Today's Reading: 2 Kings 13-14; 2 Chronicles 25; Psalm 53
As we read in 2 Kings, we see Amaziah become king after his father Joash died. He does well, walking in the way of the Lord, even though he fails to destroy the high places where idolatry took place. Even when he takes vengeance on those who had conspired and murdered his father, he followed the Lord and did not kill their children. He goes to battle and wins a great victory against Edom.
And suddenly, everything changes. He picks a fight with Jehoash in Israel. At this time, Israel is being oppressed by Syria, so this looks like an easy fight, but Amaziah is soundly defeated, and the temple and king's house are plundered.
Why did this happen? Why did God let idolatrous Israel win over what appears to be a good king?
The reading in 2 Chronicles completes the story. After the victory in Edom, Amaziah actually brought back the idols of Edom and set them up as gods. God is as incredulous as we are reading the story, and He sends a prophet to Amaziah and asks, "Why have you sought the gods of a people who did not deliver their own people from your hand?" (25:15).
But Amaziah refuses to listen to the prophet, and then loses bitterly to Israel.
Amaziah had done good, and he had been blessed by God, but he failed to continue in the paths of God. That failure should teach us the importance of always serving God.
As we read in 2 Kings, we see Amaziah become king after his father Joash died. He does well, walking in the way of the Lord, even though he fails to destroy the high places where idolatry took place. Even when he takes vengeance on those who had conspired and murdered his father, he followed the Lord and did not kill their children. He goes to battle and wins a great victory against Edom.
And suddenly, everything changes. He picks a fight with Jehoash in Israel. At this time, Israel is being oppressed by Syria, so this looks like an easy fight, but Amaziah is soundly defeated, and the temple and king's house are plundered.
Why did this happen? Why did God let idolatrous Israel win over what appears to be a good king?
The reading in 2 Chronicles completes the story. After the victory in Edom, Amaziah actually brought back the idols of Edom and set them up as gods. God is as incredulous as we are reading the story, and He sends a prophet to Amaziah and asks, "Why have you sought the gods of a people who did not deliver their own people from your hand?" (25:15).
But Amaziah refuses to listen to the prophet, and then loses bitterly to Israel.
Amaziah had done good, and he had been blessed by God, but he failed to continue in the paths of God. That failure should teach us the importance of always serving God.