(REFLECTIONS ON 2 Kings 14:1-29)

Amaziah, king of Judah, did what was right in the sight of the Lord, yet he compromised and did not walk as David had. Like his father Joash, he allowed the people to continue sacrificing and burning incense on the high places rather than worshiping at the temple in Jerusalem.

Amaziah, like many of the kings of Judah and Israel, was not outright evil, yet he compromised and fell into the trap of success, which led to pride and ultimately to his downfall.

7 He killed 10,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt and captured Sela in battle, renaming it Joktheel, as it is called to this day.

In great victory, there should come great worship, thanksgiving, and sacrifice to the Lord. However, rather than giving glory to God, Scripture notes, 

8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us face each other.”

Victory did not lead to worship, thanksgiving, and glorifying the Lord, but rather to pride. Pride led Amaziah to challenge Jehoash, king of Israel.

The result was disastrous. Judah was defeated by Israel, Amaziah was captured, and

“all the gold and silver and all the utensils which were found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasuries of the king’s house, along with hostages, were taken and brought back to Samaria.”

In Proverbs 11:2, we read,

“When pride comes, then comes dishonor, but with the humble is wisdom.”

Pride causes us to lose a sense of reality, our limitations, and proper perspective. It pushes us beyond the boundaries the Lord has established for our good and for our protection.

We may not be evil or have committed some great sin, yet pride is a silent killer. It can take someone who is filled with the Holy Spirit and faithfully serving the Lord and tempt them to go one step too far.

Where humility should be our response, pride inflates the ego and sets us on a path toward destruction. Instead of responding with worship and thanksgiving, pride takes the blessings and provision of the Lord and turns them into fuel for our own fleshly ambitions.

This is a good reminder that in times of victory, we should examine our hearts. Have we given glory to the Lord, or have we taken credit for the victory ourselves? Do we attribute success to God’s grace and provision, or to our own skill, experience, and talent?

May victory lead us not to pride, but to greater humility, worship, and gratitude before the Lord.

This is a good reminder that in victory, we should evaluate our hearts to see if we have given glory to the Lord, or if we have taken credit for the victory based on our own skills, experience, and talent.

The interesting thing about Amaziah’s downfall is that it didn’t begin with defeat, but rather with victory and success. Let us consider our victory and success, and make sure that we stop to give glory to the Lord, give Him the victory, rather than take one step too far, because when pride comes, then comes dishonor.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: 2 Kings 14