2 Chronicles 25: 1-16
The new King Amaziah, son of Joash, commences his reign age 25 years. Outwardly he appeared to be following the ways of God, but it was not with a perfect (or completely loyal) heart.
After killing the men that had conspired together and killed his own father, he began building Judah's army. Additionally he hired soldiers from Israel, but a man of God advised him to send them home as God would not help him if he had the ungodly army of Israel with him. He encouraged Amaziah to be strong and go trusting in the LORD's power to help. Amaziah was concerned about the loss of the silver he had paid to hire these men, but the man of God encouraged him that God could give him much more than that. Amaziah consequently sent the Israelites home - but they were so angry they retaliated by invading Judean cities, killing 3,000 and robbing them.
Meanwhile, Amaziah led his army to 'the valley of salt' and fought the Edomites, killing 10,000 and throwing another 10,000 off a cliff. On returning home, Amaziah brought the pagan gods of the Edomites, and setting them up he bowed down to them and burned incense to them.
God was very angry with Amaziah for this act and sent a prophet to him asking why he had done it, but Amaziah basically told him he hadn't asked for his advice and if he didn't stop he would be killed.
The prophet discontinued but told him God would destroy him because of this.
As I read this account I was asking, 'Why?!....Why set up idols when God has clearly just helped you??!...why bring trouble on yourself?!' And then I read God's own words, 'Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand? (verse 15).
It was as if Amaziah took God's help and then threw it back in his face. Is it like those occasions when we ask God for help and he does but then - what happens? We get proud. We think we achieved our success through our own skill. We may not literally worship pagan idols, but we are instead worshipping ourselves, thinking how wonderful we are - even if we don't realise it. We forget that all we have, all our abilities, are given to us by our kind God, who has power to do all things; that he answers prayer and moves men's hearts and circumstances to bring about answers.
God tells us not to glory in our wisdom or power or wealth, but to glory in understanding and knowing him - 'the LORD which exercises lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD' (Jeremiah 9:23,24). Notice, the LORD says it gives him delight to help us....and how awful we are to not acknowledge his love and kindness.
It reminds me of the 10 lepers who Jesus healed, but only one went back to thank him - a Samaritan, who normally would be despised by the Jews. Jesus said, 'Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger' (Luke 17:17,18).
Imagine if we treated out colleagues or friends like this! They would feel used. They would be angry. They might say, 'That's the last time I'm helping you!' Imagine if they had cared so much about you that they had borne great hardship, or even given their life. What ingratitude and injustice we do to our Lord when we don't give him the glory, not only for his help every day but for what he has done in giving his life for his people.
May we be helped to give God the glory and thank him from the bottom of our hearts ...our loving, patient, heavenly Father! And dear reader, may we be kept from dishonouring or being ashamed of our dearest friend, our precious Lord Jesus.
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