Namaan (it's like vacuum, two a's and two u's) puts down his pride and gets healed of leprosy.
The boy king Joash gets help from Jehoiada the priest and takes the kingdom from his mother. Joash rules in goodness and that starts a stretch of good for Judah, not following in the ways of David, but Joash, which I guess is pretty good. The high places remain. He also repairs the temple. Good for you boy king! Then we have Amaziah and Azariah/Uzziah - good names, good kings.
In Israel, though, evil reigns. There is a glimmer of hope with Jehu. He does the will of the LORD by destroying the evil king of Judah, Ahaziah (not to be confused with Amaziah or Azariah) and the rest of Ahab's family. We get to read the lovely verses of how Jezebel's blood and body are licked up by dogs with nothing left but her skull, feet and hands. Oops! Oh the Bible you are not a delicate read.
I had some hopes for Jehu. I mean he seemed to want to follow the LORD and the LORD allowed his family to reign for four generations. That is something in the kingdom of Israel. However, he still did evil in the eye of the LORD. He did not worship Baal, but he still followed Jeroboam (as all the Israelite kings do) and he worshiped the golden calves. Why? Why when the LORD is clearly in front of you? I don't know. Maybe Jehu didn't know either. Maybe he still didn't trust God.
It takes trust, right? It's an important thing. In the end too, we have to be willing to give up control and step into the unknown. It is kind of an unknown thing, following God, because we are never sure what he will ask. Whatever he asks though, as hard as it may be or seem, I have found it to always be worth it. God is worth the risk. He has never disappointed. The disappointment usually comes from my own failings. Forgive me for my unbelief God and help me believe and follow you strongly every day!
Lastly I leave you with this: "So Pekah killed Pekahiah" (2 Kings 15:25). Oh silly kings of Israel and your names. :)
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