四境，擊殺城中一切的人，剖開其中所有的孕婦，都因他們沒有給他開城。
以色列王米拿現
17 猶大王亞撒利雅三十九年，迦底的兒子米拿現登基，在撒馬利亞作以色列王十年。 18他行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，終身不離開尼八的兒子耶羅波安使以色列人陷在罪裏的那罪。 19亞述王普勒來攻擊以色列國，米拿現給他一千他連得銀子，請普勒幫助他堅定國位。 20米拿現向以色列一切大富戶索要銀子，使他們各出五十舍客勒，就給了亞述王。於是亞述王回去，不在國中停留。 21米拿現其餘的事，凡他所行的都寫在以色列諸王記上。 22米拿現與他列祖同睡。他兒子比加轄接續他作王。
以色列王比加轄
23 猶大王亞撒利雅五十年，米拿現的兒子比加轄在撒馬利亞登基作以色列王二年。 24他行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，不離開尼八的兒子耶羅波安使以色列人陷在罪裏的那罪。 25比加轄的將軍、利瑪利的兒子比加背叛他，在撒馬利亞王宮裏的衛所殺了他。亞珥歌伯和亞利耶並基列的五十人幫助比加；比加擊殺他，篡了他的位。 26比加轄其餘的事，凡他所行的都寫在以色列諸王記上。
以色列王比加
27 猶大王亞撒利雅五十二年，利瑪利的兒子比加在撒馬利亞登基作以色列王二十年。 28他行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，不離開尼八的兒子耶羅波安使以色列人陷在罪裏的那罪。
29 以色列王比加年間，亞述王提革拉‧毗列色來奪了以雲、亞伯‧伯‧瑪迦、亞挪、基低斯、夏瑣、基列、加利利，和拿弗他利全地，將這些地方的居民都擄到亞述去了。 30烏西雅的兒子約坦二十年，以拉的兒子何細亞背叛利瑪利的兒子比加，擊殺他，篡了他的位。 31比加其餘的事，凡他所行的都寫在以色列諸王記上。
猶大王約坦
（代下27‧1－9）
32 以色列王利瑪利的兒子比加第二年，猶大王烏西雅的兒子約坦登基。 33他登基的時候年二十五歲，在耶路撒冷作王十六年。他母親名叫耶路沙，是撒督的女兒。 34約坦行耶和華眼中看為正的事，效法他父親烏西雅一切所行的； 35只是邱壇還沒有廢去，百姓仍在那裏獻祭燒香。約坦建立耶和華殿的上門。 36約坦其餘的事，凡他所行的都寫在猶大列王記上。 37在那些日子，耶和華才使亞蘭王利汛和利瑪利的兒子比加去攻擊猶大。 38約坦與他列祖同睡，葬在他祖大衛城他列祖的墳地裏。他兒子亞哈斯接續他作王。
各位弟兄姊妹平安。今天我們讀到了《列王記下》第15章。在這一章中，我們看到以色列國已經陷入了極為糟糕的境地。國王的頻繁更換顯示出國家的動盪不安，而我們不難發現，這一切的根源是靈性上的敗壞。他們早已失去了屬靈的中心思想，剩下的只是爭權奪利和血腥的內鬥。
在這裡，我們看到了猶大王烏西雅，他也被稱作亞撒利雅。這兩個名字在希伯來文中發音相近，拼音也類似。亞撒利雅的意思是「耶和華所幫助的」，而烏西雅的意思則是「上帝的力量」。這樣的名字本身就反映出他在上帝面前的蒙恩情況。
烏西雅在早期的統治中確實是一位顯著的國王，他使猶大國再次強盛起來，讓國家的實力達到了新的高峰。然而，隨著成就的增加，他開始變得驕傲，這也最終導致了他的墮落。他犯了一個極大的錯誤，擅自闖入聖殿，企圖自己獻祭，這是只有祭司才能做的事。他這樣的行為觸犯了上帝的律法，結果得了大麻瘋，這一段的歷史在歷代志下26章有詳細的描述。
因著他的病，烏西雅不得不把國權交給他的兒子約坦來管理，並且他自己被隔離在宮外，無法再處理國事。烏西雅在傳位給他兒子約坦之前，總共統治了猶大國52年，這是猶大國歷史上最長的一段統治期。雖然烏西雅在他後期因為驕傲而遭遇了大麻瘋的懲罰，但我們也不能否認，在烏西雅的統治下，猶大國經歷了一段相當強盛的時期。這段時間內，猶大的國力增強，經濟繁榮，軍事實力也得到了顯著的提升。
這段故事中的烏西雅，從一個蒙上帝祝福的王，最終因為驕傲而受到懲罰的結局，對我們今天也是一個警示。我們必須時時保持謙卑，時刻記得，我們的一切能力和成就都來自上帝，而非我們自己。
而在北方的以色列國情況就沒有那麼好了。在同樣的52年裡，發生了四次流血政變。每一次的王位更替，都伴隨著暗殺、謀殺或者背叛的事情。這種頻繁的動盪反映出以色列國在政治上的極度不穩定，人心渙散，社會道德不斷下滑。
隨著以色列國逐漸走向末路，我們看到的是權力野心的無限膨脹，對權力的慾望超越了對公義和上帝的敬畏。這一連串的政變，不僅反映了領袖們對權力的爭奪，也顯示出整個社會在屬靈上的崩潰。當權力成為唯一的追求，卻沒有上帝的引導與保守，國家便走向了內部分裂和自我毀滅的道路。
在這樣動盪不安的國家背景之下，當亞述王進攻以色列時，當時的以色列王米拿現只能以銀子來請求亞述王的幫助，企圖藉此來安定國內的局勢。他向亞述王繳納了1000他連得的銀子，這大約相當於30公噸的銀子。如此龐大的金額，幾乎要掏空整個國庫才能湊齊。這種行為顯示出米拿現這位無能的君王，為了維持國內表面上短暫的「和平」，不得不以巨額的財富來換取，這也反映了以色列國在這個時期已經走到了窮途末路。
我們看到，當一個國王和他的國家失去了屬靈的根基，試圖以金錢來換取政治穩定，這種和平只是虛假的。
在我們閱讀《列王記》的過程中，將其中的歷史與現今的社會做一個比對，我們會驚訝地發現，人類的歷史總是在以驚人的方式重複。許多國家試圖以金錢來換取和平，依賴更強大的國家來保護自己，然而，我們很快會發現，這樣的策略往往無法長久維持真正的和平和安全。
當一個國家的領導人、政府缺乏屬靈的核心思想，或者沒有回到上帝面前尋求道德的根基和正確的方向，這個國家就很難建立穩定的基礎。真正的穩定不是來自於強大的軍事力量、經濟實力，或是透過金錢買來的和平。相反，唯有當一個國家根植於正確的價值觀、道德信仰，並且敬畏上帝時，才能夠擁有持久的穩定與和平。
我們看到北國以色列的沒落，猶大有過一小段的復興，而富不過三代這個咒詛又要應驗嗎？在烏西雅王之後有約坦，約坦之後的亞哈斯又怎麼樣呢？我們明天繼續看列王記下16章的故事。感謝各位的聆聽。
Azariah King of Judah
1In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah began to reign. 2He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jekoliah; she was from Jerusalem. 3He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done. 4The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.
5The Lord afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died, and he lived in a separate house. Jotham the king’s son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.
6As for the other events of Azariah’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 7Azariah rested with his ancestors and was buried near them in the City of David. And Jotham his son succeeded him as king.
Zechariah King of Israel
8In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah son of Jeroboam became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned six months. 9He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as his predecessors had done. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.
10Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah. He attacked him in front of the people, assassinated him and succeeded him as king. 11The other events of Zechariah’s reign are written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel. 12So the word of the Lord spoken to Jehu was fulfilled: “Your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.”
Shallum King of Israel
13Shallum son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah, and he reigned in Samaria one month. 14Then Menahem son of Gadi went from Tirzah up to Samaria. He attacked Shallum son of Jabesh in Samaria, assassinated him and succeeded him as king.
15The other events of Shallum’s reign, and the conspiracy he led, are written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel.
16At that time Menahem, starting out from Tirzah, attacked Tiphsah and everyone in the city and its vicinity, because they refused to open their gates. He sacked Tiphsah and ripped open all the pregnant women.
Menahem King of Israel
17In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem son of Gadi became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria ten years. 18He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. During his entire reign he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.
19Then Pul king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem gave him a thousand talents of silver to gain his support and strengthen his own hold on the kingdom. 20Menahem exacted this money from Israel. Every wealthy person had to contribute fifty shekels of silver to be given to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and stayed in the land no longer.
21As for the other events of Menahem’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 22Menahem rested with his ancestors. And Pekahiah his son succeeded him as king.
Pekahiah King of Israel
23In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned two years. 24Pekahiah did evil in the eyes of the Lord. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit. 25One of his chief officers, Pekah son of Remaliah, conspired against him. Taking fifty men of Gilead with him, he assassinated Pekahiah, along with Argob and Arieh, in the citadel of the royal palace at Samaria. So Pekah killed Pekahiah and succeeded him as king.
26The other events of Pekahiah’s reign, and all he did, are written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel.
Pekah King of Israel
27In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah son of Remaliah became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twenty years. 28He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.
29In the time of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maakah, Janoah, Kedesh and Hazor. He took Gilead and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali, and deported the people to Assyria. 30Then Hoshea son of Elah conspired against Pekah son of Remaliah. He attacked and assassinated him, and then succeeded him as king in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah.
31As for the other events of Pekah’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?
Jotham King of Judah
32In the second year of Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel, Jotham son of Uzziah king of Judah began to reign. 33He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother’s name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok. 34He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Uzziah had done. 35The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the temple of the Lord.
36As for the other events of Jotham’s reign, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 37(In those days the Lord began to send Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah.) 38Jotham rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David, the city of his father. And Ahaz his son succeeded him as king.
Brothers and Sisters, Peace to You All
Today, we’re reading from 2 Kings Chapter 15. In this chapter, we see Israel in a state of deep turmoil. The frequent changes of kings reflect the instability within the nation, and it’s not hard to recognize that the root of this turmoil is spiritual decline. They had long lost their spiritual foundation, and what remained was a cycle of power struggles and bloody infighting.
In this chapter, we also see the King of Judah, Uzziah, also known as Azariah. These two names sound similar in Hebrew, with “Azariah” meaning “helped by the Lord” and “Uzziah” meaning “the strength of God.” Even his name reflects the favor he had received from God.
Early in his reign, Uzziah was indeed a remarkable king, leading Judah to a new peak of strength and prosperity. However, as his achievements grew, so did his pride, which ultimately led to his downfall. He committed a grave sin by intruding into the temple to offer sacrifices himself, a role reserved solely for priests. This action violated God’s law, resulting in him contracting leprosy—a story described in detail in 2 Chronicles Chapter 26.
Due to his illness, Uzziah had to hand over power to his son Jotham and live in isolation outside the palace, unable to govern directly. Before his eventual passing of power to his son Jotham, Uzziah ruled Judah for a total of 52 years, marking one of the longest reigns in the nation’s history. Though Uzziah suffered leprosy as a punishment for his pride, we cannot overlook that under his rule, Judah experienced a period of strength, economic growth, and significant military advancement.
Uzziah’s story—from a king blessed by God to one punished for pride—serves as a powerful reminder for us today. We must always remain humble, remembering that all our abilities and achievements come from God, not from ourselves.
Meanwhile, in the northern kingdom of Israel, the situation was far bleaker. During the same 52-year period, four violent coups took place. Each succession to the throne was marred by assassination, treachery, or betrayal. This constant turmoil highlighted Israel's severe political instability, moral decay, and spiritual collapse.
As Israel approached its decline, we see unchecked ambition for power and a desire for authority that exceeded any reverence for righteousness or fear of God. The chain of coups did not only reflect power struggles among leaders but signified the spiritual degradation of the entire society. When power becomes the sole pursuit without the guidance and protection of God, a nation descends into division and self-destruction.
Under such instability, the King of Israel, Menahem, sought to stabilize the kingdom by paying off the Assyrian king, using a thousand talents of silver (roughly 30 metric tons), which likely drained the national treasury. This move exposed Menahem’s weakness and desperation—he chose temporary peace over a foundation built on spiritual strength.
We observe that when a king and his nation lose their spiritual foundation and try to purchase peace with wealth, this peace is fleeting and superficial.
As we read through the book of Kings and compare its history to our current world, we’re often surprised at how history repeats itself. Many nations attempt to buy peace, relying on more powerful countries to protect them. However, history shows that such strategies rarely maintain true peace and security in the long term.
Without a spiritual foundation, or without returning to God to seek a moral core and a righteous direction, it is difficult for any nation to establish stability. True stability does not come from military power, economic wealth, or a peace that money can buy. Instead, lasting stability and peace come only when a nation is rooted in righteous values, moral beliefs, and a reverence for God.
As we witness the fall of Israel and a brief period of revival in Judah, we might wonder if the saying “wealth doesn’t last beyond three generations” will hold true again. After Uzziah, we have Jotham, and then Ahaz. What will happen next? Tomorrow, we will continue with 2 Kings Chapter 16. Thank you all for listening.
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