2Ch 25:20 | KingComments | STEP | Instead of following the Divine counsel of God’s prophet, Amaziah goes to others for counsel ( ). Those with whom he consults are not mentioned. Nor is it about those others, but about Amaziah’s attitude. Because he has said goodbye to God, he is working on the destruction that has been promised to him. The counsel he is taking is about a war he plans to wage with Joash, the king of Israel. A reason for that war could be the raid in Judah by mercenaries from the northern empire ( ). We also see that his victory over Edom has made him proud, as Joash notes ( ). The result of the counsel is that Amaziah sends messengers to the king of Israel to challenge him to fight each other. Joash’ answer comes in the form of a fable ( ). The thorn bush, good to throw into the fire, that’s Amaziah. The cedar, mighty and good for building, that is Joash. The wild beast that was in Lebanon is Joash’ army. Carelessly the thorn bush is trampled. Joash lets Amaziah know why he is looking for the battle. He reminds him of his victory over Edom and that this has made him overconfident and he thinks he can also win from Israel easily. Joash himself is no better than Amaziah. We see that wicked people can see through the motives of other wicked people. That is because they are driven by exactly the same motives. Joash is as proud as Amaziah. He predicts disaster for Amaziah and advises him to stay at home ( ). Joash is as certain of victory as Amaziah. Both men speak diluted language; with both, dependence on the LORD is completely lacking. Amaziah has not listened to the prophet and he certainly does not listen to the warning of Joash ( ). God has His hand in this, for He is going to use Joash to punish Amaziah for seeking the gods of Edom. When it turns out that Amaziah doesn’t want to listen, Joash goes up ( ). They face each other at Beth-shemesh, where they fight each other. Amaziah suffers the defeat and the soldiers flee, each to his tent ( ). Joash captures Amaziah and takes him to Jerusalem. What a humiliation it will have been for Amaziah to enter there as a prisoner. More humiliations will follow. A large part of the wall of Jerusalem, “from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate, 400 cubits” ( ), which is on the north and north-west side of the wall, is torn down. Many of the treasures of the house of God, which are entrusted to the care of Obed-edom, are robbed ( ). Joash also takes hostages with him, to guarantee that Amaziah keeps calm. Then he returns to Samaria. The punitive expedition is over. We see in this history how much is lost when, through victories given by the Lord, we become arrogant and fight for our own honor. If we are deaf to warnings given by the Lord, the disaster is complete. We then suffer losses in all areas. Our esteem is impaired and with it the Name of the Lord Whom we confess to know and serve. We also lose the spiritual blessings that are stored for us in the house of God and that we can enjoy there. In fact, as ‘hostages’ we are held by the enemy who has gained power over us. This means that we have lost our true spiritual freedom. What a loss, for ourselves, but above all for the Lord, Who does not receive from our lives the honor He is so worthy of!

‏ 2 Chronicles 25:20

Amaziah Defeated by Joash

Instead of following the Divine counsel of God’s prophet, Amaziah goes to others for counsel (2Chr 25:17). Those with whom he consults are not mentioned. Nor is it about those others, but about Amaziah’s attitude. Because he has said goodbye to God, he is working on the destruction that has been promised to him.

The counsel he is taking is about a war he plans to wage with Joash, the king of Israel. A reason for that war could be the raid in Judah by mercenaries from the northern empire (2Chr 25:13). We also see that his victory over Edom has made him proud, as Joash notes (2Chr 25:19). The result of the counsel is that Amaziah sends messengers to the king of Israel to challenge him to fight each other.

Joash’ answer comes in the form of a fable (2Chr 25:18). The thorn bush, good to throw into the fire, that’s Amaziah. The cedar, mighty and good for building, that is Joash. The wild beast that was in Lebanon is Joash’ army. Carelessly the thorn bush is trampled. Joash lets Amaziah know why he is looking for the battle. He reminds him of his victory over Edom and that this has made him overconfident and he thinks he can also win from Israel easily.

Joash himself is no better than Amaziah. We see that wicked people can see through the motives of other wicked people. That is because they are driven by exactly the same motives. Joash is as proud as Amaziah. He predicts disaster for Amaziah and advises him to stay at home (2Chr 25:19). Joash is as certain of victory as Amaziah. Both men speak diluted language; with both, dependence on the LORD is completely lacking.

Amaziah has not listened to the prophet and he certainly does not listen to the warning of Joash (2Chr 25:20). God has His hand in this, for He is going to use Joash to punish Amaziah for seeking the gods of Edom. When it turns out that Amaziah doesn’t want to listen, Joash goes up (2Chr 25:21). They face each other at Beth-shemesh, where they fight each other. Amaziah suffers the defeat and the soldiers flee, each to his tent (2Chr 25:22). Joash captures Amaziah and takes him to Jerusalem. What a humiliation it will have been for Amaziah to enter there as a prisoner.

More humiliations will follow. A large part of the wall of Jerusalem, “from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate, 400 cubits” (2Chr 25:23), which is on the north and north-west side of the wall, is torn down. Many of the treasures of the house of God, which are entrusted to the care of Obed-edom, are robbed (2Chr 25:24). Joash also takes hostages with him, to guarantee that Amaziah keeps calm. Then he returns to Samaria. The punitive expedition is over.

We see in this history how much is lost when, through victories given by the Lord, we become arrogant and fight for our own honor. If we are deaf to warnings given by the Lord, the disaster is complete. We then suffer losses in all areas. Our esteem is impaired and with it the Name of the Lord Whom we confess to know and serve.

We also lose the spiritual blessings that are stored for us in the house of God and that we can enjoy there. In fact, as ‘hostages’ we are held by the enemy who has gained power over us. This means that we have lost our true spiritual freedom. What a loss, for ourselves, but above all for the Lord, Who does not receive from our lives the honor He is so worthy of!