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THE COST OF PRIDE

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)

DATE: THURSDAY, 8TH JUNE, 2023 

TOPIC: THE COST OF PRIDE

TEXT: 2.Kings 14:1-22

1. In the second year of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel, Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, became king.
2. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
3. And he did [what was] right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like his father David; he did everything as his father Joash had done.
4. However the high places were not taken away, and the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
5.  Now it happened, as soon as the kingdom was established in his hand, that he executed his servants who had murdered his father the king.
6.  But the children of the murderers he did not execute, according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, in which the LORD commanded, saying, "Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; but a person shall be put to death for his own sin."
7.  He killed ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt, and took Sela by war, and called its name Joktheel to this day.
8.  Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, "Come, let us face one another [in battle."]
9.  And Jehoash 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 your daughter to my son as wife'; and a wild beast that [was] in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle.
10.  "You have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Glory [in that,] and stay at home; for why should you meddle with trouble so that you fall -- you and Judah with you?"
11.  But Amaziah would not heed. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went out; so he and Amaziah king of Judah faced one another at Beth Shemesh, which [belongs] to Judah.
12.  And Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled to his tent.
13.  Then Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh; and he went to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate -- four hundred cubits.
14.  And he took all the gold and silver, all the articles that were found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.
* Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did -- 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?
16.  So Jehoash rested with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. Then Jeroboam his son reigned in his place.
17.  Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel.
18.  Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
19.  And they formed a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there.
20.  Then they brought him on horses, and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the City of David.
21.  And all the people of Judah took Azariah, who [was] sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.
22..  He built Elath and restored it to Judah, after the king rested with his fathers.
 


MESSAGE:
In our text today, Amaziah is introduced as a good king, but not as good as his ancestor, David. Like his father Joash, he took no action against the high places where sacrifices and incense were offered to idols (vs. 1-4). After he defeated Edom, he challenged Jehoash, king of Israel, to battle. Jehoash replied the message, mocking Amaziah to glory in his victory over Edom and to stay at home. But Amaziah would not heed. In the ensuing battle, Amaziah was captured and Judah was defeated. Jehoash broke down the walls of Jerusalem, plundered the temple and the royal treasuries and also took the people captive. Amaziah started well by walking faithfully before the Lord, but instead of seeking peace with Isreal, he sought war and his pride pulled him down eventually.
 
Be careful how you manage the victories from God so they do not get into your head that you become full of pride. ‘Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall’ (Prov. 16:18). When we remain humble and grateful, God is able to give us more victories. Depend solely on God and not your strength, for the ‘arm of flesh will fail us’ (1 Sam. 2:9). God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).


PRAYER:  
O God, help me to always depend on You and not allow pride deny me Your favour in my life, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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