Closing Thoughts (2 Chronicles)

It’s amazing to see how quickly you can read through the Bible when you exercise some discipline.

We’re covering approximately 3 chapters/day on this blog, 5 days/week, and we’re already through 2 large books in the Old Testament. If we keep this pace, we should cover the entire Bible in roughly a year.

As for 2 Chronicles, my closing thoughts are simple:

  • The Chronicler loves numbers, names, and details.
  • The Chronicler is a harsh judge when it comes to character and loyalty towards God.
  • The Chronicler had a lot of insider information on the thoughts and conversations of kings and priests and the events of each king’s reign.
  • I want to be like all the good kings. I pray I am.

As for next week, I’m not sure what book we’ll start, but I am sure it won’t be a history book. Join us Monday, and we’ll see what’s brewing.

The Doubt, The Dream, The Resurrection

Three things I must write, but I’m not at all sure how they go together.

  1. I remember nailing my debts and doubts to an old rugged cross in a dark room many years ago.
  2. I had a dream a few days ago about visiting the underground with a group of guys. Throughout the dream, we rescued people from tigers, lions, and beasts in the underground city.
  3. The resurrection has been on my mind a lot since Sunday–both the historical event and its implications in daily life.

…

…

…

Here’s what I’m thinking after writing it out:

  • The doubt is dead, past.
  • The dream is the mission, present.
  • The resurrection is the hope, the only way forward.

2 Chronicles 34-36

Josiah, at 16, cleans house.

At 26, he encounters the Word of the Lord for the first time and tears his clothes. He receives the words of the prophetess, makes a wholehearted covenant to the Lord, and sets out to obey and perform what is written in the law.

Josiah leads the people in one of the biggest Passover celebrations on record. Lots and lots of sheep. May we never forget why they celebrated Passover.

Finally, Josiah dies fighting an enemy, and three evil kings follow in succession. Decline. Capture. Exile. Mourning. The book does end on an up note though, and thus the Old Testament in the original Hebrew ends on an up note: It ends with the hope of the temple being rebuilt and the Messiah coming.

“LET HIM GO UP!”

2 Chronicles 32-33

32:6-8- Hezekiah leads his people well, giving them courage and resolve.

32:17- Sennacherib has a grammar mix-up that costs him his life. He equates other countries’ gods with Israel’s God. They are not the same. God doesn’t like it when you confuse Him with them.

32:30- When I visited Israel, I was able to see and wade through Hezekiah’s tunnel. Nifty experience.

The chronicler doesn’t let anyone off the hook when it comes to loyalty toward God. He always brings up the bad with the good. I wonder what kind of life he or she led.

Finally, it never ceases to amaze me how good a dad can be and how bad his son or grandson can be.

2 Chronicles 26-28

One thing is typical, one thing is not. As for the former, I list the things I found noteworthy in the text, but as for the latter, I follow each note with some questions. I would love to hear some interaction:

  • 26:5- As long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper. Do you think the same principle applies today? Does God prosper those who seek Him? In what ways (financially, militarily, with physical health, emotional health, or….)?
  • 26:16- But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. Does this same principle apply today? Does God punish the proud? Do the proud punish themselves?
  • 26:19- A leprous breakout occurs. It stays with him until death. Can God inflict people with sickness today, due to their sin? How much do you think illness is related to sin?
  • Reading 1 & 2 Chronicles, you’ll notice that the kings and great men are always summarized by their wealth, their war victories, the size of their armies, the size of their families, and their loyalty or disloyalty to the Lord. Is life summed up any differently today?
  • 27:6- Jotham became mighty because he ordered his ways before the Lord his God. See questions at 26:5.
  • 28– The whole chapter is just ugly and depressing. Ahaz was terrible, even worse, he caused everyone else to be terrible. When sin is judged, what is the balance between blaming an individual and blaming a national leader? Do you think national leaders should ever be blamed for the immorality of a country, even if they don’t perform the acts themselves?

2 Chronicles 23-25

Jehoiada, the priest, takes care of the crazy grandma, Athaliah.

Joash becomes king at age seven. Age seven, a king, can you imagine? Now, I’m sure he wasn’t making the big decisions at that age, but still, the fact that he held the title at such a young age is remarkable. And for the most part, Joash does well (while Jehoiada is priest). Once he comes of age, he decides to repair the temple. This excites the people so much that they actually enjoy paying taxes to fund the project.

The people enjoy paying taxes!

What projects could we possibly do in this country in which people would enjoy paying taxes, gladly contributing a portion of their earnings toward a new project?

Unfortunately, things don’t pan out so well after the repairs. Jehoiada, the old priest, dies, and before you know it the nation goes astray. Joash won’t listen to the prophets that God sends his way, so eventually, God says He’s had enough. The Assyrians roll in, take over, and serve as God’s judgment on Joash.

As for chapter 25, let’s just say it’s complicated. I’ll close by saying this: sometimes it disgusts me to see how people refuse to listen. I pray I can always listen.