Study of the Book of Kings – 2K 14:1-18 “Pride goes before a breaking, and a haughty spirit before a stumbling” (Pro 16:18 CLV)
2K 14:1-18 Pride goes before a breaking, and a haughty spirit before a stumbling” (Pro 16:18 CLV)
[Study Aired December 15, 2022]
2Ki 14:1 In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah.
2Ki 14:2 He 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.
2Ki 14:3 And 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.
2Ki 14:4 Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.
2Ki 14:5 And 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.
2Ki 14:6 But 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.
2Ki 14:7 He 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.
2Ki 14:8 Then 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.
2Ki 14:9 And 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.
2Ki 14:10 Thou 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?
2Ki 14:11 But 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.
2Ki 14:12 And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to their tents.
2Ki 14:13 And 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.
2Ki 14:14 And 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.
2Ki 14:15 Now 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?
2Ki 14:16 And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead.
2Ki 14:17 And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.
2Ki 14:18 And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
The last verse of chapter 13 of 2 Kings reads:
2Ki 13:25 And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael the cities, which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times did Joash beat him, and recovered the cities of Israel.
These actions typify for us the life-long battle against our flesh of which Christ said of even himself there is no good thing (Mar 10:18). All the good works in Christ’s life were attributed to His Father, just as we should give all glory to God for whatever growth or increase that is given us by God through Christ (Joh 5:30, Joh 15:5, 1Co 3:6). Both Christ, when He was in this marred vessel of clay, and His body, the church (Col 1:24), come to understand the source of our strength and who it is that is doing the work within us, bringing us to say wholeheartedly that we are unprofitable servants who have done that which is expected of us, being His workmanship (Luk 17:10, Eph 2:10).
Mar 10:18 Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
Joh 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
1Co 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: [Eph 5:30]
Luk 17:10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
Eph 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
These scriptures above are ‘good’ to consider in light of this section of kings where we learn of many of the wonderful works of King Amaziah; works that demonstrated a zealousness toward God, but in the end King Amaziah was proud and led the people into idolatrous practices which led to Judah being defeated by Israel. The “high places” that “were not removed” (vs 4) represent the hardest of all things to overcome within our beastly nature, “the pride of life” spoken of in 1 John 2:16, but also the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes, none of which is of the Father. (For more on this topic see the study on 2Ki 13:1-13 “And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers”)
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
It is only by God’s grace and the faith of Christ that we will rule over and ultimately conquer that spirit of pride, going onto perfection on the third day having been blessed to learn obedience in this life by the things that we suffered (Heb 5:8, 1Jn 4:17), giving us the ability through Christ to forsake ungodliness and worldly lusts in this age (Luk 13:32, Tit 2:11-12).
Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, [Luk 13:32] he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; [Heb 5:8, 1Jn 4:17]Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
This section of kings we are studying now is primarily about the pride-filled heart of king Amaziah whose life and all the details in it were written for our sakes (1Co 10:11) to help us understand the miracle of our calling and the continual need to be dragged to Christ in order to become more than conquerors through Him (Joh 6:44).
1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Tonight we will also read some parallel verses from 2 Chronicles (2Ch 25:1-26) to hopefully give us a richer view of this section of 2 Kings.
2Ki 14:1 In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah.
2Ki 14:2 He 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.
2Ki 14:3 And 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.
As with last week’s study, we have some opening numbers to consider which set the tone for the verses that follow.
Firstly, it is “In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel” that we learn that Joash’s son Amaziah became king over Judah. Israel is the nation that will witness (2) against Amaziah who began to reign over Judah when he was (25), and he reigned for 29 years.
Also, King Amaziah was not as wholehearted and devoted as King David was, who is a type of Christ. In the positive view of those numbers, we see the witness of grace and judgment that was upon Amaziah and the nation of Judah [25+29=54]. Those numbers add up to 54 which again represents judgment which comes about as a result of God’s grace (5+4=9).
Amaziah’s pride prevented him from being affected by the warnings both he and his father Joash received which led to their deaths (2Ch 24:18-22, 2Ch 25:15-16). This hardness of heart we see in both father and son resulted in the “high places” not being taken away (Joash: 2Ki 14:4, Amaziah: 2Ki 13:11, Jeroboam: 1Ki 13:33). Their pride-filled lives ended up negatively affecting so many other people who rejected God’s knowledge and were drawn away after the idol of their hearts (Pro 3:11-18, Pro 29:1-2).
Pro 3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
Pro 3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Pro 3:13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
Pro 3:14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
Pro 3:15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
Pro 3:16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
Pro 3:17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
Pro 3:18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her [Joh 8:31-32].Pro 29:1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
Pro 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
2Ki 14:4 Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.
2Ki 14:5 And 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.
2Ki 14:6 But 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.
These verses demonstrate that Amaziah was given early on to be a law-abiding king, able to obey the law of Moses, and yet in the end, his heart was revealed to be ‘not like that of king David’ seeing “the high places were not taken away“ [and] “the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.” So even though he knew and followed through and “did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin“, which is a type and shadow of how we are to deal with false doctrine that can manifest within the body of Christ [Act 10:34, Gal 6:7, Mat 18:15]. In the same breath Amaziah had an unconverted carnal heart that said the people (within and outwardly) should be able to continue in “sacrifices and burn incense on the high places“. This all reveals the double-mindedness of Amaziah and the pride of life which can prevent us from doing what the LORD commands us to do as we sow to our flesh that will lead to its ruin (Act 10:34, Gal 6:7, Luk 6:46-49).
Act 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Luk 6:47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
Luk 6:48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
Luk 6:49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. [All mankind will experience this fall of Babylon within themselves at their appointed time.]
2Ki 14:7 He 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.
2Ki 14:8 Then 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.
2Ki 14:9 And 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.
2Ch 25:5 Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield.
2Ch 25:6 He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valour out of Israel for an hundred talents of silver.
2Ch 25:7 But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim.
2Ch 25:8 But if thou wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down.
2Ch 25:9 And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give thee much more than this.
2Ch 25:10 Then Amaziah separated them, to wit, the army that was come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again: wherefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in great anger.
2Ch 25:11 And Amaziah strengthened himself, and led forth his people, and went to the valley of salt, and smote of the children of Seir ten thousand.
2Ch 25:12 And other ten thousand left alive did the children of Judah carry away captive, and brought them unto the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, that they all were broken in pieces.
2Ch 25:13 But the soldiers of the army which Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell upon the cities of Judah, from Samaria even unto Bethhoron, and smote three thousand of them, and took much spoil.
2Ch 25:14 Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that 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 unto them.
2Ch 25:15 Wherefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand?
2Ch 25:16 And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the king’s counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.
2Ch 25:17 Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us see one another in the face.
2Ch 25:18 And Joash 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.
Here we read of the exploits of king Amaziah who, “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.” This battle symbolizes for us the process of judgment we must go through in order to rule over our flesh which is only the first part of the battle, and not the issue of the pride of life that king Amaziah never does conquer in his heavens. This victory of Amaziah who “smote of the children of Seir ten thousand” is symbolic of our completely or wholly (4 tens) ruling over our fleshly pulls in this life that war against us (10 x 10 x 10 x 10=10,000]. It is akin to running with men, but not the greater enemy of pride that is the far more powerful enemy at the gate of our hearts which can only be conquered through Christ (Jer 12:5).
Seir H8165 hairy or shaggy; patriarch of the Horites, the inhabitants of Edom before the descendants of Esau, the Edomites (BDB)
Jer 12:5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?
After this victory it becomes very apparent that Amaziah was pride-filled, and his confidence in his flesh brought him to send “messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face“, which is saying ‘let’s go to war against one another’.
However, the king of Israel sent back a warning to King Amaziah in a parable, yet he did not take heed. In the parable Amaziah was seen as proudly wanting the spoils of war, “give[ing] your daughter to my son as a wife“, and Jehoash would have nothing to do with it, warning King Amaziah that a wild animal of Lebanon was going to come and trampled down the ‘thorn’, which ‘thorn’ represents Amaziah who would be crushed by King Jehoash.
“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.”
The ‘thistle in Lebanon’ is connected to king Amaziah’s pride, and other verses in God’s word related to a ‘thistle’ or ‘thornbush’ or ‘bramble’ help us understand what king Amaziah’s motive was.
This story in Judges 9:1-21 gives us a parallel synopsis of what was going on in the mind of King Amaziah, who was going to be destroyed for want of people and for not ruling with the fear of God within him. He is likened to a thornbush which in biblical parlance is not an example of a good leader as shown in the book of Judges where ‘Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal’ was no different in his drive in wanting to rule over the people (Pro 14:28, Eze 28:24).
Pro 14:28 In the multitude of people is the king’s honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
This section of Judges demonstrates how flesh wants to rule without Christ in the picture, and it is all about men who are as trees that, without Christ, come under the wrong leadership every time. Jotham, who is a type of the elect, flees from his brother Abimelech and goes to BeerH876, which represents the elect going into the wilderness where we are given living water from God that sustains us.
Num 21:16 And from thence they went to BeerH876: that is the well whereof the LORD spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water.
Jdg 9:21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to BeerH876, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
H876 The same as H875; Beer, a place in the Desert, also one in Palestine: – Beer.
H875 From H874; a pit; especially a well: – pit, well. (Gen 21:19)
H874 A primitive root; to dig; by analogy to engrave; figuratively to explain: – declare, (make) plain (-ly). (Deu 1:5, Hab 2:2, Deu 27:8)
Jdg 9:1 And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,
Jdg 9:2 Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.
Jdg 9:3 And his mother’s brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother. [On the other hand, Christ tells us who our brother and sister and mother are (Mat 12:50)]
Jdg 9:4 And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.
Jdg 9:5 And he went unto his father’s house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.
Jdg 9:6 And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.
Jdg 9:7 And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.
Jotham gives a warning with this parable to warn the nation of Israel and Abimelech (Jdg 9:8-20) just as King Jehoash of Israel did with the parable that he sent to King Amaziah of Judah to warn him! (2Ki 14:9)
Jdg 9:8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.
Jdg 9:9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
Jdg 9:10 And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.
Jdg 9:11 But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?
Jdg 9:12 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.
Jdg 9:13 And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
Jdg 9:14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.
Jdg 9:15 And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
Jdg 9:16 Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands;
Jdg 9:17 (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:
Jdg 9:18 And ye are risen up against my father’s house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother)
Jdg 9:19 If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:
Jdg 9:20 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.
Jdg 9:21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to BeerH876, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
2Ki 14:10 Thou 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?
2Ki 14:11 But 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.
2Ki 14:12 And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to their tents.
This story is written for our admonition to show us what calamity we bring upon ourselves that also affects those in our company when we glory in those things God does through us, as though we had something to do with it (1Co 4:7, 1Co 5:6-8)! Such was the case with Amaziah whose glorying in past accomplishments blinded him to the warning being given to him by King Jehoash. The theme of pride continues to become pronounced in the life of Amaziah whose pride was going to end up being the death of him.
1Co 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
1Co 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
1Co 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, [pride in this case] that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened [like a humble child who can inherit the kingdom of God]. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
1Co 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
2Ki 14:13 King Jehoash of Israel captured King Amaziah of Judah, son of Jehoash son of Ahaziah, in Beth Shemesh. He attacked Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate – a distance of about six hundred feet. [NET]
King Jehoash captures King Amaziah of Judah attacking Jerusalem and breaking down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate, symbolizes for us the end of king Amaziah’s fleshly reign in Jerusalem below. The wall, which represents what protects us spiritually, along with “the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate” are coming down and the symbolic number of “six hundred feet” is used seeing this has to do with judgment of flesh.
2Ki 14:14 And 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.
2Ki 14:15 Now 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?
2Ki 14:16 And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead.
The taking away of “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” tells us that even to this day there is no stay of bread or water in Babylon (Isa 3:1). There will be a few who are taken out of this house of lies, symbolized by the words “and hostages“, to go through a process of judgment that will purify them in this life (Jer 52:30).
From Mike’s study in Jeremiah (Jer 52:18-34 Everything in the Lord’s Temple is Now Also in Babylon):
“Jer 52:30 In the three and twentieth year of Nebuchadrezzar Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the Jews seven hundred forty and five persons: all the persons were four thousand and six hundred.
This three-step process of fulfilling the prophecy of Jeremiah telling the Lord’s people that they would be carried away to Babylon signifies the process of being judged which they are now enduring.
Lest we think this has no personal application we need to remember that it is our own old man who is at this very moment enduring the judgments of God upon his own rebellious kingdom within us:
1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
1Pe 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.All of these events which Judah and Jerusalem endured because of their own wickedness and backsliding happened to them and they are written to let us know that the Lord is at this very moment judging us in this present time, and He is keeping our souls in His service as a faithful Creator, and as a loving husband who simply wants us to repent of our unfaithful ways and return humbly to Him:”
**** End Quote ***
2Ki 14:17 King Amaziah son of Joash of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of King Jehoash son of Jehoahaz of Israel.
2Ki 14:18 The rest of the events of Amaziah’s reign are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.
It is at the point of King Joash’s death (King of Israel) that we are told that King Amaziah lived for fifteen more years. King Amaziah’s life is symbolic of our captivity prior to understanding the life of Christ, and with God’s gold and silver wrapped around the idols of our hearts. It will take King Jehoash’s attack described this way, “He attacked Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate – a distance of about six hundred feet” to symbolically show just the beginning of sorrows in our lives (Mat 24:8). The latter end of King Amaziah’s life goes on for fifteen years after the death of King Joash as a symbol of how Christ had to die in order for us to go on to perfection on the third day which is accomplished by a process of judgment which is accompanied by grace through faith (3×5=15).
As was stated at the start of the study, this is the only way that we are going to overcome pride as we go through our seven falls in the wilderness, represented by these kings of Judah and Israel, a little good and mostly bad. They demonstrate stages that we all must go through in our spiritual journey to perfection on the third day (1Co 10:11, Psa 12:6, Pro 24:16, Pro 16:18) to help us understand the miracle of our calling and the continual need to be dragged to Christ in order to become more than conquerors through Him (Joh 6:44).
1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Psa 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Pro 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
Pro 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
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