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2 Kings 14:11-14, Amaziah, however, would not listen, so Jehoash king of Israel attacked. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth Shemesh in Judah.  Judah was routed by Israel, and every man fled to his home. Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate—a section about four hundred cubits long.[  He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace. He also took hostages and returned to Samaria.

And the drama continues.  Aram/Syria has been weakened considerably, which should have been quite a relief to both Israel and Judah.  They could have used this time to get their act together, both spiritually and governmentally.  But they don’t.  Instead, they begin to torment one another.

The king of Judah challenges the king of Israel.  Why in the world did he do this?  Israel was larger and probably much stronger.  It’s possible that Amaziah, the king of Judah, had gotten the big head after the defeat of Edom.  It’s also possible that there was more to the story (read 2 Chronicles 25). Regardless, the confrontation was a disaster for Judah. 

Israel’s army comes marching into Judah, tears down part of the wall surrounding Jerusalem, captures Ahaziah, takes some hostages, and plunders the silver and gold out of the temple.  2 Chronicles 25, God allowed this punishing defeat because King Ahaziah had adopted some Edomite gods after his defeat of Edom.  But this would have certainly been humiliating for the king.  It’s unclear but the text (when we look at 2 Kings 14 and 2 Chronicles 25 together) suggests that King Ahaziah may have been held as a hostage for years.  While he may have officially still been the king of Judah, Ahaziah lost his grip on leadership of the nation.

God is serious about not worshiping other gods.  I might venture to say that God holds his leaders even more accountable to living with integrity.  Think about your life.  My guess is that you don’t bow down and worship other gods, such as in this Old Testament text. But there are certainly lots of false gods all around us.  What have we allowed to enter our lives that could be seen as a false god?  What have we put before the one true God, Yahweh?

Let’s pray…Lord, Forgive us for the many times in which we have put other things in front of you.  Help us have laser focus on who we are.  We belong to you.  We are a chosen people and a royal priesthood.  We are yours. More of you and less of me, Jesus.  Amen.