II Chronicles 24

Dear RTB’ers,

The priests and Levites, a mixed bag today. First we see them failing to collect the Moses tribute (vv. 5-6). Then they act more faithfully in doing what the king orders in verses 8-14. But then the story switches to “the princes of Judah” who came and paid homage to the king (v. 17). Third-person pronouns (they, them) continue in the next four verses, so that it seems that it’s the “princes of Judah” along with “the people” (v. 20) who are responsible for Zechariah’s stoning (v. 21). And I wonder what has happened to the priests’ and Levites’ leadership?

So yes, I wonder what’s going on here? But the main story turns in verse 15: But Jehoiada grew old and full of days, and died. When Jehoiada died, Joash no longer had his wise counsel and Joash began listening to other voices (see v. 17). It’s like Rehoboam all over again and John’s questions in his posts from years past, “To whom are we listening?” Thankfully at St. Andrew’s we have consistently had good voices from the pulpit. But beyond those 20-30 minute sermons, to whom are we listening? What are we reading? What movies are we watching? Which politicians have answers for us? Good questions that I need to consider!

One final item. I don’t have my Study Bible with me and I can’t find an answer online, but as I read today about Zechariah being stoned by the king’s order (vv. 21-22), I was remembering Jesus speaking similar words: You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. (Matthew 23:33-35) But here Jesus has Zechariah as the son of Barachiah, not the son of Jehoiada. The geography is also different – Jesus has the murder between the sanctuary and the altar while the Chronicler has it …in the court of the house of the Lord (v. 21b). So it left me confused. John…?

Finally, one more time. To whom are we listening?

Blessings!

Fred

II Chronicles 22:10-23:21

Dear RTB’ers,

Jehoshabeath and Jehoiada, Judah’s deliverers! Where would Judah have gone if this married couple had not acted? The Chronicler tells us that …in the seventh year Jehoiada took courage and … (v. 23:1a) Only at that point did he begin the task of setting Joash on the throne. I don’t think the Chronicler is telling us that it took that long for Jehoiada to screw up the courage to undertake his task; I think, rather, that we was waiting for Joash to “come of age”, even though six is a bit young to be king! Because, no doubt, it took courage for Jehoshabeath and Jehoiada to even begin this undertaking. I daresay, today we are reading of one of the finest married couples in all of Scripture!

So I ask myself – when have I had to screw up the courage to speak up for my convictions or to act against something that I felt was wrong? Yes, there are a few instances that I could recount, but what I remember most is when I did not have the courage to speak out. I was an 18-year-old, first-year. second-semester college student. I had been invited to join the university Honors Program and to read a certain book before classes began. I read the book and attended the evening session. The book had formed my opinion one way, but the instructor and all the students spoke to a very different central point with which I disagreed. However, I remained silent and simply nodded in agreement. The next morning I dropped that class and dis-enrolled from the Honors Program. Truly, I was ashamed of myself for not taking a stand and vowed to never let that happen again. I think that since then I have held to that vow when it really mattered and I am thankful for that initial failure.

So, speaking up… When the Holy Spirit prompts us, we need to set aside our misgivings and reservations and speak up! He will honor our efforts and use them to His glory. Never mind the outcome – that’s His responsibility. Our charge is simply to speak up.

Blessings!

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See also: June 1 (2023) / II Chronicles 22:10-24:27; II Kings 13 (first paragraph).

II Chronicles 21:1-22:9

Dear RTB’ers,

After reading the last two days all the goodness that was Jehoshaphat (with his ups and downs), we find that his son, Jehoram was as bad as Jehoshaphat was good. Within today’s first few verses we see that Jehoram marries Ahab’s daughter (Ahab was king of Israel) and then kills off all his brothers. Horrible!! The Lord passes judgment – I can’t imagine an illness for two years that ends with his bowels came out because of the disease, and he died in great agony. (v. 21:19b) God will do as He chooses.

Then we get a bit of confusion in the text as II Chr. 21:17 refers to Jehoram’s son as Jehoahaz, while II Chr. 22:1 refers to him as Ahaziah. Then the chapter continues with him as Ahaziah. Sadly, “like father, like son” describes Ahaziah, in that He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor to act wickedly. (v. 22:3) We’ll read more about his mother tomorrow. For today, Ahaziah makes the same mistake as Jehoshaphat, his grandfather, joining Israel in battle against Syria – and losing his life as a result.

So today, alliances with evil – not good. And this is Judah, the Southern Kingdom that we are reading about! Still, a good lesson for us, not to rely on our heritage or our environment for our “success”, but to personally seek God, Himself, all the more. Jesus speaking: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6)

Blessings!

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See also: May 31 (2023) / II Chronicles 21-22:9; II Kings 11-12.

II Chronicles 19-20

Dear RTB’ers,

I trust that it happens to the rest of you, that verses “jump out”. Today’s third verse did that for me: Nevertheless, some good is found in you, for you destroyed the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God. (v. 19:3) It takes a bit of Biblical insertion to come out with a personal impact: “Nevertheless, Fred, some good is found in you, for you have ___________, and have set your heart to seek God.” (Fill in the blank.) Yes, there is some good in each of us and yes, we are seeking God. But, nevertheless…

Another personal application three verses later: Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the LORD. (v. 19:6) OK, I’m not judging over here, I’m teaching. But whatever I do is for the Lord! Whatever WE do… Whatever!

I liked the way that the Chronicler saw right through that multitude from the south: And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom You would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy – behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of Your possession, which You have given us to inherit. (vv. 20:10-11) When Israel came out of Egypt, God had commanded them not to fight Edom (Esau) or Moab (see Deuteronomy 2), but to simply pass through or skirt their land. Now our author sees how they repay Israel by coming up against them! Interesting!

So, Jehoshaphat… The Chronicler devotes four chapters to him, mostly favorably, but with some ups and downs. Reforms and judges/justice and teachings and prayers, all up against his alliances with Ahab and Ahaziah. And us? Ups and downs? Let’s choose UP for today!! And any difficulties that come your way? …the battle is not yours but God’s.

Blessings!

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See also: May 26 (2023) / II Chronicles 17-20 (again).

II Chronicles 17-18

Dear RTB’ers,

Happy October. Now, 33 months have passed in our Search the Scriptures 3-year exercise – only three more months to go! Hang in there…!!

Today, two chapters covering Asa’s son, Jehoshaphat, and we’re not finished with him yet. Plus, we visit the Northern Kingdom again, but only because Jehoshaphat gets invited there. “Invited” – to go to war! But his bottom line was, in a sense, how could he refuse? He answered him, “I am as you are, my people as your people. We will be with you in the war.” (v. 18:3b)

Prophets against prophets, except self-proclaimed or “prophets-by-appointment” against a true prophet of the one, true God. Reminds me of Elijah doing battle with the prophets of Baal. (See I Kings 18.) Unfortunately, speaking God’s word can bring on difficulties – And the king of Israel said, “Seize Micaiah and … Put this fellow in prison and feed him with meager rations of bread and water until I return in peace.” (vv. 18:25-26) But Ahab did not return in peace; he did not return at all. Instead, he went to meet that God whom he had rejected.

If you are like me, after the end of chapter 18 you asked yourself, so what happened to Jehoshaphat? Did he live or die? Did you go forward to the next chapter? Yes, I couldn’t help myself! But that’s tomorrow’s reading…!!

Blessings!

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See also: May 26 (2023) / II Chronicles 17-20.

II Chronicles 13-16

Dear RTB’ers,

Sorry about not posting yesterday. Unexpected travel came up after my three-hour morning class and I wilted into bed for the night! So today, four chapters, one on Abijah and three on Asa. For both of these men, I Kings gives much shorter accounts, only eight verses for Abijah and only sixteen for Asa.

So, Abijah… He gives a great speech, fully seeking the Lord, and the Lord gives him a tremendous victory. The account in I Kings does not necessarily disagree, but it certainly downplays Abijah’s faith and his victory. As to his faith, I Kings 15:3b has “his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD.” Similarly, I Kings 15:6 is the only verse that speaks of that war: And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life. Today’s chapter on Abijah paints a much more glowing picture!

Asa’s three chapters cover wars and religious reforms. As to the wars, seeking the Lord instead of outside “help” is certainly the better way to go – a mighty victory over the invading Egyptians and a victory over the Northern Kingdom topped with Asa’s failure of relying on Syria instead of the Lord. Asa is confronted for this action by Hanani the seer: Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you. … For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward Him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars. (vv. 16:7, 9) Asa then becomes diseased in his feet and continues to seek outside help instead of seeking the Lord: Yet even in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but sought help from physicians. (v. 16:12b) Asa is highly regarded by the authors of both I Kings and II Chronicles, but suffers a sad ending to his great beginning…!

Blessings!

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See also: May 23 (2023) / II Chronicles 12-16.

II Chronicles 11-12

Dear RTB’ers,

Two chapters today, completely opposite in content – obedience, faithfulness and security in chapter 11, then pride, apostacy, and subjection in chapter 12. It was great to see that priests and Levites had come from Israel to Jerusalem to worship the true God. I would hope that some “common folk” were included in those groups of people. It reminds me a bit of our beginnings at St. Andrew’s when people came from all over – Richmond, Danville, Lawrenceburg, Frankfort, Georgetown, Paris, Winchester – to be with Pastor David Brannen and the leadership at St. Andrew’s who were seeking the Lord by following traditional, historical Biblical teaching.

It only took five years to go from the strength and security that Rehoboam had inherited to the Egyptian plunder of Jerusalem and the temple. Two telling sentences today: So they listened to the word of the LORD… (v. 11:4b) and …he abandoned the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him… (v. 12:1b) Carol said it well yesterday; “It is a cautionary tale. What gods are we following? Whose advice? What rhetoric is ‘tickling our ears’?”

To whom are we listening?

Blessings!

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See also: May 22 (2023) / I Kings 14:21-16:20; II Chronicles 10-11 (again).

II Chronicles 9-10

Dear RTB’ers,

The Queen of Sheba’s visit and Solomon’s wealth and wisdom… God clearly delivered on His promise to Solomon. When Solomon had asked only for wisdom and knowledge to guide his people (back in II Chr. 1:7-12), God had offered him also riches, possessions and honor (v. 12). We see that played out today in the Queen’s visit!

The Chronicler brings Jeroboam into his account without any introduction (II Chr. 10:2) and a rebellion ensues. In fact, Jeroboam had been somewhat highly placed in Solomon’s reign: Now the man Jeroboam was a valiant warrior, and when Solomon saw that the young man was industrious, he appointed him over all the forced labor of the house of Joseph. (I Kings 11:28). However, God, Himself had intervened into Israel’s affairs through the prophet Ahijah when Ahijah met Jeroboam alone in a field: Behold, I am going to tear the kingdom away from the hand of Solomon and give you ten tribes … because they have abandoned Me, and have worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the sons of Ammon; and they have not walked in My ways, doing what is right in My sight and keeping My statutes and My ordinances, as his father David did. (I Kings 11:31b, 33) Jeroboam had fled to Egypt, then returned upon Solomon’s death and, with Rehoboam taking the harsh advice from his friends, Jeroboam became the leader of Israel’s ten tribes, the Northern Kingdom. From this point on, the Chronicler has little to say about that Northern Kingdom, except where the Southern Kingdom, Judah is involved.

Also, no mention of Rehoboam seeking God’s counsel. A warning for all of us…??!!

Blessings!

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See also:

• May 15 (2023) / I Kings 9:10-10:29; II Chronicles 8-9:28 (again)
• May 20 (2023) / I Kings 11; II Chronicles 9:29-31
• May 22 (2023) / I Kings 14:21-16:20; II Chronicles 10-11

II Chronicles 7-8

Dear RTB’ers,

Chapter 7 is Solomon’s dedication of the temple and God’s response, including a very famous verse (God speaking), …if My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (v. 7:14) I have often heard this verse spoken in the context of our own national repentance prayers.

Then chapter 8 tells of Solomon’s spiritual, civil, and military accomplishments. I read an interesting sidenote from Bible Gateway: “Verses 8:13-16 are unique to Chronicles and underscore the Chronicler’s concern to show continuity with the past and his association of David with Moses.” Again, the Chronicles author’s desire to keep David in a positive light.

Finally, the one verse that most got my attention today because it surprised me a bit: Solomon brought Pharaoh’s daughter up from the city of David to the house that he had built for her, for he said, “My wife shall not live in the house of David king of Israel, for the places to which the ark of the LORD has come are holy.” (v. 8:11) Yes, Solomon married foreign wives – in many cases, probably “political” marriages to daughters from nearby nations – and his foreign wives led him away from the Lord. (See I Kings 11:1-13, esp. verse 4.) However, in the verse noted above, in his earlier days Solomon was careful to seek the Lord more fully. As Bible Gateway also noted, “Holiness matters.”

A good thought for the day – holiness matters.

Blessings!

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See also:

• May 14 (2023) / II Chronicles 6-7; I Kings 9:1-9
• May 15 (2023) / I Kings 9:10-10:29; II Chronicles 8-9:28