2 Chronicles 25:1-27:9

Memory Verse: 26:16

Questions

Outline

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I. Amaziah King of Judah (25:1-28)

>1. What kind of king was Amaziah? (1-2) What was the first and second things he did as king? (3-6)

* 2 Chronicles 25:1-2 "Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother's name was Jehoaddin; she was from Jerusalem. 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly."

* 2 Kings 14:1-22 is the same as 2 Chronicles 25.

* Amaziah started out well. He followed and worshipped the Lord, but not whole heartedly. As his life continued he went from good to worse. Eventually pride and vanity lead him to totally ignore the Lord God. They also lead him to make poor decisions. He lost all he gained when he followed the Lord in his youth and more. His end was disgraceful.

Everyday I need to humble myself and acknowledge all I have and done was.all be because of the grace and mercy of God.

* "Amaziah" -Amaziah was king of Judah from 797 thru 779 B.C. considering how Judah calculated their kings reign. Amaziah's 29 year reign included a 24 yer co-regency with his son Azariah (Uzziah). Jehoash was king in Israel when Amaziah was king in Judah. Jeroboam II became king of Israel in 793 B.C. which was in the middle of Amaziah's reign in Judah. All this is considering how Israel and Judah calculated their king's reign.

* The Chronicler(s) do not indicate that Amaziah failed to remove the high places, which continued to be used as places for sacrifice by the people. (2 Kings 14:4)

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* Israel did not calculated a king's ascension and reign as other nations. After Israel and Judah split Judah kept calculating to "old way" and Israel switched and started calculating the way other nations did around them. Read "The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings" by Edwin Richard Thiele for more understanding on how Israel and Judah calculated the dates of their king's ascension and reign.

* 2 Chronicles 25:3-6 "After the kingdom was firmly in his control, he executed the officials who had murdered his father the king. 4 Yet he did not put their sons to death, but acted in accordance with what is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses, where the LORD commanded: "Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sins." 5 Amaziah called the people of Judah together and assigned them according to their families to commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds for all Judah and Benjamin. He then mustered those twenty years old or more and found that there were three hundred thousand men ready for military service, able to handle the spear and shield. 6 He also hired a hundred thousand fighting men from Israel for a hundred talents of silver."

* 2 Kings 14:5-6 also records Amaziah killing the officials who had murdered his father.

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>2. What did the prophet of the Lord tell king Amaziah? (7) Why? What question did the king have? DId he obey? What was the outcome?

* 2 Chronicles 25:7-12 "But a man of God came to him and said, "O king, these troops from Israel must not march with you, for the LORD is not with Israel--not with any of the people of Ephraim. 8 Even if you go and fight courageously in battle, God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has the power to help or to overthrow." 9 Amaziah asked the man of God, "But what about the hundred talents I paid for these Israelite troops?" The man of God replied, "The LORD can give you much more than that." 10 So Amaziah dismissed the troops who had come to him from Ephraim and sent them home. They were furious with Judah and left for home in a great rage. 11 Amaziah then marshaled his strength and led his army to the Valley of Salt, where he killed ten thousand men of Seir. 12 The army of Judah also captured ten thousand men alive, took them to the top of a cliff and threw them down so that all were dashed to pieces."

* 2 Kings 14:7 also mentions Amaziah defeated the Edomites in the Valley of Salt, thus regaining some of the land that was lost during the reign of Jehoram.

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>3. What did the Israelites who were sent back do? (13) What foolish thing did king Amaziah do? (14) What did the prophet tell him? How did he respond? What does this tell us about what happens if we turn are backs on God and his truth?

* 2 Chronicles 25:13-16 "Meanwhile the troops that Amaziah had sent back and had not allowed to take part in the war raided Judean towns from Samaria to Beth Horon. They killed three thousand people and carried off great quantities of plunder. 14 When Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down to them and burned sacrifices to them. 15 The anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and he sent a prophet to him, who said, "Why do you consult this people's gods, which could not save their own people from your hand?" 16 While he was still speaking, the king said to him, "Have we appointed you an adviser to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?" So the prophet stopped but said, "I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel."

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>4. Was Ahaziah's challenge to their brothers, the Israelites righteous? (17-19) What was the result? (20-24) How did the kings of Israel and Judah who fought each other end up?

* 2 Chronicles 25:17-28 "After Amaziah king of Judah consulted his advisers, he sent this challenge to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel: "Come, meet me face to face." 18 But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: "A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, 'Give your daughter to my son in marriage.' Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle underfoot. 19 You say to yourself that you have defeated Edom, and now you are arrogant and proud. But stay at home! Why ask for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah also?" 20 Amaziah, however, would not listen, for God so worked that he might hand them over to [Jehoash], because they sought the gods of Edom. 21 So Jehoash king of Israel attacked. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth Shemesh in Judah. 22 Judah was routed by Israel, and every man fled to his home. 23 Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh. Then Jehoash brought him to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate--a section about six hundred feet long. 24 He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the temple of God that had been in the care of Obed-Edom, together with the palace treasures and the hostages, and returned to Samaria. 25 Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel. 26 As for the other events of Amaziah's reign, from beginning to end, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel? 27 From the time that Amaziah turned away from following the LORD, they conspired against him in Jerusalem and he fled to Lachish, but they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there. 28 He was brought back by horse and was buried with his fathers in the City of Judah."

* 2 Kings 14:8-14 also record Amaziah, king of Judah challenging and attacking Israel.

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* Jeroboam II king of Israel is not mentioned in Chronicles because this book concentrates on the kings of Judah. 2 Kings 14:23-29 record the reign of Jeroboam II. He was an evil king. He reigned from 793 B.C. to 743 B.C. His reign started in the middle of the reign of Amaziah, king of Judah and continued almost the end of Amaziah, son Uzziah (Azariah).

II. Uzziah King of Judah (26:1-23)

>5. How is the times of Uzziah (Azariah) described? (1-5)

* 2 Chronicles 26:1-5 "Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. 2 He was the one who rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah after Amaziah rested with his fathers. 3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother's name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem. 4 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done. 5 He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success."

* 2 Kings 15:1-7 gives a brief background to Judah's king Azariah (Uzziah).

* 2 Kings 15:8-31 is about the kingdom of Israel, while 2 Chronicles chapters 26 and 27 are the same time, but concern Judah's kings Uzziah and Jotham.

* Amaziah, king of Judah died and his son, Azariah (aka Uzziah) became king.

Azariah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. Yet, the Lord afflicted him with leprosy until the day he died. He had to live separate from everyone. "Why", is often the question asked when "bad things" happen to anyone, even those who are considered "good people".

I cannot look at my situation and conclude God is punishing me or blessing me. Like Azariah, I can do right and still get sick. When the disciples saw that a man had been blind from birth they asked who sinned so that he was born blind, him or his parents. "Neither", Jesus answered, "It happened to bring glory to God." So I cannot conclude misfortune means curse and sin. I can look for God's glory and trust and love and obey. Not easy to do when life takes a turn for the worse. But why dwell in thoughts and attitudes that can't be answered and/or don't help and will probably only make things worse.

* The people of Judah made Uzziah king in his father, Azariah's stead twenty years before his father's death because of the leprosy. Otherwise, Uzziah's reign would have started in 779 BC, when his father died.

* Uzziah (aka Azariah) was 16 years old when he became king of Judah. The prophet Isaiah lived at this time. He recorded more events that happened at this time.

Uzziah did what was right in the Lord God's eyes. He had the fear of God and a good Biblical teacher. His actions showed he loved and respected God. He was good and kind to people and his country. A good relationship with God is based on these things. God blessed him.

Then Uzziah became proud because everything was going his way. He did what was forbidden for all to do except the priests. Perhaps he justified his motivation thinking, "God will accept me doing this because God loves me and I am special to him." God taught him in humility by giving him leprocy. God loved and blessed him enough to give him a hard lesson. He got leprosy.

When God blesses and I know it, I need to remember who he is, who I am, and why things are getting better in my life. God has his rules and ways for a purpose. His purposes are good even though I may not understand them.

Since Jesus came the Old Testament Levitical laws has been fulfilled and thus need not be obeyed and practiced. The early church council in Jerusalem gave only a few suggeations to Gentiles believers in Jesus, as did Apostle Paul. Jesus taught me a lot. We live by the Spirit who has and is writing on my heart his will for me every day and every minute. When I walk in the Spirit I need to humbly remember my place.

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>6. Who did King Uzziah go to war against and why was he successful? (6-8)

* 2 Chronicles 26:6-8 "He went to war against the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh and Ashdod. He then rebuilt towns near Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines. 7 God helped him against the Philistines and against the Arabs who lived in Gur Baal and against the Meunites. 8 The Ammonites brought tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread as far as the border of Egypt, because he had become very powerful."

* The Lord told the prophet Isaiah to write these words to his people, both Israel and Judah who lived at this time. Isaiah 5:7 and 13 says, "The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the nation of Israel, and the people of Judah are the vines he delighted in. And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries of distress... Therefore, my people will go into exile for lack of understanding; those of high rank will die of hunger and the common people will be parched with thirst." Already the judgement was made and wouldn't be reversed.

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>Why might he be building the defenses of Jerusalem? (9-10)

* 2 Chronicles 26:9-10 "Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate and at the angle of the wall, and he fortified them. 10 He also built towers in the desert and dug many cisterns, because he had much livestock in the foothills and in the plain. He had people working his fields and vineyards in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil."

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>What else did he have the people do and why? (11-15)

* 2 Chronicles 26:11-15 "Uzziah had a well-trained army, ready to go out by divisions according to their numbers as mustered by Jeiel the secretary and Maaseiah the officer under the direction of Hananiah, one of the royal officials. 12 The total number of family leaders over the fighting men was 2,600. 13 Under their command was an army of 307,500 men trained for war, a powerful force to support the king against his enemies. 14 Uzziah provided shields, spears, helmets, coats of armor, bows and slingstones for the entire army. 15 In Jerusalem he made machines designed by skillful men for use on the towers and on the corner defenses to shoot arrows and hurl large stones. His fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became powerful."

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>7. What brought about king Uzziah's downfall? (16-18)

* 2 Chronicles 26:16-18 "But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 Azariah the priest with eighty other courageous priests of the LORD followed him in. 18 They confronted him and said, "It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the LORD God."

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>What did the priests tell him?

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>8. How is Uzziah's response a good example of what pride does to a person? (19-20)

* 2 Chronicles 26:19-20 "Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry. While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the LORD's temple, leprosy broke out on his forehead. 20 When Azariah the chief priest and all the other priests looked at him, they saw that he had leprosy on his forehead, so they hurried him out. Indeed, he himself was eager to leave, because the LORD had afflicted him."

* 2 Kings 15:5 also states Uzziah (Azariah) had leprosy.

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>What does the fact that Uzziah was unable to enjoy his success warn us about spiritual pride? (21)

* 2 Chronicles 26:21 "King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house--leprous, and excluded from the temple of the LORD. Jotham his son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land."

* 2 Kings 15:5 also states that King Uzziah had leprosy and lived in a seperate house.

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>Who was the prophet Isaiah and what did he have to say about this time? (22-23)

* 2 Chronicles 26:22-23 "The other events of Uzziah's reign, from beginning to end, are recorded by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. 23 Uzziah rested with his fathers and was buried near them in a field for burial that belonged to the kings, for people said, "He had leprosy." And Jotham his son succeeded him as king."

* Isaiah chapters 1 thru 5 is about this time, before King Uzziah's death.

The book of Isaiah is very long. It covers the time from Judah's King Uzziah thru King Hezekiah, and Israel's King Jeroboam to its fall to the Assyrian army in 722 BC. He prophesied 42 years. Judah was attacked by Assyria in 701 BC.

Isaiah's first five chapters are a collection of short prophecies that are not in chronological order. Rather they are in subject order.

The people of Israel and Judah have reached a low point in their devotion to the God of Israel -the people have become greedy and have stopped following and adhering to their values. The wealthy elite are becoming rich at the expense of others. Peasant farmers who once practiced subsistence farming are being forced to farm what is best for foreign trade, mostly wine and oil. Corruption was at every level of their society.

The Lord told the prophet Isaiah to write these words to his people, both Israel and Judah, who lived during Uzziah's reign. Isaiah 5:7 and 13 say, "The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the nation of Israel, and the people of Judah are the vines he delighted in. And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries of distress... Therefore my people will go into exile for lack of understanding; those of high rank will die of hunger and the common people will be parched with thirst."

Isaiah chapters 1 thru 5, 2 Kings 14-16, 2 Chronicles 25-28, and Amos have information about this time.

The average person in Judah and Israel were very sinful. Reading all they did is like the news of today. We are no different then they. We need to change. We need to take heed of these words. Oh Lord, what am I to do?

* Isaiah's first five chapters are a collection of short prophecies that are not in chronological order as they were given. Rather they are in subject order. The previous comments concern the average Israelite and Jew (a term that Babylon would give to the people they took into captivity when they defeated the remnants of these kingdoms). Today I see the hope that the Lord gives the people.

The descendants of the people he took out of Egypt was given a chance to repent, and thus be saved. Isaiah 1:18-20 says, "Come now, let us settle the matter," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." They had done and were doing despicable things, even killing their babies as offerings to Baal. Yet, he would take away their sin and guilt if they admit their sin, powerlessness over sin, need for God's forgiveness, ask for it, seek to maintain a conscience contact with God through prayer and meditation, study God's Word, seek to stop doing those terrible things to each other, and seek amends to those who they have hurt as long as the amends wouldn't hurt the other person.

Even if this generation refuse God's offer, there was still hope for the future generations. Isaiah 1:8-9 says, "Daughter Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a cucumber field, like a city under siege. Unless the Lord Almighty had left us some survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah." And verse 1:26 says, "I will restore your leaders as in days of old, your rulers as at the beginning. Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City."

Isaiah 4:2 says, "In the last days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as the highest of the mountains, it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it." "IN THE LAST DAYS" refers to the first and second coming of Jesus. Isaiah's peer prophets Amos, Joel and Obadiah were the first prophets to use the phrase "the day of the Lord" (aka "in that day" and "in the last days") referring to the Lord's coming, judgment and restoration. Verses 3 and 4 foretell of the Gentiles being taught by Jesus because they want to live as he teaches and the good news he teaches will go out from Jerusalem to all nations and people will be changed. When Jesus comes again, "Nation will not take up sword agai.st nation, nor will they train for war anymore."

Above I wrote, "OH Lord, what am I to do?" Here is the answer. Seek God and his ways, put my hope in Jesus.

* Isaiah 6 states that the Lord appeared to the prophet in the year that Uzziah, the king of Judah died, 740 BC. Uzziah's son, Jotham had been ruling in his place because Uzziah was struck with leprosy when in pride he did what only the Lord said priests could do, offer a sacrifice in the temple. Jotham did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. However, the people of Judah did not.

Neighboring kingdom Israel was ruled by Menahem, the third last king of Israel. He did not do what was right in the eyes of God as did none of his predecessors. In 743 BC when Israel's king Jeroboam died, his son king Zachariah and king Shallow were assassinated. The people of Israel were no better than there kings or the people of Judah. This is the time that the Lord appeared to Isaiah. The Lord Jesus commissioned Isaiah to deliver a hard message to deliver. 800 years later Jesus quoted these verses to Israel during his ministry.

The synapses of the message is, "I tell you again and again and you refuse to accept, believe, and obey. If you would accept, believe, and obey you would understand, change and be healed."

This truth is still valid today. It applies to me every morning, noon, and night. Its all up to me. Its my choice. Choose sin and gloom, or righteousness and healing.

III. Jotham King of Judah (27:1-9)

>9. How is the life of King Jotham described? (1-4)

* 2 Chronicles 27:1-4 Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother's name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok. 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done, but unlike him he did not enter the temple of the LORD. The people, however, continued their corrupt practices. 3 Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the temple of the LORD and did extensive work on the wall at the hill of Ophel. 4 He built towns in the Judean hills and forts and towers in the wooded areas."

* 2 Kings 15:32-38 briefly mention King Jotham of Judah.

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>Why might he be building up the defenses of Jerusalem?

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>10. Who did Jotham go to war against? (5)

* 2 Chronicles 27:5 "Jotham made war on the king of the Ammonites and conquered them. That year the Ammonites paid him a hundred talents of silver, ten thousand cors of wheat and ten thousand cors of barley. The Ammonites brought him the same amount also in the second and third years."

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>Why might he do this?

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>Why was he so successful? (6)

* 2 Chronicles 27:6 "Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the LORD his God."

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>Who became the next king of Judah? (7-9)

* 2 Chronicles 27:7-9 "The other events in Jotham's reign, including all his wars and the other things he did, are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. 8 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. 9 Jotham rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And Ahaz his son succeeded him as king."

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