2 Chronicles 21-25
The kings of Judah were…
Jeroboam, the foolish first king.
Abijah, the sinful king who denounced the idols Jeroboam set up!
Asa, a king of highs and lows.
Jehoshaphat, a good king who walked in the ways of his father, David.
Jehoram was a wicked king, who worshipped Baal and murdered all his brothers! Because of this, he was the unhappy recipient of a censorious letter from none-other-than the prophet Elijah (2 Chronicles 21:12-15). His life ended in the “great agony” of a horrible intestinal disease.
Ahaziah was as wicked as his father, and his downfall was “ordained by God.” He happened to be with Joram, the king of Israel, when Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab. Jehu put Ahaziah to death.
Athaliah was Ahaziah’s mother. When she saw that her son had died, she murdered all the possible heirs to the throne, and ruled Judah for six years. One of the royal family escaped her slaughter, however, and when the time was right, he, Joash, was made king. Athaliah was executed.
Joash was just seven when he began to reign. The Chronicler gives Jehoiada, the high priest, a great deal of credit for the good of Joash’ reign. But when Jehoiada died, Joash listened to the wrong people, abandoned the temple he had once repaired, and served false gods and idols. In the end, he was assassinated.
Amaziah did right in the eyes of the Lord but not with a whole heart. His reign included in a sort of civil war with the northern kingdom of Israel. Eventually, he turned away from the Lord and had to flee Jerusalem from those who conspired against him there. He was hunted down and put to death in Lachish.
The kings continue on Monday,
May God bless your weekend!
Pastor Gary
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Friday, April 25, 2014
APRIL 25 2 CHRONICLES 17-20
Chronicles 17-20
The kings of Judah were…
- Jeroboam, the foolish first king.
- Abijah, the sinful king who denounced the idols Jeroboam set up!
- Asa, a king of highs and lows.
- Jehoshaphat, a good king who walked in the ways of his father, David.
All four chapters for today focus on Jehoshaphat, but nowhere does it say that Jehoshaphat did any jumping! He sought the God of his father, Asa, and walked in God’s commandments. God established the kingdom for Jehoshaphat because of this. The only foolish thing the Chronicler records for Jehoshaphat was his near-deadly alliance with King Ahab of Israel. For one thing, Ahab found it difficult to produce a “prophet of the Lord;” for another, Ahab tried to save his own hide by riding into battle in disguise, while Jehoshaphat rode into battle in his kingly robes. Ahab’s idea seems to have been: Shoot him, not me! But, in the end, Ahab was the one who was shot, and Jehoshaphat went back to Jerusalem. From there, he enacted reforms, fortified the cities, and appointed judges from among the priests and Levites!
The greatest moment in Jehoshaphat’s reign came when a huge multi-national fighting force came up against Jerusalem. Though Jehoshaphat was afraid, he sought the Lord, proclaimed a fast, called an assembly, and prayed a glorious prayer (2 Chronicles 20:5-12). God heard his prayer and answered through a man named Jahaziel, who simply said, You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf. (2 Chronicles 20:17) Jehoshaphat received this word with humility.
The next day, Jehoshaphat sent the Levitical worship team ahead of the army to say: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever!” As they began to praise, the Lord set an ambush for the attacking armies, and they destroyed each other!
Here is lesson for us. When we face difficult battles, learn to praise the name of the Lord. Through praise, the power of the Lord is released!
Until tomorrow, as the parade proceeds,
Pastor Gary
Thursday, April 24, 2014
APRIL 24 2 CHRONICLES 13-16
2 Chronicles 13-16
The kings of Judah were…
- Jeroboam, the foolish first king, who listened to his friends. (2 Chronicles 10-12)
- Abijah. In 1 Kings, he’s Abijam, who “walked in all the sins” of his father. Here in 2 Chronicles, he defeats Jeroboam, after boldly denouncing the golden calves Jeroboam had erected in defiance of true temple worship!
- Asa was a king of highs and lows. He removed idols, fortified the cities, trusted the Lord, defeated the Ethiopians and instituted religious reforms. He even deposed in own mother for making an idol to Asherah. In his last years, however, he trusted a pact with Syria rather than his relationship with the Lord. A prophet came to chastise Asa for this, and Asa responded—not by humble repentance—but by throwing the prophet in prison! The unnamed prophet had spoken one of the most powerful sentences in Scripture: The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. (2 Chronicles 16:9). What does God see when he looks at your heart?
Tomorrow, the parade of Judean kings continues!
In Jesus’ love,
Pastor Gary
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
APRIL 23 2 CHRONICLES 10-12
2 Chronicles 10-12
The kingdom divides.
But the writer’s purpose is not to re-tell all the accounts of 1 Kings, but to focus on these events from a Levitical point of view. And what were the Levites and priests interested in? The temple and its worship! So, the Chronicler pays scant attention to Jeroboam and the northern kingdom.
We do read of Rehoboam’s foolish response to the northern tribes, trusting his young friends’ advice, instead of the advice of his father’s friends. But the key event of these three chapters comes in 2 Chronicles 11:13-17. When the kingdom divided, the priests and Levites, who had been living throughout the united kingdom, came to Jerusalem and spiritually strengthened the Kingdom of Judah. They came because of the temple, because they wanted to be in the same nation that worshipped God according to the Law of Moses. The presence of these Levites proved to be a spiritual stabilizer for Judah and encouraged some of their kings to rule faithfully and in the fear of the Lord.
Nevertheless, when Rehoboam began to abandon the law, God allowed the Shishak, the Pharaoh of Egypt, to ransack Jerusalem and the temple.
Tomorrow, we begin our trek through the kings of Judah!
In Jesus’ love,
Pastor Gary
The kingdom divides.
But the writer’s purpose is not to re-tell all the accounts of 1 Kings, but to focus on these events from a Levitical point of view. And what were the Levites and priests interested in? The temple and its worship! So, the Chronicler pays scant attention to Jeroboam and the northern kingdom.
We do read of Rehoboam’s foolish response to the northern tribes, trusting his young friends’ advice, instead of the advice of his father’s friends. But the key event of these three chapters comes in 2 Chronicles 11:13-17. When the kingdom divided, the priests and Levites, who had been living throughout the united kingdom, came to Jerusalem and spiritually strengthened the Kingdom of Judah. They came because of the temple, because they wanted to be in the same nation that worshipped God according to the Law of Moses. The presence of these Levites proved to be a spiritual stabilizer for Judah and encouraged some of their kings to rule faithfully and in the fear of the Lord.
Nevertheless, when Rehoboam began to abandon the law, God allowed the Shishak, the Pharaoh of Egypt, to ransack Jerusalem and the temple.
Tomorrow, we begin our trek through the kings of Judah!
In Jesus’ love,
Pastor Gary
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
APRIL 22 2 CHRONICLES 6-9
2 Chronicles 6-9
The temple is completed! The glory of the Lord has filled it!
Now Solomon speaks, first to the people, then to the Lord. In his magnificent prayer, he wonders, “Will God indeed dwell with human beings on earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house that I have built!” (2 Chronicles 6:18) He is absolutely right; the only way God could dwell in the house that Solomon built was if God wanted to. Similarly, God also wanted to dwell on earth in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ!
God responds to Solomon’s prayer by sending fire from heaven to consume the sacrifices Solomon had offered, and by answering his prayer in a night-time vision. Solomon had asked the Lord to be responsive to the prayers His people, and God said, “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14) But, if they won’t, God promises to “pluck” them out of the land!
In 2 Chronicles 8-9, the rest of Solomon’s life and accomplishments are recounted: his building projects, his armies, his alliances, his visit from the Queen of Sheba, and his incredible wealth.
Of note is what the Chronicler does NOT tell us: how Solomon descended into sin and idolatry. Why does the Chronicler white-wash Solomon so? His purpose was not to rehearse what was already well-known, but to encourage the re-building of the temple and the reinstitution of the temple worship for the returning exiles.
Tomorrow, we read of the kingdom divided.
In His love,
Pastor Gary
The temple is completed! The glory of the Lord has filled it!
Now Solomon speaks, first to the people, then to the Lord. In his magnificent prayer, he wonders, “Will God indeed dwell with human beings on earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house that I have built!” (2 Chronicles 6:18) He is absolutely right; the only way God could dwell in the house that Solomon built was if God wanted to. Similarly, God also wanted to dwell on earth in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ!
God responds to Solomon’s prayer by sending fire from heaven to consume the sacrifices Solomon had offered, and by answering his prayer in a night-time vision. Solomon had asked the Lord to be responsive to the prayers His people, and God said, “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14) But, if they won’t, God promises to “pluck” them out of the land!
In 2 Chronicles 8-9, the rest of Solomon’s life and accomplishments are recounted: his building projects, his armies, his alliances, his visit from the Queen of Sheba, and his incredible wealth.
Of note is what the Chronicler does NOT tell us: how Solomon descended into sin and idolatry. Why does the Chronicler white-wash Solomon so? His purpose was not to rehearse what was already well-known, but to encourage the re-building of the temple and the reinstitution of the temple worship for the returning exiles.
Tomorrow, we read of the kingdom divided.
In His love,
Pastor Gary
Monday, April 21, 2014
april 21 2 chronicls 1-5
2 Chronicles 1-5
Here is “a high and holy moment,” as Bishop Woodie White used to say.
Sure, we’ve already read about the building of the temple in 1 Kings 5-8, but this time, we read through the eyes of a Levite, who was, perhaps, a priest.
The first chapter highlights Solomon’s holiness. In those days, the pieces of the Tabernacle had become separated; David had carried the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem, but the “tent of meeting” and the bronze altar were at Gibeon. Solomon went there to worship. That night, the Lord famously asked Solomon to ask Him for something, and Solomon asked for the wisdom to rule God’s people. God was so pleased with this unselfish request that He gave Solomon what he had NOT asked for as well: wealth and honor.
Solomon makes good use of both, as he obtains materials (chapter 2), builds the Temple (chapter 3), makes its furnishings (chapter 4), and places the Ark. When he does, did you notice that God somehow animates the gold-overlaid cherubim in the Holy of Holies? (2 Chronicles 5:8) They “spread out their wings” over the Ark! I suppose if God can make a donkey talk, He can make gold statues spread their wings!
The holiest moment, however, is not when the cherubim spread their wings, but when the “glory of the Lord,” the cloud of His presence, filled the House! I still pray for the glory of the Lord to come to the temple. But now, the temple is the church and its individual members; and the glory is the presence of God’s Spirit! (1 Corinthians 3:16)
Your fellow Bible trekker,
Pastor Gary
Here is “a high and holy moment,” as Bishop Woodie White used to say.
Sure, we’ve already read about the building of the temple in 1 Kings 5-8, but this time, we read through the eyes of a Levite, who was, perhaps, a priest.
The first chapter highlights Solomon’s holiness. In those days, the pieces of the Tabernacle had become separated; David had carried the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem, but the “tent of meeting” and the bronze altar were at Gibeon. Solomon went there to worship. That night, the Lord famously asked Solomon to ask Him for something, and Solomon asked for the wisdom to rule God’s people. God was so pleased with this unselfish request that He gave Solomon what he had NOT asked for as well: wealth and honor.
Solomon makes good use of both, as he obtains materials (chapter 2), builds the Temple (chapter 3), makes its furnishings (chapter 4), and places the Ark. When he does, did you notice that God somehow animates the gold-overlaid cherubim in the Holy of Holies? (2 Chronicles 5:8) They “spread out their wings” over the Ark! I suppose if God can make a donkey talk, He can make gold statues spread their wings!
The holiest moment, however, is not when the cherubim spread their wings, but when the “glory of the Lord,” the cloud of His presence, filled the House! I still pray for the glory of the Lord to come to the temple. But now, the temple is the church and its individual members; and the glory is the presence of God’s Spirit! (1 Corinthians 3:16)
Your fellow Bible trekker,
Pastor Gary
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