“You have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart has become proud. Enjoy your glory and stay at home; for why should you provoke trouble so that you, even you, would fall, and Judah with you?” 2 Kings 14:10
King Amaziah of Judah, the son of the Boy King Jehoash, has become King. His father had been assassinated by his own servants, unhappy with the killing of Priest Zechariah who had rebuked the King. So in this unstable and tumultuous time, the 25 year old son of Jehoash comes to power!
We’re told in summary of his life that “He did right in the sight of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart”. The Right that he did was his putting his father’s Murderers to death, heading the words of a Prophet regarding the hiring of Israeli Mercenaries, and a successful war campaign against Edom. But now we see him picking a fight with Israel; “Come, let us face each other”. Today’s verse is the reply of Joash, King of Israel (who happened to be ungodly). We’re told, “Amaziah would not listen”, and suffered a huge loss. Part of the Wall of Jerusalem was torn down and the Temple was raided of all its silver and gold.
The lesson is a simple one, one that most of us already know; Pride Comes Before A Fall! Sometimes we are the most vulnerable to Pride right after God has helped us or blessed us. May we take heed to this Story and avoid Amaziah’s Fall!