Jehoash's Unintended Sermon

The Old Testament is just amazing in that the more I study it, the more lessons I draw from its text. Case in point: I was studying in 2 Kings 14 this morning about the conflict between Amaziah (king of Judah) and Jehoash (king of Israel). Amaziah's army had just "killed ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt" (vs. 7) and he was reveling in the rush of victory. Now he felt invincible, ready to take on the world, so he challenged Jehoash, saying, "Come, let us face one another in battle" (vs. 8). Notice Jehoash's response...

"The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son as wife'; and a wild beast that was in Lebanon trampled the thistle. You have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Glory in that, and stay at home; for why should you meddle with trouble so that you fall - you and Judah with you?" (vs. 9-10).

Did Amaziah heed Jehoash's advice? Of course not. As the text goes on to explain, Amaziah rushed headlong into battle, feeling confident that victory was inevitable. As a result, "Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled to his tent" (vs. 12). Amaziah was captured, the wall of Jerusalem was pulled down, and the Temple was ransacked (vs. 13-14).

Jehoash was a wicked king, as were all of the kings of Israel, and so I'm sure he didn't intend to impart to us a spiritual lesson, but the fact is, his comments to Amaziah were spot on, and the spiritual lesson here is brilliant. 

When we claim a victory over sin, especially a particular sin that perhaps we've been struggling with, it is tempting to become cocky, or arrogant. Like Amaziah, our heart might be lifted up in pride to the point that we become careless and even foolish. Suddenly, we feel as if we can handle any temptation, and we almost welcome the challenge. As a result, we put ourselves in precarious situations thinking that because we overcame that sin, we are so strong and so mighty that we can overcome this sin, too. All too often, when we are prideful like Amaziah, we rush headlong into doom and defeat.

It is a wonderful thing to overcome temptation, but remain humble.

Thanks Jehoash for your unintended sermon.