FROM BAD TO WORSE IN DISTRESS

PROCLAMATION

“In times of his distress did he trespass yet more against The Lord…” 2 Chronicles 28:22 (KJV)

EXPLANATION

In the year that King Uzziah died, his twenty year old son Ahaz began to reign in his stead.  However, unlike his father, Ahaz did not do that which was pleasing in the eyes of The Lord.  He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and worshiped the idol god Baal, burned incense unto him, and sacrificed his children in the fire as part of that worship. (2 Chronicles 28:1-4)  Wherefore The Lord God delivered him into the hands of the king of Syria, who defeated him in battle and took his people as captives into Damascus.  Pekah son of Remaliah slew one hundred and twenty thousand of the valiant men of Judah.  Zichri, a warrior from Ephram, killed Maaseiah the king’s son, and Azrikam the governor of the palace, and Elkanah who was  next in line to be king.  The men of Israel took two hundred thousand women and children prisoner from Judah, in addition to taking a great deal of plunder, and carried them all to Samaria. (2 Chronicles 28:5-8)  But Obed, a prophet of The Lord, met the men of Israel and told them that they defeated Judah because The Lord was angry with Judah.  However, they slaughtered them in a rage and made slaves of their women and children and now The Lord is angry with them.  He told them to return the women and children to Judah or they would face the wrath of God.  So the soldiers of Israel gave up the prisoners and the plunder and let them return to Judah. (2 Chronicles 28:9-15)  Later when the Edomites attacked Judah, Ahaz called on the king of Assyria for help.  The Philistines had also invaded Judah and taken the cities in the southern portion.  The king of Assyria came to him but brought him more trouble instead of help.  Ahaz took things from the temple of The Lord and gave them to the king of Assyria but he still would not help him.  In times of trouble, Ahaz became even more unfaithful to The Lord.  He offered sacrifices unto the gods of Damascus, who had defeated him, thinking they could help him but it led to his downfall and the fall of Israel.  He set up altars on every street corner and offered burnt sacrifices to the idol god Baal, and this greatly angered The Lord God. (2 Chronicles 28:22-27)

APPLICATION

Some people perform better when pushed or stressed.  “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” (Author Unknown)  However, some people do not respond well to pressure situations, they “crack under pressure.”  Sometimes our attempt to handle things only makes them worse.  Believers should “take your burden to The Lord and leave it there.” (Charles Albert Tindley)  Take everything to God in prayer, (Philippians 4:6) and wait upon The Lord. (Psalm 27:14)