Thursday, July 18
Read 2 Chronicles 25
Think About It:
- Verse 2 tells us that Amaziah did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly. Compared to Joash, Amaziah faithfully continued his policies. Yet some of those policies allowed compromises, such as the allowing of continued sacrifices and incense offerings on the high places (2 Kings 14:1-4). Compared to David—the greatest merely human king to reign over the people of God—Amaziah did not match up favorably. The root idea of the Hebrew word translated ‘perfect’ [loyal in the NKJV] is being whole, complete. Imperfection of heart consists in incomplete surrender. We must search our own hearts and root out any resistance to obeying God. Are there areas of your life in which you are resistant to following God’s will? Are there areas in which your obedience to God’s will is grudging or half-hearted? Grudging compliance is not true obedience.
- Amaziah heard and understood the Word of God from His messenger. Yet his question was familiar: “How much will it cost me to be obedient?” Although it cost him plenty, he wisely realized that the money was not worth disobeying God. So, Amaziah discharged the troops that had come to him from Ephraim to go back home. He had paid them as promised, trusting that God was able to return to him much more—he sent them home in faith, trusting God to both protect and provide. How would you have reacted if you invested in a business deal or made an alliance with someone, and the LORD convicted you that this was unwise?
- In 2 Chronicles 25:14-15, we learn that after God gave him victory over the Edomites, Amaziah brought home the gods of the people of Seir. He set them up as gods and bowed down to them and burned sacrifices to them. This action of Amaziah shows the deep foolishness of idolatry. These gods of the people of Seir were unable to defend or help the Edomites, yet he worshipped them. God sent a prophet to make this point clear to King Amaziah. We can make the same mistake as Amaziah when we run after money, power or recognition. It is tempting to pursue the things that the world proclaims as fulfilling and satisfying. Are there things or people in your life that you are making into idols?
Family Time:
- Read verse 2 again and think about how it relates to you and your life. Have you ever obeyed on the outside but resented on the inside? (home, school)
- Do you think God can see beyond our outward acts to our inward thoughts?
- Amaziah had great victory when he followed God’s instructions but his reaction to his victory (vs 14-16) showed his disloyal heart. What did he do that showed his disloyal heart? How did God respond?
