Posts that reference the book of 2 Chronicles

2 Chron

Lessons from the Good Kings: Jehoshaphat

The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, 2 Chronicles 17:3

We know King David. And Solomon. Maybe even Hezekiah and Josiah. But there were many other kings in Judah, and admittedly, many were terrible. However, there were some good kings, not perfect kings, but good kings. These good kings can serve as examples of things we can do even in our culture, in our lives to honor God. Last week we looked at King Asa, a man who wanted to please God but wavered and failed to follow through. Today we’ll look at the reign and character of his son, Jehoshaphat.

Because of his father’s long reign, Jehoshaphat was thirty-five when he began to reign. 2 Chronicles 17:4 tells us he followed God’s commandments and God established the kingdom in his hand. Furthermore, “he had great riches and honor. His heart was courageous in the ways of the LORD.” 2 Chronicles 17:5-6 The rest of 2 Chronicles 17 details his military success, to the point that neighboring nations were reluctant to challenge him.

But that’s not the whole story. Jehoshaphat was willing, even eager, to align himself with the ungodly. 1 Chronicles 18 details his cooperation with King Ahab in the battle of Ramoth-Gilead against the king of Syria. Ahab was constantly held up as the worst example of ungodliness. When Jehoshaphat returned home from that battle safely (thanks to God’ deliverance) he was met by the prophet Jehu.

“Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the LORD. Nevertheless, some good is found in you, for you destroyed the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God.” 2 Chronicles 19:2-3

How do we respond to our enemies? Christ instructs us to love our enemies. That’s not negotiable. However, loving them does not mean we should help them advance their anti-God agenda.

This warning seems to have gotten Jehoshaphat back on track. 2 Chronicles 19:4-11 detail his reforms to the judicial system in Judah. He appointed judges and solemnly instructed them to weigh the cases based on merits, with the fear of the Lord as their overarching motivation.

How do we respond to correction? Hebrews 12:5-11 tells us it is part of being a true child of God. We should use it as an opportunity to renew our commitment to Christ and His cause.

It never fails. When things are going along pretty well, that is usually the signal for the enemy to try something. In Jehoshaphat’s case, it was the armies of Moab, Ammon and their allies. They came marching toward Jerusalem with overwhelming forces. The king proclaimed a fast.

O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 2 Chronicles 20:12

It wasn’t long before God moved another prophet, Jahaziel, with the response.

Thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. … You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you.” 2 Chronicles 20:15-17

How do we respond when overwhelmed? I’ll be honest. I don’t usually respond like Jehoshaphat. Digging myself into a bigger hole by complaining about the injustice of my situation is more typical. But this advice/reassurance from God is just like what He told His people at the Red Sea back in Exodus 14:13-14. Do not be afraid. Do not be dismayed.

True to His word, God intervened and Judah went home rejoicing after a rout of their enemies.

Unfortunately, Jehoshaphat’s life story doesn’t end with that great victory. God is not afraid to show the shortcomings of his people. Jehoshaphat arranged a marriage between his son and heir, Jehoram, and the daughter of Ahab, and continued to seek alliances with the wicked kings of Israel. Perhaps because of his soft stance on the kings of Israel, his son took a page from their playbook. Once Jehoram was firmly established as king, he had all his brothers executed.

That fomented a period of bloody unrest and uncertainty that lasted until Jehoram’s seven-year-old grandson, Joash, was crowned. Next week, we’ll look at what we can learn from a child king.

Lessons from the Good Kings: Asa

By Paula

But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true to the LORD all his days. 1 Kings 15:14

We know King David. And Solomon. Maybe even Hezekiah and Josiah. But there were many other kings in Judah, and admittedly, many were terrible. However, there were some good kings, not perfect kings, but good kings. These good kings can serve as examples of things we can do even in our culture, in our lives to honor God. Over the next few weeks, we will look at some of them and glean what we can from their testimony.

Asa was Solomon’s great-grandson. His father, Abijah or Abijam, was an idolater, but Asa determined not to follow that path. He was a religious reformer who worked to rid Judah of its foreign altars and gods. One day a prophet named Azariah, the son of Oded, came to see the king. You can read his message in 2 Chronicles 15. But here is one important verse:

But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded. 2 Chronicles 15:7

Confronting and dealing with sin in our lives is a difficult, messy business, especially when we start uncovering and tearing down the idols we hold on to. Asa’s commitment was so firm that he even removed his mother from her official position because of her idolatry.

Our bold leadership in pursuing holiness can motivate others. In the fifteenth year of his reign, Asa saw the fruit of his commitment as the entire nation reaffirmed their covenant relationship with God alone.

Our dependence on God must not waver. Early in his reign, when Judah was threatened by the mighty Ethiopian army, Asa prayed to God for help with utter confidence in Yahweh. “O LORD, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, you are our God; let not man prevail against you.” 2 Chronicles 14:11 However, years later, Asa used some of the Temple treasures to buy Syria’s friendship. Asa result, war, conflict, and turmoil marked the rest of Asa’s reign.

Asa’s spent the last two years of his reign with a severe disease in his feet. The Chronicler records that he tried all that the physicians could do, but he never sought the Lord’s help. Perhaps, God was sending the king a message – if you won’t stand firm in your commitment to Me, you won’t stand at all. Notice though, it is a reflection of God’s grace that Asa was remembered as wholly true to God all his days. Thankfully God deals with us in that same gracious way.

Asa’s son Jehoshaphat was watching all this and taking notes. Next week we’ll see what he learned and how we can apply those lessons.

Hello My Name Is Asaph

By Paula

So [David] left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD to minister before the ark regularly, as every day’s work required; 1 Chronicles 16:37

Perhaps the greatest celebration in David’s reign as king was when the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem. Even though David was prevented from building a temple to house the Ark, he made every preparation for that time. Not only did he procure building materials and furnishings, but he also considered how to best manage the utilize those ordained by God to serve, that is, the priests and Levites. Because David was a musician and songwriter himself, it is no surprise that the role music was to play in Israel’s worship was a priority for the king.

David chose three men: Heman, Asaph, and Ethan to oversee the worship music. They weren’t literal brothers but rather belonged to the same tribe. All three men are mentioned performing multiple duties and we have psalms written by each of them. Pulling together some snippets about these men from 1 Chronicles, it seems Heman served as the primary singer, the lead, the director even. Asaph seems to have been the primary songwriter. Ethan then, may have been the lead musician. Perhaps, the first worship band.

So how did Asaph and the others lead worship? What was their philosophy and can we learn anything from it?

Asaph’s worship was a daily activity (1 Chronicles 16:37). Somehow, I don’t think worship was just a vocation for him. I doubt David would have chosen him if it were. The Message says Asaph and the others were “responsible for the needs of worship around the clock.” That takes devotion both to God and to the congregation they served. They viewed worship as a calling, as a sacred trust, rather than a chore or obligation.

Asaph’s worship centered on God’s character, His words, and His actions (Psalm 50, 73-83). If we do a quick read of Asaph’s, several themes emerge. God’s holiness. Lots of holiness. His power and might. His dealings with men. His judgment of the wicked. But also His restoration of those who have sinned, and His intervention on behalf His people.

Asaph’s worship was inspired (1 Chronicles 25:1-7) These verses mention Asaph and the others prophesying and by Hezekiah’s time, he was called Asaph the seer. (2 Chronicles 29:30). From what we know of the New Testament gift of prophesying, it doesn’t necessarily mean to foretell the future. Even in the Old Testament, the prophets didn’t always make predictions. They did however always deliver God’s message, His unvarnished truth to the hearers. When we clearly understand God’s message to us, our natural response is worship.

Is worship a daily activity, a weekly routine or a special event for you? Is it, or should it be all three?
What role does music play in your personal worship? In the worship at your church?

Hello My Name Is Abijah

By Paula

Hezekiah became king when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abijah the daughter of Zechariah. 2 Chronicles 29:1

Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve looked at some “footnote” people in Scripture. They are people whose stories aren’t the most familiar, but their character and faithfulness are just as solid. For today, I’ll say up front that most of my case is by inference. Let me explain.

Hezekiah became king of Judah in 729 BC. Now, he had probably been a co-regent with his father Ahaz since 715 BC, or since he was eleven years old. Ahaz was not a good king, morally or politically. In spite of the advice of prophets like Isaiah, he led Judah to a very dark place. He shut up the doors of the Temple so no one could worship (2 Chr 28:24), gave the utensils inside to try to pay off the Assyrians and had a new altar built to match the one he saw in Syria. His immersion in the worship of Molech was so complete that he sacrificed his own son to the false god (2 Kings 16:3). The historian summed him up this way: Now in the time of his distress King Ahaz became increasingly unfaithful to the LORD. This is that King Ahaz. 2 Chronicles 28:22

So, with that kind of example, it’s almost miraculous that Hezekiah turned out to be the godly king that he was. Sure Isaiah was around, but if Ahaz didn’t pay attention to the prophet, why would his son? Someone laid a tremendous foundation for Hezekiah, a foundation so strong that when he was no longer a co-regent but a king in his own right, he began to turn the nation back to God.

With that inference, I’m guessing it was his mother, Abijah. She would have had a great deal of contact with and influence over her son during his early years, the years before his father took him to begin instructing him in the ways of the court. Perhaps young Hezekiah’s grandfather, Jotham, a godly king had some influence. Perhaps, Abijah’s parents also played a role.

Someone was courageous enough and committed enough to stand against culture. Whoever they were, people in the future king’s life pointed him toward strong, active faith in God. Admittedly, that’s not always enough. Hezekiah had to embrace that faith for himself, but seeing people around him, like the prophets, like his mother and grandparents perhaps, helped solidify that. As believers in Christ, we have to exemplify that same courage and commitment.

Someone took instructing the next generation seriously. We don’t know what God has in store for the young people around us, but we know that they won’t pick up the tenets of faith by osmosis. We have to be intentional, and take advantage of the time and opportunities we have, whether it’s our kids, our grandkids, the kids at church, or the kids in the neighborhood.

Someone understood what was at stake. Embracing the idolatry of the Syrians and selling out to the Assyrians threatened the nation of Judah’s very existence. Unfortunately, they were a minority. Less than a hundred and fifty years later, Judah was devastated by Babylon. We have to understand that while society is at risk, the eternal destinies of countless people are even more threatened by everything from apathy and indifference to outright hostility. We must invest in the people around us.

Who are you influencing for Christ?
Who influenced and instructed you?

Previous weeks: Obadiah, Ebed-Melech

A Thrice-Told Story of Deliverance

By Paula

In Isaiah 37-38, there is a historical account of Assyria’s attempt to frighten Judah into submission. Having just crushed the Northern kingdom, the threat against Judah and the fear it stirred were very real. The story also appears in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles. Any story God tells is significant, but one that He records three times — a thrice-told story of deliverance –bears looking at closely. Here are some things I saw.

1. The opposition was wrong. The Assyrians misinterpreted Hezekiah’s efforts to remove idolatry from Judah as an attempt to remove all religion. Never believe what the opposition says about you, whether you’re dealing with people or if the conflict is more spiritual. Satan lies on purpose. People can purposefully try to deceive or just not have all the facts.

2. The opposition doesn’t know the future. One of the Assyrians’ scare tactics was a description of what life would be like when Judah was besieged. But the siege never came. God intervened miraculously on behalf of His people. Only God knows the future because only God holds it in His hands.

3. God is more offended than we are. Several times, Scripture mentions Assyria’s reproach of the living God. Judah understood how close their relationship with God and their identification with Him was. In the same way, any attack of any kind against us is an attack against God.

4. God will fight our battles. Hezekiah went up to the temple and laid his situation out before the Lord and then went home in peace and confidence. I admit I’m much better at part A, the laying-out-the-situation part, than part B, the go-home-in-peace-and-confidence part. God took care of the situation in a way that went above and beyond what Hezekiah imagined.

These lessons were important enough that God made sure we heard them three different times, a thrice-told story. Maybe we need to hear them a few more times.

What situations have you laid out before God?

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

Vending Machine Prayers

By Paula

“LORD God of Israel, there is no God in heaven or on earth like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts. 2 Chronicles 6:14

There is nothing quite like getting a crisp new dollar bill, feeding it into the slot of your favorite vending machine and getting … nothing. No ice-cold Pepsi. No change. Nothing. Talk about annoying! Especially after playing by all the rules- using a nice new dollar bill, feeding it in just right, and pushing the selection button. What gives? It’s not fair.

Sometimes we develop the same type of expectation in our relationship with God. If we follow the rules, present the right prayers or acts of service, He is obligated to deliver our selection when we push the button. And when He doesn’t, we walk away annoyed with our faith damaged.

With that tinge of frustration, we’ve betrayed the fact that we consider the omnipotent sovereign God of the universe to being nothing more than a genie who serves our whims. It also twists our faith from being the evidence of trust and submission to God into being a currency for manipulating Him. Or at least we think we’re manipulating Him. God isn’t, can’t be, manipulated by the likes of us.

That vending machine mentality reveals several things about us.

We don’t understand prayer.
What if our only conversation with our family and friends was a laundry list of what we expected them to do for us? Needs we wanted met? Prayer is a beautiful gift of intimacy God gives us. It’s the closest thing to Eden we will experience this side of heaven. What? Your prayer life isn’t like that? Mine either. But now we know, so we can work on it.

It’s also important to remember our prayers are always answered. Always. Everyone of them. Sometimes the answer is ‘no’, and sometimes it’s ‘not today’. Now we only count them if God answers the way we want Him to, but that’s not fair. Think about it this way- Did your parents give you everything you asked for? Do you give your kids everything they ask for?

In our immaturity we are too focused on this life.
This life is important, but God is preparing us for something much bigger and the way He answers prayers is directly related to that something bigger. He cares less about our comforts than our Christlikeness. In fact, a careful survey of the New Testament reveals that suffering is the mark of His favor. (I’m not sure I’m ready to pray for that kind of favor.)

The Bible says we can come boldly and we can have confidence when we pray, but that doesn’t necessarily give us a license to dictate our terms to God. Read through Isaiah 42-48 and notice how many times He says, “Beside Me there is no other,” or “I will not give my glory to another.”

Prayer is an invitation and a gift. We miss out when we treat it as anything less.