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Sometimes we read Scripture and wonder, \u201cHow did that happen?\u201d A closer look usually reveals the answer. In today\u2019s passage, deeper investigation shows that a confusing defeat actually made perfect sense!<\/p>\n
Scripture:<\/strong><\/h3>\n2 Kings, chapters 13-14; 2 Chronicles, chapter 25; New Testament reading: 2 Timothy, chapter 3<\/p>\n
2 Kings 14:8-14<\/a> (NLT):<\/strong><\/h4>\nOne day Amaziah sent messengers with this challenge to Israel\u2019s king Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz and grandson of Jehu: \u201cCome and meet me in battle!\u201d <\/em><\/p>\nBut King Jehoash of Israel replied to King Amaziah of Judah with this story: \u201cOut in the Lebanon mountains and thistle sent a message to a mighty cedar tree: \u2018Give your daughter in marriage to my son.\u2019 But just then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and stepped on the thistle, crushing it! You have indeed defeated Edom, and you are proud of it. But be content with your victory and stay at home! Why stir up trouble that will only bring disaster on you and the people of Judah?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nBut Amaziah refused to listen, so King Jehoash of Israel mobilized his army against King Amaziah of Judah. The two armies drew up their battle lines at Beth-shemesh in Judah. Judah was routed by the army of Israel, and its army scattered and fled for home. King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah\u2019s king, Amaziah son of Joash and grandson of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. Then he marched to Jerusalem, where he demolished 600 feet of Jerusalem\u2019s wall, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. He carried off all the gold and silver and all the articles from the Temple of the Lord. He also seized the treasures from the royal palace, along with hostages, and then returned to Samaria. <\/em><\/p>\nObservations:<\/strong><\/h3>\nHow Did That Happen?<\/em><\/h3>\nAs we read this passage in 2 Kings 14, we need to remember a few things.\u00a0 First, Israel \u2013 the northern kingdom, also called Samaria \u2013 was bad. 2 Kings 13:10-11<\/a> tells us, \u201cJehoash son of Jehoahaz began to rule over Israel in the thirty-seventh year of King Joash\u2019s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria sixteen years. But he did what was evil in the Lord\u2019s sight. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit.\u201d\u00a0 So Jehoash and the people of Israel continued in the sins of idolatry and rebellion against God.<\/p>\nSecond, we need to remember that Amaziah is generally depicted as a \u201cgood\u201d king. \u201cAmaziah did what was pleasing in the Lord\u2019s sight, but not like his ancestor David. Instead, he followed the example of his father, Joash\u201d (2 Kings 14:3<\/a>). So Israel was bad, and Jehoahaz was bad; Judah was generally good, and Amaziah was good.<\/p>\nSo how did Judah and Amaziah lose in battle to Jehoahaz and Israel?\u00a0 How did that happen?<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Rest of the Story<\/em><\/h3>\nYears ago, Paul Harvey had a radio program called \u201cThe Rest of the Story.\u201d He would tell about some historical event or person, and then at the end he would have a twist.\u00a0 He would end with the phrase, \u201cAnd now you know the rest of the story.\u201d<\/p>\n
We find \u201cthe rest of the story\u201d of Amaziah and Jehoahaz in our reading from 2 Chronicles 25 today.\u00a0 When Amaziah was preparing to go to battle against Edom, he hired troops from Israel.\u00a0 \u201cBut a man of God came to him and said, \u2018Your majesty, do not hire troops from Israel, for the Lord is not with Israel. He will not help those people of Ephraim!\u201d (2 Chronicles 25:7<\/a>).\u00a0 So Amaziah sent the Israelite troops home and went to battle with his own troops. God gave Amaziah the victory.<\/p>\n\u201cWhen King Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought with him idols taken from the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down in front of them, and offered sacrifices to them!<\/strong>\u201d (2 Chronicles 25:14<\/a>).\u00a0 God was not pleased!\u00a0 \u201cThis made the Lord very angry, and he sent a prophet to ask, \u2018Why do you turn to gods who could not even save their own people from you?\u2019\u201d (25:15<\/a>).\u00a0 But Amaziah rejected the message from God.<\/p>\nHow Did This Happen?<\/em><\/h3>\nWhen Amaziah rejected his message, the prophet whom God had sent said this: \u201cI know that God has determined to destroy you because you have done this and have refused to accept my counsel\u201d (25:16<\/a>).\u00a0 After that, Jehoahaz decided \u2013 in consultation with his advisers, rather than with God \u2013 to go out and fight with Israel.\u00a0 When Jehoahaz warned him, Amaziah refused to listen.\u00a0 \u201cBut Amaziah refused to listen, for God was determined to destroy him for turning to the gods of Edom\u201d (25:20<\/a>). And that\u2019s exactly what happened.<\/p>\nApplication:<\/strong><\/h3>\nHow Did That Happen?<\/em><\/h3>\nThis story reminds us, again, of the importance of context in reading and understanding Scripture. If we only read the story in 2 Kings 14, we might wonder why God had allowed Amaziah, a \u201cpretty good\u201d king, to be so thoroughly defeated by Jehoahaz, a wicked king. How did that happen?<\/em> But when we read \u201cthe rest of the story,\u201d we understand. Amaziah had been a pretty good king, but he succumbed to the temptation to leave God\u2019s way and go his own way. Like so many of his ancestors, Amaziah placed his trust in gods that were not really gods. The gods of Edom couldn\u2019t protect the Edomites from Amaziah, yet Amaziah decided to worship them!<\/p>\nBut today\u2019s lesson is not just about context in studying Scripture. It\u2019s also a reminder to us not to trust in the things of this world. Everything good that we have has come from God \u2013 whether we acknowledge that or not. If we place our trust in this world, and its \u201cgods,\u201d we will suffer defeat just like Amaziah did. God sends us warnings, just as he sent prophets to warn Amaziah. We ignore God\u2019s warnings at our peril!<\/p>\n
Prayer:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
One day Amaziah sent messengers with this challenge to Israel\u2019s king Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz and grandson of Jehu: \u201cCome and meet me in battle!\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n But King Jehoash of Israel replied to King Amaziah of Judah with this story: \u201cOut in the Lebanon mountains and thistle sent a message to a mighty cedar tree: \u2018Give your daughter in marriage to my son.\u2019 But just then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and stepped on the thistle, crushing it! You have indeed defeated Edom, and you are proud of it. But be content with your victory and stay at home! Why stir up trouble that will only bring disaster on you and the people of Judah?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n But Amaziah refused to listen, so King Jehoash of Israel mobilized his army against King Amaziah of Judah. The two armies drew up their battle lines at Beth-shemesh in Judah. Judah was routed by the army of Israel, and its army scattered and fled for home. King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah\u2019s king, Amaziah son of Joash and grandson of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. Then he marched to Jerusalem, where he demolished 600 feet of Jerusalem\u2019s wall, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. He carried off all the gold and silver and all the articles from the Temple of the Lord. He also seized the treasures from the royal palace, along with hostages, and then returned to Samaria. <\/em><\/p>\n As we read this passage in 2 Kings 14, we need to remember a few things.\u00a0 First, Israel \u2013 the northern kingdom, also called Samaria \u2013 was bad. 2 Kings 13:10-11<\/a> tells us, \u201cJehoash son of Jehoahaz began to rule over Israel in the thirty-seventh year of King Joash\u2019s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria sixteen years. But he did what was evil in the Lord\u2019s sight. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit.\u201d\u00a0 So Jehoash and the people of Israel continued in the sins of idolatry and rebellion against God.<\/p>\n Second, we need to remember that Amaziah is generally depicted as a \u201cgood\u201d king. \u201cAmaziah did what was pleasing in the Lord\u2019s sight, but not like his ancestor David. Instead, he followed the example of his father, Joash\u201d (2 Kings 14:3<\/a>). So Israel was bad, and Jehoahaz was bad; Judah was generally good, and Amaziah was good.<\/p>\n So how did Judah and Amaziah lose in battle to Jehoahaz and Israel?\u00a0 How did that happen?<\/strong><\/p>\n Years ago, Paul Harvey had a radio program called \u201cThe Rest of the Story.\u201d He would tell about some historical event or person, and then at the end he would have a twist.\u00a0 He would end with the phrase, \u201cAnd now you know the rest of the story.\u201d<\/p>\n We find \u201cthe rest of the story\u201d of Amaziah and Jehoahaz in our reading from 2 Chronicles 25 today.\u00a0 When Amaziah was preparing to go to battle against Edom, he hired troops from Israel.\u00a0 \u201cBut a man of God came to him and said, \u2018Your majesty, do not hire troops from Israel, for the Lord is not with Israel. He will not help those people of Ephraim!\u201d (2 Chronicles 25:7<\/a>).\u00a0 So Amaziah sent the Israelite troops home and went to battle with his own troops. God gave Amaziah the victory.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen King Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought with him idols taken from the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down in front of them, and offered sacrifices to them!<\/strong>\u201d (2 Chronicles 25:14<\/a>).\u00a0 God was not pleased!\u00a0 \u201cThis made the Lord very angry, and he sent a prophet to ask, \u2018Why do you turn to gods who could not even save their own people from you?\u2019\u201d (25:15<\/a>).\u00a0 But Amaziah rejected the message from God.<\/p>\n When Amaziah rejected his message, the prophet whom God had sent said this: \u201cI know that God has determined to destroy you because you have done this and have refused to accept my counsel\u201d (25:16<\/a>).\u00a0 After that, Jehoahaz decided \u2013 in consultation with his advisers, rather than with God \u2013 to go out and fight with Israel.\u00a0 When Jehoahaz warned him, Amaziah refused to listen.\u00a0 \u201cBut Amaziah refused to listen, for God was determined to destroy him for turning to the gods of Edom\u201d (25:20<\/a>). And that\u2019s exactly what happened.<\/p>\n This story reminds us, again, of the importance of context in reading and understanding Scripture. If we only read the story in 2 Kings 14, we might wonder why God had allowed Amaziah, a \u201cpretty good\u201d king, to be so thoroughly defeated by Jehoahaz, a wicked king. How did that happen?<\/em> But when we read \u201cthe rest of the story,\u201d we understand. Amaziah had been a pretty good king, but he succumbed to the temptation to leave God\u2019s way and go his own way. Like so many of his ancestors, Amaziah placed his trust in gods that were not really gods. The gods of Edom couldn\u2019t protect the Edomites from Amaziah, yet Amaziah decided to worship them!<\/p>\n But today\u2019s lesson is not just about context in studying Scripture. It\u2019s also a reminder to us not to trust in the things of this world. Everything good that we have has come from God \u2013 whether we acknowledge that or not. If we place our trust in this world, and its \u201cgods,\u201d we will suffer defeat just like Amaziah did. God sends us warnings, just as he sent prophets to warn Amaziah. We ignore God\u2019s warnings at our peril!<\/p>\nObservations:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
How Did That Happen?<\/em><\/h3>\n
The Rest of the Story<\/em><\/h3>\n
How Did This Happen?<\/em><\/h3>\n
Application:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
How Did That Happen?<\/em><\/h3>\n
Prayer:<\/strong><\/h3>\n