Today begins a new month, the days are growing shorter and its much cooler out. When I woke up this morning and peeked out my bedroom window it was still very dark and I could see the stars in the sky. I could even pick out a few constellations! The dark sky was so clear, it must be chilly out this morning.
Today we are in Chapter 25 of 2 Chronicles. Lets begin and see what God has for us to read and learn today.
Verses 1-2 I am reading from the NLT today. I love the way it reads. Verse 2 - The new King - Amaziah - he did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight but not wholeheartedly. Now that verse grabbed my attention! I am guilty of that - I mostly Love the Lord but I have a few hot button situations and I am really struggling with WWJD. OK back to verse 1, Amaziah was 25 when he became king and he reigned for 29 years.
Verses 3-4 When Amaziah became established as king, he had the officials put to death who killed his father. I found verse 4 interesting - he did not kill the children of the officials because of the law of Moses says not to kill child for what is parent did, nor kill a parent for what his child did. Only the person who committed the sin should be punished. This was a common practice in that period of time, to kill the parent or child for the sins of their parent or child. Amaziah followed the law and not the culture or common practice at that time. This is good!
Verses 5-8 Amaziah prepares to go into battle against the Edomites. He assembles able young men 20 and older from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. He also hires troops from Israel. A man of God goes to Amaziah and tells him not to use the troops from Isreal for they are not men of God. God will help him win the war without them.
Verse 9 Amaziah asks the man of God what he should do, and he responds God will bless him with much more than the money he has given the troops.
Verses 10-13 The troops Amaziah sends home are angry because the anticipated getting lots of money from the plunder of the army they defeated so they are not happy they aren't going to battle. So they retaliated and raided cities in Judah while Amaziah was at war, his army killed10,000 men in Seir.
Verses 14-16 Here we go again. Amaziah brings home plunder from the battle at Seir and he brings with him the gods from the people of Seir and worships them. This angers God, and he sends a prophet to Amaziah asking why would Amaziah worship a god when he has GOD? Their gods lost so their god can't possibly be as great as GOD. And while the prophet is speaking to Amaziah he interupts him by asking the prophet if he has been appointed as an advisor to the king? So the prophet stops what he is saying and says that God will destroy Judah because he has not listened to God.
Verses 17-20 Amaziah consults his elders, and sends a challenge to the King of Israel, King Jehoash. Amaziah is feeling lucky after winning his latest battle, and he wants to meet King Jehoash face to face in battle. King Jehoash responds with a parable about a thistle and the cedar tree. Judah is the thistle, and Israel is the Cedar. The wild beast will trample the thistle but can't harm the cedar tree, so King Jehoash was telling Amaziah that he shouldn't go into battle with Israel for Judah will be trampled on. Don't be arrogant and assume you can win Israel.
Verses 21-24 So what happens? Israel soundly wins the battle with Judah. Every warrier for Judah flees to his own home. Jehoash captures Amaziah, and enters into the temple and takes plunder - he takes all the gold and silver, and palace treasures. Then they return home to Samaria.
Verses 25-28 Amaziah lives for 15 years after Jehoash's death. He is hated by his subjects, so he flees from Jerusalem to Lachish, but he is killed there. He is buried with his fathers.
Father God we learn again that a king that follows God's law but not whole heartedly. I pray today that we are not lukewarm in our faith with you Lord. I pray that when you speak to us, we listen to your words. My fear Lord in reading about all these kings who have relationships with you but most of them walk away. I don't want to be like them Lord. I ask that you strengthen my faith no matter what happens in my life. In Jesus name I pray.
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