Wednesday, June 29, 2011

II Chronicles 25 - Amaziah King of Judah (NIV)

Summary:

Amaziah King of Judah
Verses 1-28

Amaziah was 25 years old when he became king.  He reigned in Jerusalem for 29 years.  His mother was Jehoaddin, from Jerusalem.  Amaziah did right in God's eyes, but not wholeheartedly.  Once firmly established as king, he executed the officials that had murdered his father, Joash, but he did not kill their sons.  This was in accordance with the Law in the Book of Moses.  In it, the Lord commanded: " 'Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sins.' "  (Deuteronomy 24:16, Verse 4b)

Amaziah called together the people of Judah.  He assigned them, according to their families, to commanders of thousands and hundreds, for all of Benjamin and Judah.  They mustered everyone 29 years and older.  He found 300,000 men ready for military service that could handle spear and shield.  He also hired 100,000 fighting men from Israel, for 100 talents (3 3/4 tons) of silver.  A man of God told him not to use them, because God was not with Israel or anyone from Ephraim.  God would overthrow Amaziah to his enemies, because He has the power to help or overthrow.  Amaziah asked the man of God about the 100 talents he'd spent, and the man of God told him that God could give him much more than that.

Amaziah dismissed the Ephraimite troops and they left in a great rage.  He marshaled his strength and led his army to the Valley of Salt, where he killed 10,000 men of Seir and captured 10,000 men alive.  He brought the latter group to the top of a cliff, threw them down, and they were dashed to pieces.  Meanwhile,  the Ephraimite troops raided the Judean towns from Samaria to Beth Horon.  They killed 3,000 people and carried off a lot of plunder.

When Amaziah returned, he brought back the gods of the people of Seir and worshiped them, burning sacrifices to them.  God's anger burned against him and He sent a prophet to ask why Amaziah had consulted the gods that couldn't save the people he'd just destroyed.  Amaziah interrupted and asked if the prophet was the king's adviser.  He told the prophet to stop, asking why he should risk being struck down.  The prophet stopped, but he told Amaziah that God was determined to destroy him because of this and the fact that Amaziah would not listen to his counsel.

Amaziah consulted his advisers and sent a challenge, for a face-to-face meeting, to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel.  Jehoash responded: A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, to give his daughter to the thistle's son in marriage.  A wild beast in Lebanon came and trampled the thistle.  Jehoash told Amaziah that, although he'd defeated Edom, he was now arrogant and proud.  Jehoash told Amaziah to stay home and not ask for trouble, which would lead to his downfall and the downfall of Judah.

Amaziah did not listen to Jehoash, because God had worked out for him to be handed over to Jehoash, because he sought the gods of Edom.  Jehoash and Amaziah faced off at Beth Shemesh in Judah.  Judah was routed by Israel and every man fled home.  Jehoash captured Amaziah son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh.  Amaziah was brought to Jerusalem, where Jehoash broke down their wall from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate, about 600 feet of it.  He took all the gold, silver, and articles of God's temple that had been cared for by Obed-Edom.  He also took the palace treasures and hostages, and they returned to Samaria.

Amaziah lived for 15 years after Jehoash died.  The other events of his reign are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.  From that time, he turned from God.  They conspired against him in Jerusalem and he fled to Lachish.  A man was sent after him and killed him.  He was brought back by horse and buried with his fathers in the City of Judah.

Lori's Thoughts:

I don't know about you, but I'm getting annoyed with the people of Judah.  How does it make any sense to worship the gods of the people you've just defeated?!  The ones God helped you defeat!!!

It's a good thing I'm not God, because I would have lost patience and just destroyed the world.  Then, there'd be no existence or salvation for any of us.  I think God is way generous with us.  So, the next time you wonder why bad things are allowed to happen, ask yourself what the people have been doing.  As He said, everyone is to be punished for their own sins.

Now, if it wasn't for God's patience, we'd all be doomed to die.  This is the punishment for sin.  Somehow, God maintained the little good that remained in Judah and sent a part of Himself to become human and pay the punishment for our sins.

"Oh, praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead!"  (My favorite phrase to sing at church.)

People!  When things seem hopeless and impossible, when good seems invisible, God will make a way!

Don't give up!

"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  (Jeremiah 29:11)

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