Consequences Of A Lack Of Commitment

His victory over the Edomites gave Amaziah a sense of power, and the attacks by the Israelite mercenaries made people angry.  He was advised to punish Israel for having made such unprovoked attacks when they had been paid and had no given the money back.  Joash, the king of Israel had been repeatedly attacked by Syria, beating them several times.  He was ure he could defeat Judah, but as concerned that the Syrians would attack again and perhaps win if he got caught up in war with Judah.  He tried to talk him out of fighting, realizing it was just a matter of pride, in II Chronicles 25:17-19.  “Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us see one another in the face.

And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.  Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites; and thine heart lifteth thee up to boast: abide now at home; why shouldest thou meddle to thine hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?”

Because he was not fully committed to God, Amaziah had begun worshipping the Edomite idols, believing they would give him additional power.  God was going to use that war to teach Amaziah not to depend on other gocs, as we see in II Chronicles 25:20- 25.  “But 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.  So Joash the king of Israel went up; and they saw one another in the face, both he and Amaziah king of Judah, at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah. And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to his tent.  And Joash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Bethshemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.  And he took all the gold and the silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God with Obededom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.”

Joash and the Israelite army soundly defeated Judah, capturing Amaziah, and seizing everything of value they found.  Under constant threat of attack by Syria, they had no interest in trying to occupy Judah, but returned to Israel as soon as possible, leaving Amaziah to rebuild.   The attitudes and moral standards of the leaders set the tone for the attitudes and morals of the people towards their leaders.  Like his predecessors, Amaziah’s turning away from God led to people turning against him, as II Chronicles 25:25-28 tells us.  “And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.  Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?  Now after the time that Amaziah did turn away from following the LORD they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there.  And they brought him upon horses, and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah.”

Amaziah’s life is typical of people who follow their family’s religious customs but have no real relationship with or commitment to God.  They adopt beliefs and moral standards contrary to God’s word, becoming proud of their religious behavior, and, like Amaziah, turn on anyone who questions what they are doing.