The Pilgrim Path---Second Chronicles 25: 20“But Amaziah would not listen, for it was of God, in order that he might give them into the hand of their enemies because they had sought the gods of Edom.”

AMAZIAH and The Fragmented Heart

As you study the Old Testament you find that many of the Kings were wanderers. It is not that they did a great deal of traveling; they often simply wandered from the LORD. Is was usually incremental. You know, in steps. Take the time to read Second Chronicles chapter 25. It gives you something of a “run-down” on Amaziah. Verse two tells us that he, “did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, yet not with a whole heart.” This “fragmented following” would be quite ruinous for him and the entire Southern Kingdom. Yet, we cannot be too hard on him (we have fallen ourselves). We just want to make sure our only Master turns out be the LORD Jesus Christ. Today’s verse is attention getting---at the top of the page. It was of God-- that Amaziah would not listen? Startling right? God chose to leave the wandering, obstinate King to himself---after repeated warnings. In so doing, Amaziah would be judged and disciplined…

---The LORD left Amaziah to himself because he would not listen (II Chronicles 25: 20)

---The LORD left Amaziah to himself because he thought all past military victories meant he would win every military campaign he faced in the future…with or without the LORD

---The LORD left Amaziah because he foolishly sought the gods of the Edomites---the very people whom he struck down in battle. This gave rise to one of the great questions of the LORD in the Old Testament: “Why have you sought the gods of a people who did not deliver their own people from your hand?” II Chronicles 25: 15. Hmmm…Why do we seek money? Sex? Pornography? The praise of people? Power among men? Gambling? We still “seek” the same gods of the Edomites…Many of these lesser gods, we think we can control, at least for a time. But once knit to the flesh---they are most destructive and damning…

---The LORD reveals a clue about Amaziah in verse nine of chapter 25. The LORD did not want Amaziah to depend upon the military forces of Ephraim in his battle against the men of Seir. Amaziah had bank-rolled the Army of Israel with an additional 100 talents of gold to ready for battle. “What about all that money?” Amaziah asked (verse 9). The LORD had a man of God available there with a word: “The LORD is able to give you much more than this.” When your kingdom is threatened---typically, the sound heart---is not worried about bank accounts…

---Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent to Joash the son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying “Come, let us look one another in the face.” II Chronicles 25: 17---The beginning of the end for Amaziah…Here is King Joash’ response to Amaziah: You say, “See, I have struck down Edom, and your heart has lifted you up in boastfulness. But now stay at home. Why should you provoke trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?”

And Amaziah would NOT LISTEN…

Amaziah’s army was defeated…his gold and silver seized…

“From the time when he turned away from the LORD, they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But they sent after him to Lachish and put him to death there.” II Chronicles 25: 27

“The LORD is able to give you much more than this is a very satisfactory answer to the anxious question. Our Father holds the purse-strings, and what we lose for His sake He can repay a thousand-fold. It is ours to obey His will, and we may rest assured that He will provide for us. The LORD will be no man’s debtor at the last. Saints know that a grain of heart’s ease is of more value than a ton of gold. He who wraps a threadbare coat about a good conscience has gained a spiritual wealth far more desirable than any he has lost. God’s smile and a dungeon are enough for a true heart; His frown and a palace would be hell to a gracious spirit. Let the worst come to worst, let all the talents go, we have not lost our treasure, for that is above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. Meanwhile, even now, the LORD maketh the meek to inherit the earth, and no good thing doth He withhold from them that walk uprightly.” Charles Haddon Spurgeon

In the hour of trial, Jesus, plead for me;

Lest by base denial I depart from thee;

When thou seest me waver, with a look recall,

Nor for fear or favor suffer me to fall.

James Montgomery, 1834

Grace and Peace in Jesus Christ Our Risen LORD, Pastor Jason