Then the
anger of the Lord burned against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to
him, “Why have you sought the gods of the people who have not delivered their
own people from your hand?” (V.15)
The LORD
had established for His people prophets, kings, and priests. Each with their own duty and purpose in the kingdom. When they worked together as God had
intended, peace prevailed. But, when they didn't, great was their fall.
Amaziah had many good qualities, but he had a half-hearted
relationship with God. As described in verse 2, “He did what was right in the
eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly.” The king's mixed actions led to
mixed results. God gave Judah a victory over Edom (v.11), but the victory was marred
by cruel murders of some prisoners-of-war (v.12) and Amaziah's foolish worship of the
Edomite “gods” he had just defeated (v.14).
Additionally the mercenaries Amaziah had hired and then sent
home, were furious that their lust for violence and booty had gone unsatisfied.
So much so, that they took out their aggressions by plundering towns on the way back (v.13). This led Amaziah to another foolish decision—challenging Israel to a war (v.21).
God then engineered his defeat as a judgment on his idolatry (v.22), and like his
father he ended up a victim of assassination (v.27).
Amaziah had many good qualities, but he did not listen to Godly
council, nor clearly see how impossible it was for Israel to be allied with
Judah, and eventually fell into idolatry himself. May we always listen to Godly
council, not let pride get in our way, and be sold out to the one true and living God.
The Truth
“A man’s
pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.” (Proverbs
29:23)
