Joash’s son Amaziah, who was the next king, sought to follow the Lord but not with his whole heart (v1-2). Are you holding back in your commitment to the Lord?

Amaziah plans to go to war against Edom and hires 100,000 men from israel (v6). A man of God tells Amaziah that this is wrong (v7-10) and he agrees to send them home, although they had already be paid for and this made them angry. These men would raid parts of Judah (v13). Although he listened at this point, Amaziah’s previous decision, made without consulting God, would bring a grest cost.

After he defeats the Edomites (v11-12), Amaziah sets up false gods for worship (v14). Amaziah refuses to listen to God’s prophet (v15-16). Later Amaziah goes to war against Israel, despite the warning from the king of Israel (v17-20). The people of Judah suffer a terrible defeat (v21-24), although Amaziah survives for a period before being eventually killed (v25-28).

Amaziah had in his life the very deadly combination of being half-hearted in his commitment to the Lord, and an unwillingness to heed warnings given to him. Do you listen seriously to God’s warnings?