HE SENT A PROPHET Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign in Jerusalem as king of Judah. He reigned for twenty-nine years, or until he was fifty four. The Spirit makes a most interesting observation of him. "And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart" (25:2). He was not the first or the last to conduct himself in such a manner. Deeds can be technically "right," while the heart is fundamentally flawed. As soon as Amaziah's kingdom was "established," one of the first things he did was kill the officials who had murdered his father, who was king before him. He did not, however, kill their children. Scripture tells us why he allowed the children to live. "But he slew not their children, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin" (v 4; Deut 24:16). He also gathered Judah together, organizing an army of 300,000, of choice men, who were "able to go to war," and "could handle the spear and the shield" (v 5). He even hired 100,000 "mighty men of valor" from Israel, paying them a "hundred talents of silver" (about 3 3/4 tons). The Lord sent a man to Amaziah telling him not to hire the men of Israel, for God was against them. The king consented to the word of the Lord, sending the men from Israel home. Amaziah then "strengthened himself, and led forth his people," triumphing over "the children of Seir," offspring of Esau (vs 11-12; Gen 36:21). -- Monday:
However, when Amaziah returned from "the slaughter of the Edomites" (the children of Seir), he did a most foolish thing. It is written, "he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them" (v 14). Great triumphs are not necessarily followed by godly responses! Here was a king who did exactly what God told him to do. He experienced victory because of the blessing of the Lord. Yet, he responded by bringing false gods into the Lord's land, set them up to be his gods, bowed down to them, and burned incense to them. But these were no ordinary false gods! They were the idols of the people he had conquered. They could not protect the people who worshiped and served them in Seir, and yet the very king who had cast down the idolaters became one himself. It is no wonder the Scriptures say of him, "He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly" (NIV).
In keeping with His own nature, the Lord sent a prophet to Amaziah. The gods he was bowing down to sent no prophet to him. The incense that he was burning to them did not result in some further word from these false gods. But God did not simply send a prophet, He sent one because "the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah." This prophet would not bring a good word, like Nathan did to king David. His message would be appropriate for a person who turned from the living God to serve idols
This unnamed prophet thundered, "Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand?" How utterly absurd the actions of Amaziah must have appeared to this man of God. He was serving gods whom his army had defeated. Amaziah's response to this prophet again revealed a faulty heart. He did not smite his breast, or confess his sin as did Pharaoh (Ex 9:27), Balaam (Num 22:34), Aachan (John 7:20), Saul (1 Sam 15:24), and David (2 Sam 12:13). Instead, of all things, he asked about proper protocol! "And it came about as he was talking with him that the king said to him. ‘Have we appointed you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?'" (NIV). Amaziah did not see the prophet as properly authorized to speak critically of the king! Thinking himself to be showing mercy, he asked the prophet to refrain from speaking in such a manner, for there was no reason for him to lose his life for such brashness. Little did he know,. This prophet was sent to Him by the true God!
The prophet ceased to upbraid the king, and simply told him, "I know that God has planned to destroy you, because you have done this, and have not listened to my counsel" (v 16,NASB). Still, Amaziah did not repent, but sought to his "counselors" instead. Following their advice, he sent a word to the king of Israel, asking that they get together. He was rebuked by that king who told him his heart was lifted up because he had smitten the Midianites. He told him to stay at home. Still, Amaziah "would not hear; for it came of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edom" (v 17-20). He was eventually killed in Lachish by men from Jerusalem (v 27). But not before God had sent him a prophet, and an opportunity to repent and correct his ways.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for sending messengers to those who are on the road that leads to destruction.