King Amaziah
2 Chronicles 25:1-28

Amaziah Rules in Judah

2 Chronicles 25:1-28

• Amaziah was 25 when he became king and reigned for 29 years. (v. 1)
• Amaziah did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight, but not wholeheartedly. (v. 2)
• Unlike other kings, who are portrayed as being good to a point, then having a clean break before being portrayed as bad, Amaziah is portrayed as halfhearted from the start.
• When Amaziah was well established as king, he executed his father's assassins, but not their sons. (v. 3-4)
• This is an important concept. We are judged on the basis of our own sins, not the sins of our parents. By the same token, we receive salvation based on our own willingness to receive, not based on our parents.
• Additionally, Amaziah organized an army, including hiring 100,000 experienced men from Israel. (v. 5-6)
• A prophet came to Amaziah and warned him not to hire troops from Israel, for the Lord is not with Israel. (v. 7-8)
• By hiring the Israelites, who are currently in rebellion against God, Judah takes part in the rebellion. This theme will come to a head in chapter 28, in the story of King Ahaz.
• Amaziah discharged the hired troops and they went home mad. (v. 9-10)
• Amaziah was concerned with the money that he lost by hiring and immediately discharging the troops. He is told by a prophet that God is more than able to supply his needs. This is a call for self-denial. This is a call for faith - to rely completely on only the Lord for your needs. As Christians, we receive the same call. We cannot be at peace in relying completely on the Lord if we do not have faith. Compare Mark 10:28-31.
• Amaziah led a successful attack against Edomite troops. (v. 11-12)
• The discharged troops raided several towns of Judah and took much plunder. (v. 13)
• King Amaziah brought back idols from his successful attack against Edom and began worshiping them. (v. 14)
• The Lord was angered by this and sent a prophet to warn Amaziah, but Amaziah didn't listen. (v. 15-16)
• The prophet's logic is clear: Amaziah is now worshipping idols who were unable to save their original owners from Amaziah's attack. This is completely irrational.
• Amaziah boldly challenged King Jehoash of Israel to war. (v. 17)
• Jehoash replied by telling Amaziah to let it rest. (v. 18-19)
• Amaziah set out to attack Israel anyway. Judah lost and Amaziah was captured. (v. 20-23)
• Jehoash demolished 600 feet of jerusalem's wall and plundered the Temple. (v. 23-24)
• After Amaziah turned away from the Lord, there was a conspiracy against his life and he fled to Lachish, where he was killed by assassins. (v. 25-27)
• Amaziah was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. (v. 28)