2 chronicles 25 reminds me how faith and action are related. Many people today trust God Word only as it agrees with what they want to do. The chapter begins, “Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years… He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly“. As we will see he never fully trusts God, but always has a back up plan of his own. The first act as king was an act of mercy. “He executed the officials who had murdered his father the king. Yet he did not put their sons to death” (In accordance with the Law of Moses). “He then mustered those twenty years old or more…for military service” as specified in the Law, but then “He also hired a hundred thousand fighting men from Israel for a hundred talents of silver“. We read that a man of God came to him and said, “O king, these troops from Israel must not march with you, for the Lord is not with Israel“. He was warned, “God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has the power to help or to overthrow“. Do you believe that?
Frequently we have to deal with consequences that are the result of not following God’s will sometime in the past. People want a painless solution to fix years of problems. Amaziah asked the man of God, “But what about the hundred talents I paid for these Israelite troops?” If you are struggling to correct bad decisions from your past, listen to the reply “The Lord can give you much more than that“. People live in misery because they are unwilling to make a change for fear of what they will lose. Apparently these mercenary troops made their real money by taking plunder from the enemy. People hate to see us do the right thing when it costs them something. “Amaziah dismissed the troops… and sent them home. They were furious with Judah and left for home in a great rage“.
“Amaziah… led his army… where he killed ten thousand men of Seir”. But sadly, “he brought back the gods of the people…He set them up as his own gods, bowed down to them and burned sacrifices to them“. What was the attraction? What could lead a man to turn from honoring God? 1 John 2:16 explains the three things that always bring down powerful men, “For all that is in the world the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life“. We see examples of this in the news almost daily. Notice that God did not turn His back on the king. “The anger of the Lord burned against Amaziah, and He sent a prophet to him“. The king refused to listen. Instead the king sent a challenge to the king of Israel. Even the corrupt king of Israel saw the truth, “now you are arrogant and proud… stay at home!“. “Jehoash king of Israel attacked… Judah was routed by Israel, and every man fled to his home. Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah…he took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the temple of God… with the palace treasures and the hostages“. To add to his humiliation; “Amaziah lived for fifteen years” as a prisoner. Don’t be too proud to hear God’s call. Joel 2:25 is written to the person that turns to God even after a lifetime of rebellion: “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten“. Words are cheap; actions follow a change of heart.