2 Kings 14:3
And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, yet not like David his father. He did in all things as Joash his father had done.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Even doing what's "right in the eyes of the LORD" doesn't automatically mean perfection, as this verse shows. While Amaziah pleased God, he fell short of David's example, highlighting that we can be commended by God yet still have room to grow and pursue greater faithfulness. It's a subtle but important reminder that our pursuit of righteousness is a journey, not just a destination.
Amaziah has just become king of Judah after his father Joash's assassination, and the text immediately evaluates his reign. While he earns God's approval for following in David's footsteps in many ways, the passage notes a crucial difference: Amaziah doesn't quite measure up to David's wholehearted devotion, falling back into the pattern of his father Joash instead. This sets the stage for understanding both his successes and his eventual significant failures as king.
It's easy to think that 'doing what is right' means flawlessness. But Scripture often paints a more nuanced picture.
A Spectrum of Obedience
The Bible doesn't always present actions in black and white. While Amaziah did 'what was right in the eyes of the LORD,' this verse immediately offers a crucial qualification: 'yet not like David his father.'
The Standard of David
King David, despite his significant failures, is consistently held up as a benchmark for true devotion. He had a deep, often wrestling, relationship with God, marked by passionate repentance and profound trust. Amaziah's obedience, therefore, was good, but it lacked that extraordinary depth and personal connection.
A Call to Deeper Faith
This distinction isn't to condemn Amaziah, but to highlight the difference between a general adherence to rules and a passionate, all-consuming pursuit of God. It challenges us to consider if our own 'right' actions are merely going through the motions, or if they stem from a heart truly devoted to Him.
Generational patterns, both good and bad, are powerful forces in our lives. This verse shows us how family legacies can shape our spiritual journeys.
Following in Footsteps
The verse concludes by stating Amaziah 'did in all things as Joash his father had done.' This is significant because Joash's reign was mixed; he started well but ultimately turned away from God.
A Mixed Legacy
Amaziah seems to have adopted the general pattern of his father's reign, which included periods of doing right but also a departure from true devotion. The 'rightness' mentioned earlier likely reflects the positive aspects of Joash's reign, but the influence didn't push him toward the higher standard of David.
Choosing Our Inheritance
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant name of the one true God of Israel, revealing His personal relationship with His people and His faithfulness to His promises. It is the name by which He revealed Himself to Moses at the burning bush.
David · Hebrew Proper Noun
Refers to the king of the Davidic line, often used as a standard of comparison for later kings. In a broader theological sense, he is the prototype of the faithful king, though he himself was a sinner saved by grace.
c. 874-853 BC
Reign of Ahab and the rise of Baal worship
King Ahab of Israel, alongside his Phoenician wife Jezebel, heavily promoted the worship of Baal, leading to widespread religious corruption and prophetic opposition.
c. 841 BC
Elijah the Prophet taken to heaven
The great prophet Elijah is dramatically taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, marking the end of an era of prophetic confrontation with corrupted kingship.
c. 835-800 BC
Reign of Joash (father of Amaziah)
Joash, king of Israel, maintained a semblance of religious practice but did not fully eradicate the lingering effects of Baal worship, setting a mixed example.
c. 800-785 BC— this verse
Reign of Amaziah
Amaziah, king of Judah, followed the general pattern of his father Joash, doing what was right in the Lord's eyes but failing to completely remove the high places of worship.
c. 790 BC
War between Judah and Israel
This passage directly follows Amaziah's story and highlights how his son, Uzziah, also followed the Lord but with a similar nuance of imperfection, showing a recurring theme of good intentions mixed with human failing.
2 Chronicles 25:1-2This parallel account in Chronicles emphasizes Amaziah's righteousness in striking down those who murdered his father, but it also adds the crucial detail that he did not seek the Lord wholeheartedly, mirroring the 'not like David' aspect of his reign.
1 Kings 15:11This verse describes King Asa, another king who 'did what was right in the eyes of the LORD,' yet it also points out that 'the high places were not removed,' illustrating the common struggle of even righteous leaders to achieve perfect obedience.
Jeremiah 17:5This prophetic word cautions against trusting in man and making flesh his strength, which resonates with the underlying human frailty seen even in seemingly good kings like Amaziah, whose deeds were ultimately limited by their own nature.
Even doing what's "right in the eyes of the LORD" doesn't automatically mean perfection, as this verse shows. While Amaziah pleased God, he fell short of David's example, highlighting that we can be commended by God yet still have room to grow and pursue greater faithfulness. It's a subtle but important reminder that our pursuit of righteousness is a journey, not just a destination.
Amaziah has just become king of Judah after his father Joash's assassination, and the text immediately evaluates his reign. While he earns God's approval for following in David's footsteps in many ways, the passage notes a crucial difference: Amaziah doesn't quite measure up to David's wholehearted devotion, falling back into the pattern of his father Joash instead. This sets the stage for understanding both his successes and his eventual significant failures as king.
Amaziah has just become king of Judah after his father Joash's assassination, and the text immediately evaluates his reign. While he earns God's approval for following in David's footsteps in many ways, the passage notes a crucial difference: Amaziah doesn't quite measure up to David's wholehearted devotion, falling back into the pattern of his father Joash instead. This sets the stage for understanding both his successes and his eventual significant failures as king.
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We inherit much from our families – traditions, values, even spiritual inclinations. But ultimately, we are responsible for the choices we make. Amaziah had the example of David (a national hero, though distant in time) and the more immediate example of Joash. He leaned towards the latter, missing an opportunity to emulate the best and rise above the rest.
Amaziah challenged Joash, king of Israel, to a battle which resulted in Judah's defeat and the breaking down of Jerusalem's walls.
c. 785-775 BC
Reign of Jeroboam II
Jeroboam II, a powerful king of Israel, oversaw a period of territorial expansion and economic prosperity, but also significant social injustice and continued religious compromise.
"And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, yet not like David his father. He did in all things as Joash his father had done." — Even doing what's "right in the eyes of the LORD" doesn't automatically mean perfection, as this verse shows. While Amaziah pleased God, he fell short of David's example, highlighting that we can be…
