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Dave Burnette's Commentary

2 Kings Chapter 14

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Jeremiah
Date Penned: (586 BC)
Overview: A History of the Kings of Israel and Judah (c 1-25)
Theme: A Divided Kingdom (c 1-17)
Message: Amaziah Rules Judah (v 1-25)

2 Kings 14 Commentary 

(14:7) A City in a Rock - Selah was the ancient stronghold of Petra, a city carved into a rock cliff (in what is now Jordan). It was not only a stronghold for Edom but also a wealthy outpost for trade with India through its nearby ports on the Red Sea.


(14:9-10) Judah is Defeated - This parable compares Judah to a small thistle. King Amaziah of Judah had become proud after defeating the Edomites. Here he was trying to pick a fight with Israel because he was sure his army was stronger than theirs. Jehoash tried to warn Amaziah not to attack by comparing his army to a thistle and Israel's army to a cedar tree. Amaziah had overrated his strength, his ambition was greater than his ability. He didn't listen to Jehoash and was soundly defeated.


(14:13) A Breach in the Wall - A broken-down city wall not only disgraced the citizens but also left them defenseless against future invasions.


(14:25) A Preparation for the Messiah - During this period of history, many prophets -such as Hosea, Amos, Jonah, Micah, and Isaiah- began collecting their prophecies and writing them under God's direction. They continued to preach about the worldwide significance of God's work as they looked forward to God's future spiritual kingdom. God would use Israel's moral and spiritual decline to prepare the way for the Messiah's coming. Because the kingdom and military power of Israel would be stripped away, many people would be ready to turn to the Good News that Jesus would bring.


(14:25) Jonah is Introduced - For more information about the prophet Jonah, see the book of Jonah.


(14:26-27) Israel Sin Get Worse - Israel had become an evil and immoral nation, and the people's sins would get even worse; however, God did not want to destroy Israel. Instead, he warned that judgment was certain if Israel didn't turn back to him. In his mercy, God gave the people of Israel yet another chance to turn from their evil ways. Unfortunately, the next five kings of Israel responded to God's mercy with disobedience. They were so evil that God allowed the nation to be destroyed by Assyria.


(14:28) Israel Becomes More Self Centered - Jeroboam II had no devotion to God, yet under his warlike policies and skillful administration, Israel enjoyed more national power and material prosperity than at any time since the days of Solomon. The prophets Hosea and Amos, however, tell us what was really happening within the kingdom (Hosea 13:1-8; Amos 6:11-14). Jeroboam's administration ignored policies of justice and fairness. As a result, the rich became richer, and the poor, poorer. The people became self-centered, relying more on their power, security, and possessions than on God. The poor were so oppressed that it was hard for them to believe God noticed their plight. Material prosperity is not always an indication of God's blessing. It can also be a result of self-centeredness and blind ambition. If you are experiencing prosperity, remember that God holds us accountable for how we attain success and how we use our wealth. Everything we have really belongs to him. We must use God's gifts with his interests in mind.

 


Dave Burnette's Life Application

You are Accountable

 

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter, making application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Today we continue the book of 2 Kings with Chapter 14.  In our text, we see  Amaziah ruling Judah and Jeroboam the II ruling Israel. What catches my eye is now that Amaziah is King and did what was right by killing those who had slain his father. Now the children of his enemy he did not kill, stating the law of Moses, which said that each man's sin would result in his death. In making an application, we see that everyone is accountable to God for their sin. I have talked to folks about their salvation to have them say their father is a member of the Church or their family has been a part of a religion for years. The truth is that each person is accountable for their sin and must be saved individually to go to Heaven. Your dad could have been a pastor of a Church, but his position in the Church has no bearing on your eternal destiny. How about you? Are you Saved? Are you trusting in your relationship with the Lord, or are you trusting in what others have done? Let us learn from our text today and the life of Amaziah to learn that we are Accountable to God for our own sins.

 

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2 Kings 14

2 Kings 14

 1In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah.

 2He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.

 3And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did.

 4Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.

 5And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father.

 6But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

 7He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this day.

 8Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face.

 9And Jehoash the 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 thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.

 10Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?

 11But Amaziah would not hear. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah.

 12And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to their tents.

 13And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits.

 14And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.

 15Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

 16And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead.

 17And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.

 18And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

 19Now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem: and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him there.

 20And they brought him on horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.

 21And all the people of Judah took Azariah, which was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.

 22He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.

 23In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, and reigned forty and one years.

 24And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

 25He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher.

 26For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel.

 27And the LORD said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.

 28Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which belonged to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

 29And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead.