Between Exceptionalism and Exceptions: A King's Dilemma
2 Kings 15:3-5a
And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done; Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places. And the LORD smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death…
Today we learn about when making exceptions can keep us from becoming exceptional. Verse three starts out really well for King Azariah. He was off to a great start in life. In fact, he was only sixteen years old when he began to reign. And for a sixteen-year-old king to be paid the compliment that “he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD” is an awesome position to be in, to say the least. However, just read on, because that’s not the end of the story. Just as we begin to understand that this young king had his whole life ahead of him, and that he had a chance to really procure the favor of God on his life and reign as king over Judah, we learn of a serious exception left untouched under his reign. He did not remove the “high places” of unauthorized worship from the land. No doubt being young, ambitious, and perhaps a bit naïve, he must have assumed that one exception to his living right would do little to no harm. After all, maybe he even wondered if, since he himself wasn’t worshipping in the high places, that this “small” exception of leaving the high places alone would be no big deal. But, as we learn when we compare the fuller record of his life, these tolerated exceptions were part of a deeper spiritual danger. The same king who allowed unauthorized worship in the land would later step into unauthorized worship in the temple, and there God smote him. In the end, this took away his strength, his dignity, his health, his testimony, and ultimately his life. What was his crime? He made exceptions that God did not allow for. He turned a blind eye (though he could see it clearly) to the high places which were strictly forbidden of The Lord. He had influence to change what he was not willing to confront, and in the end, he lost the public exercise of that influence unwillingly.
Now, he could have been an exceptional king. His long reign could have been a more prosperous season ending on a strong note. He could have ushered revival back into the nation of Judah by tearing down the high places and calling the people back to The Lord. He could have literally changed the course of history for his nation, and completely changed the narrative of this sad but true historical scene. But, he chose exceptions over exceptionalism. He underestimated the power of sin. And now, I ask you, will you make exceptions, or become exceptional for Christ?
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done; Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places. And the LORD smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death…
Today we learn about when making exceptions can keep us from becoming exceptional. Verse three starts out really well for King Azariah. He was off to a great start in life. In fact, he was only sixteen years old when he began to reign. And for a sixteen-year-old king to be paid the compliment that “he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD” is an awesome position to be in, to say the least. However, just read on, because that’s not the end of the story. Just as we begin to understand that this young king had his whole life ahead of him, and that he had a chance to really procure the favor of God on his life and reign as king over Judah, we learn of a serious exception left untouched under his reign. He did not remove the “high places” of unauthorized worship from the land. No doubt being young, ambitious, and perhaps a bit naïve, he must have assumed that one exception to his living right would do little to no harm. After all, maybe he even wondered if, since he himself wasn’t worshipping in the high places, that this “small” exception of leaving the high places alone would be no big deal. But, as we learn when we compare the fuller record of his life, these tolerated exceptions were part of a deeper spiritual danger. The same king who allowed unauthorized worship in the land would later step into unauthorized worship in the temple, and there God smote him. In the end, this took away his strength, his dignity, his health, his testimony, and ultimately his life. What was his crime? He made exceptions that God did not allow for. He turned a blind eye (though he could see it clearly) to the high places which were strictly forbidden of The Lord. He had influence to change what he was not willing to confront, and in the end, he lost the public exercise of that influence unwillingly.
Now, he could have been an exceptional king. His long reign could have been a more prosperous season ending on a strong note. He could have ushered revival back into the nation of Judah by tearing down the high places and calling the people back to The Lord. He could have literally changed the course of history for his nation, and completely changed the narrative of this sad but true historical scene. But, he chose exceptions over exceptionalism. He underestimated the power of sin. And now, I ask you, will you make exceptions, or become exceptional for Christ?
~ Pastor Gary Caudill