Amaziah: the King Who Served Half-Heartedly

K I N G S O F J U D A H

AMAZIAH: THE KING WHO SERVED HALF-HEARTEDLY

(2 Kings 14:1–20; 2 Chronicles 25)

One of my favorite studies in college was a THE EARLY DAYS class in persuasive speaking. The professor Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he would often ask, “When is a person actually became king. About fifty years earlier, Judah persuaded? Are your listeners really persuaded had reached one of the lowest points in her if they nod in assent to your statements but are history. After the death of King Ahaziah, his never motivated to take action in regard to those mother, Athaliah, had seized control of the throne ideas?” This exercise was good for a whole se- and attempted to kill all the rightful heirs to the mester of great philosophical discussion, though throne—her own grandchildren. Fortunately, her I do not recall that the question was ever an- attempt to destroy the true heirs had been un- swered. I do recall, though, an old illustration successful. Joash, having been hidden away by that the professor was fond of using. Describing Ahaziah’s half-sister, was proclaimed king when a plate of ham and eggs, he would say that the he was seven years old. chicken was involved while the hog was totally Under the influence of the high priest, Joash committed. restored the temple and the practices of the Law. As we examine the life of King Amaziah, we However, when the high priest died, the temple will see a man who got involved but never truly was abandoned, and the people returned to the committed his heart to the Lord. The Bible de- worship of idols (2 Chronicles 24:17, 18). In the scribes Amaziah in this way: “He did right in the last days of his reign, Joash suffered a humiliating sight of the LORD, yet not with a whole heart” defeat at the hands of the Syrian army. (2 Chronicles 25:2; emphasis mine). This was the condition of Judah when The story of Amaziah is told in two chapters Amaziah became king. He took the throne when of the Old Testament, 2 Kings 14 and 2 Chroni- his father, Joash, was assassinated (2 Chronicles cles 25. The only difference in the two accounts is 24:25). This was common in the period, so the that 2 Chronicles offers more details concerning first concern of a new king usually involved Judah’s battle against Edom. punishment for those who had killed the previ- These accounts of Amaziah’s reign describe ous king. The typical practice was to put to death three periods. First, we are told about the early not only the people responsible for murdering days of his ascension to the throne. Second, we the king, but also their relatives and other po- read of Judah’s battle against Edom, and third, of tential enemies. In punishing the men who had the battle against Israel. As we study Amaziah’s killed his father, Amaziah demonstrated his po- life, we see why he is pictured as a man with an tential to become a good leader as well as his imperfect heart. Noting this king’s life, we knowledge of the Law. He did not seek ven- should be compelled to examine our own lives. geance on entire families, but punished only Are we offering our service to God with imper- those who were directly involved in the murder fect hearts? of his father. He “did as it is written in the law in

1 the book of Moses” (2 Chronicles 25:4; see 25:20 tells us that God had determined that the Deuteronomy 24:16). words of the prophet would be fulfilled. Judah would be defeated because they had worshiped THE BATTLE AGAINST EDOM the idols of Edom. When the battle began, the After punishing the murderers of his father, soldiers of Judah were quickly overcome and Amaziah began rebuilding the army of Judah. ran from the battlefield. Amaziah was captured Having assembled 300,000 troops, he hired an by the enemy and was taken back to Jerusalem. additional 100,000 troops from Israel. Now he The men of Israel broke down a large section of was ready to fight Edom. Before the armies went the wall surrounding Jerusalem and entered the on their way, a prophet warned Amaziah that city. After looting the temple and the king’s the men of Israel must not join him in battle palace, they took hostages and left. The Jewish because God was not with Israel. Taking the historian Josephus wrote that they left Amaziah prophet’s advice, Amaziah told the soldiers from on the throne. Israel to go home. This greatly angered the men Have you ever made a boast that you could of Israel, but for Amaziah it was a good choice. not fulfill—and then been confronted by some- When the battle began, the enemy was delivered one about your empty boasting? Can you re- into his hands (2 Chronicles 25:5–13). member that humiliated feeling? I can picture The strange part of this story follows the Joash entering Jerusalem with his defeated op- account of the battle. Amaziah had already dem- ponent, taking everything of value from his pal- onstrated that he knew the law of Moses. He had ace, and then placing Amaziah upon the throne made a wise choice in following the words of the as if to say, “I told you what would happen if you prophet, and he was rewarded in battle. How came against me.” can his next action be explained? All the events described here occurred in the first half of Amaziah’s reign. The text says that Now after Amaziah came from slaughter- Amaziah continued to rule for fifteen years after ing the Edomites, he brought the gods of the the death of Joash. His total reign was twenty- sons of Seir, set them up as his gods, bowed down before them and burned incense to them nine years. If Joash died soon after the war with (2 Chronicles 25:14). Judah, these events covered a period of no more than fourteen years. The remaining years of His foolishness was pointed out when the Amaziah were insignificant in the eyes of the prophet returned and asked the obvious ques- inspired writer. The only event worthy of men- tion: “Why are you now bowing to the gods of tion in the remainder of his reign is that the Edom, since they were apparently unable to people of Jerusalem conspired to kill him. An protect the Edomites from your attack?” Amaziah imperfect heart had completely destroyed a king became angry with the prophet this time and with great potential. threatened him if he continued to speak. The prophet stopped after these final words: “I know LESSONS TO BE LEARNED that God has planned to destroy you, because We will now direct our attention to the idea you have done this and have not listened to my of the “imperfect heart.” We have noted that counsel” (2 Chronicles 25:16). Amaziah knew the Law. While his father was king, there was a time when the influence of the THE BATTLE AGAINST ISRAEL high priest was strong. The teaching of the Law The last events recorded about Amaziah’s and worship in the temple had been restored. As reign concern his battle against Israel. No longer a child, Amaziah had likely been taught these listening to the prophet of God, he consulted things. other advisers and then sent a challenge to the We also noted that Amaziah did the right king of Israel. Joash of Israel replied with a thing when he followed the advice of the prophet. warning. He told Amaziah that he was full of Is it possible to know about God’s will, to do boasting because of his victory over Edom and what is right, and still not be pleasing in His would surely lose his kingdom if he persisted in sight? If we approach Him with an imperfect this attack against Israel. Indeed, 2 Chronicles heart, the answer is yes. From the story of

2 Amaziah, consider four aspects of an imper- was destruction. God’s measure is not how many fect heart and how they are displayed in the prayers we pray or how many worship services king’s life. we attend. In fact, if you are counting, I suggest Lesson 1: An imperfect heart clouds judg- that you pay careful attention to these next few ment and confuses motives. When the prophet statements. came to Amaziah and told him to send the Soon after Amaziah’s death, Isaiah began Israelite soldiers home, the king began to to prophesy in the land of Judah. This is what whine, “But they cost me a lot of money” (see he was directed to say to the people (Isaiah 2 Chronicles 25:9). He clearly had the wrong 1:10–15): motives. The prophet had just finished telling him that God could help him win or cause him • The Lord was weary of their sacrifices. to lose, but Amaziah seemed to focus on the sil- • God had no delight in the blood of bulls, ver he was losing. It was only after the prophet lambs, or goats. assured him that God could compensate him • Their burning of incense was an abomi- for his loss that he moved to obey. nation to God. Lesson 2: An imperfect heart lacks gratitude. • God had grown weary of their feasts When God did give Amaziah the victory, along and assemblies. with the plunder of battle, there was no room for • Even when they offered many prayers, gratitude in his imperfect heart. Instead of being God would hide His eyes from them. thankful to God, he began to worship the idols captured in the battle. When there is no room These prayers and offerings were the very for gratitude, we tend to take all the credit for things God had commanded them to do. Still, our successes. Josephus gave this description they were unacceptable—not because they were of Amaziah after his success in Edom: the wrong things to do, but because they were performed by “imperfect hearts.” Now upon the victory that Amaziah had got- When Jesus came to earth, His greatest crit- ten, and the great acts he had done, he was puffed up, and began to overlook God, who ics were the “religious,” or “righteous,” people had given him the victory. . . .1 of that time. Who knew the Law better than the scribes and the Pharisees? Even so, Jesus Lesson 3: An imperfect heart refuses sound said that we must exceed the righteousness counsel. The imperfect heart, having become of these (Matthew 5:20). He knew that the puffed up, is no longer impressed by good Pharisees served with “imperfect hearts.” They advice. The proud king challenged the right were laying up treasures on earth rather than of the prophet to speak and even threatened in heaven. In Matthew 23 Jesus showed the his life. For this arrogance, God determined imperfection of their hearts as He pronounced to destroy the king (2 Chronicles 25:16). Then, woes upon them. When they tithed, they even however, we see that the king did accept advice counted the spices in their cabinets, but they (2 Chronicles 25:17). The imperfect heart hears cared nothing for mercy or faith (v. 23). They what it wants to hear and ignores all else. were like cups that have been carefully cleaned Lesson 4: An imperfect heart destroys trust. on the outside while the inside remains stained Amaziah demonstrated that an imperfect heart and dirty (v. 25). can neither trust nor inspire trust from oth- Amaziah, the people of Judah, the scribes, ers. His own people conspired to kill him and and the Pharisees knew the Law, and they did eventually forced him to flee Jerusalem as he some proper things. Nevertheless, they served tried to hide. with “imperfect hearts.” Let us each examine The downfall of Amaziah should encourage our hearts and pray, as did David: every Christian to examine his service constantly Create in me a clean heart, O God, for signs of an “imperfect heart.” Remember that And renew a steadfast spirit within me Amaziah did some right things and yet his end (Psalm 51:10).