No Credentials Needed

“And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the king’s counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.” (2Ch 25:16 AV)

Amaziah was an interesting King.  At the beginning of his reign, he had a lot going for him.  He showed wisdom in establishing the kingdom before he exercised justice on his father’s murderers.  He began to clean things up.  Then his reign went off the rails.  He desired to wage war against Edom.  After numbering Judah and Benjamin, he felt he needed to hire additional mercenaries from Israel to the tune of 100,000 additional men.  The LORD sent a prophet to him and warned him he would die in battle if he didn’t dismiss the mercenaries from Sumeria.  Going to war without them, the LORD gave them victory.  However, in this victory, Amaziah decides to bring back the gods of the Edomites and set them up in the house of the LORD as new gods to be worshiped.  It is here we pick up this verse.  The prophet comes to Amaziah and warns him of God’s displeasure.  He warns him the LORD will judge him if he doesn’t repent.  Then we get the question posed to the prophet by the backsliding king. 

We can look at the question above in two ways.  These two ways are related.  First, the king had decided who he would listen to an who he would not listen to.  This was decided long before what they said was expressed.  He heaped to himself teachers, having itching ears.  He was not about to gather to himself anyone who might challenge his opinions or ambitions.  Much less this prophet.  We don’t know if this is the same prophet that told him to relieve the 100,000 Israeli mercenaries.  If it was, we can understand his question.  If it was the same man of God, the king might have resented he lost the extra manpower and the money that went with them.  He might have resented that decision cost him cities, spoils, and 3,000 citizens.  If it is the same man of God, the question makes sense.  At least logically it does.  We can understand why he would dismiss this prophet by telling him he is not on his official staff.  But here is the most important application of all.  NO MAN DETERMINES THE MESSAGE OF THE MAN OF GOD.  No one.  So what if he is not on the payroll.  This man of God is one of God’s official ambassadors sent to the king to counsel him.  He needs no other authorization!  He needs no other papers.  He needs no other entrance credentials.  He needs no other clearance.  He is the man of God and the king would be wise to hear him.

The Bible tells us the prophet forbear after the king told him to.  But not until he finished the message.  I appreciate this wisdom.  As saints of God called to preach the message of hope to the world, we err in one of two ways.  We either forbare before the message is done, or we do not forbare at all.  We either wither in the corner when challenged by a hostile world, or we are obnoxious and press the issue beyond being effective.  We wear the crown of a martyr too early or too late.  Let it never be forgotten we are the LORD’s ambassadors whether the enemies of God accept it or not.  We are not among the king’s counselors.  Praise the LORD!  We don’t have to be.  Our message transcends their official credentials.  We don’t need the right pedigree.  We don’t need the right social status.  We don’t need the right background.  We are God’s ambassadors and we have a message to share.  It is for their own good!  So, if we are told to forbare, we need to forbare.  But not until the message is complete!