King Amaziah

King Amaziah of Judah, the son of Joash, reigned for 29 years (c. 796–767 BC) and is recorded in 2 Kings 14 and 2 Chronicles 25.

Amaziah's reign began with promise. Scripture states that "he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart" (2 Chron. 25:2). While he was outwardly faithful, his obedience was partial, reflecting a divided heart. He followed some aspects of God’s law but failed to do so entirely or sincerely.

One early example of his obedience was executing the servants who assassinated his father (2 Kings 14:5). However, he obeyed the Mosaic law by not punishing their children (Deut. 24:16), showing a degree of commitment to God's Word. 

Amaziah's flawed understanding of God’s sovereignty is seen in his military decisions. He hired 100,000 mercenaries from Israel, despite the prophetic warning that God was not with the northern kingdom (2 Chron. 25:6-7). When Amaziah dismissed the mercenaries, he suffered their retaliation, as they raided Judah in anger (2 Chron. 25:13). His failure to trust fully in God led to unnecessary suffering—a common biblical pattern where partial obedience results in divine chastisement.

Amaziah’s most glaring sin was his turn to idolatry. After defeating the Edomites, he inexplicably brought back their gods and worshiped them (2 Chron. 25:14). This reveals the folly of human nature: despite seeing God’s power, he turned to worthless idols. From a Reformed view, this demonstrates the blindness of sin (Rom. 1:21-23). His rejection of prophetic correction (2 Chron. 25:15-16) further confirms his spiritual hardening.

Amaziah's arrogance led to his downfall. Emboldened by his victory over Edom, he challenged King Jehoash of Israel to war, despite warnings. His reckless ambition resulted in Judah’s defeat, the plundering of Jerusalem, and his own capture (2 Kings 14:8-14). His downfall exemplifies God’s judgment on leaders who do not follow Him wholeheartedly.

Amaziah serves as a cautionary example of half-hearted obedience, misplaced trust, and spiritual compromise. He was neither fully faithful nor outright apostate—his life illustrates the danger of a divided heart. His story warns against the subtle erosion of faith through pragmatism, pride, and idolatry, reminding believers of the necessity of complete reliance on God’s sovereign grace.