2 Kings 14:1

 2 Kings 14:1 says, In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah.  When Jehoahaz was king of Israel the second year, Amaziah became king of Judah.  Notice both were called the son of Joash, but these were two different men, as was discussed previously.  There is only one Jesus Christ, and we cannot confuse Him with anyone else and be saved.  Verse two adds, He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.  Amaziah was twenty-five when he became king and he ruled for twenty-nine years.  This was a fairly long reign, but he still wasn't an old man when his rule ended.  Jesus Christ's rule is forever.  We as His followers though may be in a position of leadership in His kingdom for a long time or a short time, but it should always be up to Him how long this is.  Verse three continues, And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did.  Amaziah did what was right in the sight of God, but like his father Joash did, and not as David had done.  Matthew Henry says this means he kept up practices of worship more for show than from a real devotion to God, as David had.  David's actions were often wrong, but he remained a man after God's own heart.  We should never worship God just for appearances sake, but we must always worship Him because of our deep devotion to Him through our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.  Verse four states, Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.  Amaziah still did not remove the high places of worship, which were not in accordance with God's word.  Of course, as Christians today we are free to worship wherever we are, but I believe God still expects us to gather in a particular place weekly or more often and worship Him.  Verse five adds, And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father.  As soon as he established himself in power, he killed all those servants of his who had killed his father.  He did this justly in accordance with God's word.  Jesus Christ as the only true King justly could kill all who have opposed Him, but He chooses to call everyone to salvation instead and leave it up to them whether they will eventually face everlasting suffering separated from God or not.  Verse six continues, But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the Lord commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin.  Amaziah did not kill the children of those who had killed his father but followed the teachings of God given through Moses.  Children were not to be held responsible for the father's sins nor father for the children's sins.  We are all responsible for our own sins alone.  We will not be punished by God for the sins of others, nor will they be punished for ours.  Verse seven concludes, He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this day.  Amaziah also went to war with Edom, killed ten thousand of their troops, and took Selah, which he renamed Joktheel.  We need to be at war with the world spiritually, but this does not mean that we are to kill non-Christians.  We are just not to allow the influence of the world to guide us but are to be devoted to following Jesus Christ through the leadership of the Holy Spirit.