"and Manasseh the father of Amos," - Matthew 1:10b

2 Kings 21:19-26 describes the brief reign of King Amos. Just two years to be exact. But in that short time he certainly created quite the reputation for himself: He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 21:20). He served the idols that his father served and worshiped them (2 Kings 21:21). He abandoned the Lord and did not walk in the way of the Lord (2 Kings 21:22)

And why was his reign so brief? Because he was assassinated by his own servants a mere two years into his reign (2 Kings 21:23). 

Now throughout this series we have been talking about how all the people in Jesus's genealogy point toward or foreshadow the coming of Christ, the true King, in one way or another. How in the world does such a wicked king like Amos point to Christ though? Well, that becomes clearer by comparing and contrasting them. Here are a few:

• Comparisons
  • Amos was a king / Jesus is the King
  • Amos was put to death / Jesus was put to death
• Contrasts
  • Amos was a wicked king who disobeyed the Lord / Jesus is the true King who was always obedient to His Father
  • Amos was justly put to death for crimes committed / Jesus was wrongly accused
  • Amos' death led to the death of his servants / Jesus' death leads to eternal life for His servants (whom He also gladly calls friends; John 15:13)
  • Amos was buried in a tomb and remains there to this day (2 Kings 21:26) / Jesus was buried, but was resurrected and is alive forevermore (Rev. 1:17-18)

When seen within the storyline of Scripture, a wicked king like Amos makes us long even more for the true King to come. And He has.