MIND WHOM YOU ASSOCIATE WITH
Friday 9th September 2016
2 Chronicles 25 (NKJV)
Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
2 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a loyal heart.
3 Now it happened, as soon as the kingdom was established for him, that he executed his servants who had murdered his father the king.
4 However he did not execute their children, but did as it is written in the Law in the Book of Moses, where the Lord commanded, saying, “The fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall the children be put to death for their fathers; but a person shall die for his own sin.”
5 Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together and set over them captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, according to their fathers’ houses, throughout all Judah and Benjamin; and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them to be three hundred thousand choice men, able to go to war, who could handle spear and shield.
6 He also hired one hundred thousand mighty men of valor from Israel for one hundred talents of silver.
7 But a man of God came to him, saying, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the Lord is not with Israel—not with any of the children of Ephraim.
8 But if you go, be gone! Be strong in battle! Even so, God shall make you fall before the enemy; for God has power to help and to overthrow.”
9 Then Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do about the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?” And the man of God answered, “TheLord is able to give you much more than this.”
10 So Amaziah discharged the troops that had come to him from Ephraim, to go back home. Therefore their anger was greatly aroused against Judah, and they returned home in great anger. …
The King of Judah (Amaziah) prepared for war against Seir (Edom) and hired 100,000 (One Hundred Thousand) soldiers of Israel to go with him. The man of God warned him not to allow the soldiers of Israel to go to war with him because the Lord was not with Ephraim (Israel). He further warned him that if he went with Israel’s mercenaries to that war, the Lord would make him and his soldiers fall before their enemies. We learn from here not to go with people upon whom the curse and wrath of God abide. As much as lies within your power, avoid close relationship with occult people, criminals, idolatrous and wicked people because the anger of God is upon them. V8 makes it clear that God has the power to help and overthrow. Since that is the case, let us not depend on man, but rather put our confidence in God, especially in times of serious trouble.
Having wisely accepted the counsel of God and defeated his enemies in battle, Amaziah suddenly capitulated and foolishly began to serve the dumb gods of Seir who could not even save Seir from the hand of Amaziah. Amaziah’s backsliding led to the series of actions that culminated to his death. Rest assured that as far as you continue to follow God, it shall be well with; but if you abandon God and good virtues and resort to satan and sin, then your end as well as destruction is near.
Prayer: Ask God to hold you with His powerful hand, and never allow you to backslide, as you sing the song in A & M 296
Guide me oh Thou great Redeemer
Pilgrim through this barren land
I am weak, but Thou art might;
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.