Amos is Threatened

By Mary Vee
Amos 7

From the Journals of Amaziah, Prophet of Israel

Photo Courtesy

I am the priest of Israel. I must admit that I am quite upset about the news I've heard. There is a shepherd living near Bethlehem named Amos who is causing trouble.

I and the other priests of Israel have set up the ceremonies and ways for our people to worship God. We had everything under control with the people doing everything we asked.

Now this man, Amos claims the people are not really worshipping God. Hah! What does he know? 

I cannot allow his words to stop what the other priests and I have set up. I drafted a message to Jeroboam, king of Israel. "Amos is raising a conspiracy against you in the very heart of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words. This is what he is saying:

Jeroboam will die by the sword and Israel will surely go into exile, away from their native land.

I immediate took my cloak, journeyed to Bethel, and searched for Amos. Maybe I can talk him into putting a stop to his crazy messages that he claims are coming from God.

I found him in a pasture and called out. "Amos. I need to speak with you."

Amos turned to my voice and stepped toward me. "What have you to say, Amaziah?"

I raised my walking stick toward him, "Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. Don't prophesy anymore at Bethel, because this is the king's sanctuary and the temple of the kingdom."

Amos didn't look threatened by my words. He remained standing tall and said, "I was neither a prophet nor a prophet's son, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. But the Lord took me from tending the flock and told me to 'Go prophesy to my people Israel.' 

"Now, Amaziah, listen to the word of the Lord. You say to me, 'Do not prophesy against Israel, and stop preaching against the house of Isaac.' 

"Therefore this is what the Lord says: 'Your wife will leave you and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword. Your land will be measured and divided up, and Israel will certainly go into exile, away from their native land."

I turned and walked away. Not willing to listen to Amos. I am the one in charge, not him.

************************************************
1. Who was Amaziah?
2. Why was Amaziah angry?
3. Who did Amaziah go to see and what did he tell him?
4. Did Amos feel threatened by Amaziah?
5. Did Amos back down with his message from the Lord when Amaziah visited?
6. What will happen to Israel?

Pompous Amaziah, King of Judah

By Mary Vee
II Kings 14, II Chronicles 25

From the scrolls of Jehoash, King of Israel

Photo Courtesy- Beth Shemesh

Everyone had heard about the amazing defeat of the Edomites by king Amaziah and the army from Judah. God helped them with their battle, but Amaziah took all the credit.

We'd also heard that Amaziah brought back the idols from the Edomites and set them up for the people to worship. It's not for me to get after him, but I don't think this was a wise choice. Even the prophets came to Amaziah, asking him to stop worshiping the idols from Edom. He told them to go away and leave him alone.

The prophets warned Amaziah that God would destroy him because he didn't listen to their counsel.

Amaziah became quite confident after winning the battle with Edomite. He met with his advisers then sent me a message to come fight him.

I didn't want to fight him. We had no reason to. I called my scribe and had this message sent: "A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, 'Give your daughter to my son in marriage.' Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle underfoot. You say to yourself that you have defeated Edom and now you are arrogant and proud. Stay home. Why cause trouble and caused your own downfall and that of Judah also?"

The messenger returned to me reporting Amaziah wouldn't listen. I'm not surprised. God wouldn't be pleased with him causing the people of Judah to worship the gods of Edom. 

I called my officers together and set up a battle plan. If war was what he really wanted. War he shall have.

We marched our armies to Beth Shemesh in Judah. We surrounded Amaziah's army and watched them flee to their homes in fear. I captured Amaziah, king of Judah and brought him to Jerusalem. 

My army broke down the walls of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate--a section about six hundred feet long. I took all the gold, silver, and all the articles found in the temple of God that had been in the care of Obed-Edom, together with the palace treasures and hostages and brought them back to Samaria.

I didn't kill king Amaziah, despite his threat. In fact, time passed, and as I lay on my death bed, Amaziah, king of Judah still lived.

***************************************

1.  Why was king Amaziah so proud?
2.  Did he have a right to be proud for what happened?
3.  What did Amaziah want Jehoash, king of Israel to do?
4.  What answer did Jehoash give Amaziah?
5.  Did Amaziah agree?
6.  Jehoash gave him and did what?
7.  Who won?

Amaziah, Trusting God

by Mary Vee
II Kings 14, II Chronicles 25

From Amaziah, king of Judah's Scrolls

My father, king Joash, had been assassinated by his officers. Upon his death I was crowned king.

I loved my dad very much. There was a time when he followed the ways of God closely. He taught me his love for God despite the choices he made to follow Baal towards the end of his life. 

His officers may have felt they were doing good, but I, in good conscience, could not allow them to go unpunished for killing the king, my beloved father.

For my first act of business as king, I ordered my guards to take those officers responsible for murdering my father and put them to death. 

For my second act of business as king, and one who chose to follow the commands of the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, I chose not to execute the officer's sons. For it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: "Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers. Each is to die for his own sins."

I will not worship Baal, and will seek to do what pleases God. Some things, like removing the high places where people offered sacrifices and burned incense were difficult to take away from the people. I didn't want to cause a riot. As the new king, I needed the support of the people.

A time of war was quickly on us. I called the people of Judah together and assigned them according to their families to commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. Those twenty years old or more numbered three hundred thousand men ready for military service.

To be sure I had enough fighting soldiers, I also hired a hundred thousand fighting men from Israel and paid them in advance a hundred talents of silver.

A man of God came to the palace and requested to speak with me before we set out for war. I agreed to a meeting.

"O King," he said, "these troops from Israel must not march with you, for the Lord is not with Israel. Not with any of them. Even if you go and fight courageously in battle, God will overthrow you before the enemy. God has the power to help you or to overthrow you."

I couldn't help but think about all the money I had already paid to the Israelite soldiers. "But what about the money I paid the Israelite troops?"

The man of God said, "The Lord can give you much more than that."

I looked into his eyes and saw sincerity. With that, I dismissed the Israelite troops, sending them home.  The men were really angry about not being able to fight. At least they went home with money in their pocket.

Now I am very excited to see how God plans to help us win this battle without the hundred thousand fighting soldiers from Israel.

****************************************************
1. Who was Amaziah's father?
2. What job did Amaziah do first?  Why?
3. What job did Amaziah do second? Why?
4. With war upon Judah, Amaziah hired soldiers from ___________ to help.
5. A man of God came to Amaziah and told him ___________?
6. What did Amaziah decide to do with the hired soldiers?