How does 2 Kings 8:15 connect with Proverbs 6:16-19 on wickedness? Setting the Stage: Royal Intrigue and God’s Standards 2 Kings 8:15: “On the following day, Hazael took a thick cloth, dipped it in water, and spread it over the king’s face. So Ben-hadad died, and Hazael reigned in his place.” “There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: • haughty eyes, • a lying tongue, • hands that shed innocent blood, • a heart that devises wicked schemes, • feet that run swiftly to evil, • a false witness who pours out lies, • and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.” Spotting the Wicked Traits in Hazael • Haughty eyes – Ambition drove Hazael to covet the throne (8:13). • A lying tongue – He falsely reported Elisha’s message to Ben-hadad (8:10). • Hands that shed innocent blood – He murdered the sick king (8:15). • A heart that devises wicked schemes – The suffocation plot was premeditated. • Feet that run swiftly to evil – He acted “on the following day,” wasting no time. • A false witness who pours out lies – His deception before and after the act aligns with this. • One who stirs up conflict – His coup destabilized Aram and later brought war on Israel (cf. 2 Kings 8:28-29). Why the Link Matters • Proverbs lists what God actively hates; 2 Kings shows those hates embodied. • Scripture records the event as historical fact, underscoring that God’s moral standards are fixed and observable in real time (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). • Hazael’s rise reminds us that worldly success never cancels divine judgment (2 Kings 10:32-33; Hosea 1:4). Echoes Elsewhere in Scripture • “You shall not murder.” — Exodus 20:13 • “The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.” — Psalm 5:6 • “Whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” — Galatians 6:7 • “No murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” — 1 John 3:15 Taking It Home: Guarding Our Hearts Today • Examine motives before God (Psalm 139:23-24). • Reject any plan that depends on deception or harm (Romans 12:17). • Remember that God’s “eyes are everywhere, observing the wicked and the good” (Proverbs 15:3). • Pursue humility, truth, and peacemaking—the precise opposites of the seven detestable traits (Micah 6:8; Matthew 5:9). |
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