21.247 | The Peril of Arrogance | 2 Kings 14:7-14
Published at : October 17, 2021
2 Kings 14:7-14 ESV
7 He struck down ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt and took Sela by storm, and called it Joktheel, which is its name to this day.
8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us look one another in the face.” 9 And Jehoash king of Israel sent word to Amaziah king of Judah, “A thistle on Lebanon sent to a cedar on Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son for a wife,’ and a wild beast of Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thistle. 10 You have indeed struck down Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Be content with your glory, and stay at home, for why should you provoke trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?”
11 But Amaziah would not listen. So Jehoash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced one another in battle at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah. 12 And Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled to his home. 13 And Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash, son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and came to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem for four hundred cubits, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. 14 And he seized all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the Lord and in the treasuries of the king's house, also hostages, and he returned to Samaria.
THE PERIL OF ARROGANCE
After Amaziah had slaughtered 10,000 Edomites, he challenged the king of Israel Jehoahaz to battle. King Jehoahaz had thought it was a mismatch. He said to Amaziah, “A thistle on Lebanon sent to a cedar on Lebanon.” He told Amaziah, “You have indeed struck down Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Be content with your glory, and stay at home, for why should you provoke trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?” And Amaziah was right for the ten tribes was definitely stronger than Judah. But, Amaziah did not listen. Arrogance causes blindness to our vulnerabilities.
Let’s remember that Amaziah had started his reign well but he became proud. After he conquered the Edomites, he foolishly brought back their gods and sacrificed to them. This idolatry resulted in an unnamed prophet coming to him to rebuke him. Amaziah defiantly resisted, saying to him, “Have we made you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” (2 Chron 25:16). The prophet refused to be intimidated, however. He told bluntly the proud king, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.”
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” [Prov 16;18] Nothing can be further from the truth. Amaziah having been blinded by his glory had proceeded to fight against King Jehoahaz. He was defeated decisively. Thus, Jehoahaz went to Judah and looted “all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the Lord and in the treasuries of the king's house, also hostages including king Amaziah, and he returned to Samaria.”
Today, let us not be blinded by our arrogance. Lest we forget, everything that we have is not from us. God’s blessing if seen as God’s gifts won’t make as boastful but humble. Arrogant people are not teachable. Thus, let us check our hearts should we have the tendency to despise counsel from others today.
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7 He struck down ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt and took Sela by storm, and called it Joktheel, which is its name to this day.
8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us look one another in the face.” 9 And Jehoash king of Israel sent word to Amaziah king of Judah, “A thistle on Lebanon sent to a cedar on Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son for a wife,’ and a wild beast of Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thistle. 10 You have indeed struck down Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Be content with your glory, and stay at home, for why should you provoke trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?”
11 But Amaziah would not listen. So Jehoash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced one another in battle at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah. 12 And Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled to his home. 13 And Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash, son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and came to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem for four hundred cubits, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. 14 And he seized all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the Lord and in the treasuries of the king's house, also hostages, and he returned to Samaria.
THE PERIL OF ARROGANCE
After Amaziah had slaughtered 10,000 Edomites, he challenged the king of Israel Jehoahaz to battle. King Jehoahaz had thought it was a mismatch. He said to Amaziah, “A thistle on Lebanon sent to a cedar on Lebanon.” He told Amaziah, “You have indeed struck down Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Be content with your glory, and stay at home, for why should you provoke trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?” And Amaziah was right for the ten tribes was definitely stronger than Judah. But, Amaziah did not listen. Arrogance causes blindness to our vulnerabilities.
Let’s remember that Amaziah had started his reign well but he became proud. After he conquered the Edomites, he foolishly brought back their gods and sacrificed to them. This idolatry resulted in an unnamed prophet coming to him to rebuke him. Amaziah defiantly resisted, saying to him, “Have we made you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” (2 Chron 25:16). The prophet refused to be intimidated, however. He told bluntly the proud king, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.”
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” [Prov 16;18] Nothing can be further from the truth. Amaziah having been blinded by his glory had proceeded to fight against King Jehoahaz. He was defeated decisively. Thus, Jehoahaz went to Judah and looted “all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the Lord and in the treasuries of the king's house, also hostages including king Amaziah, and he returned to Samaria.”
Today, let us not be blinded by our arrogance. Lest we forget, everything that we have is not from us. God’s blessing if seen as God’s gifts won’t make as boastful but humble. Arrogant people are not teachable. Thus, let us check our hearts should we have the tendency to despise counsel from others today.
Listen and FOLLOW on podcast
Spotify: http://bit.ly/glccfil_spotify
Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-applepcast
Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-googlepcast
Audible Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-audible
Follow us in various media platforms: https://gospellightfilipino.contactin.bio
#gospellightfilipino
#godswordfortoday
#bookof2Kings
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