Day 33: 2 Chronicles 23:16-2 Chronicles 35:15 - 90 Day Challenge

Continuing with 2 Chronicles

Remembering the Kings

Our reading today begins with Jehoiada taking a stand in the name of the Lord--bringing His people back to Him, followed by Joash rebuilding the Temple of the Lord.

After the temple was rebuilt, the sons of Athalia broke into the temple--and began using the sacred objects within it to worship their false gods--namely, the Baals. And Jehoiada placed a chest at the entrance of the temple where people could place their tithes, which were used for repair of the temple and to compensate for it's upkeep.

After Jehoiada's death, the people went back to their wicked ways--even though the Lord sent many prophets to try to bring His people back to Him, one of them being Jehoiada's son, Zechariah. Joash then killed Zechariah without any regard for the kindness Zechariah's father had shown him.

Amaziah took over as king of Judah, where he was initially with the Lord, but not wholeheartedly. Amaziah wrongfully attempted to get the Israelites (who were not with God) to fight alongside the people of Judah in battle--but a prophet tells him that's a bad idea and the Israelites are sent home. The people of Judah win in the battle, but the Israelites come back and attack Judah for sending them home. Amaziah makes the same mistake as so many other kings and begins worshiping false gods, the Israelites raid Judah, and Amaziah is killed in a conspiracy.

Then came Uzziah, whose pride became his downfall. Then his son, Jotham, took over--and he grew powerful because he walked before the Lord. Then came Ahaz, Jotham's son, who was very evil, and went so far as to sacrifice his own sons to false gods and shut down the temple.

Hezekiah, Ahaz's son, was next in line for the throne, and he purified the temple. He reopened and repaired the temple of the Lord immediately. Hezekiah celebrates the Passover, and we get this awesome verse:

It can be easy to forget something like that in the midst of all the wickedness we're reading about in the Old Testament. Hezekiah reunites the Israelites and the tribe of Judah under the name of the Lord. 

Then, Sennacherib, King of Assyria, comes to attack Hezekiah and his people, but the Lord is on their side, and they are victorious. After Hezekiah's death, everyone mourns the loss of a great ruler and then his son, Manasseh takes over. 

Manasseh did not follow in the ways of his father. He put false idols in the temple and led the people astray. When other nations attack, and he prayed to the Lord, who was moved and listened to his pleas. After this, Manasseh removed the idols and brought the people back to God. After Manasseh, his son Amon took over, and did evil in the eyes of the Lord, but did not humble himself before the Lord, unlike his father. Amon's officials conspired against him and put Josiah into place as ruler. 

Josiah made many changes, and put God back into the front an center. He reinforced the Book of Law, celebrated Passover, and delivered his people back into the hands of the Lord. 

Tomorrow's reading: 2 Chronicles 35:16-Ezra 10:44

Have a wonderful day!

Jill Jafarace

Director of Student Ministries

New Leaf UMC