2 Chronicles 25:1-16 - A Divided Devotion

2 Chronicles 25:1-16

Amaziah Reigns in Judah (2 Kings 14:1–6)

1 Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. 2 And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a loyal heart.

3 Now it happened, as soon as the kingdom was established for him, that he executed his servants who had murdered his father the king. 4 However he did not execute 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 be put to death for their children, nor shall the children be put to death for their fathers; but a person shall die for his own sin.”

The War Against Edom (2 Kings 14:7)

5 Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together and set over them captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, according to their fathers’ houses, throughout all Judah and Benjamin; and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them to be three hundred thousand choice men, able to go to war, who could handle spear and shield. 6 He also hired one hundred thousand mighty men of valor from Israel for one hundred talents of silver. 7 But a man of God came to him, saying, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel—not with any of the children of Ephraim. 8 But if you go, be gone! Be strong in battle! Even so, God shall make you fall before the enemy; for God has power to help and to overthrow.”

9 Then Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do about the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?”

And the man of God answered, “The LORD is able to give you much more than this.” 10 So Amaziah discharged the troops that had come to him from Ephraim, to go back home. Therefore their anger was greatly aroused against Judah, and they returned home in great anger.

11 Then Amaziah strengthened himself, and leading his people, he went to the Valley of Salt and killed ten thousand of the people of Seir. 12 Also the children of Judah took captive ten thousand alive, brought them to the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, so that they all were dashed in pieces.

13 But as for the soldiers of the army which Amaziah had discharged, so that they would not go with him to battle, they raided the cities of Judah from Samaria to Beth Horon, killed three thousand in them, and took much spoil.

14 Now it was so, after Amaziah came from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the people of Seir, set them up to be his gods, and bowed down before them and burned incense to them. 15 Therefore the anger of the LORD was aroused against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of the people, which could not rescue their own people from your hand?”

16 So it was, as he talked with him, that the king said to him, “Have we made you the king’s counselor? Cease! Why should you be killed?”

Then the prophet ceased, and said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.”

This account of Amaziah starts by saying he did what God said was right, but he had divided devotion to the LORD in that he did right, but not from his heart.  This is the definition of religious devotion which is not devotion, but conformity to rules for various rational reasons instead of out of a heart (2 Chronicles 16:9) completely His.  He attempted to follow the Law of the LORD such as sparing the children of his father’s murderers as scripture (Deuteronomy 24:16) told him that the individuals responsible for the sin are to be held responsible and not their children.  But when he was going to war against Edom, he hired fighters from Israel to bolster his small army and was told by God not to take them because they were not with Him.  If he was to fight, then it had to be by relying on God to fight the battle (for the battle belongs to the LORD) and not in this way.  He would fail if he took those who with him who were not on the side of God.  He obeyed God and let them keep their mercenary wages and let them go after hearing that the LORD could give them much more in return for obedience.  The mercenaries were furious and raided cities of Judah in retaliation while Amaziah and Judah routed the Edomites by God’s hand.  Unfortunately, because he had been running on a divided devotion to God according to checking rule boxes and not from a heart of true devotion, Amaziah stole idols and began to worship them also.  He rejected God’s word delivered by a prophet and threatened to kill him if he continued to warn him!  The prophet wisely warned the king that his heart answered his end by rejecting the word of warning.  Such is the case with those who reject the gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8, 1 Peter 4:17) even now, even those who follow religious rules but their heart remains unchanged, outside of Christ and His saving grace.  This is the warning for religious rules keepers to heed the gospel and receive Jesus Christ through repentance (Mark 1:15, Acts 20:21, Romans 6:23) and faith in His work to save them and not vainly attempt to earn their place in heaven (Romans 3:27, 4:3-4, 5, 2 Timothy 1:9) by checking boxes to imagine they are then good enough to be called up yonder when the roll is called at the day of judgment.  Doing good works follows His work on the cross of His sacrifice that alone can save us (Acts 26:20) if we have received His Grace by faith alone and rest in Him and not our vain efforts anymore to earn God’s favor ourselves.  The battle for our souls and our place in eternity with Him belongs to the Lord alone as we sincerely come to Him in that faith with a devoted and undivided heart of trust and eternal reliance.  May we then do good as a result with a loyal heart that relies on His work and strength that is mighty alone to save, and not add requirements not prescribed by God as some would insist we must.