Men's Ministry
Please read II Kings 14:1-6
1. We humans are adept at making comparisons. Sometimes it happens as a result of pride:"I would never do that" or, "Unlike so-and-so, I follow Jesus." We make comparisons other times in order to make a wise decision:"I'll buy this one instead of that one because I'll get more for a better price." What comparisons do you see in verse 3? Why is one better than the other? Which is the comparison that you should strive for?
2. How can we tell that Amaziah was only half-committed to the Lord? Give an example of how he did not follow God and an example how he did.
2. How can we tell that Amaziah was only half-committed to the Lord? Give an example of how he did not follow God and an example how he did.
Please read II Kings 14:7-10
3. Verse 7 tells us that Amaziah killed 10,000 Edomites in battle. We've seen other wars with the Edomites. Do you remember who they were? Check Genesis 25:30. For more details about this battle, see II Chronicles 25:5-16.
4. The ESV, in verse 8, says that Amaziah sent a message to Jehoash (the king in the north) with an invitation: "Come, let us look one another in the face." The LSB says, "Come, let us face each other." The ESV, LSB, and KJV are classified as literal translations and tend not to add anything to the text to help explain it. Other versions are more thought-for-thought translations which add words to clarify what is being conveyed. What do you think Amaziah is saying to Jehoash? Why would he do this?
5. Amaziah is proud of his victory over Edom. Should he have been proud? If not, what character quality should he have demonstrated? How was he unlike Jesus at this point in his life?
6. Jehoash replied to Amaziah with a parable. What in the world does it mean?
4. The ESV, in verse 8, says that Amaziah sent a message to Jehoash (the king in the north) with an invitation: "Come, let us look one another in the face." The LSB says, "Come, let us face each other." The ESV, LSB, and KJV are classified as literal translations and tend not to add anything to the text to help explain it. Other versions are more thought-for-thought translations which add words to clarify what is being conveyed. What do you think Amaziah is saying to Jehoash? Why would he do this?
5. Amaziah is proud of his victory over Edom. Should he have been proud? If not, what character quality should he have demonstrated? How was he unlike Jesus at this point in his life?
6. Jehoash replied to Amaziah with a parable. What in the world does it mean?
Please read II Kings 14:11-14
7. Last week, we saw that Jehoash had only 50 horsemen, 10 chariots, and 10,000 infantry left after the war with Aram (Syria). See II Kings 13:7. Here we see that Israel with their puny army defeats Judah's vastly superior army. How do you explain this?
8. What was the result of the battle between Judah and Israel? Why do you think Amaziah didn't consider the consequences?
9. Amaziah created this war all by himself. Who paid the price? What personal lesson can we learn from this?
Please read II Kings 14:15-22
10. In the previous chapter, there was a summary statement about Jehoash and that he was buried in Samaria. Now we read another summary statement about Jehoash here in chapter 14. Why is it here? II Kings 13:12-13 is almost identical to II Kings 14:15-16 with the addition of his son, Jeroboam taking over the throne. Why repeat it? Is this a mistake in Scripture?
11. It's curious that we're told that Amaziah lived 15 years after the death of Jehoash. We’re not given this kind of information on any other king. We're always told that so-and-so became king the such-and-such year of the other king. Check verse 13 for a possible clue.
12. Any idea why a conspiracy to assassinate Amaziah was formed? (This is the same thing that happened to Amaziah's father, Joash.)
11. It's curious that we're told that Amaziah lived 15 years after the death of Jehoash. We’re not given this kind of information on any other king. We're always told that so-and-so became king the such-and-such year of the other king. Check verse 13 for a possible clue.
12. Any idea why a conspiracy to assassinate Amaziah was formed? (This is the same thing that happened to Amaziah's father, Joash.)
Please read II Kings 14:23-29
13. Note that this is the second king of Israel named Jeroboam, generally referred to as “Jeroboam II.” He was an evil king and yet God allowed him to restore the territory of Israel that had been taken by the Arameans. Why? Why didn't God punish him and the whole nation?
14. Jeroboam II's reign was marked by economic, political, and material prosperity. In last week's study, God said that He would send a savior who would help them escape from the hand of the Arameans. Do you think that Jeroboam II is the savior mentioned in II Kings 13:4-5?
15. Jeroboam II is declared to be a bad king, as were all the other kings that reigned in the north. However, the nation thrives under his leadership. Who caused the nation to thrive and why?
14. Jeroboam II's reign was marked by economic, political, and material prosperity. In last week's study, God said that He would send a savior who would help them escape from the hand of the Arameans. Do you think that Jeroboam II is the savior mentioned in II Kings 13:4-5?
15. Jeroboam II is declared to be a bad king, as were all the other kings that reigned in the north. However, the nation thrives under his leadership. Who caused the nation to thrive and why?