Selling Out the Sacred Things

"One Year Bible" Old Testament History Passage
II Kings 10:32-12:21

"And Jehoash king of Judah took all the sacred things that his fathers, Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own sacred things, and all the gold found in the treasuries of the house of the Lord and in the king's house, and sent them to Hazael king of Syria.  Then he went away from Jerusalem."  II Kings 12:18 (NKJV)

Fear can cause people to do foolish things.  Fear can push a person to give up the fight and cave in to compromise.  Fear can lead a person directly into bondage.

Jehoash was one of the better kings that ruled Judah.  But, in his latter days, a fierce enemy arose in the person of Hazael, king of Syria.  Hazael conquered the lands surrounding Judah and proceeded to advance on Jerusalem.  Out of fear, Jehoash sold all of "the sacred things" to buy his freedom. 

These "sacred things" are symbolic of those vows we have made to the Lord.  They represent those areas of dedication we have risen to as we worship and follow our King.  But, we should remember a very important principle:  EVERY VOW WILL BE TESTED; EVERY COMMITMENT WILL BE CHALLENGED.

Fear threatens us with ruin.  Fear intimidates us with disaster.  Fear pushes us into self-preservation.  Just as surely as a man or woman sets themselves to serve the Lord, there will be a challenge to that commitment.  The devil will threaten you with ruin.  He will bargain with you to allow you to survive.

In these moments, we are tempted to sell "the sacred things."  After all, we think, better to survive another day, than to die under our enemies threats.

So, I speak to you today:  DO NOT BACK AWAY FROM YOUR SACRED VOWS.  Do not allow the enemy to threaten you into a "sell-out."  God will uphold you.  You will survive.  You will even prevail.  That is God's best plan for you!