Only God Can Lift Us Up

Kevin DeYoung post:  Kings of Judah: Three Lessons from Two Kings

2 Chronicles 27:1-28:27
So Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came against him and afflicted him instead of strengthening him. (28:20)

Jotham was a good king, better than his father Uzziah. He built cities, forts, towers and gates, conquered the Ammonites, and walked before the Lord. Ahaz, on the other hand, did what was right in his own eyes. He followed the wrong kings, burned the wrong offerings, and sacrificed his sons in the fire. He led a life of increasing wickedness under the increasing wrath of God.

What can we learn from these two kings? First, our past does not determine our future. Some good kings had bad sons (Jotham had Ahaz) and some bad kings had good sons (Ahaz had Hezekiah). A godly heritage is a wonderful thing and an ungodly heritage is no favor. But where we’re from doesn’t determine where we’re going.

Second, if the Lord is against you, who can be for you? Ahaz thumbed his nose at God and God returned the favor, repeatedly humbling Ahaz and handing him over to his enemies.

Third, if you look for help in the wrong places, you won’t find what you’re looking for. Ahaz went to Assyria and Aram looking for help and all he got was trouble. The gods of this world will bring us low. Only God can lift us up.