Amaziah – The Noontimes

2 Kings 14 : The Blustering Thistle

2 Kings 14: The Blustering Thistle

Saturday, June 28, 2025

In this portion of Israel’s history we will need commentary to sort out who is the cause of what; and what today’s brief fable signifies. The vulnerable thistle approaches the tall, strong cedar with a useless proposition. This likely illustrates the foolhardy policies and actions of the leader Amaziah who threatens the powerful Jehoash. Because Amaziah experienced victory over the Edomites and he now believes he can do anything. He makes a common mistake – he believes in himself and follows his own ego rather than taking counsel from God. The result of this bluster and imprudence is turbulence and it spells the end for Amaziah. Yet in the end – and here is where we see God’s goodness – God saves the faithful people despite their foolhardy leaders.

It is likely that each of us can point to a time when we have been the thorny thistle threatening the mighty cedar; and if we are honest, we will also remember the turbulence that followed. In our ego-driven culture we are inculcated in the thinking that we can do anything we put our minds to. We can make more money, be more beautiful or handsome, buy a larger home or car, have the most current technology – and all of this will make us more popular and happy. This, of course, is the thinking of the threatening thistle. And it is false. How much more prudent it is to turn to God rather than bluster our way through life.

We see a clear choice before us today. We can act as the foolish leaders do or we can turn to the God who created us in love – to be loved. We can threaten others as the thistle does, or we can act in mercy, compassion and fidelity as God does. And so we pray . . .

Our loving God is waiting to rescue us from the threats of the world. Open our ears that we may hear God’s word.

Our tender God is waiting to heal us in love. Open our eyes that we may see God in others.

Our compassionate God is waiting to transform us in joy. Open our hearts that we may act in and through God. Amen.

Image from: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/milk-thistle

June 28, 2025

Amaziah, cedar, fable, Jehoash, thistle

Amos 6: The Cost of Prosperity

Holy Thursday, April 1, 2021

MADAME~1 — *Christopher Turner: On the Couch*

Amos 6

The Cost of Prosperity

Before we leave Amos we reflect once more on his theme of the wealthy and comfortable taking advantage of the poor and voiceless. Like his contemporaries Hosea and Joel, Amos spoke out against those who lay upon couches plotting to keep what they had gathered rather than share their prosperity. He brought to light the corruption too often found in those who hoard possessions and power rather than tend to those on the margins who have few or no resources.

Amos spoke so well and so boldly that he was finally expelled by Amaziah, the priest in charge of the royal sanctuary. His delineation of “hollow prosperity” was too much for the power structure and rather than spend time with the prophet’s words, leadership chose to shut down this man who gave their work a “sweeping indictment” of the injustice and idolatry Amos saw everywhere. The prophet is known for his fiery words but also his offering of a messianic perspective of hope. He knows that “divine punishment is never completely destructive; it is part of the hidden plan of God to bring salvation to men. The perversity of the human will may retard, but it cannot totally frustrate, this design of a loving God”. (Senior 1126)

As we read these verses today, we might think of a time when either we too lay upon couches at the expense of others or we were those laboring within a corrupt system. In the modern world, some of us have a the freedom to express our views in the public arena. Sometimes this voice is small, sometimes it carries weight; but no matter the strength of our words we know that when we stand in God’s plan all will be well. All will right itself.

Today’s reading is full of Old Testament ire; yet we can bring our New Testament eyes and ears to this story to put it into context. When we find ourselves in our own Samaria or northern Kingdom, when we see corruption in our holy Bethel city, when our prophets preach caution to a power structure carried away with its own authority, we might pause to remember what Amos tells us: Woe to the complacent, leaders of a favored nation, lying upon beds of ivory, stretched comfortably on their couches . . . they devise their own accompaniment.

On this day when we celebrate the Lord’s Last Supper, we examine ourselves, our motives, our hopes and desires. We evaluate where and how and why we stand; and we look at those with whom we choose to spend time on idle couches.

When we find ourselves unsatisfied with all we see around us, or when we are content with only our own accompaniment, perhaps it is a warning that we need to look to ourselves and to our companions. Perhaps, on this holy day of celebrated sacrifice, it is time for us to consider the cost of our prosperity.

Senior, Donald, ed. THE CATHOLIC STUDY BIBLE. New York, Oxford University Press, 1990.1126. Print.

Adapted from a reflection written on September 7, 2009.

Tomorrow, Unlimited Mercy.

April 1, 2021

Amaziah, corruption, couches, hope, Hosea, Joel

2 Chronicles 25: With A Whole Heart

2 Chronicles 25: With A Whole Heart

Thursday, May 23, 2019

Commentary points out to us that king Amaziah is faithful to Yahweh and wins a campaign against Edom because of his fidelity; later he is the victim of assassination. The Chronicler feels compelled to explain this good king’s reversal of fortune and explains it this way in verse two: He did what was pleasing in the sight of the Lord, though not wholeheartedly.

We can never know the truth of the detail in the story of Amaziah; however, what we can do is to take to heart the warning of the writer that in all things we must be faithful . . . with a full and open heart. Because God has created us and knows us so well, there is no point in trying to skirt issues or in attempting to hide parts of our history. God knows all.

Psalm 139 is often cited as one in which the Psalmist expresses this idea of intimacy with God.

Lord, you have probed me, you know me; you know when I sit and when I stand; you understand my thoughts from afar.

Nothing escapes God, not even our inmost thoughts.

My travels and my rest you mark; with all my ways you are familiar.

Nothing escapes God, not even the experiences we try to keep secret.

Even when a word is on my tongue, Lord, you know it all.

Nothing escapes God, not even any hidden meaning behind our words.

If I ascend to the heavens you are there; if I lie down in Sheol you are there, too.

Nothing escapes God, not even our dreams and fears.

If I fly with the wings of dawn and light beyond the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand hold me fast.

Nothing escapes God, not even our attempts to strike out on our own when we have planned our flight to the last detail.

You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb.

Nothing escapes God, not the origin of our faults, not the origin of our gifts.

And perhaps this is why God loves us so. God knows us as well as he knows himself. And we are created in God’s image to abide with him in eternity for eternity. Is it possible to be so well loved?

A conspiracy forms against Amaziah; he flees but is pursued and hunted down. How does his story speak to us today? The Chronicler tells us that Amaziah’s heart is not true. The Psalmist tells us that God reads our inmost being. When we feel compelled to run, it is better to stay and remain in the Lord. When we feel too ashamed to face a new day, we must rise and turn to the Lord. When we feel too frightened to step into the world, we must take courage and trust the Lord. When we feel too discouraged to open a new door, we must stay and hope in the Lord. When we feel too angry to interact with those around us, we must stay and love the Lord . . . with a heart that is open, and honest, and full . . . and true.

Amen.

A re-post from May 8, 2012.

Images from: https://pastorcarolmora.wordpress.com/category/1/page/2/ and http://www.robstill.com/a-wholehearted-worshiping-community/

May 23, 2019

Amaziah, Edom, fidelity, God knows all, hope, love, Psalm 139, remaining, trust

Tag: Amaziah

2 Kings 14 : The Blustering Thistle

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Amos 6: The Cost of Prosperity

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2 Chronicles 25: With A Whole Heart

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