Wholehearted Obedience: Lessons from King Amaziah
Summary
King Amaziah's story is a powerful reminder of the dangers of selective obedience and the subtlety of idolatry. Amaziah, the eighth king in the line of David, is described as someone who did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly. His obedience was conditional, often aligning with God's commands only when it was convenient or beneficial for him. This selective obedience is a challenge for us today. We must ask ourselves if we are truly following God's commands or only when they suit our desires and plans.
Amaziah's initial actions as king showed promise. He executed the officials who murdered his father but spared their children, adhering to the law of Moses. This act of justice and mercy was commendable, yet it was only the beginning of his reign. His obedience faltered when he hired mercenaries from Israel to fight against the Edomites, despite a prophet's warning. His focus on financial loss rather than faith in God revealed his misplaced priorities. Although he eventually dismissed the mercenaries, the consequences of his initial decision were severe, leading to raids and loss of life in Judah.
Amaziah's downfall was marked by his idolatry. After a victorious battle, he brought back the gods of the Edomites and worshipped them, rejecting the God who had granted him victory. This act of idolatry led to God's judgment and his eventual defeat and capture by the king of Israel. Amaziah's story warns us of the consequences of pride and idolatry, urging us to examine our own lives for idols that may hinder our wholehearted obedience to God.
In contrast, Jesus exemplifies perfect obedience. Unlike Amaziah, Jesus obeyed God completely, even to the point of death on the cross. His life challenges us to follow God's will, not just when it is convenient, but through all circumstances. As we reflect on Amaziah's life, let us strive to identify and remove any idols, seeking to obey God fully and trust in His plans for our lives.
Key Takeaways
- Selective obedience to God is a common pitfall. Like Amaziah, we may follow God's commands when they align with our desires but resist when they challenge us. True obedience requires surrendering our will to God's, trusting that His ways are higher than ours. [10:35]
- The cost of disobedience can be severe. Amaziah's decision to hire mercenaries, despite God's warning, led to devastating consequences for Judah. This reminds us that our choices have repercussions, and we must seek God's guidance before making significant decisions. [17:37]
- Idolatry is subtle and pervasive. Amaziah's worship of foreign gods after his victory highlights how easily we can turn good things into ultimate things, seeking fulfillment outside of God. We must regularly examine our hearts for idols and realign our worship towards God alone. [21:20]
- Repentance is crucial, but it doesn't always erase consequences. Amaziah's repentance came too late to prevent the fallout of his actions. While God forgives, the natural consequences of our choices may still unfold, teaching us the importance of timely obedience and repentance. [18:53]
- Jesus is our model of perfect obedience. Unlike Amaziah, Jesus obeyed God fully, even in suffering. His life challenges us to pursue obedience not out of convenience but out of love and devotion to God, trusting in His ultimate plan for our lives. [28:25]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[10:35] - Amaziah's Conditional Obedience
[12:18] - Obeying When Convenient
[13:30] - The Cost of Disobedience
[14:57] - Trusting in God's Power
[15:53] - Amaziah's Misplaced Priorities
[16:37] - The Promise of God's Provision
[17:37] - Consequences of Unwise Decisions
[18:53] - The Importance of Seeking God
[20:15] - Amaziah's Cruelty in Victory
[21:20] - The Danger of Idolatry
[22:37] - Rejecting God's Warnings
[24:13] - Amaziah's Downfall
[25:22] - The Subtlety of Idolatry
[26:25] - Identifying Our Idols
[28:25] - Jesus' Perfect Obedience
[29:17] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 2 Chronicles 25:2-4
2. 2 Kings 14:3
3. Philippians 2:8
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#### Observation Questions
1. How is King Amaziah's obedience described in 2 Chronicles 25:2, and what does this reveal about his character? [10:35]
2. What specific actions did Amaziah take that initially aligned with God's law, as mentioned in 2 Chronicles 25:3-4? [12:18]
3. What was the prophet's warning to Amaziah regarding the mercenaries, and how did Amaziah initially respond? [14:57]
4. How did Amaziah's actions change after his victory over the Edomites, and what were the consequences? [21:20]
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does Amaziah's selective obedience teach us about the nature of true obedience to God? [10:35]
2. How does Amaziah's focus on financial loss rather than faith in God reflect common struggles in prioritizing spiritual over material concerns? [15:53]
3. In what ways does Amaziah's idolatry after his victory illustrate the subtlety and danger of idolatry in our own lives? [21:20]
4. How does Jesus' example of perfect obedience, as described in Philippians 2:8, challenge our understanding of obedience and sacrifice? [28:25]
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you obeyed God only when it was convenient. What steps can you take to ensure your obedience is wholehearted? [10:35]
2. Consider a decision you are currently facing. How can you seek God's guidance to avoid the consequences of unwise choices, as Amaziah experienced? [17:37]
3. Identify any "idols" in your life that may be hindering your relationship with God. What practical steps can you take to realign your worship towards God alone? [26:25]
4. How can you cultivate a habit of consulting God and seeking godly counsel before making significant decisions? [18:53]
5. In what ways can you model Jesus' perfect obedience in your daily life, especially when faced with challenges or suffering? [28:25]
6. Think of a situation where pride might be affecting your decisions. How can you practice humility and seek God's will instead? [24:13]
7. How can you encourage others in your community to pursue wholehearted obedience to God, using Amaziah's story as a cautionary example? [29:17]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
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Day 1: The Challenge of Selective Obedience
Selective obedience is a common struggle, as seen in the life of King Amaziah. He followed God's commands when they aligned with his desires but resisted when they challenged him. This conditional obedience is a pitfall for many, as it reflects a heart that is not fully surrendered to God. True obedience requires us to trust in God's wisdom and surrender our will to His, even when it is inconvenient or difficult. We must examine our lives to see if we are truly following God's commands or only when they suit our plans. [10:35]
"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars." (2 Chronicles 16:9, ESV)
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you find yourself obeying God only when it is convenient? What steps can you take today to surrender this area to Him fully?
Day 2: The Cost of Disobedience
Amaziah's decision to hire mercenaries, despite God's warning, led to devastating consequences for Judah. This story reminds us that our choices have repercussions, and disobedience can lead to severe outcomes. When we prioritize our understanding over God's guidance, we risk facing unintended consequences. It is crucial to seek God's wisdom and guidance before making significant decisions, trusting that His plans are for our good. [17:37]
"Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered." (Proverbs 28:26, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a recent decision you made without seeking God's guidance. How did it turn out, and what can you learn from that experience to apply to future decisions?
Day 3: The Subtlety of Idolatry
Idolatry can be subtle and pervasive, as demonstrated by Amaziah's worship of foreign gods after his victory. This act highlights how easily we can turn good things into ultimate things, seeking fulfillment outside of God. Idolatry is not always about worshipping physical idols; it can be anything that takes God's place in our hearts. We must regularly examine our hearts for idols and realign our worship towards God alone. [21:20]
"Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces. Should I indeed let myself be consulted by them?" (Ezekiel 14:3, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one thing in your life that you may have turned into an idol. How can you begin to shift your focus back to God and place Him at the center of your life?
Day 4: The Importance of Timely Repentance
Amaziah's repentance came too late to prevent the fallout of his actions. While God forgives, the natural consequences of our choices may still unfold. This teaches us the importance of timely obedience and repentance. When we recognize our mistakes, we should not delay in turning back to God, seeking His forgiveness and guidance. Repentance is crucial for restoring our relationship with God and aligning our lives with His will. [18:53]
"Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55:6-7, ESV)
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you need to repent and seek God's forgiveness? What steps can you take today to make things right with God and others?
Day 5: Jesus as Our Model of Perfect Obedience
Unlike Amaziah, Jesus exemplifies perfect obedience to God, even to the point of death on the cross. His life challenges us to pursue obedience not out of convenience but out of love and devotion to God. Jesus' obedience was rooted in His trust in God's ultimate plan, and He calls us to follow His example. As we strive to obey God fully, we can trust that His plans for our lives are good and that He will guide us through all circumstances. [28:25]
"And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:8, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you follow Jesus' example of obedience in your daily life? How can you cultivate a heart of love and devotion to God that leads to wholehearted obedience?
Quotes
"King Amaziah obeyed God when it suited him. Now I think that I'm a good driver. I've never lost any points and I've never had a fine. If I get a fine next week, I'll tell you I obey the road rules except when I think I know better. If we are honest, then most of us because I thought Jen Bennett probably didn't disobey the road rules all disobey the road rules sometimes maybe it's the speed limit I don't have to go 50 kilometres here downhill it's safe enough to do more we think that we know better maybe it's yellow traffic lights I can get through before it turns red everybody else is doing it when the law says a yellow light means you must stop you can only go through a yellow light if you can't stop safely up before the stop line." [00:08:18] (74 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"This means that he obeyed God, but only when it suited him. And that's a challenge for us. Do we? We think that we obey God, but is it only when it suits us? 2 Kings 14 verse 3 says, He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not as his father David had done." [00:10:35] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Amaziah obeyed God when it didn't cost too much. He starts fairly well. And we're given an example of his obedience in verse 3 and 4. After the kingdom was firmly in his control, he executed the officials who had murdered his father, the king. Yet he did not put their children to death, but acted what was written in the law. In the book of Moses, where the law commanded, Parents shall not be put to death for their children, nor children be put to death for their parents. Each will die for their own sin." [00:11:24] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"God was against Israel because of their continuing idolatry. He wanted Amaziah to trust wholeheartedly in him to win the battle, not to trust in his army. And now King Amaziah asks a very revealing question. But what about the hundred talents I paid for those Israelite troops? His heart is focused on the money. It's not focused on his lack of faith to trust God. It's not on his failure to consult God about his plans before acting. It's about, but what about the money?" [00:15:53] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Even if we repent, and we're forgiven for unwise decisions that we've made without consulting God, there may still be bitter consequences that play out in our lives for some years to come. And some of us have probably experienced that already. Some of us have probably gone charging ahead saying yes to things that God later on shows us do not honour him. Or we've said no to things that God really wants us to do. Not stepping out in faith into a new area of ministry or a new direction." [00:18:53] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Why was God against the kingdom of Israel? They're continuing idolatry. What was Amaziah's downfall? His idolatry. He thought he knew better than God. Better than his prophets, better than his law. And he put himself above God and that is idolatry." [00:25:22] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"You may not have physical idols but all of us, all of us suffer from a tendency towards idolatry. Our idols don't usually look like idols. They look like really good things. Like our job or love or things in our house or our family. The human heart takes these good things and turns them into ultimate things. And we think if we attain them, we're going to have significance, safety, security and fulfilment." [00:26:25] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Jesus was the perfect example of how to love God and obey him completely. And it wasn't an obedience just when it suited. It was an obedience through suffering, through temptation and rejection. He chose to do his father's will every day. As Philippians 2.8 says, Jesus obeyed God all the way to the cross. Becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross." [00:28:25] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the challenging lessons from King Amaziah's life. Forgive us when we are selective in our obedience of your word. And when we've rejected godly advice. Forgive us for when we fail to consult you about decisions in our life. And we don't trust you to give us the victory. Reveal to us by your Holy Spirit idols in our life that we are unaware of. We want to worship you alone." [00:29:17] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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