Today’s Scripture Reading (December
27, 2019): 2 Chronicles 25
A
few years ago, I had a friend that seemed to be in continual conflict. His
relationship with his wife was in trouble and the kids seemed to be out of
control. It appeared that every area of his life was embroiled in conflict.
Eventually, the conflict in his life subsided, but that was when he seemed to
start to search for conflict in other areas of his life. Oh, he would profess
his hate for conflict, but almost without thought, he seemed to find another
argument or fight into which he could throw himself. In his mind, the battles
were unavoidable. Soon it became very noticeable that he seemed to be happy
only when he was in the midst of a fight. He would never admit it, but it
became apparent that his life now revolved around the various conflicts in his
circle of influence. The disagreements that once were a shock to the system
were now merely a necessary component of his life.
Sometimes
the fight is addictive. If we exist in a state of conflict too long, we find
that we need the battle to live. Whether it is the chemicals that our body emits
during times of stress - or that we learn to be comfortable in the conflict,
our body begins to crave the argument – and we can find fights around every
corner. It happens individually – but it also happens with organizations. Peace-loving
people are mystically transformed into people craving just one more fight.
Amaziah
is described as a man who did right in the eyes of God. He was the son of
Joash, and it seemed that at the beginning of his reign, he possessed both the
strengths and the weaknesses of his father. But then something happened. That
‘something’ was a fight against Edom – a battle in which he prevailed. And when
the war was won, Amaziah appears to have built up a need for one more fight.
Bolstered by his win over Edom, Amaziah turns his attention to his brothers in
the North. But Jehoash, the King of Israel, was not looking for a fight.
In
Eastern cultures, hard conversations were often dealt with through the use of
parables – and that is precisely what Jehoash decides to do here. His response
to the invitation to do battle is both wise and diplomatic. He does not want
conflict with his southern brother, but he also will not shy away from the fight.
In the parable, he compares Amaziah to a thistle and himself to a cedar.
Amaziah may be able to inflict some pain on the wild beast, but in the end, it
would only be the cedar, Jehoash, that would continue to stand.
Amaziah
would end up ignoring the parable and lose his freedom in the process. For
Amaziah, the cedar of Lebanon would prove to be one fight too many.
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2
Kings 15
See Also 2 Kings 14:9
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