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2 Chronicles 25:15 meaning

Amaziah’s decision to worship the vanquished gods exposed his heart to divine rebuke and eventual downfall.

Then the anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of the people who have not delivered their own people from your hand?” (v.15) This verse reveals a moment of divine confrontation in the life of Amaziah, who was the king of Judah. Amaziah’s reign took place during the mid-8th century BC, approximately between 796-767 BC. After experiencing victory in battle, Amaziah turned to the gods of the people he had defeated, adopting their idols in an act of disloyalty toward the one true God. The LORD’s response through a prophetic messenger makes it clear that relying on foreign deities that did not even save their own worshipers is both futile and offensive to Him. In the context of the surrounding passages, Amaziah allowed his pride and misguided devotion to lead him astray, which set him at odds with God’s covenant relationship with the people of Judah.

When the text says “Then the anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah” (v.15), it underscores the seriousness with which God views idolatry. This strong language echoes warnings from other parts of the Old Testament, such as Deuteronomy 6:14-15, where the people were commanded not to follow other gods lest the LORD’s anger be kindled against them. Here, we see that the LORD’s anger is not a petty display of wrath, but rather a protective response to preserve the pure worship and covenant loyalty of His people. God questions Amaziah’s senseless decision to worship “the gods of the people who have not delivered their own people,” highlighting the absurdity of trusting powerless idols over the living God. This warning resonates with New Testament teachings as well, where dependence on anything other than God—whether idols or worldly security—ultimately proves empty (Romans 1:21-23).

Amaziah sits historically within the timeline of the Divided Kingdom. He is the son of Joash, another king of Judah, and a predecessor to Uzziah. His story reminds us that earthly victories can tempt believers toward pride and misplaced devotion if they are not careful to acknowledge God as the source of all blessings. By turning to false gods, Amaziah violated God’s first commandment and jeopardized the favor of the covenant God, who desires exclusive worship from His people. This message consistently points us forward to Jesus, who also taught that only God deserves true worship, and that no other allegiance or idol should come before fidelity to Him (Matthew 4:10).

2 Chronicles 25:15