Today let's see what happened to some kings of Judah who trusted in the people of this world instead of the Lord Jesus. James 4:4 tells us whosoever therefore will be friend of the world is the enemy of God. When faced between choosing this world or Jesus for help, always choose Jesus and His peace that passeth all understanding. Jesus said at John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Get saved now and choose Jesus; repent, stop sinning, make Jesus God of your life, and believe daily that Jesus died for you on the cross, was buried, and rose again.
First, we will discuss King Ahaz of Judah. Pekah of Israel and Rezin of Syria were fighting against Ahaz. Instead of trusting in the Lord Jesus to defeat Pekah and Rezin, Ahaz relied on Tilgath-pilneser of Assyria who defeated Pekah and Rezin. As a result, Tilgath-pilneser distressed Ahaz, making Ahaz and his people slaves. Ahaz suffered because he trusted in the worldly help of Tilgath-pilneser instead of the Lord Jesus. Remember Proverbs 3:5 tells us Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes, fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel (calm your nerves) and marrow to thy bones (refreshment like a drink of cold water on a hot day).
The prophet Isaiah said that Ahaz refused the living fountain of water called Shiloah that is Jesus and suffered as a slave because he relied on the worldly help of an Assyrian King named Tilgath-pilneser. Isaiah 8:6 says Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah (defined as a fountain of living water or Jesus) that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son. Now therefore behold the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river Assyria (and King Tilgath-pilneser to make slaves of Ahaz and his people) and all his glory and he shall come up over all his channels and go over all his banks.
2 Chronicles 28:16 also speaks about Ahaz saying At that time did King Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him. Pictured above, 2 Chronicles 28:20 goes on to say And Tilgath-pilneser King of Assyria came unto him and distressed him, but strengthened him not. For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the Lord and out of the house of the king, and of the princes and gave it unto the King of Assyria.
How prone we are to choose like Ahaz earthly alliances, confederacies of the world, and the flesh, instead of Jesus' soft gentle way at Shiloah's living fountain of waters. Zechariah 13:1 tells us that Jesus is the Shiloah fountain of living waters that Ahaz refused saying In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. Revelation 1:5 says Unto Him (Jesus) that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood (there is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins and sinners plunge beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains). Revelation 7:17 also says Jesus is the living fountain of waters: For the Lamb (Jesus) which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
Friends avoid being a slave to this world like Ahaz and choose the still soft small voice and quiet peaceful way of Jesus (the living Shiloah fountain of water) instead of the boisterous turbulent spirit of this world. This world (Assyria) will come to help but remain to conquer. But remember it is the Lamb (Jesus) that finally conquers all our problems. Jesus said at John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace; In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
OK let's see how our next King of Judah Amaziah got blessed when he refused worldly help. 2 Chronicles 25:6 tells us that King Amaziah hired 100,000 mighty men of valour out of Israel for 100 talents of silver to fight against the Edomites. Pictured above, we see that a man of God at 2 Chronicles 25:7 tells King Amaziah let not the army of Israel go with thee, for the Lord is not with Israel. But if thou wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle; God shall make thee fall before the enemy (King Amaziah was warned that he would lose if he refused to send home the army of Israel) for (only) God hath power to help, and to cast down.
Amaziah responded to this man of God saying if I do what you say, I'll lose 100 talents of silver and a powerful army of 100,000 mighty men of Israel. I'll only have the Lord Jesus to protect me. 2 Chronicles 25:9 says And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the 100 talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The Lord (Jesus) is able to give you much more than this.
Amaziah got blessed and obeyed the instructions of the man of God. 2 Chronicles 25:10 says Amaziah told the army of Israel to go home. As a result the men of Israel's anger was greatly kindled against Judah. Even though the men of Israel persecuted Amaziah and Judah for obeying the Lord Jesus, God blessed Amaziah, by giving him a great victory over the Edomites. Amaziah learned that he only needed the Lord Jesus to defeat the Edomites without the worldly army of Israel. 2 Chronicles 25:14 records that because Amaziah relied on God instead of the Israeli army, Amaziah slaughtered and defeated the Edomites.
Amaziah reminds me of Gideon who only used 300 men instead of 32000 people to defeat the Midianites. God whittled down Gideon's unwieldly band of 32000 soldiers to a few hard core effectives who were the irreducible minimum of 300 faithful warriors that won a victory over the Midianites with just trumpets, pitchers, and lamps. 22000 cowards and 7700 sissies went home but God used 300 brave men to win the victory for Gideon. Amaziah and Gideon learned that if God is for us who can be against us. Let us all boldly say along with Amaziah and Gideon Hebrews 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Notice that God gave Amaziah much more than the 100 talents of silver he lost. Amaziah with just the Lord Jesus' help won a great victory over the Edomites and received much more than 100 talents of silver. God always makes up for any losses we suffer when we leave worldy assistance and choose Jesus to help us. The Lord Jesus said at Mark 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
Brother Bob like Amaziah chose to trust Jesus instead of his millionaire earthly unsaved parents to pay off a debt of $40000 for school loans. In 1986 my parents told me to choose between them with their millions of dollars or Jesus. Hallelujah, I chose Jesus, and Jesus has taken care of Brother Bob for over 30 years. Jesus paid off my entire debt and blessed Brother Bob with extra money to bless many poor widows and orphans over many years. Brother Bob along with Amaziah learned that when we leave the fading riches of this world, we just trade away trash for the treasures of Jesus and rags for the riches of Jesus.
Alright, finally we look at King Asa of Judah who chose the worldly help of the king of Syria Ben Hadad instead of trusting in God to win a battle against Baasha king of Israel. In Asa's early life though he was blessed and trusted in God who helped him win a battle against a million Ethiopians led by Zerah.
2 Chronicles 14:9 says And there came out against them (Asa and his army) Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand (a million) and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah. Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power; help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord, thou art our God, let not man prevail against thee. So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.
But years later Asa forgot the Lord Jesus' victory over the million Ethiopians and sought worldly help from King Ben Hadad of Syria to fight against King Baasha of Israel. After this, Hanani the seer told Asa at 2 Chronicles 16:7 Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria (Ben Hadad) and not relied on the Lord thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand. Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host (a million people) with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because thou didst rely on the Lord, He delivered them into thine hand.
Hanani's words angered Asa and 2 Chronicles 16:10 says Then Asa was wroth (angry) with the seer, and put him (Hanani) in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time. As a result, because Asa chose to seek the worldly help of Ben Hadad instead of Jesus' help, Asa became diseased in his feet until his disease was exceeding great. Yet in his disease he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians (doctors of the world). As a result, Asa died because he rejected God and chose to trust in worldy assistance.
TWO BLESSED STORIES
1) A little boy named Andy told his mom, they were singing about me in church.
Andy walks with me, Andy talks with me, Andy tells me I'm his own.
2) When a muslim or jehovah witness refuses to believe that Jesus is God, get saved, and change their ways, their minds are like concrete.
All mixed up and well set.
I pray in Jesus name that this bible study blessed multitudes all over this earth with peace. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 604-7133. Till we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.
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