Bible Talks

2 Chronicles 25:3-223Now it came to pass, when the kingdom was established to him, that he slew his servants that had killed the king his father. 4But 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. 5Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield. 6He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valor out of Israel for an hundred talents of silver. 7But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the Lord is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim. 8But if thou wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down. 9And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The Lord is able to give thee much more than this. 10Then Amaziah separated them, to wit, the army that was come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again: wherefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in great anger. 11And Amaziah strengthened himself, and led forth his people, and went to the valley of salt, and smote of the children of Seir ten thousand. 12And other ten thousand left alive did the children of Judah carry away captive, and brought them unto the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, that they all were broken in pieces. 13But the soldiers of the army which Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell upon the cities of Judah, from Samaria even unto Beth-horon, and smote three thousand of them, and took much spoil. 14Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that 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. 15Wherefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand? 16And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the king's counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel. 17Then 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. 18And 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. 19Thou 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? 20But 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. 21So Joash the king of Israel went up; and they saw one another in the face, both he and Amaziah king of Judah, at Beth-shemesh, which belongeth to Judah. 22And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to his tent. (2 Chronicles 25:3‑22).
WE SHALL soon see why it was said of Amaziah, king of Judah, that he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, "but not with a perfect heart." v. 2. When his kingdom was established he slew those servants who had killed his father Joash; but he spared their children, according to the law of Moses (Deut. 24:1616The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin. (Deuteronomy 24:16)) .
Then he gathered together the army out of Judah and Benjamin to go to fight against Edom. He had three hundred thousand choice men who could handle the spear and the sword. But evidently he was not satisfied for he also hired out of Israel another one hundred thousand mighty men of valor for one hundred talents of silver. But he had not asked the Lord's counsel in this, and so there came to him a man of God who told him not to take the army of Israel with him, for the Lord was not with Israel. He warned the king that if he took them, the Lord would make him fall before the enemy. Then Amaziah asked what he should do about the hundred talents of silver he had already given to Israel; and the man of God answered, "The LORD is able to give thee much more than this." The path of faithfulness to the Lord often leads to sacrifice, but He will never be any one's debtor. Those who separate themselves unto Him will be the special objects of His care. Amaziah sent the men of Israel back, but they were greatly offended and went home in great anger.
Amaziah then went forth with his army and they smote the children of Edom with a great slaughter. They took ten thousand captives whom they brought to the top of a rock and threw them down headlong to their death below. This was sheer cruelty; Amaziah did not have the word of the Lord for this. Not walking in faith, he reaped what he sowed. The army of Israel which he had sent back fell upon the cities of Judah on their way home, smote three thousand and carried away much spoil.
After this we read that Amaziah brought back from Edom some of the gods of the children of Seir; he set them up to be his gods and worshiped them. How foolish he was to forsake the Lord who had given him victory and to turn to these false gods which could not save those who worshiped them!
The anger of the Lord was kindled against Amaziah and He sent a prophet who charged him with his sin. Amaziah said to him, "Art thou made of the king's counsel?" He told him to forbear, for why should he be smitten. The prophet did forbear to say anything more except this: "I know that God hath determined to destroy thee."
After this we read that Amaziah took advice (it does not say, of the Lord) before going to make war with Israel. He sent a message to Joash king of Israel to this effect. Joash warned him to be careful, and not to allow his heart to be lifted up with pride because of his victory over Edom. He counseled him to remain at home, for why should he fall and Judah fall with him. But Amaziah would not listen, for it was of God that he might be delivered into the hand of his enemies, because he and his people had sought after the gods of Edom. And so it came to pass that when they came to battle, Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and fled. Amaziah was taken prisoner. "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Prov. 16:1818Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18).
Messages of the Love of God 9/28/1958