2 Kings 14:1-6 – Taking personal responsibility

Amaziah became king in his father's place at the age of 25 and ruled in Jerusalem for 29 years. Second Kings 14 verse 2 says that his mother was Jehoaddin. While Amaziah sought to do what was right in the sight of God, yet by comparison he did not attain the standard that God had set. David’s reign was the standard that God would measure the reign of the kings after him. While Amaziah emulated his father, Joash, he like his father did not attain the standard of David.

Amaziah, like his father, started well but did not end as expected of him. During their reign, the Syrians were considerably weakened. He enjoyed a measure of military success but in the arena of the spiritual or religious life of the nation, he could have done better. Like his father, Amaziah allowed the high places to remain. And it was said that “the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.” It would have served Amaziah better had he also removed the high places. That would have prevented the people from offering sacrifices there. From him, we learn that we must not leave weak gaps in our lives that can ensnare us. We must learn to deal with every aspect of life as thoroughly as possible and try to leave no room for our weak nature to exploit.     

Amaziah’s first act when his grasp on the throne was firmer, was to have his father’s assassins killed. However, he did not put to death their children. What he did was in accordance with what Moses had prescribed in the book of the Law. God’s instruction was, “The fathers shall not be put to death for the sons, nor the sons be put to death for the fathers; but each shall be put to death for his own sin.” Here we see personal accountability highlighted. We must know that we are all individually accountable for our own actions. The father will not be held accountable for what the son does, and vice versa. Everyone is accountable for his own action in life. All of us are expected to be personally responsible for our actions in life. We should not excuse our weakness  and blame our environment, our upbringing, or our genetics. We all have the right to our personal volition and hence how we want to live is a choice we can make. Choose right and we will live right. The choice is yours!