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July 6th

The bible reading today is in 2 Kings 14 and 2 Chronicles 25. Why is the record of all the kings of Israel and Judah included in the Bible?

Into the text...“Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign in Judah, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. ( And his father was the determined reformer, Joash.) And Amaziah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, “yet not with a whole heart.”

‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭25:1-2‬ ‭

Amaziah, like his father, did some good things for Judah. His exemplary way of bringing his father’s murderers to justice told his critics as well as his supporters that he was not out for vengeance, only a righteous judgment according to the laws of God.

Upon reading this account, we will see that Amaziah wanted to be an “impressive” king. Including impressing God with his works and victories. Something just wasn't quite right. We read where early on in his reign as Judah’s king that Amaziah was not afraid to fight for the benefit of his kingdom. He was far from being a coward and always looked for ways to protect and strengthen his kingdom’s territory and people.

That’s certainly noteworthy. Until...we read how his leadership taught Judah that there were other gods besides the One God, Elohim. What did Jesus claim...”I am the way, the truth, and the life...no man comes to the Father but by me.” One God...Same God...Old and New Testaments. And Amaziah missed Him.

It was common in those days to hire mercenaries from other lands to beef up one’s army. It was at this point, among many others, that Amaziah veered off his course. Yes, it probably made sense militarily. But he was way off spiritually. He forgot, if he ever really knew, that God was powerful to help and overthrow mighty foes. Once again a king relied on foreign aid instead of God first and foremost.

God sent a prophet to warn Amaziah about the cost of disobeying Him in the present situation. “Amaziah asked, “What about all the gold that I have spent on these 100,000 mercenaries?”

The prophet said, “The Lord is able to give you much more than this.” In other words...”Whatever obedience costs, ultimately it is always cheaper than disobedience.”

Amaziah did two things that at first seem to be exemplary. “He strengthened himself”...not like David, and he “obeyed the prophet”...until he didn't.

This would be as close as he would get to the way of King David that we read about in 1 Sam. 30. Where we read that in a difficult time David encouraged himself “in the Lord”.

The difference? Amaziah just “strengthened himself”. One more illustration of this king’s self-reliance! And we have to read on...God showed mercy upon Amaziah and Judah. God gave the self-centered king a victory over the larger army of Edom.

But Was Amaziah grateful to God for the victory? No, he arrogantly took credit for it and brought the Edomites ‘ idols back to his palace in Jerusalem where he began to worship them instead of Yahweh. Where did this spiritual back and forth come from in Amaziah’s life? This leading Judah to worship God one day and then leading them to worship other gods the next? Where did that come from?

In short, Amaziah’s heart was never right with God. He did some good things and God saw them. But something was wrong with his heart. He needed a new heart. His heart was not loyal to God, but only to himself.

Amaziah needed what every man and woman in the divided kingdom needed...something that only God could give them. A new heart...one that trusted God...obeyed God...and that desired to do life with God...loving God with all of his soul.

Thoughts? Why are we reading about the lives of all the kings in Israel and Judah...since one after another fell way short of being THE king of Israel. Why read of them?

Because their failures would prove time after time that there was only one King that is worthy of fellowship and adoration. The Messiah, the King of Kings, Jesus our Lord.

Have a great day