THE BATTLE THAT WE FIGHT WITHIN

PROCLAMATION

“They conspired against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish, but they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there.”  2 Kings 14:19 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

Amaziah son of Joash and king of Judah initially did that which was right in the eyes of The Lord. (2 Kings 14:1-4)  After he was firmly established as the king, he executed all of the officials who had murdered his father King Joash. (2 Kings 14:5)  Then he sent word to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel with a challenge: “Come, let us face each other in battle.”  In the civil war that followed, Judah was routed by Israel.  Amaziah was captured, the wall of Jerusalem was torn down, all of the gold, silver, and treasuries of the temple and the royal palace were taken, and some of the people were taken as hostages. (2 Kings 14:13-14)  After Jehoash king of Israel died, Amaziah escaped and fled to Lachish.  But his own men conspired against him and went after him.  They found him and they killed him in Lachish. Then they brought his body back to Jerusalem and buried him with his ancestors. (2 Kings 14:17-20)

APPLICATION

After the division of Israel into the northern and southern kingdoms, there were periods when they were at war with each other.  This civil war lasted for years.  Men will kill each other for ideological differences, greed, jealousy, envy, or out of anger for a perceived wrong which was done.  Today, not only do we see civil wars within countries, some of us experience civil wars within ourselves.  Like the apostle Paul, the good that we would do is sabotaged by our sinful human nature. (Romans 7:19)  The battle between good and evil within us is evidenced by our inconsistent behavior, at times we act like a child of God and other times we don’t.  Our behavior has an effect on the people and the world around us.  Let us pray for God’s help so that we do not harm others or cause them to stumble and fall into sin.