Talks for Growing Christians
Kings Amaziah and Jeroboam
2 Kings 14
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Lesson Number 27
Background Notes
Doctrinal Point(s)
- 1. Pride goes before a fall.
- 2. Prosperity does not infer God’s pleasure.
Practical Application
- Let’s remember to thank the Lord for our godly mothers.
Questions
- Was Amaziah of the southern kingdom of Judah a good king or a bad king?
- What famous landmark was conquered by Amaziah?
- How did Amaziah celebrate his victory over the Edomites at Sela?
- Describe the parable Jehoash of Israel sent in response to Amaziah’s challenge to war.
- What famous Old Testament prophet is mentioned in this chapter?
Answers
- He is considered a good king (see verse 3). Notice his respect for the Law (verses 5-6), but on the other hand he did allow sacrifices to take place outside of Jerusalem (verse 4). So Amaziah was not perfect by any means, but he was a good king.
- Amaziah conquered Sela, which he named Joktheel. Today this is called Petra, in modern Jordan. By doing this, Amaziah was lifted up with pride.
- 2 Chronicles 2 reports that Amaziah had 10,000 Edomites thrown over a cliff.
- He likened Amaziah and Judah to a scrawny little thistle bush challenging a large stately cedar tree, which represented Jehoash and the northern kingdom of Israel. The little thistle even had the audacity to try to arrange a political marriage between the two countries by having Jehoash give his daughter to Amaziah’s son in marriage. While the thistle bush was making all this proud talk, a wild beast came along and stepped on it and silenced it and trampled it to death.
- Jonah, of Jonah and the big fish fame. We learn some details here of Jonah’s life and we see that he was a real prophet of God. The story of Jonah and the big fish is not some Old Testament parable, but real history.
Discuss/Consider
- 1. Read Proverbs 16:18. Discuss how this biblical truth is illustrated in the life of Amaziah. What does selfish pride look like in today’s society? God’s Word says that pride goes before a fall.
- 2. Without verse 24 in this chapter we might infer that Jeroboam was a good king and that the Lord was pleased with his reign. But prosperity does not infer God’s pleasure – then or today. Discuss the danger of this kind of thinking.
Challenge
- The mothers’ names are typically listed in the records of the good kings of Judah. The influence of a godly mother greatly affected whether the king would become a good king. Do you or did you have a godly mother? Thank the Lord for her – and thank her!
Key Verses
- “And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like his father David; he did everything as his father Joash had done. However the high places were not taken away, and the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.” 2 Kings 14:3-4
- “You have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Glory in that, and stay at home; for why should you meddle with trouble so that you fall -- you and Judah with you?” 2 Kings 14:10
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