“Stupidity* is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” That’s likely not a new saying for any of us; we’ve all probably heard it many times in a wide variety of circumstances referencing a broad spectrum of activities and expectations. Empirical science is literally dependent upon the same procedure producing identical results regardless of the number of repetitions. Well, that was the first thing that came to mind when I read 2 Chronicles 25.
You can, and should, go read it for yourself, but I doubt you’re going to stop in the middle of this and do that. (I certainly rarely do in similar situations.) So here’s my brief summary: Amaziah and the men of Judah went out to war against the Edomites, and the Lord gave them victory over their enemies. Rather than returning home and offering sacrifices of thanksgiving to the Lord, Amaziah brought back the false gods of his defeated enemies, and worshiped them instead…..because they had proven their power or something? The Lord even sent a prophet to Amaziah to ask him why he would seek after gods who didn’t deliver even their own people. (Not that the Lord didn’t already know why. It seems a valid question though.) What wasted time and energy and resources and devotion, squandered on something that was never going to be effective, that he had seen with his own eyes was pointless. And yet he did it anyway. And yes, my initial response was one of perplexity (mixed with a little bit of arrogance, honestly, because surely I would never do such a thing).
The second reaction though…..well, that’s where the humbling conviction comes in. In reality, we all do this, countless times a day probably, if I’m honest. No, I don’t worship the gods of my enemies after I’ve won a battle against them, but I also don’t make a habit of waging literal war and dashing my defeated and captured enemies into pieces. (That’s in 2 Chronicles 25:12, since you probably didn’t go read the chapter.) Instead, I’m much more likely to turn to things I know will never satisfy my longings, will never set me free from my guilt and shame, will never offer lasting peace and rest. And much like Amaziah, I have seen with my own eyes that these things – food, alcohol, shopping, sex, drugs, exercise, caffeine, TV, and all the other things we humans turn to instead of the Lord – will not deliver me and will only disappoint those who serve them. I have seen it firsthand, and yet I turn to them anyway. Now who’s looking like the stupid one?
As I was thinking about the frequent futility in which I engage so readily, the Holy Spirit brought to mind a couple passages of Scripture. First, the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30 (emphasis added): “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
And secondly, Isaiah 55:1-2: “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.”
Just as surely as I have seen with my own eyes that the pleasures of this world will not satisfy, so I have seen, with my own eyes, that the Lord does satisfy, far more abundantly than I could ever imagine or hope. With His help, I’ll look to Him next time.
*or insanity, or futility, depending on the source
See Psalm 63 for further thoughts on how the Lord satisfies us.
I am a fan of Forrest Gump (since a character has my name) and Forrest has an expression of “stupid is as stupid does”. Meaning that the actions of a person, not their appearance or position in life, determines who they are. As King Amaziah, his actions proved his severe lack of wisdom. I agree that in alot of ways we are not to far from doing what he did. We all have excuses for not living up to what God wants us to be. It is so easy to go with the flow and not be the rock that stands for the Lord. Thanks for the timely reminder, especially in these challenging times.
Excellent! I have often pondered my own stupidity (or rebelliousnes or something) and reapplied Isaiah 55:1 — in my memory as “Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the water and drink…” Each time I am thirsty, thrashing about, forgetting to come to the Living Water and drink. I am grateful for the reminder.