Year One, December 19

The Haughty Eyes You Bring Down1

2 Chronicles 25:14-24; 27-28

14After Amaziah came from striking down the Edomites, he brought the gods of the men of Seir and set them up as his gods and worshiped them, making offerings to them.

This was madness itself. If the gods of Edom had been worth anything they would have helped their former worshipers. It is strange that a man will bow down before an idol he takes captive in battle. Is it not even more amazing that others will adore a piece of bread and then eat it?

15Therefore the LORD was angry with Amaziah and sent to him a prophet, who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of a people who did not deliver their own people from your hand?” 16But as he was speaking, the king said to him, “Have we made you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.” (Those who refuse to listen challenge God to use painful ways to make his point. Those who reject the Lord’s warnings show that there is evil in their hearts. Victory made Amaziah proud and his pride became the mother of many sins. The less we admire ourselves and our accomplishments the better.)

17Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent to Joash the son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel saying, “Come, let us look one another in the face.”

This was an arrogant challenge to the king of Israel. The hired soldiers from Israel, who Amaziah had sent away, probably raided and robbed the towns and villages on their way home. This made proud Amaziah ready to start a war.

18And Joash the king of Israel sent word to Amaziah king of Judah, “A thistle on Lebanon sent to a cedar on Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son for a wife,’ and a wild beast of Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thistle.”

A proud challenge provoked an insulting answer. Joash as good as said, “You petty king, you are but a thistle. How dare you challenge such a powerful monarch like me? You are not worth getting our swords and spears bloody over.”

19“You say, ‘See, I have struck down Edom,’ and your heart has lifted you up in boastfulness. But now stay at home. Why should you provoke trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?”

20But Amaziah would not listen, for it was of God, in order that he might give them into the hand of their enemies, because they had sought the gods of Edom. 21So Joash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced one another in battle at Beth-Shemesh, which belongs to Judah. 22And Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled to his home. 23And Joash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem for 400 cubits (about 600 feet), from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. 24And he seized all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God, in the care of Obed-edom. He seized also the treasuries of the king’s house, also hostages, and he returned to Samaria.

One intense battle and the war was over. Amaziah became a prisoner, the walls of Jerusalem were broken down, the temple was looted, and the nation was forced to live by the laws of king Joash to keep the peace. Proud King Amaziah was laid low. He lost the respect of everyone around him and before long there were plots against his position as king and his life.

27From the time when he turned away from the LORD they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But they sent after him to Lachish and put him to death there. 28And they brought him upon horses, and he was buried with his fathers in the city of David.

Amaziah was the unstable son of an unstable father. His life ended in disgrace. Many start well and appear to be heaven bound, but they fall short because there is no true life in their religion. It has not changed their nature. Nothing less than a new heart and a right spirit will equip a person to weather the storm and reach the shelter of eternal rest.

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¹ Psalm 18:27