The Seal and Promise of Protection

II Chronicles 25:14–20

“When Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down to them and burned sacrifices to them. The anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and he sent a prophet to him, who said, “Why do you consult this people’s gods, which could not save their own people from your hand?” While he was still speaking, the king said to him, “Have we appointed you an adviser to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?” So the prophet stopped but said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.” After Amaziah king of Judah consulted his advisers, he sent this challenge to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel: “Come, let us face each other in battle.” But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle underfoot. You say to yourself that you have defeated Edom, and now you are arrogant and proud. But stay at home! Why ask for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah also?” Amaziah, however, would not listen, for God so worked that he might deliver them into the hands of Jehoash, because they sought the gods of Edom.”

Understanding God’s will through His Word, His Spirit, and drawing close to Him provides the necessary guidance in life. It may not always be easy, for one, in getting the direction, and on another level when we do receive the instruction, following it. There is much room for liberty, God is, after all, our Father who delights in us (Psa 147:11), there are however, certain non-negotiables, and it is exactly those that King Amaziah committed in his pride and arrogance having had some success and he disregarded sacred advice to his peril and eventual demise (vv. 14–16). It would’ve been much simpler to follow God, to soak in His presence, and to live close to Him because He provides, protects (Psa 121:7-8), nurtures, because He loves, and His purposes are for our good and His glory. American theologian Thomas Merton wrote, “My life is a mystery which I do not attempt to really understand, as though I were led by the hand in a night where I see nothing, but can fully depend on the love and protection of Him who guides me.” Events unfold according to God’s plan, and it would be prudent for us to humbly seek His counsel regularly: “After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and His mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead.” So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene (Matt 2:19–23).” The seal and promise of the Holy Spirit is over us (Eph 1:13). The Living Life writer reminds us that “as we live today, we have the guidance of the Holy Spirit to help us walk according to God’s will. When we stray from His path, God warns us through the Word and the people around us. When God warns us through His Spirit, let us make sure to listen and obey Him”, for only He has “the words of eternal life (John 6:68).”