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2 Kings 6:28-31 What is your trouble? Day 298

Good morning friends,

Managed to miss getting this finished yesterday.   

As you may know, I worked at Millstone Nuclear Power station.  Back in the mid 90's, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission shut us down due to nuclear safety concerns.  A plant manager once said "If I wanted loyalty, I would buy a dog".  You can imagine how this made employees feel.  The owner at the time, Northeast Utilities, refused to listen to employee concerns.  There were many technical issues, but the NRC lost confidence in the company to address safety issues.  Yet the leaders of the company refused to fire themselves and put new management in place.  I thought about this as I was writing this devotional.  What is your trouble?  You are, O king.

Blessings,

Jeff

Observations:

The king asks a question that unmasks condition of his heart.  What is your problem?  Why don't you just look around and see the miserable condition of the city.  

The contrast between the king's piety (wearing sackcloth under his robes) and worldview (blaming Elisha for Israel's woes).  

This section of 2 Kings omits the name of the king of Israel.  Last time Jehoram's name was used was back in Chapter 3 (our previous devotional).  While Elisha is the main character of these chapters, it is odd to me.  It would be like saying the President of the United States said... instead of President Biden said...

Thoughts

In the depths of famine there is no repentance.  The king wears sackcloth as external sign but there is no change in the heart.  Instead of turning to the Lord, these two women turn to cannibalism. The northern kingdom has been in rebellion since day 1 and they remain persistent.

We hear a lot about fixing root causes of some of our problems such as uncontrolled immigration.  We hear of critical theory as a solution to all sorts of inequalities.  But all these miss the point that all men are sinners by nature.  Apart from God, man is dead in sin and unable and unwilling to change his ways.  The only hope is awakening of the spirit, not the social conscience. 

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