Amaziah Ruled as King For 29 years

II Chronicles 25:1–28
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Amaziah was 25 years old when he became king and ruled for 29 years from Jerusalem (v. 1). He started out in obedience to the Lord, but he fell into sin very quickly. He did as the Lord had commanded when he killed the officers who murdered his father but not the children of those officers (vv. 3-4).  

He had victory over the Edomites. He assembled an army of 300,000 from Judah & Benjamin (v. 5), and he hired an additional 100,000 soldiers from Ephraim, the strongest tribe from Israel, for 100 silver talents (v. 6). But before he could use them, a man of God warned him not to (v. 7). “The Lord is not with them” he said. But as for Amaziah, he was to “go, act, & be strong for battle”. The Lord would not cast him down in battle. Amaziah, however, was concerned about the waste of 100 silver talents. The Lord assured him that he could give him much more then he had lost (v. 9). The Ephraimites, always itching for a fight, left angerly (v. 10).  

Amaziah led his troops to Salt Valley where he killed 10,000 Edomite soldiers and captured 10,000 more. He dragged the captives to the top of a high cliff and pushed them over the side. All were killed on the rocks below (vv. 11-12). Meanwhile the Israelite troops he sent home killed 3,000 people and carried off their possessions (v. 13). Amaziah defeated the Edomite army, but he returned to Jerusalem with Edomite idols and started worshiping them. This made the Lord very angry (vv. 14-15). A prophet rebuked the king for his sin, but Amaziah interrupted his speech and threatened to kill him (v. 16). The prophet replied, “You have sinned, and God will punish you.” 

Sometime later, Amaziah challenges King Joash, the king of Israel, to face him in battle (v. 17). Joash replies that if he caused any trouble, both him and his kingdom would be destroyed (vv. 18-19). Amaziah refused to listen. During the battle Judah was crushed, and Amaziah was captured. Joash later broke down the walls of Jerusalem, stole all their treasure, and took hostages. Amaziah out lived Joash but was eventually murdered by his own people (vv. 20-28). 

Application

This passage points out how your sin will find you out. I want to always be quick to confess my sins and to ask the Lord to forgive me of my sin.