#DailyDevotion Will We Hear God’s Warning Or Follow The World?
2 Chron. 28:8-15 9The men of Israel took from their fellow Israelites 200,000 prisoners — women and children – and they also took a lot of spoil from them and brought it to Samaria.
If we are going to have any understanding about this verse we really the previous verses. Why did Israel Israel attack fellow Israelites and take them captive. Let’s read: “Ahaz was 20 years old when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for 16 years. He didn’t do what was right before the LORD like his ancestor David. 2He lived like the kings of Israel and even cast metal images to serve as Baals. 3He burned sacrifices in the valley of Hinduism’s son and burned his sons in fire – one of the detestable things done by the nations the LORD drove out ahead of Israel. 4He sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree. 5And so the LORD his God put him into the hands of the king of Aram [Syria), who defeated him and took away many prisoners and brought them to Damascus. He also put him into the hands of the king of Israel, who defeated him in a great slaughter. 6Pekah, Remaliah’s son, killed in Judah 120,000 on one day, all good fighting men, because they had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers. 7Zichri, a hero from Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king’s son, Azrikam the palace manager, and Elkanah, who was next to the king.”
The LORD was using wicked men to punish wicked men. Judah, who were Israelites of the southern kingdom, were following the ways of their northern brothers, led by King Ahaz. He cast and worshiped idols, burned his sons in fire, and sacrificed in all the places the LORD forbid. For this reason, the LORD sent Syria and Israel to fight against them, to kill their fighting men, so Judah would see the LORD’s wrath against them and they would repent of their sins. So, indeed, the king of Syria went against Judah and the Syrians took many prisoners and brought them to Damascus to be either ransomed or sold as slaves. Given they took them all the way to Damascus, they were most likely sold as slaves.
Now Israel also was moved by the LORD to attack Judah for her sins. Pekah, the king of Israel, killed 120,000 fighting men of Judah. Two other men of Israel killed Ahaz’s son and the palace manager. The LORD brought it home to the king of Judah. It is in this context we see the conquering Israelites take 200,000 prisoners, women and children, back to Samaria, along with the spoils of war. Did Ahaz repent? It does not seem like it. He had the prophets Isaiah, Hosea and Micah preach to him and to Judah.
Judgment begins with the House of the LORD (1 Peter 4). We should take notice as the Church, which is the house of the LORD. Are we being faithful to Jesus and listening to all of his Word? Are we rejecting evil or practicing it? Are we proclaiming the pure teaching of God’s Word or are we watering it down to attract people to Church (who won’t be saved because we aren’t calling them to repentance). Do we worship other gods: wealth, politics, power, family, sports, sex, alcohol, drugs, work, etc.? These things were written to warn us to be faithful to our LORD Jesus Christ, trust him only for our salvation and our life now, and to reject the ways of the world.
Heavenly Father, forgive us not for not trusting only Jesus for all good things and give us repentant hearts so we may return to him and live in your grace. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.