Day 176, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): 2Kings 14:1-20; 2Chronicles 25:1-28; 2Kings 13:24-25; 2Kings13:12-13; 2Kings 14:21-22; 2Kings 15:1-5; 2Chronicles 26:1-21
Overconfidence
Some businesses, ball teams, or even politicians always seem to win. And in their winning they sometimes become overconfident, cocky, and sloppy, thinking they can do whatever they want and still have success. But then they begin to lose. Some of us are like that, and so were a couple of kings from the nation of Judah, King Amaziah and his son Uzziah. What can be done so this does not happen to us?
In today's Bible reading, Amaziah does what is right in the eyes of the LORD, for the most part; however, he does not remove the high places of worship. This is a continual irritation to the LORD because his temple for worship and sacrifice is in Jerusalem, and that is where is glory is present, not on high hills where false gods are worshipped. Amaziah also struggles with overconfidence. This cocky attitude leads to his downfall.
Amaziah and his troops advance against Edom. She is a nation south of Judah and a long-time enemy. Amaziah hires 100,000 troops from Ephraim (a powerful tribe on the southern border of Israel) to help them win the battle.
But a man of God came to him and said, “O king, these troops from Israel must not march with you, for the LORD is not with Israel—not with any of the people of Ephraim. Even if you go and fight courageously in battle, God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has the power to help or to overthrow.”Amaziah asked the man of God, “But what about the hundred talents I paid for these Israelite troops?”The man of God replied, “The LORD can give you much more than that.”So Amaziah dismissed the troops who had come to him from Ephraim and sent them home. They were furious with Judah and left for home in a great rage (2Chronicles 25:7-10, NIV).The Ephraimites were great fighters, so it is no surprise that they were insulted when they were sent home. Amaziah pays a price for hiring them and then dismissing them. The Ephraimites attack many border towns of Judah and steal their treasures since they were cheated out of the loot they expected from a victory over Edom.
Then King Amaziah does something stupid.
When Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down to them and burned sacrifices to them.
The anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and he sent a prophet to him, who said, “Why do you consult this people's gods, which could not save their own people from your hand?”
While he was still speaking, the king said to him, “Have we appointed you an adviser to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?”So the prophet stopped but said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel” (2 Chronicles 25:14-16, NIV).Amaziah was too proud to listen. “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18, NIV). We, too, need to listen to the counsel of wise and godly people, even if is something we do not want to hear.
Amaziah is cocky about his win over Edom. He feels invincible. Therefore, when he discovers that the Ephraimites killed 3,000 people in the border towns of Judah and looted them, Amaziah decides to take revenge for their losses. He call outs the Ephraimites (Israelites) to meet him in battle.
And Joash the king of Israel sent word to Amaziah king of Judah, “A thistle on Lebanon sent to a cedar on Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son for a wife,’ and a wild beast of Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thistle. You say, ‘See, I have struck down Edom,’ and your heart has lifted you up in boastfulness. But now stay at home. Why should you provoke trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?” (2Chronicles 25:18-19, ESV)The metaphor that the king of Israel uses is simply interpreted by him. Ephraim (or Israel) is a powerhouse (a cedar) that Judah (a thistle) is challenging, and like a wild beast, Israel will trample Judah.
Amaziah does not listen to Israel's warning, "for it was of God, in order that he might give them into the hand of their enemies, because they had sought the gods of Edom" (2Chronicles 25:20, ESV).
Ephraim trounces Judah, knocks down one of Jerusalem's walls, steals treasures from the palace and temple, and takes Amaziah and others hostage. After he is returned, fifteen years later, his own officials conspire against Amaziah and assassinate him.
From this story, we can learn not to be cocky but to exercise sound judgment and seek the counsel of the LORD. This advice can keep us from bad consequences.
King Azariah, or Uzziah as he is often called, is a good king who reigns in his father Amaziah's place. He is only sixteen when he begins his reign (he may have had an extended time of co-regency with his father. See more).
He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done. He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success, (2Chronicles 26:4-5, NIV).Uzziah is famous for building many towers of defense, and he has a large well-trained army with the latest advancements in equipment.
But after Uzziah became powerful, [like his father] his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. (2Chronicles 26:16, NIV).
Uzziah was not a priest. He was not one of the descendants of Aaron, the first high priest; but when challenged, the king became angry. The LORD, too, was angry because Azariah dishonored God and the priests. He made the king leprous.
If we are not careful to keep our pride in check, we will suffer for it. In addition, our arrogance might be copied by future generations, and that same pride could also be their downfall.
Take-Away Lessons
How to avoid overconfidence
- Recognize it is God who gives us the victory. We are merely his servants. Do we know him? Are we in fellowship with him? (more...)
- Let us beware of small mistakes. Sometimes ill-advised actions, even when things are set aright, will not remove the consequences.
- We need to listen to the counsel of wise and godly people.
- Let us not get cocky with success but exercise sound judgment and seek the counsel of the LORD. If we do this, we will not make hasty and unwise decisions.
- If we are not careful, our sinful pride will be passed on to the next generation, and it may cause their downfall. Let us pray that God will help us to be humble, thankful, and wise.
Focus Verse
Proverbs 16:18 (NIV)“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
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Looking Ahead: Be careful of Self-Indulgence—it is an Impending Storm.
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