Learning From the Kings - Amon

Read Scripture and Pray (2 Chron 33:21-25)

2 Chronicles 33:21–25 (MEV)

2 Ki 21:19–24

21 And Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he was king for two years in Jerusalem. 22 And he did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord as his father Manasseh had done. And Amon sacrificed to and served all the idols that Manasseh his father had made. 23 He did not humble himself before the Lord as his father humbled himself. But he increased his guilt all the more.

24 And his servants plotted against him, and they killed him in his palace. 25 Then the people of the land struck down all those who conspired against King Amon. The people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place.

King Amon

Name pronounced “eh-mun”

15th King

Son of Manasseh

Reigned 2 years

I. The Secret to Successful Leadership - Humility

I learned a long time ago, the secret to successful leadership is humility. See James 4:10 ; Matt 23:12

There is a common word / theme that connects King Amon to his father Manasseh and his son Josiah.

The word is humble. The Hebrew word for humble means to bring low. And very king that we have studied, either referred to as a good or bad king, struggled to bring themselves low at some point in there reign.

The position of being king, automatically places a person at a starting point of being high. Your position places you in authority of being above others, and the people around you place you there as well.

It took Manasseh years to reach a point of where he saw a need to humble himself. (2 Chron 33:12 “And when he was distressed (affliction KJV), he entreated the face of the Lord his God, and he greatly humbled himself before the God of his fathers.” )

But with his son, Josiah, the understanding of humility came by way of hearing God’s Word. (2 Chron 34:27 “because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and those who dwell here, and you have brought yourself low before Me and torn your clothes and wept before Me, I have heard you, declares the Lord.”)

??? Which way would you rather move into humbling thyself, via distress and affliction or just by hearing and obeying God’s Word? *** Most Christians follow the distressed and affliction pattern.

vs. 23… “increased his guilt” means he sinned against God even more. The WOG nor afflictions were a viable method bringing Amon into a state of humility.

II. Why was he (Amon) so caught in this way of life, to the point that it caused him not to humble himself?

1. He was exposed to this sinful life for almost all of his life, His Father (Manasseh) exposed him and the nation for almost all of his 55 year reign.

The worship of idols came from the ways of the Canaanites and other worldly cultures. And this worship although sinful and most wicked in the eyes of God. See Deut 9:4-6

2. Sin is pleasurable for a season. Heb 11:25

Much of Canaanite worship was around fertility cults and sexual acts, leading to polygamous marriage and multiple sexual relationships, and cultic ceremonial temple prostitution.

See / Read Lev 18:1-30 … a description of Canaanite Worship and way of life.

III. ??? So why was Amon killed so quickly, and why did his reign last only two years? ??? Where was God’s mercy and grace?

He refused to humble himself before the Lord. Amon had an opportunity to humble himself like all sinners do, but he chose not to do it. Time and another is not promised to no one. See Prov 27:1; 2 Peter 3:9-10

The wages of sin is death. Rom 6:23

Romans 6:23 MEV

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

3. I believe God released Him to the consequences of his sin. Vs. 24… “his servants plotted (conspired KJV) against him, and they killed him”

Many theologians have there own take on why Amon was killed (many say politics he was pro Assyrian vs. pro Babylonian) .…. I believe (my thoughts not bible proof)… Amon was killed by these servants either because he was abusing them sexually, or because he was abusing his authority and having sex with some directly related to them (wife, children, or some other relative).

Wrap Up…

??? Is God calling us to humble ourselves in a certain areas? Humility is about releasing your will and submitting to His will?

Even Jesus had to do this… what about us?