Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

“But a man of God came to him, saying, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for Yahweh is not with Israel, all the Ephraimites. But even still, you yourself go, do! Be strong for the battle else God will make you stumble before the enemy! For there is power with God to help and to cause stumbling.” And Amaziah said to the man of God, “Now what should I do with the one hundred talents that I have given to the troops of Israel?” And the man of God said, “Yahweh is able to give to you more than this.” Then Amaziah dismissed the troops that came to him from Ephraim to go to their home. And they became very angry with Judah, and they returned to their home in great anger. Then Amaziah strengthened himself, and leading his army, he went to the Valley of Salt. And he struck down ten thousand men of Seir.” (2 Chronicles 25:7-11)

Chapter twenty-five is the reign of Amaziah. He starts off okay. He does do what the Lord says is right. The problem is he doesn’t do it with a whole heart. He punishes the servants who killed his father. He prepared his people for war against Edom, even hiring some Israelites. But the Lord told him to rely on the Lord, so he sent the Israelites away. God was with him and they defeated the Edomites. But Amaziah took back as plunder the idols of the Edomites and worshipped them himself. He did not listen to the prophets about it. Then he picked a fight with Israel, in which he was defeated and plundered – because he had turned to idols and away from God. Since he had turned to idols, a conspiracy was plotted against him. He fled from it, but they caught up to him at Lachish and killed him there.

Chapter twenty-six is the reign of Uzziah. He started out pretty good. He did what was right in God’s eyes. He built up the nation. He sought after God. God gave him successes against the Philistines. He built up the army and put good men in positions of authority. They had war machines and skilled men to work them. They got a reputation for being mighty. But the greater he got, the more prideful he got. Then he came into the Temple – as if he was a priest – to offer incense to the Lord. This was something God said only the priests could do. But he thought he was so great he could. The priests tried to stop them and he was angry with them. But when he reached out for the censer, his hand became leprous. So did his forehead. He was stricken for his disobedience to the Law and the pride which made him think he could do whatever he felt like. He left the Temple and dwelt in a separate house from then on (as lepers had to to protect the rest until they were clean). He never got clean. Perhaps he never repented of his pride? In any case, his son Jotham governed the people in Uzziah’s place until Uzziah died. Then Jotham took the throne.

Chapter twenty-seven is the reign of Jotham. He followed God and did what was right in God’s eyes. But he refused to ever enter the Temple – probably because of what happened with his father. He built the Upper Gate. He built cities, citadels, and towers. He went to war against the Ammonites and made them tributaries. He established his ways before God and was therefore strengthened in himself and his kingdom. He reigned for sixteen years and then he died.

Chapter twenty-eight is the reign of Jotham’s son Ahaz. He became king at age twenty and ruled for sixteen years. He did NOT follow the Lord, but was an idolater like the kings of Israel. He did detestable things. Because he didn’t follow God, he was NOT strengthened. The Aramites attacked and took captives. Israel attacked, killed a bunch of them, and also took prisoners. Pekah came and killed one hundred and twenty thousand strong warriors – every one of which had turned to idols. People from inside Judah rose up and killed officials and princes. Ahaz was mightily oppressed. He even went to the Assyrians for help – giving treasure from the Temple to buy their services. No one helped him. He closed up the Temple completely. Made altars to the gods of Aram all over Jerusalem, and led the people all over Judah to do the same. He died and they did not bury him with the kings of Judah or take him to be buried with the kings of Israel (whose ways he followed). His son Hezekiah took the throne.

Summary

Key Players: God, Amaziah, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, the Jews.

Key Verse(s): 2 Chronicles 25:14-16; 26:14-20; 27:1-4; 28:1-4, 22-27