Today’s passage: 2 Chronicles 31:1-21

Helpful thoughts:

• Revival took place.  Often in the Chronicles, we have been told whether the kings of Judah tore down the high places or not.  In this instance, King Hezekiah needed to do nothing.  The people took care of destroying the idolatrous places themselves.
  • The government can write righteous laws, but no government can generate sincere sanctification.
• According to the MacArthur Study Bible, if you add all the commanded tithes from the law and averaged them out annually, the amount would have been about 23% (There were two annual tithes and one every three years, hence the 23% figure).  This 23% average was solely for the priests, Levites, the operation of the Temple and to help the poor.  Any other taxes for the military or other needs would have been in addition to this.
  • However, these tithes had not been received for some time.  You could argue “taxes” may have gone up under Hezekiah, but the people were delighted to contribute because they supported the cause.
  • A major benefit of the renewed tithes was that the priests and Levites were now able to focus their time and energy toward studying, teaching and leading the nation to follow the Word of God.

Questions to consider:

1. The nation of Judah was repentant and growing in righteousness from the top-down (From the King/Government) and from the bottom-up (The people).  Israel was originally a theocracy (God as king) and became a monarchy (Kings who were supposed to have considered themselves servants of the Lord to lead His people).  Our country (The United States) is different…a country “by the people and for the people” with freedom of religion.  How should this difference guide us in rightly nuancing our understanding of the role of the church and the way revival would look?
2. What would revival in the church look like and how would it affect our community?  Is the church an agent of change around us that works from the bottom-up or the top-down…or both?  And how?
3. Since Israel and Judah were to have a national religion that participated in the construct of the national governance, why would it make sense that we view the percentages of their tithes differently than we view our modern day taxes and offerings?

Today’s passage: 2 Chronicles 30:1-27

Helpful thoughts:

• The recipients of these letters Hezekiah sent out included Israelites from the northern tribes.  This was after the Assyrians had conquered the northern nation.
• In order to worship the Lord, the people first had to throw away all the altars that were built for idolatry.  Repentance means a change of mind and a turning which results in changed actions.  The old idols had to go.
  • Part of that repentance was evidenced by the Levites doing their duties “According to the Law of Moses.” (Verse 16)  They submitted themselves to the Word of God.
• These two weeks consisted of praise, humble confession, offerings, teaching and learning the Word of God, and the fellowship of God’s people.  Being done with a sincere heart, the people didn’t want it to end.
  • They had been starving.  Nothing like this had been seen since Solomon’s reign (Over 215 years earlier).
  • Praise God for the regular gathering of the church.  Come and encourage others to come with you!

Questions to consider:

1. What were the various responses from those who received the invitation to repent and draw near to the Lord in repentance (Verses 10-11)?  What did those couriers have to endure in order to extent this invitation and also see the fruit they did?  Was it worth it?
2. Why did Judah respond in unity the way they did (Verse 12)?  Who brings about true revival?  How could/should this affect our prayers for our own growth and the salvation of those we love?
3. Why did Hezekiah need to pray for atonement in verses 17-20?  What was the criteria of those whom God would apply the atonement requested?  What would be the results of a person committed to seek God with their heart (Would they continue to follow God without learning how to worship Him)?  How would these truths apply through the gospel to the Christian today?

Today’s passage: 2 Chronicles 29:1-36

Helpful thoughts:

• Hezekiah had the right priority.  If anything else was going to truly be put in order in Judah, the nations relationship with God had to come first.
• It’s quite possible that the lack of priests in verse 34 would be explained by all of the idolatry in that generation.  There should not have been a lack for priests, but not enough of them were prepared to do their work.  Perhaps they had been busy doing other (Idolatrous) things…
• Hezekiah’s reign looms large for the chronicler.  Unlike many of his predecessors, his time on the throne will not be contained within one chapter of Scripture.

Questions to consider:

1. What is negligence (Verse 11)?  How had the people of Judah, the religious leaders and the king been negligent?  What has the church been called to do and what must we pursue to avoid negligence?
2. Speaking of priorities, why are Bible study/reading and prayer such good indicators of a person’s spiritual health?  What do our lives and days look like when God comes first? (Be careful not to be legalistic on the time of day…when are the best times for you?)
3. Why were the people so pleased and so surprised that the events of this month went so well (Verse 36)?  What had the people and priests of Judah been doing just the month before?  How can this encourage you in your growth and the church as a whole?

Today’s passage: 2 Chronicles 28:1-27

Helpful thoughts:

• We are reminded in verse 1 who the father of the kings of Judah was.  This is David’s line.  This is the line of Christ.
  • The sins of Ahaz ought to startle and grieve the reader.  These sins are grievous no matter who commits them.
• Even though Israel had rejected the Lord, they were more responsive to His warnings during these events than Judah.
• The northern tribes of Israel were finally defeated and taken into captivity by the Assyrians during Ahaz’s wicked reign.  There was discipline and judgment all around Judah and Israel.  They would not repent.

Questions to consider:

1. What is so amazing about verse 22 after reading all of the other things Ahaz was known to do?  What terrible sins did the king of Judah participate in?
2. Not only did the king worship false gods himself, but he also prevented others from worshiping the true God.  How did he do this (Verses 24-25)?
3. What hope is presented at the end of the chapter?  King Ahaz was not the promised king who would reign forever in righteousness and justice (Neither would Hezekiah).  Who was Judah supposed to be looking for?  Whom do we long to see on the throne forever?

Today’s passage: 2 Chronicles 27:1-9

Helpful thoughts:

• Jotham did much good as the king of Judah.  Yet, he omitted one thing.  He did not remove the high places for use in the people idolatry (2 Kings 15:35).
  • This is how the people “still followed corrupt practices.”
• To simply maintain the infrastructure of the city of Jerusalem and the nation of Judah, much proactive work needed to be done.  The same was true spiritually.

Questions to consider:

1. Even though Jotham became mighty as he followed after the Lord, what would have been happening to the nation through their corruption?
2. Is a family or a church strong and healthy when it’s leaders alone, or it’s members alone are doing well?  How many of us are needed to bring about the health of our church and our families?
3. What are the spiritual “gates” and “walls” that need strengthened and maintained in the life of a believer and in the family/church?

Today’s passage: 2 Chronicles 26:1-23

Helpful thoughts:

• King Uzziah followed the Lord until he started to think Judah’s success was his own doing.  Pride came…and then a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)
• These priests who spoke the truth in love to their king are called men of valor (Verse 17).  It takes much bravery to confront someone, perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18).
• Uzziah suffered a consequence for his refusal to receive the rebuke.  But even with his leprosy, God was showing him mercy.
  • God showed him mercy by not taking his life (Exodus 30:9, Leviticus 10:1-3).
  • God showed him mercy by teaching him to listen to the loving spiritual leadership of the priests, which he had just failed to do (Leviticus 13-14).

Questions to consider:

1. How many of the Jewish people would have thought King Uzziah’s desire to burn incense at the altar was a good thing?  If they had little knowledge of the Law, what would Uzziah’s action have looked like to them?  Wasn’t he worshiping the right God?
2. How did Uzziah’s pride effect his view of God and His standards?  Who became the new standard writer?  How can we rightly discern if the things we are doing are truly glorifying to God or if they just “feel right” to us?
3. How does God show mercy to His children through the blessing of consequences?  Christ has already taken our wrath and there is no condemnation for us before God (Romans 8:1), but what does God use earthly consequences to do in our lives?  Why are they a blessing? (Hebrews 12:5-11)

Today’s passage: 2 Chronicles 25:1-28

Helpful thoughts:

• “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” – 1 Samuel 16:7
  • Verse 2 gives us a window into the realities of the rest of the chapter.
• Amaziah obeyed the Lord at great cost to him on the way to battle against the Edomites, only to return worshipping the gods of the people who were just defeated.  This was an act even the pagan kings did not practice.  Logic does not make a person submit to the Lord, the one true God.
• The gods of Edom could not protect Judah from an idolatrous Israel.  The true God of Israel and Judah used an idolatrous Israel to bring discipline on Judah, whose king was worshipping the gods of Edom.  If that sounds confusing, it’s because sin does that to any situation.  But, God was/is never confused.

Questions to consider:

1. What is the difference between doing religion as a means to an end and religion that proceeds from a sincere heart of reverence and worship?  What right or wrong thinking goes into either and what fruits result?
2. In what ways are we tempted today to worship the “gods” of the nations who have never succeeded in making the world victorious, happy or fulfilled?  What makes the gods of our day seem so “reasonable,” even when they never work?
3. Amaziah relied on foreign gods and soldiers to win his battles, but who has already won our battle?  Who is our champion?  How does our settled victory in Christ encourage and strengthen us in midst of our lives?

Today’s passage: 2 Chronicles 24:1-27

Helpful thoughts:

• King Joash was protected and elevated to the throne through the Lord’s faithfulness and the ministry of Jehoiada the priests.  The very same King Joash oversaw Judah’s return to idolatry and ordered the faithful priest Zechariah stoned to death.
• When Judah was seeking the Lord, they defeated armies far larger than them.  When they returned to idolatry, they were defeated by a few men. (Verse 24)
• King Joash did not remember.  God never forgets. (See verse 22 and 25)

Questions to consider:

1. What kind of faith or religiosity are we seeing in the leaders and people of Judah?  If they are able to go from idolatry, to obeying the Lord, to idolatry again in such quick succession, what must be the true condition of many of their hearts?  Were they treating the Lord any differently than they treated the idols?
2. What happened to Zechariah before he rebuked the people of Judah for their idolatry (Verse 20)?  Was his spirit-empowered ministry successful?  Was the message communicated?  Who holds the ability and sovereignty to produce the fruits of repentance? (1 Corinthians 3:6)
3. Every time it looks like Israel/Judah is going to get a king that fulfills righteousness, they fall short.  What does this teach us?  Is there a king or a government among mankind that will solve all our troubles and redeem us from our greatest problem (Our sin!)?  Who alone qualifies to be our Rescuer and Lord?

Today’s passage: 2 Chronicles 23:1-21

Helpful thoughts:

• The sole heir to the throne and descendant in the Messianic line has been preserved.  The people of Judah, led by the priest Jehoiada, followed the Lord and revolted against Athaliah.
• When they crowned Joash, they also gave him a copy of the “Testimony,” which is the Word of God.  Every king of Israel was to have written out his own copy to ensure he knew and kept God’s commands.  (Deuteronomy 17:18)
• Athaliah thought she was accusing the people, but in truth, she spoke of her own guilt.  She was the traitor.

Questions to consider:

1. Reading this chapter could make all these important changes look simple.  In a way, they were, but often simple changes we need to make become very hard.  Why is it often hard for us to change and grow?  What desires and sins may need to be “put to death” or “torn down” in order for you to move forward in faith and obedience?
2. In what ways could the events of this day gone differently?  How was God’s faithfulness put on display?
3. How did the leaders and people of Judah show their obedience and fear of the Lord?  What actions did their faith result in?

Today’s passage: 2 Chronicles 22:1-12

Helpful thoughts:

• Athaliah was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel.  She reigned in Judah for a little over six years.  This may not seem like a long time as we read through the narrative of 2 Chronicles.  But, when we compare it to the term-length of our presidents, it gives us a little perspective to the bleakness of this time in Jerusalem.
• The last sentence of verse 9 through verse 10 should leave the reader in suspense.  Certainly, the nation (who experienced this crisis longer than it took us to read these verses) would have thought they had reason to mourn…until verse 11.  There appeared to be no one left from David’s line to reign, until they found baby Joash.
• The sins of the house of Ahab, the invading armies of surrounding nations, the new king of Israel, and even the queen of Judah all did their best to destroy the line of David, but God would never allow it.
  • Even when the king himself was wicked, God remained faithful.  The Messiah would surely come.

Questions to consider:

1. When Athaliah thought she was in control, who was in control?  Who is in control today?
2. What peace should this provide when the world (Or our nation, region, etc.) struggles with fears?  How can the truths of Ecclesiastes (“There is nothing new under the sun”) and Revelation (“Behold, I am making all things new”) give us confidence to not only weather the storms, but press on in the Great Commission through the storms?