How to get out of the Hole

Read 2 Chronicles 28.

Will Rogers once said, "When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging!"

This would have been helpful advice for King Ahaz.  At twenty years of age, he wanted to run his own life.  For some inexplicable reason, he thought he knew how to run his life and lead his nation better than the God who created him and gave him his position.  He not only forsook the LORD but then made his own gods.  He worshiped and sacrificed to pieces of metal that he had fashioned.

God put increasing pressure upon the king to turn his heart back.  Despite defeat, enormous loss, and humiliation, Ahaz hardened his heart toward the LORD.  "In the time of his distress he became yet more faithless to the LORD" (v.22).  Spiritually, he just kept digging the hole deeper and deeper. 

It is interesting to read that even those in the northern kingdom of Israel, who indeed were far from God themselves, acknowledged their sin and guilt.  Though there is no record of repentance toward the LORD, they at least understood their accountability to Him and treated Judah with kindness and mercy.

God's intent in disciplining us is to call us to stop going our own way and turn back to Him.  He is gracious and merciful to forgive.  As a wonderful father with his children, He wants a relationship with us.

"All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD.  But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word." (Isaiah 66:2)

What it means to be a Focused Follower

Read 2 Chronicles 27.

Jotham proved to be a good ruler for the southern kingdom of Judah.  His many construction projects enhanced the nation.  His military defeat of the Ammonites added to Judah's power and financial strength.  But at the core of his success and achievements was his spiritual discipline.

"And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD..." (v.2)

"So, Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God." (v.6)

The word "ordered" (ESV) or "prepared" (KJV) in Hebrew the meaning has to do with determination and being fixed, or focused.  He was determined to live his life with a strong sense of accountability to God.  Such living requires moment by moment personal discipline.

There is no discipleship without spiritual discipline.

Being a follower of Christ is more than a one-time decision for salvation.  There is a daily dealing with life and the faithful use of the all that God has given to us.

The beginning of the personal work that is required is seen in the words of the Apostle Paul: "take every thought captive to obey Christ".  (2 Corinthians 10:5b)

It is not how you start that Counts

Read 2 Chronicles 26.

Many runners may begin a race in the lead.  Many leaders rise to the top early in their career.  In the final analysis the only assessment that counts is how one finishes.

King Uzziah began his reign doing all the right things and God blessed him accordingly.  At age 16, he needed a mentor and the LORD provided Zechariah, the prophet, to teach the king the word of God and how to put it into practice.  Early on then, the king made some solid spiritual commitments (v.5).

1. He set himself to seek God.

A person who desires to live for the LORD must discipline themselves each day, throughout the day.  The Christian life is not merely coming to faith in Jesus but one that cultivates a growing in relationship with Him.  This, as with any relationship, requires time and effort.  Uzziah "set" himself, became determined, to pursue God.

2. He became a student of God's word.

He sought out and received instruction.  Notice that this was not an academic exercise, but the intent of the teaching was to learn "the fear of God."  Who is He?  What has He said?  What are His expectations of me?  How can I show respect for the LORD in my daily thoughts, words, and actions?

And, as long as Uzziah maintained these commitments, the LORD blessed him in every aspect of his life.

The turn in the story is in verse 16.  "But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction."  As a young man, he knew his limitations and willingly acknowledged his dependence on God and others.  But one of the dangers of success and achievement in life is a wrong sense of independence.  Respect and need for God and people can become dispensable.  Living independently of the LORD is the essence of sin itself!

In Proverbs 30:7-9, Agur wrote: "Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God."

In order to finish strong in life, the old hymn writer said it best, "I need Thee every hour."

Half-heartedness has a Price

Read 2 Chronicles 25.

King Amaziah's life may be summed up by the statement in verse 2: "And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, yet not with a whole heart."

A half-hearted believer is one who knows better but continues to live in disobedience to God.  Instead of adhering to God's word and remaining faithful, they are swayed by selfish pleasures and the culture around them.  The Apostle James referred to such a person as "double-minded".  "For the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.  For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." (James 1:6b-8)

Amaziah did a right thing, followed by a bad decision.  At each key juncture, God, in His faithfulness, sent a prophet with a specific message.  He listened and responded once.  The next time he was so attached to the fantasies he had procured, that he put his faith in them instead of the LORD.  He turned his back on God and suffered the consequences.  Not only did he lose his life, but the people he around him suffered.

"Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart." (Psalm 119:2)

How soon we can Forget

Read 2 Chronicles 24.

Judah's new 7 year old king had been protected and then mentored by Jehoiada, the Temple chief priest.  Under the previous wicked leadership, the Temple had been neglected and now was in disrepair.  As an adult, King Joash took on the project of restoring Solomon's Temple.

Evidently, tithing and the additional financial gatherings for the support of the Temple ministry had gone by the wayside.  It was the teaching priest's responsibility to educate the people regarding God's word and His expectations about giving.  To not do so resulted in disobedience on the part of the teachers and the people.  The king's orders were specific.  They were to reestablish the gathering of finances and pay to get the work done quickly.

The priests did not respond.  So, the king took matters into his own hands.  He had them make a chest and set it outside the Temple gate.  The people were to give as they entered for prayer, worship, and/or to offer sacrifices.  Indeed, this was a tax, established in the law, and not their tithe money.  Finally, the restoration of the house of the LORD was done.

Unfortunately, once Jehoiada died, Joash listened to ungodly counsel.  The nation plunged headlong into worshiping false gods.  When the LORD sent His prophets to confront the sin, the people refused to listen, even stoning to death Jehoiada's son.  "Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah's father had shown him..." (v.22).

Jehoiada had poured his life and ministry into this young man.  But when Joash was on his own, he seemingly tossed it all away.

How soon we can forget the spiritual training we have received!  How soon we can forget the life lessons learned!  How soon we can forget the goodness and grace of God to us!

"But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments."  (Psalm 103:17-18)

A Prepared Leader Makes a Difference

Read 2 Chronicles 23.

The southern kingdom of Judah was being ruled by the wicked and violent Athaliah.  She even slaughtered her own grandchildren to secure her throne.  Only by the grace of God was one very young grandson spared.  The priest's wife at the Temple hid little Joash and began to raise him.

How this must have grieved the heart of God to see His people subjected to such sinful leadership and encouraged to worship Baal.  The priest, Jehoiada, understood clearly the everlasting covenants God made with the people of Israel and David.  Joash was now the sole survivor of David's lineage and the hope of the nation's future.  But Jehoiada needed to be shrewd in taking steps to overthrow the self-appointed Queen.

It is obvious that God prepared the hearts of the people for this transition.  They had had enough.  In addition, step by step, this spiritual leader prepared.

1. He chose the place.  The Temple was a sacred spot and where he had authority.

2. He organized the protection.  From the inside out, he appointed and delegated responsibilities.

3. He distributed the weapons with delegated authority to use them.  These resources were essential to get the job done.

4. Only then did he reveal the solution to the nation's crying need.  He presented 7 year old Joash, gave him his crown, and more importantly "the testimony."  This was a copy of God's word.  It was required of all kings to have their own copy to know and to put into practice according to Deuteronomy 17:18-20.

5. He led the people in getting rid of Athaliah and the altars of Baal.

6. He "made a covenant between himself, all the people, and the king that they should be the LORD's people."

May we be the LORD's people today, responding to God's leaders in this generation.

Same Family. Different Spiritually. Why?

Read 2 Chronicles 22.

With all his brothers killed, the youngest son of Jehoram took the throne of Judah.  King Ahaziah followed in his father's wicked footsteps.  However, verse 3 places the blame on his mother's training, as she was the daughter of Ahab, the king of Israel.  Ahaziah's reign only lasted one year.

The LORD will only allow individuals to go so far in their rebellion against Him.  The young king listened to godless counsel, made foolish decisions, and the result was death.

Then, his mother, Athaliah, slaughtered her own family so she could seize the national power of Judah.  Her heart was so given over to satanic control that she killed her own grandchildren.  But, thanks to the quick work of Ahaziah's sister, the king's baby son, Joash, was protected.  This godly woman, wife of the priest Jehoiada, put her own life at risk in hiding the baby in the Temple.  If Joash had been killed, the royal lineage of David would have ended and ultimately, of course, the family of the Messiah.

God will deal with Athaliah and unfold His plans for Joash in time.

Two women, a mother and a daughter, one as wicked as anyone in the Bible; the other acted mercifully toward her nephew.  Here also is a brother and a sister, raised in the same household.  One became a wicked king, while the other served God in the Temple.  How can people in the same family be so different spiritually?  Though the parental training is an important influence, and parents will be held accountable for teaching their children to love and obey God, there is more.

Many faithful believers were not raised in Christian homes.  Many who were raised in Christian families do not follow Jesus today.  Good or bad, one cannot rely on the faith of their parents.  Nor will it be acceptable to blame bad experiences or bad examples for turning away from the LORD.  The words of the Apostle Paul explain how personal this life-changing decision is: "If you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)