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http://www.nec.org.au/listen-to-a-sermon-series/kings-series/
Message
2 Kings 14:1-22
Don’t Just Change the Standard
When it comes to on-time train travel the Japanese have the best record.
A train is considered to be ontime only if it arrives within one minute of the schedule.
The average late running of trains in Japan is 20 seconds.
If it is 5 minutes late the conductor issues an official apology and the passengers get a lat certificate to show their employers.
If a train is 1 hour late it will be on the news.
This expectation includes the trains that travel at 300-500kph
In Brisbane if 92% trains arrive on-time during peak hour that is considered to be a good achievement. However a train is only considered to be late if it comes after four minutes of the schedule.
It seems that if you can’t meet the standard then the easiest thing is to … try harder?
No … the easiest thing to do is change the standard.
I suspect that such a decision happens more than we realise.
Rather than try harder, we change the standard.
Let me show you what I mean by having a look at 2 Kings 14:1-22.
It all starts off looking ok.
Focus on Verse 5-6
Law of Moses.
First time a king has been said to follow the law … that is a great statement!
Amaziah breaks the earlier stories of killing whole families.
He shows restraint.
There is a real positive outlook here.
That is the first act of his time as a leader – he starts very well.
Teaching someone to ride a bike … down a hill
It is easy to start well.
Avoiding the crash is more difficult.
Because you don’t have all the skills.
That is the problem with Amaziah – he has a few skills short in the tool box.
Problem 1:-
The standard has been lowered.
3 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not as his father David had done. In everything he followed the example of his father Joash. 4 The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.
2 Kings 14:3-4
Joash is the king that almost never was.
In a rage of revenge Athaliah, Joash’s grandmother, tried to kill all of the family of her son so that she would be the only ruler. But Joash was spared by a kind aunt.
He started ruling when he was seven.
During his reign Joash repaired the temple, which had been neglected by a couple of previous kings. It was a good thing that he did.
But Joash also made a treaty with Hazael King of Aram … and he used money from the temple treasury to pay for the treaty.
Later in his life Joash turned from God and God punished him.
A lot of people remember that Joash fixed the temple.
Few remember that he turned from the Lord in his later years.
Now here is Amaziah
… doing right
… but only right in accordance with the standard set by Joash.
… not doing right in accordance with the standard set by David who was a man after God’s own heart.
And those high places – the places that keep on distracting the people from God – still stand.
This has become the new standard … and people seem to be satisfied … but we know it isn’t right.
Setting the life standard.
My Dad was a great provider, even though he was never home.
What is this really saying … expand.
My Mum really loved me, she just didn’t know how to say it.
What is this really saying … expand.
Our minister is a great preacher, even though we don’t see him much.
What is this really saying … expand.
You just know something is missing here don’t you.
Setting the spiritual standard.
Church is my priority, I go at least once a fortnight.
What is this really saying … expand.
I want to have a close walk with God, finding time is hard.
What is this really saying … expand.
The Bible is really important, I’m still reading through it.
What is this really saying … expand.
You just know something is missing here don’t you.
Talk from the heart
… what are we really missing out on in life?
… ending up with mediocrity.
God has given us this fullness so that we can really enjoy life and our relationship with him
… to be excited about it and enthusiastic.
Too often we settle for so much less.
Problem 2:-
Overinflated self-importance
God gives Amaziah a win against the Edomites … they have been enemies for centuries.
In the middle of the mediocrity of life something great happens.
All of the sudden Amaziah thinks he can take on the world.
8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, with the challenge: “Come, let us face each other in battle.”
9 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. 10 You have indeed defeated Edom and now you are arrogant. Glory in your victory, but stay at home! Why ask for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah also?”
2 Kings 14:8-10
Reminder of not letting trouble go from one generation to the next … verse 8.
This is a blood feud … to get back at what Jehu had done many years ago.
Explain the parable … you have no hope.
It all goes wrong
Jerusalem has never been defeated
… wall broken.
… temple money taken (first time – usually it is given away)
I thought God was with Judah … why has it all gone wrong?
When reading Kings, get help from Chronicles.
Expand briefly
14 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. 15 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?”
16 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.”
2 Chronicles 25:14-16
In more ways than one Amaziah follows in the footsteps of His father Joash.
As soon as something goes right – he turns from God and relies on his own logic.
Application
This is the big challenge to us.
How easy it is to rely on ourselves after God has shown himself to be faithful.
Speak freely.
Emphasising how this happens in all our lives.
It’s because we are looking to the wrong king.
Amaziah -> Joash … not David.
Where are we looking?
Is it to King Jesus?
Prayer
