5 Moreover, Amaziah assembled Judah and appointed them according to their fathers' households under commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds throughout Judah and Benjamin ; and he took a census of those from twenty years old and upward and found them to be 300,000 e e choice men, able to go to war and handle spear and shield . 6 He hired also 100,000 e valiant warriors out of Israel for one hundred talents of silver . 7 But a man of God came to him saying , "O king , do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the Lord is not with Israel nor with any of the sons of Ephraim . 8 "But if you do go , do it, be strong for the battle ; yet God will bring you down before the enemy , for God has power to help and to bring down ." 9 Amaziah said to the man of God , "But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel ?" And the man of God answered , " The Lord has much more to give you than this ." 10 Then Amaziah dismissed them, the troops which came to him from Ephraim , to go home ; so their anger burned against Judah and they returned home in fierce anger .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 25:5-10
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 25:1-13
(Read 2 Chronicles 25:1-13)
Amaziah was no enemy to religion, but cool and indifferent friend. Many do what is good, but not with a perfect heart. Rashness makes work for repentance. But Amaziah's obedience to the command of God was to his honour. A firm belief of God's all-sufficiency to bear us out in our duty, and to make up all the loss and damage was sustain in his service, will make his yoke very easy, and his burden very light. When we are called to part with any thing for God and our religion, it should satisfy us, that God is able to give us much more than this. Convinced sinners, who have not true faith, always object to self-denying obedience. They are like Amaziah; they say, But what shall we do for the hundred talents? What shall we do if by keeping the sabbath holy we lose so many good customers? What shall we do without this gain? What shall we do if we lose the friendship of the world? Many endeavour to quiet their consciences by the pretence that forbidden practices are necessary. The answer is, as here, The Lord is able to give thee much more than this. He makes up, even in this world, for all that is given up for his sake.