Context No. 3973 of 4322 · 2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 25:14-19: in context

14Now after Amaziah had come from the slaughter of the Edomites, he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them and burned incense to them. 15Therefore the LORD’s anger burned against Amaziah, and he sent to him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you sought after the gods of the people, which have not delivered their own people out of your hand?” 16As he talked with him, the king said to him, “Have we made you one of the king’s counselors? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” Then the prophet stopped, and said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.” 17Then Amaziah king of Judah consulted his advisers, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come! Let’s look one another in the face.” 18Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as his wife. Then a wild animal that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thistle. 19You say to yourself that you have struck Edom; and your heart lifts you up to boast. Now stay at home. Why should you meddle with trouble, that you should fall, even you and Judah with you?’”

After defeating the Edomites, King Amaziah does something almost incomprehensible: he brings home the idols of the very people he had just conquered, sets them up as his own gods, and bows down to worship them. And when God sends a prophet to confront the folly of it, the prophet asks a piercing question: why have you sought the gods of a people who could not deliver their own people out of your hand?

These gods had just failed to save their own worshipers from Amaziah, and yet Amaziah turns to worship them. But instead of hearing the correction, Amaziah threatens the prophet into silence. Two things stand out. The folly of turning to things that have already proven they cannot help. Amaziah bowed to gods that could not even save the people who served them, an absurdity the prophet exposes with a single question. And Amaziah's fatal refusal to receive correction; rather than repent, he silenced the messenger, and his pride carried him on toward ruin. We too can turn for security to things that have visibly failed to help others, and can, like Amaziah, harden ourselves against the correction that would save us.

Do I turn for security to things that have already proven they cannot help, and do I harden myself against correction like Amaziah, or will I receive the truth that could turn me back before pride carries me toward ruin?

Sources

2 Chronicles 25:15: "Why have you sought after the gods of the people, which have not delivered their own people out of your hand?"
2 Chronicles 25:14: "He brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them."
2 Chronicles 25:16: "Have we made you one of the king's counselors? Stop! Why should you be struck down?"