Daily Devotional for Friday, June 5

Amaziah’s Pride

“But Amaziah would not hear; for it came of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edom,” 2 Chronicles 25:20.

Throughout time there have been rulers that have conquered other people and nations through hard fought battles. As a result of winning these battles, these rulers often times developed a god complex and began to think that they were invincible. The higher they thought of themselves, the less they thought that they needed God or His advice. King Amaziah fell into this same way of thinking after his victories and after turning to other idols.
Amaziah’s pride was not anything new to kings of that time, or of any time in history. As Amaziah became more powerful and started turning from the Lord to serve other idols, his pride got in his way, and he could not see clearly in making decisions. Pride does not only affect kings but every person that thinks of themselves too highly; “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Romans 12:3). When we begin to think of ourselves as people who have all the answers and do not need God’s advice, we find ourself in a dangerous place; “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). Amaziah would not listen to the advice from Joash king of Judah because this advice had come from God (2 Chronicles 25:20). His decisions were now driven by arrogance and pride rather than reliance on the Lord.

JUST A THOUGHT
“He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him” (Proverbs 14:2). What does it say about you if you have a hard time following God’s ways and direction?

Tim Chambers