Amaziah's ambition and pride

2 Chronicles Chapter 25

Amaziah reigned for twenty-nine years and did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight, but not wholeheartedly. He executed the men who assassinated his father, but he did not kill the children of the assassin, according to the Book of Law of Moses.

Amaziah also organized his army and assigned leaders to each clan. He took a census to see how many fighting men he had. He hired fighting men from Israel, when a man of God told him not to hire them, for the Lord was not with Israel. And the Lord would not help the people of Ephraim, so God would overthrow Amaziah if he hired them. But when Amaziah sent the hired troops back to Ephraim, they were outraged.

Amaziah raided many towns and killed thousand of Edomite troops and his troops brought much plunder.He brought back idols taken from the people of Seir and set them up as his own gods and presented sacrifices before them. The Lord was angry and sent a prophet to talk to Amaziah, but he would not take the advice from God. So the prophet left warning him that God would destroy him and all he had done.

Later, Amaziah asked Israel's king Johoash to meet him in battle. But Jehoash demanded his daughter in marriage to his son and warned him that to stir up trouble could bring disaster on the king and all the people of Judah.

Still Amaziah would not listen. King Jehoash mobilized his army and in the battle, King Amaziah was captured and brought to Jerusalem. Jehoash ordered his army to demolish six hundred feet of Jerusalem's wall and he carried off all the gold and silver from the Temple of God and seized the treasures of the royal palace along with hostages and then returned to Samaria.

King Amaziah of Judah lived on for 15 years until the death of King Jehoash. After he turned away from the Lord and fled to Lachish, his enemies sent assassins after him and they killed him there.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Amaziah valued military success more than God's will. He sent the hired troops from Israel back with their pay, but it cost him when he realized the money was not worth the risk of a bad alliance.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Just like Amaziah was warned several times to not risk battle, we often do things that let our ambition and pride rule our better sense. But by letting pride and ambition into our lives, they cause us to forget God. And money should never stand in the way of making the right decisions. The Lord's favor is priceless!

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Update on my niece Suzanne, she is healing but her leg was crushed and will take many months of doctoring. She is in a nursing home for rehab care. Pray for her healing. Also Gabe, Wanda, Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother whose cancer has returned and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them. And pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer. Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS. Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has 90 percent of her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. She will require long therapy and insurance may soon be a problem since her job was not held for her.
Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues..
Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
Pray for John recovery from a heart attack and pray he can stop smoking.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.