Reading: II Chronicles 14 – 17
Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the Lord and of the king’s house, and sent to Ben-hadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me (II Chr. 16:2-3). And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the Lord thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand (II Chr. 16:7).
As we read through the Book of II Chronicles, we find ourselves tumbling through the history of the kings of Judah at an almost dizzying pace. With each passing king it becomes harder and harder to keep track of the spiritual state of the Israelites. Under David, Israel finally posessed the Promised Land border-to-border, and God was given all the glory (I Chr. 29:11). Solomon reigned in peace and prosperity (I Kings 4:20-21), but by the end of his reign he had allowed idolatry to once again gain a foothold amongst the people (11:6-8). Rehoboam sat briefly on the throne of a united Israel, but it was a nation under judgment for the idolatry championed by Solomon (11:31-39). Rehoboam himself arrogantly sought to rule without consulting the Lord and soon found himself king over Judah (comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, as well as the majority of the Levites) only. Under Rehoboam’s rule, the citizens of Judah grew progressively lax in their attention to God’s Law (II Chr. 12:1). Rehoboam was followed to the throne by his son, Abijah.
Abijah was typical of many of Judah’s kings. Publicly, he appeared to represent God (II Chr. 13), but privately, his heart was turned to the world (I Kings 15:3). Under his rule, Judah warred with Israel. After just three short years, Abijah died and was replaced by his son, Asa. When Asa assumed the throne of Judah he immediately aligned his leadership with the will of God. He sought to rid the land of relics of pagan worship, and he encouraged his people to turn to the Lord. As a result of his righteous actions, the Lord blessed Asa and the kingdom of Judah with a long period of peace. In the later years of Asa’s reign, however, Asa made a crucial mistake. Twice in times of crisis he placed his faith in man rather than in God. The first time cost him the peace of his nation (16:9); the second time cost him his life (16:12-13).
Jehoshaphat succeeded his father Asa to David’s throne. And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim (17:3). For the first time since Solomon followed David, Judah had been blessed with back-to-back kings that took their commission as leader of God’s chosen people seriously.While the northern kingdom of Israel was falling hard into apostasy under the dubious leadership of Ahab and Jezebel, the southern kingdom of Judah still had a (somewhat precarious) connection to the One True God.
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust (Ps. 91:1-2).
Thought for Today: Faith in oneself and others is important, but it would be much more accurate to refer to it as having faith in God’s plan for you and those around you.
Christ Revealed: Through the rest that God gave Judah (II Chr. 14:7). Jesus pleads: Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matt. 11:28).
Word Studies: 14:15 tents of cattle = tents of the cattle herders; 15:5 vexations = disturbances, troubles, turmoil; 15:16 mother = grandmother; stamped it = crushed it to dust; 16:14 sepulchres = tombs; 17:12 waxed great exceedingly = became increasingly powerful; castles = fortresses, strongholds.
Pray for Staff: Jennifer Palafox • Government Officials: Sen. Amy Klobuchar (MN) • Country: Niger (16,899,327) West-Central Africa • Major Languages: French, Hausa, Djerma • Christian evangelism is limited • 80% Muslim; 20% Other (Protestant, Baha’i, Roman Catholic, Indigenous Beliefs) • Prayer Suggestion: Intercede in prayer for others (Num. 14:13-19).
Optional Reading I Corinthians 12.