Title: The proud Amaziah who forsook God.
Contents
“Pride is the beginning of destruction, and a haughty heart is before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). Also, God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5). However, Amaziah in the text was the ninth king of Judah who succeeded Joash and was a proud king who did not act perfectly in God's eyes. Of course, in the early days of his reign, he tried to do what God said. So, in verse 2 of the text, it is expressed that he acted honestly. But after his victory in the war with Edom, he began to become more and more proud. Despite his victory with God's help, he committed the sin of worshiping and burning incense to a foreign god. This pride caused him to forsake Jehovah. Then, through the text of the text, let's take a look at Amaziah's pride.
1. We neglect the Word of God.
Amaziah was a man who knew God. I knew his will, and I knew what he was pleased with. That is why, in the early days of his reign, he took the advice of God's prophets. So, by obeying God's word, he won the war against Edom. However, Amaziah, who restored national prestige by winning this war, somehow ended up worshiping idols (verse 14). God became angry and sent a prophet to give advice. But instead of repenting, he rebuked the Prophet, saying, “Stop speaking” (v. 16). In this way, pride leads to the dreadful consequence of neglecting the Word of God. Believers should try not to become proud of themselves. Therefore, we can fully practice the word of God and do not neglect it.
2. You are overconfident of yourself.
King Amaziah of Judah became arrogant and asked Joash, king of northern Israel, to fight. Then King Joash said, "You say you have struck the Edomites, and your heart is arrogant and arrogant. Stay in your house in peace. Why are you so angry that you and Judah want to be destroyed together?" (verse 19). Also, King Joash insulted King Amaziah by comparing Judah to a thorn, the lowest of all plants, and Israel to a cedar, the noblest tree. (Verse 18) King Joash of Israel was like this about the declaration of war by King Amaziah of Judah. and booed that it was presumptuous behavior due to Amsha's personal pride. When she was humiliated like this, Amazia had to admit her pride and humbly look back on herself. I had to lower myself and see myself as small. The time when you show yourself very small in your own eyes is the time when you show yourself big to God. But the proud Amaziah looked back at herself and was caught up in the delusion of overestimating herself more than she looked small. That's why I thought the war would be easy to win. But the result was the defeat of Amaziah (verse 22).
3. The end will be disastrous.
King Amaziah was defeated by King Joash of Israel and became a prisoner of war in northern Israel. Also, the capital was taken, the walls were torn down, and the temple and the royal palace treasures were taken away (v. 24). Not only that, but he was chased by his servants, and he was slaughtered in Lachish by his servants, just like his father. . Verse 27 says, “Since Amaziah forsaken the Lord, the crowds have rebelled against him in Jerusalem.” The arrogance of forsaking Jehovah has resulted in the shameful result of having a body mounted on a horse to be buried as the king of a country.
Saints! King Amaziah was a king who was ruined by pride. He became arrogant, neglected the Word of God, and overconfided himself, and died a tragic death. A proud heart is what God hates (Proverbs 6:16, 17). So God rejects the proud. On the other hand, it gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6) Look at the proud Amaziah who forsook God. How could he glorify God the Creator with such a figure? Therefore, pride is only a shortcut to destruction and is of no benefit to us. (Proverbs 16:18)
* Prayer: God, the King of kings, help me to realize and give thanks to your hand at work in my life today. May the Lord glorify you. Lord! Help me to dispel the pride of King Amaziah. So that we may be victorious and walk with the Lord in peace. May the Lord alone be glorified forever and ever. I repent of my pride, which I pretended to know even in the church with worldly academics and abilities. Help us to understand the truth of the gospel that we believe in the cross and resurrection of Jesus in our hearts and to listen humbly. Don't let me be arrogant with my abilities and conditions, and give me the confidence to rely on God's power. Remember that the result of pride is punishment, and let us live a blessed life relying on God, in Jesus' name. Amen