Esotropiart

In catching up on my Bible reading, I noticed an interesting sequence of events spilled over three chapters of 2 Chronicles (chapters 25 to 27).

Amaziah, king of Judah, was partially faithful to God. This pattern of starting out well and finishing like junk seems to be quite the pattern among the historic kings of the Southern Kingdom. For some reason, their mothers are always mentioned in the opening lines of their various accounts. Hmmm... weird. Maybe that is an indicator that they all died before their time, and their mothers took over until the next, younger king was ready to rule? Just a guess.

King Amaziah made the fatal mistake of worshiping the false gods of Edom. This of course led to his downfall, as the kingdom of Judah (or any kingdom) will fall if God lets it fall. God can not abide the whoredom of idolatry, so He withheld His strength and blessing from the king, and Amaziah eventually fell. It's a pity that these mere men did't realize their strength came from God. A small nation like Israel or Judah would instantly be snuffed out by their more powerful neighboring enemies if God didn't constantly protect and empower them. For more on this idea, read God Wishes to Be Declared God - or skim and read the big, bold words highlighted in the passage included there. There are countless stories throughout the history of Israel that prove that God alone was able to route the enemies of His people. Time and time again, it is by God's hand alone that Israel survived in spite of ridiculously impossible odds. A great example (it's hard to pick just one) is how God used Gideon's 300 men to route untold thousands of Midianites and Amalekites (read about Gideon in Judges 7).

His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.

Psalm 147:10-11 ESV

Astoundingly, immediately after God grants victory to King Amaziah through divine intervention, the king immediately turns and worships the idols confiscated from his defeated foes. What in the world?! How dumb is that? At the same time, I see myself here. How often have I prayed for something from God - perhaps deliverance from a problem - and when I get it, I immediately go on with life without praising Him... as if I didn't even need Him to begin with? This Amaziah tomfoolery hits a little too close to home for me. Replace the idols with an attitude or a sinful habit, and this describes all of us at times. I've learned to not be so quick to condemn what appears to be blatant stupidity in some of the Old Testament accounts, for I too am a practitioner of buffoonery.

On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" And he said to him, "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well."

Luke 17:11-19 ESV

At this point in history, Israel and Judah are two separate kingdoms, with clear division of territory and political power. In fear, Amaziah hires out 100,000 soldiers from neighboring Israel to help fight against his enemies. To pay for this military service, he gives Israel 100 talents of silver. A man of God instructs Amaziah to free the Israelite mercenaries of their obligation, for God Himself has the power to deliver Judah from its enemies. Amaziah worries about his silver expenditure, but the prophet assures him God has much more money than that to replenish the lost sum.

All that is background leading up to the interesting observation I noticed today. Amaziah meets his demise for failing to give glory to God for his victory over the men of Seir. His son Uzziah follows in his footsteps. Uzziah starts out honoring God with his reign and gains fame and power through listening to the wisdom of Zechariah, the prophet of God. However, Uzziah's pride gets the best of him. Much like Saul didn't wait for Samuel to offer sacrifices to God, doing it himself, Uzziah takes the liberty of forgoing obedience to God's law and enters the temple of God in a fashion only allowed by the priests. He is striken with leprosy for his arrogance.

Uzziah's son Jotham takes over as king of Judah, himself the grandson of Amaziah who lost 100 talents of silver. According to 2 Chronicles 27, Jotham does what is right in the sight of God. There is no account of spiritual wreckage later in his reign, unlike his father and grandfather. Here's the kicker for me and the whole point of all this build up. Because of Jotham's faithfulness to God, he is triumphant over his enemies during his lifetime. The Ammonites became subject to him and sent him 100 talents of silver each year for three years, as well as vast amounts of wheat and barley. Maybe it is a coincidence that Jotham's enemies pay him an annual offering that matches (exceeds, counting the grain) what his grandfather lost when he dismissed his 100,000 Israelite mercenaries. Then again, maybe it is not a coincidence at all. God rewards those who are faithful to Him, those who remember Him and set Him in His proper place as God. Perhaps this blessing, spoken of by the prophet during Amaziah's time, was passed down through the generations until God found one man worthy to receive it, a king who "ordered his ways before the Lord his God". I hope the blessing God wishes to pour out on me does not get passed to another generation. Lord, make me faithful to You. Mortify my flesh today! So lent begins.

He hired also 100,000 mighty men of valor from Israel for 100 talents of silver. But a man of God came to him and said, "O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the Lord is not with Israel, with all these Ephraimites. But go, act, be strong for the battle. Why should you suppose that God will cast you down before the enemy? For God has power to help or to cast down." And Amaziah said to the man of God, "But what shall we do about the hundred talents that I have given to the army of Israel?" The man of God answered, "The Lord is able to give you much more than this."

2 Chronicles 25:6-9 ESV