II Chronicles Chapter 25
Please read: II Chronicles 25 –
The line of David continues as Amaziah took the throne after the murder of his father Joash. Once he had secured the throne, he executed those servants who had murdered his father. And as we have read about with the previous kings who sought to honor God with their rule, Amaziah did as well. However, there is something different said about the heart of Amaziah, “he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, yet not with a whole heart.” A heart that is not fully committed to God is a heart that is leaving the door open for selfish pursuits.
Amaziah ruled for 29 years but we can see just in this short excerpt that he was a man thirsty for power. Even in the battle that is first mentioned against the Edomites and the people of Seir where he had a great victory, we do not read that he gave glory to God for the victory. In fact, he had tried to take an even bigger army than what he had by hiring some mercenary fighters from Israel. He did listen to a prophet who told him he should not take those mercenaries into battle with him. Amaziah was a man who took pride in the strength of the army he had assembled and carried out extreme violence upon his prisoners of war. And the later part of the chapter shows that he ruled his kingdom without regard to the wisdom of God.
Let's Reflect
1. Those mercenaries that were sent back were angry. They had been counting on gaining the spoils of war. How did they take revenge on King Amaziah?
2. What spoils of war did Amaziah bring back to Jerusalem with him that proves his disregard for the LORD?
3. When a prophet spoke to King Amaziah about what he had brought home to Jerusalem, what did Amaziah tell the prophet?
4. Later King Amaziah tried to make an alliance with the King Joash of Israel (a man with the same name as Amaziah’s father). What did Amaziah suggest to Joash to “seal the deal” of an alliance between them?
5. King Joash rejected the request for an alliance. He knew of Amaziah’s victory in battle but dismissed him as a boastful man, not worthy of an alliance. There was no trust between the two men. This rejection spurred the anger of King Amaziah and this set in motion something that God would use to pass judgement on the king for bringing idols into the land. What did Amaziah plan to do?
6. Not only was Judah greatly defeated, but the king himself was captured and held prisoner for a time. What destruction occurred in Jerusalem as a result of this battle between the northern kingdom and the southern kingdom?
7. King Amaziah ended up outliving King Joash, but he was not liked by his own people. In fact, his life was in danger, and he had to flee his own palace. How did King Amaziah die?
