"Eye" Surgery.

In Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Cole made the following observation (paraphrased here) that I would like us to consider today: Amaziah needed to make two important discoveries: First, though he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, he had a divided heart. Second, Amaziah needed to see that God was greater than he had imagined.

1. Do we realize that God is greater than we have imagined? Amaziah’s motive was to win an earthly war, but he initially moved forward without asking God to help him win the war. Using only his human, “earthly” eyes, Amaziah made an assessment and concluded that his troops of Judean and Benjamite men were insufficient for the battle at hand. After the king hired Israelite troops, God’s prophet intervened with a corrective word and warning: “These troops from Israel must not march with you… Even if you go and fight courageously in battle, God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has the power to help or to overthrow.” (see Second Chronicles 25:7-8) This narrative cautions us to live not by what we see, but by what God says.

2. Have we made the error of serving the Lord with a divided heart? One of the biggest challenges of the Second Chronicles 25 passage is that, on the surface, it appears that Amaziah was perfectly within his rights and role as a Judean king to solicit assistance from the army of Israel. But Amaziah’s question, “But what about the hundred talents I paid for these Israelite troops?” (Second Chronicles 25:9a) reveals two characteristics of the person who operates with a divided heart.

a) First, Amaziah initially sought assistance from Israel instead of initially seeking the Lord’s guidance. This is a serious warning to those of us who claim to know the Lord as God, yet never ask for His guidance in anything we do. We are reminded in Psalm 32:8 that it is God who will instruct us, teach us, counsel us, and guide us by informing us of His perspective. Why would we fail to go to God as our first, best, and only Guide?

b) Second, Amaziah made a series of plans about how to spend his resources without first asking the Lord for help. We sometimes forget that even the resources we already have, whether scant or abundant, are under God’s watchful eye. And for us today, we need to remember that our resources at hand are not only financial. We have wonderful opportunities each day to honor God’s sovereignty in our lives by asking Him to guide us in our home lives, our healthcare, our studies, our careers, and more.

Second Chronicles 25:2 says of Amaziah, “He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly.” May God help us to give ourselves to Him wholeheartedly: every day, with every thing we own, with every thought that is in us, forever submitted to His direction and will.

Yes, God: I know there is warfare all around... but my eyes see You. I will wait for Your instruction and direction.

Scripture references are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.