One of the saddest things that can be witnessed, is, when a person has known the Lord and goes away from Him (2Ch 25:2, 27; Gal 5:7). Self-confidence is the child of half-heartedness.
1. Self-confidence looks earthward instead of heavenward. The king of Judah "took advice" (2Ch 25:17), not from God but from men.
2. Self-confidence acts in its own strength. Amaziah "sent," and said (2Ch 25:17). He who sides with self takes sides against God, and runs on a rock to his own destruction.
3. Self-confidence is fostered by wrong. Idolatry was the hot-bed that caused the self-confidence of Amaziah to flourish (2Ch 25:20).
4. Self-confidence is the forerunner of defeat. "Put to the worse" (2Ch 25:22) is ever the summary of the life of the child of the flesh.
5. Self-confidence meets with bondage, damage, and loss. The king of Israel "took" the king of Judah and "brake" the wall of Jerusalem (2Ch 25:23). Brokenness of spirit (Luk 22:62), and bondage of heart are ever the outcome of selfs action (Gal 5:1).
6. Self-confidence reaps what it sows. Amaziah had conspired against God in his self-action, and now he is paid back in his own coin in being conspired against (2Ch 25:27).
7. Self-confidence meets with death (2Ch 25:27). "Boast," "Would not hear," "Put to the worse," "Brought," "Brake," "Turn away," "Fled," "Slain," are the words that sum up the downgradeism of the king of Judah.