Read: 2 Kings 14; 2 Chron. 25
Our passage in 2 Kings gives us the overview but 2 Chronicles gives us the details. Amaziah is king of Judah and he starts out as a good king who feared God but his heart wasn’t perfect towards God. He atoned for his father’s death according to the law and established peace in his kingdom. Then he built up an army to battle the children of Seir which were Esau’s descendents. He hired 100,000 Israelites to fight with them until a prophet advised him not to. God was mad at Israel and would not bless his venture if he took them with him. King Amaziah had already paid him 100 talents of gold and now the prophet was telling him not to let them fight. When he questioned the prophet about the money the prophet said, “the Lord is able to give you much more than this.” God is not limited with funds. If we make a mistake and it costs us money, it is nothing for the Lord to give it back to us! Our job is to humble ourselves and repent and turn and do it God’s way. Amaziah sent the Israelite army home and went to war with only his men and won. But, Amaziah took the gods of his enemies and set them up in his temple and started worshipping them.
The Israelite soldiers were not happy about not being able to fight so they spoiled the Judean towns on their way home.
When King Amaziah heard about this, he decided to meet Israel’s king face to face. Since Amaziah had chosen to worship foreign gods, God did not defend him and King Joash took everything of value from the temple and the kings’ house. He also released the hostages.
Amaziah had been taught to served the Lord. He knew better so he was judged. People in his own kingdom conspired against him and he lost his kingdom. But, his downfall began when he turned away from God.
Lord help us to endure to the end and not be drawn away by other gods.
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