In 2 Chronicles 25, we walk with Amaziah, the king of Judah, a man whose story reminds us of the struggle between outward obedience and inward devotion. He began his reign at twenty-five years old and ruled for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. The chapter opens by telling us something subtle but deeply important about him—he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart. That one statement quietly shapes everything else we see unfold in his story. It’s not that he was a wicked king from the start. He tried to follow the Lord. But something inside him remained divided, and as the events progress, that divided heart leads to consequences that spill out over his life and reign.
At the beginning of his rule, Amaziah makes a bold and commendable decision. Once his kingdom is established, he deals with the murderers of his father. But he does so with restraint—he does not kill their children, even though kings often did in those days to secure their rule. Instead, he follows the law of Moses, which says that children should not die for the sins of their fathers. This moment reveals a man who knows God's law and respects it, even when it goes against the expected behavior of kings. It's a bright moment, and it gives us hope that Amaziah might continue walking wisely.
But then we see the complexities of his leadership. Amaziah begins to prepare for war against Edom, a nation that had long been a rival of Judah. To strengthen his army, he hires 100,000 experienced soldiers from Israel for a large sum of silver. It seems a strategic move—Israel has a stronger military, and he wants to ensure victory. But God sends a prophet to stop him. The prophet warns Amaziah not to rely on Israel, because God is not with them. Despite the money already spent and the military advantage it would give him, Amaziah listens. He sends the hired men back, even though they are angry and insulted. That decision shows us another side of him—a willingness to obey God's voice, even when it costs him. It’s a moment of surrender and trust.
With only the forces of Judah, Amaziah then marches to war and defeats the Edomites in the Valley of Salt. It’s a great victory, one that affirms that God’s hand was indeed with him. But then, something strange and tragic happens. After defeating Edom, he brings back the idols of the Edomites and begins to worship them. This is more than puzzling—it’s deeply heartbreaking. The God who just delivered him in battle is set aside, and the powerless gods of a defeated nation are placed on pedestals in Judah. God sends another prophet to confront Amaziah, asking him why he would seek gods who could not save their own people. But this time, Amaziah doesn’t listen. He silences the prophet with a sharp threat, telling him not to speak again unless he wants to die. The courage that once allowed him to send home Israel’s soldiers is now replaced by pride and resistance.
And that pride only deepens. After defeating Edom, Amaziah becomes confident—perhaps too confident—and challenges the king of Israel, Jehoash, to battle. But Jehoash replies with a parable, comparing Judah to a thistle and Israel to a cedar. The warning is clear: don’t overestimate yourself. But Amaziah refuses to heed the message. He goes to war anyway, driven by pride rather than God’s direction.
The results are devastating. Judah is defeated, Amaziah is captured, and the walls of Jerusalem are torn down. The treasures of the temple and palace are carried off to Samaria. The same king who had once listened to a prophet and trusted in God's strength now suffers deeply because he acted without seeking the Lord. It's a turning point, and it shows just how far Amaziah has drifted from the humility he once displayed.
After his release, Amaziah lives for another fifteen years, but his reign is never the same. Eventually, conspirators rise against him in Jerusalem. He flees to Lachish, but even there he cannot escape. He is hunted down and killed, and though his body is brought back and buried with his ancestors, his death feels like a quiet, mournful end to a life that had once begun with promise.
2 Chronicles 25 gives us a deeply human portrait of a king trying to do what is right but struggling to stay consistent in heart and mind. We can relate to Amaziah in many ways. How often do we begin with good intentions, only to be swayed by pride, fear, or the influence of others? Amaziah’s downfall was not sudden. It came little by little—each time he chose to listen to his own wisdom over God's voice, he stepped a bit further from the path of life.
This chapter calls us to ask ourselves where our hearts truly are. It's not enough to do what is right if our devotion is divided. God desires more than outward obedience—He seeks a heart that is loyal and whole. As Proverbs 3:5 reminds us, we are to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding. Amaziah leaned on himself in the end, and it cost him everything.
There is a sorrow in Amaziah’s story, but also a quiet invitation—to stay close to God not just with our actions, but with our whole hearts, and to listen even when it challenges our pride. It's a reminder that the victories God gives us are not just for celebration—they are also invitations to deeper trust and enduring faith.