Delivered to and From Destruction

2 Chronicles 28:1-15

   1 Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do what was right in the sight of the LORD, as his father David had done. 2 For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made molded images for the Baals. 3 He burned incense in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and burned his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. 4 And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

   5 Therefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria. They defeated him, and carried away a great multitude of them as captives, and brought them to Damascus. Then he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who defeated him with a great slaughter. 6 For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed one hundred and twenty thousand in Judah in one day, all valiant men, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. 7 Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king's son, Azrikam the officer over the house, and Elkanah who was second to the king. 8 And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand women, sons, and daughters; and they also took away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.

    9 But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded; and he went out before the army that came to Samaria, and said to them: "Look, because the LORD God of your fathers was angry with Judah, He has delivered them into your hand; but you have killed them in a rage that reaches up to heaven. 10 And now you propose to force the children of Judah and Jerusalem to be your male and female slaves; but are you not also guilty before the LORD your God? 11 Now hear me, therefore, and return the captives, whom you have taken captive from your brethren, for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you."

    12 Then some of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who came from the war, 13 and said to them, "You shall not bring the captives here, for we already have offended the LORD. You intend to add to our sins and to our guilt; for our guilt is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel." 14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the leaders and all the assembly. 15 Then the men who were designated by name rose up and took the captives, and from the spoil they clothed all who were naked among them, dressed them and gave them sandals, gave them food and drink, and anointed them; and they let all the feeble ones ride on donkeys. So they brought them to their brethren at Jericho, the city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria.

Evil king Ahaz led to Syria and Israel defeating Judah.  By not seeking the LORD and living according to His word to honor and please Him, Ahaz’s idolatry and wickedness condemned Judah to judgment as they followed him.  Bad leaders lead the people astray, but the people are also accountable; they were therefore all delivered first to Syria, and then to brothers Israel.  They were taken into captivity to Damascus because they had taken themselves captive by idolatrous sin in all their pursuits apart from the LORD (Revelation 13:10).  After the Syrian defeat, Israel slaughtered the forces of Judah and took captives to Samaria.  At that capital city was a prophet of the LORD God, Obed (meaning “the restorer”), who communicated God’s grace and mercy which Israel was to give to their brethren of captive Judah.  The word of the LORD made it clear that God was angry with Judah for their sin, but that He also was extremely displeased up to heaven that they wanted to enslave their brothers, for they were also guilty before Him.  The men of Judah heeded the message and released their fellow people of God with not only physical necessities, but also a blessing of anointing.  They brought them to the city of Palms by Jericho and returned to Samaria.  We learn that fighting each other as God’s people as to judge them only points out our own condemnation of deserved judgment, for we as sinners all fall short of His glory (Romans 3:12, 19-20).  Only mercy grace can save us all (Romans 3:23-24, 26), no matter how wicked we see another to be; God alone is the judge (Romans 2:3), and he delivers us into destruction or from it accordingly (Romans 9:22-23).  May we not condemn as we judge right and wrong among our brethren, but pray for and anoint them in prayers and supplications for deliverance from wrath as He delivers us daily, and plead with each other daily to follow Him according to His word (Hebrews 3:13) and for mercy in grace.