In the day of prosperity be happy, but in the day of adversity consider — God has made the one as well as the other so that man will not discover anything that will be after him. - Ecclesiastes 7:14
At the close of last week’s message Jehoash was the king of Israel and Amaziah was the king of Judah. Jehoash had just led the Israelites in 3 separate victories over Aram, as had been prophesied by Elisha, and had reclaimed some of the cities that were under their control. Meanwhile, Amaziah was coming off of a resounding victory over Edom. Both kings were feeling confident and powerful.
While the army of Judah was away fighting the Edomites, some soldiers from Israel raided the defenseless cities of the southern kingdom and killed around 3,000 people. This provocation, coupled with the brash and arrogant attitude of both Jehoash and Amaziah, sparked a conflict between the north and the south. Although they were 2 distinct kingdoms, they were related to each other and had been a united kingdom in the past. As such, I tend to think of this contest as a civil war, though I suppose it technically wasn’t…
I. WAR BETWEEN BROTHERS (2 Kings 14:8-14; 2 Chronicles 25:17-24)
In response to Israel’s raid, and perhaps for other reasons not given in Scripture, Amaziah challenged Jehoash to fight. Jehoash responded with a story about a thorn bush requesting the daughter of a cedar to be given to his son in marriage, but then a wild beast trampled the thorn bush. In the story, Jehoash characterized himself and Israel as the mighty beast and stately cedar, while describing Amaziah and Judah as the measly thorn bush. He then went on to say that Amaziah had grown proud and cocky, and warned him to back off.
Insulted, Amaziah refused to heed Jehoash’s warning. Thus, the 2 kingdoms went to war with each other. They met for battle at Beth-shemesh, in the territory of Judah. Jehoash triumphed over Amaziah, and the army of Judah fled from the battlefield. Jehoash captured Amaziah and brought him to Jerusalem. Upon their arrival, the Israelite army tore down a long section of Jerusalem’s outer wall and took all of the gold, silver, and fine utensils from both the temple and the palace. They also took additional hostages, and then returned with all of these things to Samaria. Amaziah had been defeated due to his idolatry and his refusal to heed God’s counsel, just as the man of God had predicted (2 Chronicles 25:14-16).
II. THE DEATHS OF AMAZIAH AND JEHOASH (2 Kings 14:15-21; 2 Chronicles 25:25-28)
In the years that followed, and perhaps after ongoing hostilities between Israel and Judah, King Jehoash died. He was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. His son, Jeroboam, who theologians and Bible historians typically refer to as Jeroboam II, became king in his place.
Amaziah, the king of Judah, lived for another 15 years after the death of Jehoash. He turned away from the LORD and eventually his own people conspired against him. Hoping to escape, Amaziah fled to Lachish, but his conspirators pursued him and killed him there. They brought his body back to Jerusalem and buried it, then made his 16-year old son Uzziah (also called Azariah) the new king.
III. ANOTHER KING NAMED JEROBOAM (2 Kings 14:23-29)
Backtracking just a bit, during the 15th year of King Amaziah’s tenure in Judah, Jeroboam II became king in Israel. He reigned for 41 years and did evil in the sight of the LORD. During his long reign, Jeroboam was able to reclaim the remaining cities that had been taken by the Aramaeans and reestablish the expanded borders of Israel. This success had been prophesied by Jonah, the leading prophet in Israel during this time. Most Christians are familiar with Jonah’s encounter with the big fish and his reluctant ministry to Nineveh.
During the decades leading up to this, the neighboring nation of Aram had greatly oppressed Israel dating back to the time of Ahab. But God had been watching all the while, and had not forgotten his chosen people despite their unfaithfulness. As promised, the LORD sent a deliverer (2 Kings 13:5) in Jeroboam to save His people. By this point, the kingdom of Aram was weakening and in decline.
Jeroboam II recovered great amounts of territory for Israel including Damascus and Hamath in the north. His successes harkened back to the days of David and Solomon during the United Kingdom era. Eventually, however, Jeroboam II died and his son, Zechariah took his place.
IV. UZZIAH INCREASES IN STRENGTH (2 Kings 14:22, 15:1-4; 2 Chronicles 26:1-15)
In the 27th year of Jeroboam II in Israel, Uzziah (aka, Azariah) became king in Judah. As stated earlier, he was just 16 years old when he took the throne. Uzziah reigned for 52 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah. Generally, he was a good king who did right in the sight of the LORD. During the first portion of his reign, Uzziah followed the counsel of the prophet Zechariah and God prospered. Still, he did not remove all of the high places that remained in Judah.
During his reign, Uzziah defeated the Philistines, the neighboring Arabians, and the Ammonites. His fame extended to the border of Egypt and he became very strong and respected by the surrounding nations. He fortified the outer wall of Jerusalem and built towers on 2 of its main gates. He kept great numbers of livestock in the lowlands and plains, and maintained fertile fields and vineyards in the hill country. Uzziah amassed an elite army of over 300,000 troops and supplied them with high quality weapons and armor. He even installed newly invented engines of war on the city’s wall and corners that could shoot arrows and cast large stones.
One of his greatest achievements was the restoration of Elath. Elath was a prominent port city at the head of the Gulf of Aqabah that had once belonged to Judah. However, it had been conquered and destroyed by the Edomites many years earlier. King Uzziah was able to reclaim and rebuild the city. By doing this, Judah was able to renew its trade through this strategic port.
CONCLUSION
Moving beyond the conflict that had occurred between them, both Israel and Judah enjoyed a period of success and expansion. Jeroboam II and Uzziah began to reclaim and restore lost cities and territories that had been cut-off from their respective kingdoms for many years. It was a joyful time in which God’s favor was clearly evident in both the north and the south. However, this season of prosperity would be short-lived…
The Bible encourages us to enjoy the good times when we can, because they will not last forever. Difficult times will surely follow. We must understand that both good and bad times come from the LORD. Regardless of our circumstances, we should trust in God and praise Him whatever comes our way.
Finally, this passage reminds us that God is faithful to His people even when they aren’t faithful to Him. This is especially true of the northern kingdom, but also applies to the southern kingdom as well. His faithfulness is not dependent upon our actions, thank goodness, but rather upon His covenant promises and divine character.
At the close of last week’s message Jehoash was the king of Israel and Amaziah was the king of Judah. Jehoash had just led the Israelites in 3 separate victories over Aram, as had been prophesied by Elisha, and had reclaimed some of the cities that were under their control. Meanwhile, Amaziah was coming off of a resounding victory over Edom. Both kings were feeling confident and powerful.
While the army of Judah was away fighting the Edomites, some soldiers from Israel raided the defenseless cities of the southern kingdom and killed around 3,000 people. This provocation, coupled with the brash and arrogant attitude of both Jehoash and Amaziah, sparked a conflict between the north and the south. Although they were 2 distinct kingdoms, they were related to each other and had been a united kingdom in the past. As such, I tend to think of this contest as a civil war, though I suppose it technically wasn’t…
I. WAR BETWEEN BROTHERS (2 Kings 14:8-14; 2 Chronicles 25:17-24)
In response to Israel’s raid, and perhaps for other reasons not given in Scripture, Amaziah challenged Jehoash to fight. Jehoash responded with a story about a thorn bush requesting the daughter of a cedar to be given to his son in marriage, but then a wild beast trampled the thorn bush. In the story, Jehoash characterized himself and Israel as the mighty beast and stately cedar, while describing Amaziah and Judah as the measly thorn bush. He then went on to say that Amaziah had grown proud and cocky, and warned him to back off.
Insulted, Amaziah refused to heed Jehoash’s warning. Thus, the 2 kingdoms went to war with each other. They met for battle at Beth-shemesh, in the territory of Judah. Jehoash triumphed over Amaziah, and the army of Judah fled from the battlefield. Jehoash captured Amaziah and brought him to Jerusalem. Upon their arrival, the Israelite army tore down a long section of Jerusalem’s outer wall and took all of the gold, silver, and fine utensils from both the temple and the palace. They also took additional hostages, and then returned with all of these things to Samaria. Amaziah had been defeated due to his idolatry and his refusal to heed God’s counsel, just as the man of God had predicted (2 Chronicles 25:14-16).
II. THE DEATHS OF AMAZIAH AND JEHOASH (2 Kings 14:15-21; 2 Chronicles 25:25-28)
In the years that followed, and perhaps after ongoing hostilities between Israel and Judah, King Jehoash died. He was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. His son, Jeroboam, who theologians and Bible historians typically refer to as Jeroboam II, became king in his place.
Amaziah, the king of Judah, lived for another 15 years after the death of Jehoash. He turned away from the LORD and eventually his own people conspired against him. Hoping to escape, Amaziah fled to Lachish, but his conspirators pursued him and killed him there. They brought his body back to Jerusalem and buried it, then made his 16-year old son Uzziah (also called Azariah) the new king.
III. ANOTHER KING NAMED JEROBOAM (2 Kings 14:23-29)
Backtracking just a bit, during the 15th year of King Amaziah’s tenure in Judah, Jeroboam II became king in Israel. He reigned for 41 years and did evil in the sight of the LORD. During his long reign, Jeroboam was able to reclaim the remaining cities that had been taken by the Aramaeans and reestablish the expanded borders of Israel. This success had been prophesied by Jonah, the leading prophet in Israel during this time. Most Christians are familiar with Jonah’s encounter with the big fish and his reluctant ministry to Nineveh.
During the decades leading up to this, the neighboring nation of Aram had greatly oppressed Israel dating back to the time of Ahab. But God had been watching all the while, and had not forgotten his chosen people despite their unfaithfulness. As promised, the LORD sent a deliverer (2 Kings 13:5) in Jeroboam to save His people. By this point, the kingdom of Aram was weakening and in decline.
Jeroboam II recovered great amounts of territory for Israel including Damascus and Hamath in the north. His successes harkened back to the days of David and Solomon during the United Kingdom era. Eventually, however, Jeroboam II died and his son, Zechariah took his place.
IV. UZZIAH INCREASES IN STRENGTH (2 Kings 14:22, 15:1-4; 2 Chronicles 26:1-15)
In the 27th year of Jeroboam II in Israel, Uzziah (aka, Azariah) became king in Judah. As stated earlier, he was just 16 years old when he took the throne. Uzziah reigned for 52 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah. Generally, he was a good king who did right in the sight of the LORD. During the first portion of his reign, Uzziah followed the counsel of the prophet Zechariah and God prospered. Still, he did not remove all of the high places that remained in Judah.
During his reign, Uzziah defeated the Philistines, the neighboring Arabians, and the Ammonites. His fame extended to the border of Egypt and he became very strong and respected by the surrounding nations. He fortified the outer wall of Jerusalem and built towers on 2 of its main gates. He kept great numbers of livestock in the lowlands and plains, and maintained fertile fields and vineyards in the hill country. Uzziah amassed an elite army of over 300,000 troops and supplied them with high quality weapons and armor. He even installed newly invented engines of war on the city’s wall and corners that could shoot arrows and cast large stones.
One of his greatest achievements was the restoration of Elath. Elath was a prominent port city at the head of the Gulf of Aqabah that had once belonged to Judah. However, it had been conquered and destroyed by the Edomites many years earlier. King Uzziah was able to reclaim and rebuild the city. By doing this, Judah was able to renew its trade through this strategic port.
CONCLUSION
Moving beyond the conflict that had occurred between them, both Israel and Judah enjoyed a period of success and expansion. Jeroboam II and Uzziah began to reclaim and restore lost cities and territories that had been cut-off from their respective kingdoms for many years. It was a joyful time in which God’s favor was clearly evident in both the north and the south. However, this season of prosperity would be short-lived…
The Bible encourages us to enjoy the good times when we can, because they will not last forever. Difficult times will surely follow. We must understand that both good and bad times come from the LORD. Regardless of our circumstances, we should trust in God and praise Him whatever comes our way.
Finally, this passage reminds us that God is faithful to His people even when they aren’t faithful to Him. This is especially true of the northern kingdom, but also applies to the southern kingdom as well. His faithfulness is not dependent upon our actions, thank goodness, but rather upon His covenant promises and divine character.