2Chronicles 28-31
Overview of chapter 28
Cross reference 2Kings 16:1-18.
Ahaz becomes king of Judah at the age of 20, he reigned for 16 years and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.
Ahaz made images of the Baals and burned incense to false Gods.
Because of this, God caused the Arameans, Edomites, Philistines, and their brothers from Israel to attack them.
They suffered hundreds of thousands of casualties, and many more were taken as slaves.
The Israelites also took some of the people of Judah as slaves, but a prophet warned them that was a bad idea so they returned the captives.
King Ahaz attempted to make a treaty with the Assyrians, but the Assyrian king double crossed Ahaz and took his money, but was not faithful to the treaty.
Ahaz closed the temple of the Lord, destroyed some of the utensils, and made more altars to be the gods of other nations throughout Jerusalem.
Ahaz died and his son Hezekiah became king in his place.
Overview of chapter 29
Cross reference 2Kings 18:1-8
Hezekiah was 25 years old when he became king of Judah, he reigned for 29 years and did right in the sight of the Lord.
In the first month of his reign Hezekiah reopened the house of the Lord and brought back the priests and the Levites, instructing them to consecrate themselves.
The priests and Levites cleaned the house of the Lord for eight days removing all the unclean things and taking them out of the city.
Hezekiah instructed the priests and Levites to sacrifice burnt and sin offerings to make atonement for the sins of all Israel.
As the sacrifices burned the whole assembly worshipped the Lord with instruments and signing of Psalms.
The house of the Lord was now available for the people to bring sacrifices and offerings, and all the people rejoiced.
Overview of chapter 30
Hezekiah sent letters to all Israel on both sides of the Jordan inviting them to celebrate the Passover.
The date was moved to an alternate date because there were not initially enough priests consecrated to celebrate (Numbers 9:6-14).
The couriers carrying the letters were mocked and harassed by most of Israel.
Some men from tribe’s Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.
Before celebrating the Feasts of Unleavened bread and Passover the people went through Jerusalem and removed all the altars to foreign gods.
Many people who came to the feasts were considered unclean, but Hezekiah prayed for them and God healed them.
Hezekiah spoke words of encouragement to the Levites because they were consecrated and took up the slack of the priests that were slow about their obedience.
The people decided to extend the feast an extra week, and all Judah rejoiced because there had been nothing like this in Judah since the days of Solomon.
Overview of chapter 31
After the celebrations the people of Judah returned to their cities and removed all the altars, pillars, and Asherim.
Hezekiah reinstalled the morning and evening, Sabbath, new moon, and fixed festival offerings.
Hezekiah reinstalled the tithe to provide for the priests and Levites.
So many tithes and offerings were brought that all the priests, Levites, and their families ate abundantly and the rest was stored.
Each city appointed men to oversee the provisions for the priests and Levites.
Everything King Hezekiah did prospered because he sought God with his whole heart.
Reflection
Do you ever pause to reflect on your obedience to God when things are going poorly in your life? What reforms currently need to be instituted in your life? What things need to be removed? When you give, tithes and offerings to God do you truly rejoice? Do you seek after God with your whole heart in everything you do?
For Further Study
Passover: Exodus 12, Numbers 9, Matthew 26, Luke 2:41.
Cross reference 2Kings 16:1-18.
Ahaz becomes king of Judah at the age of 20, he reigned for 16 years and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.
Ahaz made images of the Baals and burned incense to false Gods.
Because of this, God caused the Arameans, Edomites, Philistines, and their brothers from Israel to attack them.
They suffered hundreds of thousands of casualties, and many more were taken as slaves.
The Israelites also took some of the people of Judah as slaves, but a prophet warned them that was a bad idea so they returned the captives.
King Ahaz attempted to make a treaty with the Assyrians, but the Assyrian king double crossed Ahaz and took his money, but was not faithful to the treaty.
Ahaz closed the temple of the Lord, destroyed some of the utensils, and made more altars to be the gods of other nations throughout Jerusalem.
Ahaz died and his son Hezekiah became king in his place.
Overview of chapter 29
Cross reference 2Kings 18:1-8
Hezekiah was 25 years old when he became king of Judah, he reigned for 29 years and did right in the sight of the Lord.
In the first month of his reign Hezekiah reopened the house of the Lord and brought back the priests and the Levites, instructing them to consecrate themselves.
The priests and Levites cleaned the house of the Lord for eight days removing all the unclean things and taking them out of the city.
Hezekiah instructed the priests and Levites to sacrifice burnt and sin offerings to make atonement for the sins of all Israel.
As the sacrifices burned the whole assembly worshipped the Lord with instruments and signing of Psalms.
The house of the Lord was now available for the people to bring sacrifices and offerings, and all the people rejoiced.
Overview of chapter 30
Hezekiah sent letters to all Israel on both sides of the Jordan inviting them to celebrate the Passover.
The date was moved to an alternate date because there were not initially enough priests consecrated to celebrate (Numbers 9:6-14).
The couriers carrying the letters were mocked and harassed by most of Israel.
Some men from tribe’s Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.
Before celebrating the Feasts of Unleavened bread and Passover the people went through Jerusalem and removed all the altars to foreign gods.
Many people who came to the feasts were considered unclean, but Hezekiah prayed for them and God healed them.
Hezekiah spoke words of encouragement to the Levites because they were consecrated and took up the slack of the priests that were slow about their obedience.
The people decided to extend the feast an extra week, and all Judah rejoiced because there had been nothing like this in Judah since the days of Solomon.
Overview of chapter 31
After the celebrations the people of Judah returned to their cities and removed all the altars, pillars, and Asherim.
Hezekiah reinstalled the morning and evening, Sabbath, new moon, and fixed festival offerings.
Hezekiah reinstalled the tithe to provide for the priests and Levites.
So many tithes and offerings were brought that all the priests, Levites, and their families ate abundantly and the rest was stored.
Each city appointed men to oversee the provisions for the priests and Levites.
Everything King Hezekiah did prospered because he sought God with his whole heart.
Reflection
Do you ever pause to reflect on your obedience to God when things are going poorly in your life? What reforms currently need to be instituted in your life? What things need to be removed? When you give, tithes and offerings to God do you truly rejoice? Do you seek after God with your whole heart in everything you do?
For Further Study
Passover: Exodus 12, Numbers 9, Matthew 26, Luke 2:41.
posted by Shaun Sells | 11:26 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home