maziah, king of Judah. (1-13) Amaziah worships the idols of
Edom. (14-16) Amaziah's rash challenge. (17-28)
Verses 1-13: Amaziah was no enemy to religion, but cool and indifferent
friend. Many do what is good, but not with a perfect heart.
Rashness makes work for repentance. But Amaziah's obedience to
the command of God was to his honour. A firm belief of God's
all-sufficiency to bear us out in our duty, and to make up all
the loss and damage was sustain in his service, will make his
yoke very easy, and his burden very light. When we are called to
part with any thing for God and our religion, it should satisfy
us, that God is able to give us much more than this. Convinced
sinners, who have not true faith, always object to self-denying
obedience. They are like Amaziah; they say, But what shall we do
for the hundred talents? What shall we do if by keeping the
sabbath holy we lose so many good customers? What shall we do
without this gain? What shall we do if we lose the friendship of
the world? Many endeavour to quiet their consciences by the
pretence that forbidden practices are necessary. The answer is,
as here, The Lord is able to give thee much more than this. He
makes up, even in this world, for all that is given up for his
sake.
Verses 14-16: To worship the gods of those whom Amaziah had conquered,
who could not help their own worshippers, was the greatest
absurdity. If men would consider how unable all those things are
to help them, to which they look whenever they forsake God, they
would not be such enemies to themselves. The reproof God sent by
a prophet was too just to be answered; themselves. The reproof
God sent by a prophet was too just to be answered; but he was
bidden not to say a word more. The secure sinner rejoices to
have silenced his reprovers and monitors; but what comes of it?
Those that are deaf to reproof, are ripening for destruction.
Verses 17-28: Never was a proud prince more thoroughly mortified than
Amaziah by Joash king of Israel. A man's pride will bring him
low, (Pr 29:23); it goes before his destruction, and deservedly
brings it on. He that exalteth himself shall be abased. He that
goes forth hastily to strive, will not know what he shall do in
the end thereof, when his neighbour has put him to shame, (Pr
25:8). And what are we when we offer to establish our own
righteousness, or presume to justify ourselves before the Most
High God, but despicable thistles, that fancy themselves stately
cedars? And are not various temptations, is not every
corruption, a wild beast of the desert, which will trample on
the wretched boaster, and tread his haughty pretensions to the
dust? A man's pride shall bring him low; his ruin may be dated
from his turning from the Lord.
maziah, king of Judah. (1-13) Amaziah worships the idols of
Edom. (14-16) Amaziah's rash challenge. (17-28)