2 Kings 15:8-12
"8 In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months. 9 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as his fathers had done. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin.10 Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him and struck him down at Ibleam and put him to death and reigned in his place. 11 Now the rest of the deeds of Zechariah, behold, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 12 (This was the promise of the Lord that he gave to Jehu, “Your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” And so it came to pass.)"
The importance of this brief excerpt of history for us lies in the last words in 12 - 'And so it came to pass'. These verses have one simple lesson to teach, and it is that God is faithful to His promise. He had said to Jehu that his house would reign to the fourth generation in Israel (see 10:30), and reign it did, till the appointed and promised time. Here then, is a word for dark and troubled days. Disorder and increasing anarchy were taking hold of the land, and everywhere ominous clouds were gathering - and in the midst, a faithful, covenant-keeping God, true to His Word amid the untruth and lawlessness of His people. Here is a reality we can lay hold of in our own day. Be the international situation as black as it may, and the moral assets of the nation never so low, here is a sure anchorage for the soul in the midst of the gathering storm - the unchanging faithfulness of the living God. He is the one constant factor amid the changes and chances of life. Has He said and will He not do? Has He promised, and will He fail to perform? 'Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away.' Lean hard, then, on the promises of God!