The Chapter-A-Day thread. (3)

[agamemnonoftroy]

Kings of Judah
Rehoboam
Abijam
Asa
Jehoshaphat
Jehoram
Ahaziah
Athaliah
Joash
Amaziah
Uzziah
Jotham
Ahaz
Hezekiah
Manasseh
Amon
Josiah
Jehoahaz
Jehoiakim
Jehoiachin
Zedekiah

Yes, he was a good king....it is probable, that here in verse 2, it is an indication that he was perhaps fearful in a "dread-ed" way of entering into the temple because of what happened to his father. It appears that God's grace was applied here however, and it was not counted against him, for nothing is recorded that disputes the first part of verse 2 where it says that "he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord":

2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into the temple of the Lord. And the people did yet corruptly.

He was a good king and he was given an honorable burial.

Brinny

Yes King Jotham was a wonderful example to us all.

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

The disastrous reign of evil King Ahaz

2 Chronicles Chapter 28

Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for 16 disastrous years.

Ahaz started off by making molten images of the god Baal.

He then burned his children in fire as sacrifices. He also burned incense to Baal in the high places.

This made God very angry, and God allowed invaders to punish the Kingdom of Judah.

The attackers included Syria, Israel and the Philistines.

All these attackers took prisoners to be slaves. A prophet appealed to Israel that they should not be making slaves of their brothers from Judea. The appeal worked and Israel let the prisoners go.

Ahaz asked the king of Assyria for help, but he just took Ahaz’s money and would not help.

In response King Ahaz build more alters in Jerusalem to Baal and other strange gods.

When Ahaz died his son Hezekiah reigned as King of Judah.

The reign of Ahaz was an unmitigated disaster for the Kingdom of Judah.

 

[MissRowy]

That was one disaster that Judah did not need!! What a savage to sacrifice his children to Baal!

 

[brinny]

The disastrous reign of evil King Ahaz

2 Chronicles Chapter 28

Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for 16 disastrous years.

Ahaz started off by making molten images of the god Baal.

He then burned his children in fire as sacrifices. He also burned incense to Baal in the high places.

This made God very angry, and God allowed invaders to punish the Kingdom of Judah.

The attackers included Syria, Israel and the Philistines.

All these attackers took prisoners to be slaves. A prophet appealed to Israel that they should not be making slaves of their brothers from Judea. The appeal worked and Israel let the prisoners go.

Ahaz asked the king of Assyria for help, but he just took Ahaz’s money and would not help.

In response King Ahaz build more alters in Jerusalem to Baal and other strange gods.

When Ahaz died his son Hezekiah reigned as King of Judah.

The reign of Ahaz was an unmitigated disaster for the Kingdom of Judah.

This verse gives insight into why God drove out and cast out the heathen before the children of Israel, but also why God judged so many, when He used the Israelites to bring His judgement on soooo many:

3 Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.

King Ahaz CONTINUED sacrificing to other gods and REFUSED to seek the God of Israel, and instead sought help from the king of Assyria, who made a fool of him....

King Ahaz was a "train wreck" that just kept goin' non-stop and full-speed-ahead towards that cliff....

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

This verse gives insight into why God drove out and cast out the heathen before the children of Israel, but also why God judged so many, when He used the Israelites to bring His judgement on soooo many:

3 Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.

King Ahaz CONTINUED sacrificing to other gods and REFUSED to seek the God of Israel, and instead sought help from the king of Assyria, who made a fool of him....

King Ahaz was a "train wreck" that just kept goin' non-stop and full-speed-ahead towards that cliff....

Brinny,

Yes the reign of King Ahaz was a "train wreck."

And Miss Rowy what kind of person would sacrifice their own children to Baal.

King Ahaz was as bad as they come.

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

The magnificent reign of King Hezekiah of Judah

2 Chronicles Chapter 29

Hezekiah began to reign when he was 25 and reigned for twenty-nine yeas as King of Judah.

And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and he did not falter all his life.

Hezekiah first repaired the temple. Then the priests cleansed the temple.

Then Hezekiah and all the people brought sacrifices to the temple to make atonement for all the sins of Israel.

Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced, and the Levites sang with trumpets, cymbals, psalteries and harps.

God blessed the Kingdom of Judah and it prospered.
Hezekiah was one of the truly great kings of Judah.

 

[MissRowy]

Finally another decent King for Judah!! They repaired the damage caused by Ahaz and pleased the Lord

 

[brinny]

The magnificent reign of King Hezekiah of Judah

2 Chronicles Chapter 29

Hezekiah began to reign when he was 25 and reigned for twenty-nine yeas as King of Judah.

And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and he did not falter all his life.

Hezekiah first repaired the temple. Then the priests cleansed the temple.

Then Hezekiah and all the people brought sacrifices to the temple to make atonement for all the sins of Israel.

Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced, and the Levites sang with trumpets, cymbals, psalteries and harps.

God blessed the Kingdom of Judah and it prospered.
Hezekiah was one of the truly great kings of Judah.

King Hezekiah was a Godly and righteous man. he was a strong and righteous ruler and he led ALL the people, including the priests and the Levites in putting things aright before the Lord their God. It appears that he loved God with all his heart, mind, soul and might. (Precious)

What's interesting is, in this verse, there's a distinction between the Levites and the priests "heart attitudes" regarding serving God. It appears the Levites did so with all their hearts, but the priests did not...it almost sounds like they were almost "half-hearted" about it:

34 But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

King Hezekiah was a Godly and righteous man. he was a strong and righteous ruler and he led ALL the people, including the priests and the Levites in putting things aright before the Lord their God. It appears that he loved God with all his heart, mind, soul and might. (Precious)

What's interesting is, in this verse, there's a distinction between the Levites and the priests "heart attitudes" regarding serving God. It appears the Levites did so with all their hearts, but the priests did not...it almost sounds like they were almost "half-hearted" about it:

34 But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.

Brinny,

All priests are Levites, being selected from the tribe of Levi, but not all Levites are priests.

Brinny I believe the unclean people were the visitors from Israel who did not know about the traditions regarding the cleansing requirements relating to taking the Passover meal.

It does not say what was required, only that the religious law required a cleasing ritual to be undertaken in preparation for the Passover.

My guess that it involved some sort of washing ceremony, but we are not told the exact details.

Levites are decended from Levi son of Jacob. Moses and Aaron were Levites. Levites are sometimes called the sons of Aaron.

Those Levites who were not priests were assigned duties connected with the tabernacle. They assisted the priests, they prepared the cereal offerings and they cared for the courts and the chambers of the sanctuary. Later, the Levites were involved in interpreting the law and thus functioned as teachers.

The Levites were explicitly permitted to go near the sacred furniture, and this special privilege distinguished them from ordinary Israelites.

 

[brinny]

In that chapter there are specific references to "priests" vs "Levites". Verse 34, in particular gave me pause, and then i checked the rest of the chapter and priests and Levites were referred to separately several times, as if they were two groups of people. Verse 34 clarified it and i found it intriguing.

This is a powerful statement:

for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.

 

[MissRowy]

That is a powerful statement brinny!

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

Kings of Judah
Rehoboam
Abijam
Asa
Jehoshaphat
Jehoram
Ahaziah
Athaliah
Joash
Amaziah
Uzziah
Jotham
Ahaz
Hezekiah
Manasseh
Amon
Josiah
Jehoahaz
Jehoiakim
Jehoiachin
Zedekiah

In that chapter there are specific references to "priests" vs "Levites". Verse 34, in particular gave me pause, and then i checked the rest of the chapter and priests and Levites were referred to separately several times, as if they were two groups of people. Verse 34 clarified it and i found it intriguing.

This is a powerful statement:

Brinny

Yes you are right. It does say that.

My guess is that the priests had worked for Ahaz.

Anyone working for Ahaz became contaminated.

His evil stuck to everyone and everything.

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

King Hezekiah brings great joy to Jerusalem

2 Chronicles Chapter 30

Hezekiah invited the northern tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh along with all the other tribes of Israel to come to Jerusalem to keep the Passover for seven days.

Most people of Israel just laughed at the idea, but still many came to Jerusalem.

But the visitors from Israel did not cleanse themselves in the traditional way before the Passover meal.

Hezekiah prayed to God to pardon those who had not done the traditional cleansing procedure, and God listened to Hezekiah’s prayer.

The visitors from Israel took the seven day Passover meal with great gladness, and the Levites praised the Lord with much singing and loud instruments.

So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon, son of King David, there was not the like seen in Jerusalem.

Then the priests and Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayers came up, even unto heaven.

 

[MissRowy]

God answered Hezekiahs prayers and Jerusalem celebrated such joy! Its awesome to see!

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

God answered Hezekiahs prayers and Jerusalem celebrated such joy! Its awesome to see!

Miss Rowy

Yes Hezekiah brought great joy to Jerusalem.

 

[brinny]

King Hezekiah brings great joy to Jerusalem

2 Chronicles Chapter 30

Hezekiah invited the northern tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh along with all the other tribes of Israel to come to Jerusalem to keep the Passover for seven days.

Most people of Israel just laughed at the idea, but still many came to Jerusalem.

But the visitors from Israel did not cleanse themselves in the traditional way before the Passover meal.

Hezekiah prayed to God to pardon those who had not done the traditional cleansing procedure, and God listened to Hezekiah’s prayer.

The visitors from Israel took the seven day Passover meal with great gladness, and the Levites praised the Lord with much singing and loud instruments.

So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon, son of King David, there was not the like seen in Jerusalem.

Then the priests and Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayers came up, even unto heaven.

How precious is THAT? King Hezekiah was a very wise and gracious king, wasn't he? He really LOVED his people, and his God. These verses are very endearing and precious:

18 For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good Lord pardon every one

19 That prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.

20 And the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.

Not only did he bless his people, but he blessed the very heart of God.

Precious.

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

How precious is THAT? King Hezekiah was a very wise and gracious king, wasn't he? He really LOVED his people, and his God. These verses are very endearing and precious:

18 For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good Lord pardon every one

19 That prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.

20 And the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.

Not only did he bless his people, but he blessed the very heart of God.

Precious.

Brinny

Yes this action showed that Hezekiah had a loving heart.

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

The whole of Judah were greatly blessed by God and prospered

2 Chronicles Chapter 31

After their visit to eat the Passover with Hezekiah in Jerusalem, many of the northern Israelite people returned to the tradition of worshiping the one true God.

Many of the idols of Baal were smashed, and the groves to Baal cut down, in the areas of Ephraim and Manasseh.

The people of Jerusalem gave tithes to the priests and Levites and all things brought they in abundantly.

So much so that new stores had to be built of accommodate all the tithes and offerings.

The tithes and offerings were so great that they could be distributed to the whole of the tribe of Levites and still there was plenty.

And this did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.

And in every work that Hezekiah began in the service of the house of God, and the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and Hezekiah prospered.

 

[brinny]

The whole of Judah were greatly blessed by God and prospered

2 Chronicles Chapter 31

After their visit to eat the Passover with Hezekiah in Jerusalem, many of the northern Israelite people returned to the tradition of worshiping the one true God.

Many of the idols of Baal were smashed, and the groves to Baal cut down, in the areas of Ephraim and Manasseh.

The people of Jerusalem gave tithes to the priests and Levites and all things brought they in abundantly.

So much so that new stores had to be built of accommodate all the tithes and offerings.

The tithes and offerings were so great that they could be distributed to the whole of the tribe of Levites and still there was plenty.

And this did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.

And in every work that Hezekiah began in the service of the house of God, and the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and Hezekiah prospered.

What a precious testimony of a good king. These verses especially stood out for me...King Hezekiah was an ENCOURAGER! Look at this verse:

4 Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the Lord.

And then here, it speaks of his LOVE for God:

20 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the Lord his God.

21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.

Precious.

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

What a precious testimony of a good king. These verses especially stood out for me...King Hezekiah was an ENCOURAGER! Look at this verse:

4 Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the Lord.

And then here, it speaks of his LOVE for God:

20 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the Lord his God.

21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.

Precious.

Brinny

Yes Hezekiah encouraged the northern tribes to worship God and smash the idols of Baal