Do you remember the historic showdown that took place in 1997? It was a match between chess king Kasparov and IBMs artificial intelligence Deep Blue, and it ended in defeat for Kasparov. He was given the title of the first human to be defeated by an artificial intelligence, and he even questioned the fairness of the match. But now, 20 years later, he has retracted his claims, acknowledged his defeat, and offered a hopeful message that AI and human collaboration can create a better future. This story teaches us that while its hard to admit defeat, accepting defeat is growth and maturity. In todays story, Amasha also suffers a great defeat by losing her temper, and lets consider how she spends the next 15 years of her life in shame.
First, defeat is a loving discipline from God.
Amasha takes his anger out on Northern Israel and goes against them. He is defeated because he insists on going ahead despite Joashs refusal to fight. But the Bible doesnt say that Judah was defeated by Israel, it says that he was defeated in front of Israel. This is the divine passive voice, meaning that God struck Judah down - after all, Judahs defeat is Gods punishment for their sin of serving the idols of Edom. The writer of Kings then introduces Amaziah as the grandson of Ahaziah, the son of Joash. His grandfather was executed by Jehu and his father was murdered by a henchman, all judgments that he attributes to his great-great-grandfather Jehoshaphats infidel marriage of his son Jehoram to Athaliah, a daughter of Ahabs house. Joash doesnt stop at capturing Ahaziah, but first breaks down the largest gate of Jerusalems northern wall, the Ephraim Gate. Ephraim was the second son of Joseph, but was treated as the firstborn, and was the central tribe representing all of Northern Israel. For the Northern Israelite army to tear down this gate would have been a tremendous humiliation for the people of Judah, as it would have sent the message, 'Judah, you are no match for us! You must be broken down like this gate you built!' This defeat is not just an injustice to Northern Israel, but the most fitting discipline from a God who is 100% right. God deals with Judah much more harshly in order to continue the line of the Redeemer. A life of revelry in sin is the way to ruin. It is real love that Gods discipline calls us to face our reality and turn around.
When we are defeated, it is so hard and we feel hopeless, but we must remember that it is not the end, because it is only when mans decisions are broken that Gods decisions are made, so it is a blessing to be broken.
Second, 15 years is an opportunity for repentance.
Verses 15-16 summarize the life of Joash, king of northern Israel, and use the word 'accomplishments' twice. This is to emphasize that Joash was nurtured by Elisha, and that he spared Amashas life instead of killing him. But Joash, who was nurtured and had accomplishments, died first, and Amasha, who had no accomplishments, lived another 15 years. Its not that 'die early and live long' is important, but that nurture is greater. So why does God give Amasha 15 years to realize his unrepentant honesty, to reflect on his vengefulness and pride, and to repent? But he doesnt count the time God gives him as grace, and the Bible records that he lived and breathed, and was alive. The greatest victory is in vain if it does not lead to salvation, and the greatest defeat is not a defeat if it leads to salvation, because the time of defeat is 15 years of grace given by God to save me.
Third, our hope is in God.
Amashas story ends with the rebellion of his own people, who rebel against him and kill him in Lachish, where he fled (2 Chron. 25:27). The place Amasha should have fled to, the place he should have returned to, was God, not the fortress of Lachish. He should have put his hope in God. God chastised Amasha with a defeating event and gave him 15 years to repent, but he did not return to the LORD and repent. In the end, the rebellion occurred as a judgment on his wickedness. Nothing in this world is 100% innocent. In any event, I am certainly responsible. It is faith to recognize this. Yet the group that rebelled against Amaziah buried his body in the City of David with his ancestors in Jerusalem and made his young son Azariah king. Why did they do this? Because of the covenant God had made with David, promising to always give him a lamp. The book of 1 Kings is not a story of kings, but of God as king. God is faithful to keep his covenant to fulfill the redemption that comes in Jesus, even though we are not perfect and not like David. Thats why we need to put our hope in God.
This community confession is the testimony of a former deacon who is repenting for the last 15 years of his life. He is currently undergoing counseling, and for his father-in-laws deathbed visit, he did a QT that he had neglected, and through the words of the day, 'Make your ways and deeds right,' he repented that he had been a sinner like the hard-hearted Judahites who had been hard on the pastor and the community after the counseling and had kept away from the Word.
I replied that it is never too late to repent, and that God has His own time. His father-in-law also knew true repentance, and the day after we exchanged repentance emails, he passed away, giving him the best legacy of faith, 'I will believe in Jesus, so you should also repent.' Now, he decided to listen to Gods word and obey the pastor and the community like Nim, who was a firewood chopper. I cant tell you how grateful I am for his repentance after 15 years of defeat.
Defeat is a loving discipline. I want you to know that 15 years after losing, you repented and realized that your hope is in God alone. Rather than thinking about my achievements, I believe that being well nurtured is the greatest achievement I can give to my children. I earnestly hope that the rest of my life, like a tree that has been cut down at the base, will be a saint who lives for the Lord.
