By sis Jacqueline Wee
2 Choronicles 25:2 reads, “And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart."
This verse is a description of King Amaziah of Judah. The words seem to imply that King Amaziah’s standard of righteousness came up short of that expected by God. So what went wrong with King Amaziah's reign? He did works of righteousness but also made mistakes and had his heart distracted during his service to God and His people.
In 2 Chron 25, we read that King Amaziah spent a large some of money in hiring 100,000 soldiers from the kingdom of Israel to help him conquer Edom. A man of God then warned King Amaziah against this alliance as God was not with the then idolatrous Israel. King Amaziah then replied the man in vs 9: "But what shall we do about the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?” The man's reply was: "The Lord is able to give you much more than this." King Amaziah then sent the soldiers back, provoking them to “great anger” (vs 10). One can imagine the fear Amaziah may have felt as a result of angering so big an army. Who knows, they might have even turned on him and that would be one of the last things he would have wished for.
However, God will only give us good things if we seek Him and obey Him. Indeed, God gave King Amaziah victory over the Edomites because he heeded the man's warning and did not use the soldiers of Israel. Unfortunately, the victory was short-lived. King Amaziah brought back the gods of the land which he conquered and bowed down to them and worshipped them. Had King Amaziah forgotten his victory so soon? Had he forgotten that he didn't need another 100,000 soldiers whose hearts were not right with God to win the war because it was God that gave him the victory? King Amaziah may have forgotten God, just as how we may have forgotten God too, during some points in our lives.
As we finish up the chapter of 2 Chron 25, King Amaziah was defeated in a war against the kingdom of Israel. A war that shouldn't have started had King Amaziah heeded the next warning of a prophet of God. In vs 15 and 16, the prophet chided King Amaziah for his ingratitude and disloyalty to God. King Amaziah's boastful reply was this: "Have we made you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down? (ESV)” After this, the defeat of King Amaziah and his kingdom soon followed, according to the prophet reply, “I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.”
King Amaziah had forgotten who gave him victory. He thought he did it by himself. 2 Chron 25:19 mentioned that he was boastful and was seeking war.
As we win races, overcome hurdles and climb higher, we may think we are strong enough to withstand any trials that have yet to come. But God doesn't want that. He doesn't want us to be wise in our own eyes. Prov 3:7 reads: “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.” Despite our achievements, God wants us to continue being meek, humble and ever-reliant on Him (Jam 4:10; 1 Pet 5-6). God wants us to fear Him and seek Him, and continue to find His knowledge and instruction pleasant to our souls (Prov 1:7).
Let us always remember our God is a powerful God, and we owe our everything, even our victories, to Him. "…For God hath power to help, and to cast down.” - 2 Chron 25:8.