Learning from Losing; 2 Chorn. 28, Hosea 6-7

May the mumbling commence!

Losing is never easy.  But everyone will suffer from losing or loss at times in their lives.  Important lessons can be learned from losses.  If we learn the right lessons, we can benefit much from losing.  But not every lesson learned from losing is beneficial.  Read 2 Chronicles 28:22-25 –

In his time of trouble King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the Lord.  He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus, who had defeated him; for he thought, "Since the gods of the kings of Aram have helped them, I will sacrifice to them so they will help me." But they were his downfall and the downfall of all Israel. 

Ahaz gathered together the furnishings from the temple of God and took them away. He shut the doors of the Lord's temple and set up altars at every street corner in Jerusalem.  In every town in Judah he built high places to burn sacrifices to other gods and provoked the Lord, the God of his fathers, to anger.

King Ahaz learned a lesson from defeat at the hands of Damascus.  Ahaz learned that the gods of Damascus were stronger than the Lord.  One could draw that conclusion from the circumstances, but they would be wrong.  By wandering further into worship of other gods only made the situation worse.  It provoked the Lord to even greater anger and wrath. 

Perhaps, it would be better to learn at the feet of the prophets.  Though they often speak hard words with difficult messages, the prophets of the Lord guide us in healthy learning from our failures.  Let’s look at the words of Prophet Hosea:

"Come, let us return to the Lord.

He has torn us to pieces

but he will heal us;

he has injured us

but he will bind up our wounds. 

After two days he will revive us;

on the third day he will restore us,

that we may live in his presence. 

Let us acknowledge the Lord;

let us press on to acknowledge him.

As surely as the sun rises,

he will appear;

he will come to us like the winter rains,

like the spring rains that water the earth." (6:1-3)

By refusing to return to the Lord, Ahaz only went further down the wrong path.  It makes me think of what my ninth-grade science teacher told his students when he returned their second test.  He must have seen some disappointed faces, because he asked, “Did you get a similar grade?  Then ask yourself: Did I change the way I studied for this test?  If you do not change, you will get the same result.”  What does God want?  Read from Hosea again:

They do not turn to the Most High;

they are like a faulty bow.

Their leaders will fall by the sword

because of their insolent words. (7:16a)

God wants us to return to Him.  That is the path that will lead to positive learning – so that we will not repeat the same mistakes over and over again.  So, what does it mean to return to the Lord?  Read from Hosea again:

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,

and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. (6:6)

Enough mumbling for now… 

Peace Out