Highlights In Today's Reading:
We see three kings in this passage, each the son of the one before, who all began doing right in the eyes of the Lord. From these great beginnings Amaziah turned to idolatry and God determined to destroy him. Uzziah is punished because, once he became a powerful king, he presumed to take to himself the role of priest . Therefore, the Lord struck him with leprosy. Then his son Jothan reigned (27:6).
Amaziah of Judah had hired the army of Israel to fight Edom when he should have prayed and relied upon God for direction. He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart (25:2). When a prophet advised against his hasty action, Amaziah expressed concern about the money he had already paid out for defense. The prophet assured him that God was able to make up any loss he would sustain if he would only submit to and trust in God.
Like Amaziah, we are prone to seek help from worldly resources when we are confronted with a crisis. What about the sacrifices we must make and the money we may lose in order to do the Lord's will? To give it up would leave us with a helpless feeling; but we would only give up trash for treasures and rags for riches. Consider Job, the Lord is able to give us much more than we may lose when we accept the loss and trust Him. After all, we never lose anything of lasting value by total reliance on God. In fact, by giving God first place we gain the best in life which eternally affects our destiny in heaven.
Amaziah made the serious mistake of spiritual compromise. After winning a war with the Edomites, he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them. Wherefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against Amaziah, and He sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thy hand? (25:14-15).
The Bible was provided by our Creator and is the one true source of wisdom for daily decisions and direction. As we read the Word of God with a desire to do His will, the Spirit of Christ — the Living Word — guides our thoughts and actions (John 16:13).
The enemy is a wolf in sheep's clothing and he will deceive many through their ignorance of God's Word for he knows his time is short.
Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of Man shall give unto you: for Him hath God the Father sealed (John 6:27).
Thought for Today:
We foolishly trust our own wealth or strength when God has promised to open the windows of Heaven if we will just do as He says.
Christ Portrayed:
By Azariah the high priest who stood between Uzziah and the altar, because there was only one proper way to approach the Lord God of Israel and that was through the service of the priests (II Chronicles 26:17-18). Jesus, our great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14), is The Only Way for anyone to come to God. Jesus saith unto him, I am The Way, The Truth, and The Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me (John 14:6).
Word Studies:
25:21 saw one another in the face = faced each other in battle; 26:10 husbandry = the soil.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Shortwave Broadcasts sponsored by Dorothy W. Ralston • Staff: Mary Kay Wagner • Government Officials: Rep. Steve King (IA), Rep. Tom Petri (WI), and Gov. Mark Sanford (SC) • Country: Rwanda (7 million) in central Africa • Major languages: Kinyarwanda and French • Religious freedom • 80% Christian; 10.5% Muslim; 4.5% non-Religious/other; 4% Traditional ethnic; .2% Baha'i • Prayer Suggestion: Pray and give thanks to the Lord for your brothers and sisters in Christ (Colossians 1:2-3).
Optional Reading: I Corinthians 15
Memory Verse for the Week: I Peter 2:2