comments on 2 chronicles-l m grant

8/9/2019 Comments on 2 Chronicles-L M Grant

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Comments On 2 Chronicles

http://www.biblecentre.org

By L M Grant

PREFACE

Though 1 Chronicles is just as vitally the Word of God as are all other scripture bookswe pass over this now because being largely co!posed of genealogies and !any na!esit is not suited to general "unday school study. #ersonal study !ight yield great blessingto one who applies hi!self to it for every na!e has !eaning and is actually for our benefit if we can discern it.

1 Chronicles is occupied !ainly with $avid%s reign because $avid is an outstanding type

of Christ as king. & Chronicles begins with "olo!on%s reign. These two books differgreatly fro! the books of "a!uel and 'ings for they e!phasise the grace of God ratherthan (is govern!ent as do "a!uel and 'ings. $avid%s great sin in connection with)athsheba and her husband is not !entioned in 1 Chronicles and "olo!on%s grave failureand disobedience is passed over also in & Chronicles because the *ord here e!phasisesthe truth that $avid and "olo!on are types of Christ in who! there is no failure. Thosethings that de!onstrate the grace of God in enabling the kings to do God%s work are pro!inent in this history. Therefore 1 Chronicles speaks !ore largely of the evils of theten tribes and their kings rather than of the failure of +udah though in & Chronicles thehistory of +udah and her kings is pro!inent and their failures declared too while the tentribes spoken of only in their connection with +udah for only +udah had a true succession

of kings of the line of $avid.

CHAPTER 1

"olo!on began his reign strengthened by God and given great e,altation -v.1. t"olo!on%s word all the chief !en of 0srael went up to the high place at Gibeon where thetabernacle was at the ti!e. There is no scriptural objection to this high place at the ti!efor it rather speaks of the place of e,altation given to the tabernacle. (owever when"olo!on had built the te!ple there was no !ore reason for the tabernacle: rather the arkand all the tabernacle furniture was brought to the te!ple signifying that all the truths of

the tabernacle were incorporated into the te!ple the place of God%s choosing -ch.:.fter this worship in the high places was disobedience to God yet "olo!on built high places for foreign gods -1 'i.11:234. )ut & Chronicles passes over the failures of"olo!on since the focus of the book is on God%s sovereign grace sustaining the king whowas a picture of Christ.

t this ti!e however the ark was not in the tabernacle but in a tent that $avid had pitched for it at +erusale! -v.5. The bron6e -or copper altar that was !ade by )e6aleel



-7,.&2:13& was in its proper place in front of the tabernacle -v. and "olo!on and0srael !et the *ord there. The altar sy!bolised his !eeting the *ord in grace because ofthe value of the sacrifice placed on the altar but there was inconsistency in the ark not being present for the ark speaks of Christ as the "ustainer of the throne of God thereforeof absolute authority. Grace and authority should always be together but God bore with

this inconsistency until the te!ple was built then all was in proper order again.

8oung as "olo!on was he showed true devotion to the *ord in offering 1999 burntofferings on the altar -v.. Thus his reign began well. The sa!e night God appeared tohi! to give hi! the opportunity of asking what God should give hi! -v.2. (is responsewas good for he first showed a hu!ble attitude of thankfulness for the great !ercy Godhad shown to $avid his father and toward "olo!on also in !aking hi! king. (e askedthat the *ord%s pro!ise to $avid !ight be established. that is the pro!ise of $avid%s seedreigning over 0srael -v.;. This desire for the fulfil!ent of God%s word shows a heartdependent on God which was specially true in "olo!on%s younger years.

)eing i!pressed with the si6e of 0srael%s population "olo!on felt his own insufficiencyfor the responsibility of ruling over the! so that he asked for wisdo! and knowledge sothat he !ight go out and co!e in before the people -v.19. This prayer was good and Godco!!ended "olo!on for asking for wisdo! and knowledge rather than for riches orhonour or for the destruction of his ene!ies -v.11. Therefore God told hi! his prayerwas answered favourably so that he was given wisdo! and knowledge. )ut God addedto this that (e would give hi! riches wealth and honour also greater than any other king before or after hi! -v.1&.

8et let us observe the reason that "olo!on asked for wisdo! and knowledge: 3 <that 0!ay go out and co!e in before this people.< =o doubt he re!e!bered what scripture said

of $avid: <ll 0srael and +udah loved $avid because he went out and ca!e in beforethe!< -1 "a!. 14:1. This was a good testi!ony before others. "olo!on was concernedabout this as we too ought to be. 8et he did not evidently realise that $avid%s goodtesti!ony was the result of !uch deeper e,ercise of heart than of concern about histesti!ony. =or should we think pri!arily about how we affect others. "hould we not firstconsider how we should please the *ord>

The *ord graciously answered "olo!on%s re?uest for wisdo! and knowledge and in allhistory there has not been another like hi! in intellectual wisdo! and knowledge. (ealso told hi! (e would give hi! riches and honour. )ut "olo!on would have been wiser to ask !uch !ore than this. @ar instance if he had known "cripture well he !ight haveknown that it would be a special te!ptation for a king to !ultiply wives and horses andto greatly !ultiply riches as $euterono!y 12:153&9 indicates and if he had prayed to be preserved fro! these evils his history !ight have been !uch different. #erhaps he hadnot read $euterono!y 12 but he ought to have read in the five books of Aoses every dayof his life as $euterono!y 12:1431; tells us.

SOLOMONS !EALTH AN" PO!ER #$$%1&'1()%



Beturning to +erusale! "olo!on began his prosperous reign in gathering wealth thate,ceeded all the kingdo!s of the earth. 1599 chariots and 1&999 horse!en weregathered for the protection of his kingdo! early in his reign. =ot that he needed all thisfor God was his protector and such peace was established in his days that these chariotsand horse!en were not used for war. )ut of course other nations would not so likely

challenge hi! when he was well prepared.

(e had such stores of silver and gold that they beca!e as co!!on as stones in +erusale!-v.1 and cedar trees beca!e as co!!on as the syca!ores. The cedars were i!portedfro! *ebanon. lso !entioned is that he i!ported horses fro! 7gypt and 'eveh as wellas chariots fro! 7gypt. "olo!on also !ade a great business of buying and selling horsesand chariots 3 buying fro! 7gypt and selling to the (ittites and kings of "yria. Thus ofcourse his wealth greatly increased.

ctually in this traffic with 7gypt "olo!on was disobedient to God. =evertheless Godused even this disobedience for (is own glory for in Chronicles nothing is said about this

!atter being disobedience. The e!phasis is rather on the fact that "olo!on%s wealthincreased as it was by Gentile traffic is a picture of the greater wealth and splendour ofthe !illennial reign of the *ord +esus whose glory will be increased by tribute fro! thewhole world -which is pictured by 7gypt. echariah 15:1 bears witness to this futurerecognition of Christ by the nations.

CHAPTER 2

SOLOMONS RE*+EST FROM H,RAM #$$%1'1-)%

s the *ord had foretold to $avid (e worked upon "olo!on%s heart to !ake hi!

deter!ine to build both a te!ple for the *ord and a royal house for hi!self -v.1. Though$avid is also a type of Christ he was not per!itted to build the te!ple because he pictures Christ as a Aan of war bringing the world into subjection to (i! during theTribulation period. The te!ple belongs to Christ%s reign of peace therefore "olo!on wasits builder.

The nu!ber of his workers was great indeed 3 29999 to carry !aterials 49999 to workin the !ountains to ?uarry stone and D 99 supervisors. These workers being selectedthen "olo!on sent a !essage to (ira! king of Tyre re!inding hi! that he had sentti!ber of cedar to $avid for the building of $avid%s personal house and asking that(ira! would now send ti!ber for the building of a !uch greater house a house for the

na!e of the *ord. (e said this house would be dedicated to the *ord for the burning ofsweet incense -speaking of worship for the continual showbread -speaking ofco!!union with God through the person of the *ord +esus and for burnt offerings!orning and evening -picturing the sacrifice of Christ as bringing glory to (is God and@ather. "uch offerings also were for special occasions "abbaths =ew Aoons and setfeasts as seen in *eviticus &D:5.



"olo!on told (ira! the te!ple will be great because the God of 0srael is greater than allthe idolatrous gods of the nations -v.. (e realised also his unworthiness to build ate!ple for Ene so great who! the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain. Thete!ple therefore could not be a proper representation of (i!: indeed the only truerepresentation of God is the *ord +esus but "olo!on was building the te!ple only as a

place of sacrifice to God -v .

(e asked (ira! to send hi! a skilful !an able to work with gold silver and iron alsowith purple cri!son and blue fabrics and a capable engraver -v.2. To find an e,pert inall these skills would certainly be a!a6ing but in 7,odus D1:13 we read that God hadgiven such ability to a !an of +udah )e6aleel to supervise the building of the tabernacle.7ach of these !en is typical of the (oly "pirit of God who is in control of all theactivities of the house of God. 0n the case of the tabernacle since it was te!porary it wasa !an of +udah chosen for their work. )ut the te!ple speaks of the display of God%s gloryin the !illennial age when Gentiles will share with 0srael in great blessing. Thus theworking of the "pirit of God will include Gentiles.

s we have seen in the !illenniu! Gentiles will share with 0srael in the great blessingthat God brings to the world. Today both +ewish and Gentile believers are joined together as the Church of God one building growing into a holy te!ple in the *ord for a dwelling place of God in the "pirit -7ph. &:1;3&&. Thus the "pirit of God produces a unity of+ewish and Gentile believers in the Church far !ore vital than any !easure of unity thatwill be seen between +ews and Gentiles in the !illenniu!.

"olo!on also asked (ira! for cedar cypress and algu! logs fro! *ebanon since heknew that (ira!%s servants were skilled in work with ti!ber. (e would also have hisservants join with (ira!%s servants in this work another picture of the friendship

between +ews and Gentiles in the !illenniu! -vv.43;.

0n return for this service fro! Tyre "olo!on pro!ised to give to (ira!%s servants &9999cors of ground wheat &9999 of barley &9999 baths of wine and &9999 baths of oil-v.19. This pictures the liberality of the *ord toward those who labour for the benefit ofthe building of the house of God today also for (e does provide everything necessary for their sustenance and enjoy!ent and !uch !ore. ny labour that is done for the *ordwill be !ore than graciously repaid.

H,RAMS RESPONSE #$$%11'1.)

The response of (ira! to "olo!on%s re?uest was favourable and lovely. (e wrote<)ecause the *ord loves (is people (e has !ade you king over the!< -v.11. =othought of rivalry is apparent in his words but rather of heartfelt thankfulness that Godhad given to $avid a wise and understanding son to reign over 0srael. (e recognised that0srael%s God is the Aaker of heaven and earth and was pleased at "olo!on%s proposal to build a te!ple for this sovereign God as well as a house for hi!self -v 1&.



(ira! therefore was sending a skilful crafts!an to supervise the work of building -v.1D.0nterestingly while his father was a !an of Tyre his !other was an 0sraelite fro! thetribe of $an -v.15. gain the unity of +ews and Gentiles is e!phasised here. This !aster crafts!an is certainly a picture of the working of the "pirit of God in +ewish and Gentile believers being proficient to work in gold -dealing with what speaks of the glory of

God in silver -picturing the great truth of rede!ption by virtue of the sufferings ofChrist in bron6e -or copper -signifying the holiness of God in iron -sy!bolising the power of God. )ut not only was he a !etal worker for he was proficient in workingwith wood. which pictures the work of the "pirit of God in believers for trees aresy!bolical of !ankind -At.D:19.

This !an is not na!ed for the "pirit of God does not draw attention to (i!self: instead(e glorifies Christ -+n.1:1D315. 8et he was also a proficient worker in fabrics purplewhich speaks of the royalty of the *ord +esus as seen in AatthewF blue picturing Christas the "on of God co!e fro! heaven as in +ohn%s GospelF fine linen sy!bolising the purity of the perfect !anhood of the *ord +esus as is e!phasised in *uke%s Gospel and

cri!son e,pressing the attractiveness of (is person as God%s "ervant always doing (iswill as Aark presents (i!. ll of these wonderful truths concerning the *ord +esus are!inistered by the "pirit of God and have great i!portance in the house of God today justas they did figuratively in "olo!on%s te!ple. dded to this is the !aking of engravingsfor the te!ple. 7ngravings are intended to preserve a per!anent record which indeed the"pirit of God does for (is work is eternal.

(ira! therefore asked that "olo!on%s arrange!ent should be carried out with wheat barley oil and wine being sent by "olo!on to (ira! and wood cut fro! *ebanon by theservants of (ira! brought in rather by sea to +oppa where "olo!on%s servants wouldtake charge and bring the! to +erusale! -v.131.

RES,"ENT AL,ENS EMPLO/E" ,N THE !OR0 #$$%1('1)

Gentiles fro! outside 0srael were willing to help in the building of 0srael%s te!ple butthere were also Gentiles residing in the land. They were not left une!ployed bute!ployed by "olo!on in the work of the te!ple. 0n nu!bering these "olo!on found atotal of 1D999. This !ay see! a large nu!ber for who! to find work and speciallywhen it involved the erection of only two buildings. )ut the si6e and the elaborate detailsof these buildings re?uired such nu!bers. We !ay think of construction !ethods todaynot re?uiring such nu!bers but the labour at that ti!e was all hand labour which is!uch slower and !ore arduous work than that of present3day construction. 29999 of

these Gentiles were to bear burdens which would include the carrying of lu!ber fro!+oppa to +erusale! and the carrying of stone fro! the ?uarries to the site of the te!pleand "olo!on%s house. 49999 were e!ployed as stone3cutters in the !ountains. Efcourse these worked in shifts. The re!aining D99 were used as supervisors of the work -v.14.

CHAPTER &



The !ost holy place was half the si6e of the outer sanctuary that is &9,&9,&9 cubits.Thus it for!ed a perfect cube. "ince it is sy!bolical of the dwelling place of God itsthree di!ensions are identical speaking of the @ather "on and (oly "pirit being e?ual.We could say that part of the sanctuary was length part of it breadth and part of it height.Bather all of it is co!prehended in each of these di!ensions. Thus also the @ather is not

part of God: (e is God absolutely and perfectly. The "on is God and the "pirit is God.To e!phasise this all was overlaid with fine gold. 7ven the nails were of gold theirweight fifty shekels.

0nside the holy place there were also cherubi! two of the! carved in gold their wingsoutstretched each wing !easuring cubits so that the two inside wings touched eachother and thus the whole &9 cubits of the wall was included in their wing spans -vv.1931D. We are not to think of the cherubi!s as created beings for no creature can share inthe glory of God%s presence but they sy!bolise the principle of God%s govern!ent in its perfect balance both grace and truth united in !aintaining God%s authority.

s in the tabernacle there was a veil separating the !ost holy place fro! the outersanctuary. This was !ade of blue purple cri!son and fine linen. ll of these speak ofthe various beauties of the Aanhood of the *ord +esus for the veil was to represent <(isflesh< -(eb.19:&9.

0n front of the te!ple "olo!on placed two pillars D cubits high with a capital at the topof each !easuring five cubits. The pillars speak of that which is stable and outstanding-Gal.&:;F Bev.D:1&. Wreaths of chainwork were put on top of the pillars and 199 graven po!egranates were put on the wreaths. s we have !entioned the chainwork speaks ofwilling sub!ission to the authority of the *ord +esus. #o!egranates are noted for their profusion of seeds thus indicating the pro!ise of great fruit which is the result of

sub!ission to the *ord. The pillars were na!ed +achin -!eaning <(e will establish< and)oa6 -<in hi! is strength< indicating the solidity and power of the *ord +esus.

CHAPTER

F+RN,SH,NGS OF THE TEMPLE #$$%1'22)

"o!e of the furnishings for the te!ple were placed on the outside others inside. The bron6e altar -v.1 was of course outside and !uch larger than that !ade for thetabernacle in fact &9 by &9 cubits and 19 cubits high 3 about D9 feet s?uare and 1 feethigh. )ron6e -or copper speaks of the holiness of God so that the bron6e altar

e!phasises the holy judg!ent of God borne by (is holy "on as the one sacrifice for sin.Thus we !ust !eet God at the cross before there is any possibility of entering (iste!ple.

The "ea answers to the laver of the tabernacle but again how !uch higher 0t was 19cubits in dia!eter -about 1 feet and its height cubits -2 11& feet -v.&. 0t wassupported by 1& bron6e o,en all facing outward three toward each direction of theco!pass. The 1& tribes of 0srael are thus represented. The o,en speak of lowly patient



service. The priests washed in the "ea -v. sy!bolising !oral cleansing necessary forcarrying out their service. The sea contained D999 baths of water -v. which a!ounts toover 1&99 gallons. )eing a hand3breadth thick -about 5 inches its weight !ust have been great.

"olo!on also !ade ten lavers their si6e not noted putting five on the right side and fiveon the left of the "ea -v . The lavers were for washing the burn offerings before offeringthe!. The sacrifice had to be clean as sy!bolising the perfect purity of Christ. (ere?uired no cleansing but if the ani!al was to picture (i! the ani!al !ust be cleansed.

The tabernacle had only one golden la!pstand but the te!ple had ten five of the! beingon each side of the outer sanctuary -v.2. 7ach of these no doubt had seven branches. Thela!pstands speak of Christ as the "ustainer of testi!ony and being ten re!inds us thatall the clai!s of the law are fulfilled in this Ene whose testi!ony is perfection including(is great sacrifice by which (e has fulfilled the law on behalf of others.

"i!ilarly though the tabernacle had only one table the te!ple had ten with five on eachside of the outer sanctuary. The table pictures Christ as the "ustainer of co!!union. !ere legal covenant would only hinder co!!union for the law could not bring anyonenear to God. )ut the nu!ber ten again shows that Christ has fulfilled all the law%sre?uire!ents. 0srael will understand this in the !illenniu! to which the te!ple hasspecial application so that nothing will be present to hinder the precious flow offellowship based on the person of the *ord +esus.

0t see!s difficult to understand what purpose 199 golden bowls would serve in thete!ple though we !ay be sure that God has a spiritual reason for this. These things inverses 2 and 4 were inside the outer sanctuary.

The court of the priests would be close to the te!ple and the great courts on the outsideof that -v.;. The doors -or gates were overlaid with bron6e e!phasising the holinessthat is necessary for any entering of the te!ple area.

#ots shovels and bowls are !entioned in verse 11 and in verse 1 these are said to be!ade of burnished bron6e -or copper so that they were used outside the te!ple inconnection with the sacrifices and the fire provided for the sacrifices. The furniture insidethe te!ple was either of gold or covered with gold.

The list of things (ura! provided is seen fro! verse 11 to verse 1. dded to what was

previously !entioned are carts -v.15 that carried the lavers. 0t !ay be that the carts were!ade in order that the lavers could be !oved to the location where the ani!al of sacrificewas brought. The a!ount of bron6e used in connection with the te!ple was so great thatits weight was not deter!ined -v.14.

Herses 1; to && recount the furnishings inside the holy place -not the !ost holyF thegolden incense altar the tables of showbread the la!pstands with their flowers andla!ps of pure gold wick tri!!ers bowls ladles and censers. Wicks the!selves are not



!entioned for they do not speak of the *ord +esus but of believers who bear testi!ony but !ust be tri!!ed for the testi!ony of one day cannot avail for the ne,t day. =o!atter how brightly we !ay have shone for the *ord at one ti!e the burnt wick !ust bere!oved so that we !ay continue to shine with new energy. @orgetting the things that are past we should press forward with constantly renewed desire for the honour of the *ord

+esus.

0nner doors leading in to the !ost holy place were gold. Thus there were both doors anda veil separating the two sanctuaries. The doors of the !ain hall also that is apparentlythe doors of the entry into the outer sanctuary were of gold. 0t is said they were gold notoverlaid with gold so their value !ust have been great indeed. Gold speaks of the gloryof God so that the very entrance into the holy place was to be for the glory of God notfor the blessing of the one who entered though if God is glorified there cannot but be blessing for the entrant. There !ay have been a curtain also as there was in thetabernacle but this is not said.

CHAPTER 3

"A4,"S PRO4,S,ONS P+T ,N THE TEMPLE #$%1)

The work of building being co!pleted "olo!on also brought into the te!ple the thingsthat $avid had collected and dedicated to the *ord silver and gold and other furnishings.These were put in the treasuries of the house of the *ord evidently in a different roo!than either of the sanctuaries. )ut the re!inder of $avid%s part was not to be lost for hehad put down the ene!ies of the *ord.

THE AR0 P+T ,N ,TS PROPER PLACE #$$%2'1)

The bringing of the ark to the te!ple re?uired a special public observance for this was to be an occasion of great rejoicing. "olo!on asse!bled the elders of 0srael and all theheads of the 1& tribes the chief fathers of 0srael to +erusale! for this observance. Thiswas at the ti!e of the feast of the seventh !onth very likely the @east of Tabernacleswhich began on the 1th day of this !onth for it pictures the blessing of 0srael%s!illennial glory.

When the people were asse!bled the *evites took up the ark according to the prescribedorder and also brought the tabernacle and its furnishings up to the te!ple -vv.53. $oesthis not tell us that though the te!ple adds to the truth that is illustrated in the tabernacle

yet nothing of the truth connected with the tabernacle was to be lost but ratherincorporated into the teaching of the te!ple>

s this work was being done 'ing "olo!on and all the congregation of 0srael weresacrificing sheep and o,en that could not be counted or nu!bered for !ultitude -v..7very one of these offerings is sy!bolical of the one offering of Christ but the nu!berspeaks of the worship of Ene who is worthy of unli!ited adoration because of theunli!ited value of (is sacrifice.



The priests brought the ark of the covenant of the *ord into the !ost holy place and set itunder the wings of the two cherubi! whose wings were spread fro! wall to wall. The poles for carrying the ark were left in place so as to be seen inside the holiest of all but of course could not be seen outside -vv.234. The poles were no longer necessary forcarrying the ark but re!ained as a re!inder that the ark -Christ in figure had been a

pilgri! at one ti!e just as we shall be re!inded for eternity that the *ord +esus was onceon earth as an outcast sojourner -v.;. ll this history on earth will be a !atter for oureternal appreciation.

=othing but the two tables of the law were in the ark -v.19. There will be the re!inderfor eternity that the law has been perfectly kept not by !ankind but in the heart of the*ord +esus. who not only kept the law (i!self but fulfilled all the law%s clai!s againstsinners -#s. 59:4.

fter having placed the ark in the Aost (oly #lace the priests ca!e out -v 11 and the*evites who were singers under saph (e!an and +eduthun were stationed at the east of

the bron6e altar clothed in white linen having various stringed instru!ents and withthe! 1&9 priests with tru!pets -v.1&.

The tru!peters and singers were <as one< their har!ony beautiful as the stringedinstru!ents also joined in and thus the gathering unitedly thanked and praised the *ordsaying <@or (e is good for (is !ercy endures forever< -v.1D. ll this is sy!bolical ofthe spontaneous great joy that will fill the hearts of 0srael at the dawning of the !illennialage. The *ord then e,pressed (is own approval by filling the te!ple with the cloud of(is glory so that for the ti!e even the priests could not enter there -v.15.

CHAPTER .

SOLOMON SPEA0S TO GO" AN" TO THE PEOPLE #$$%1'11)

"olo!on began his inauguration address by first speaking to the *ord re!inding (i!that (e had said (e would dwell in the dark cloud and that he -"olo!on had built thise,alted house for the *ord to dwell in.

Then he turned to address the whole asse!bly of 0srael the people standing at attention.We are told he blessed the! but the way he did this was by saying <)lessed be the *ordGod of 0srael who has fulfilled with (is hands what (e spoke with (is !outh to !yfather $avid< -v.D. @or if God is blessed the people will be blessed also. The *ord had

said that since the ti!e (e brought 0srael out of 7gypt (e had chosen no city fro! anytribe of 0srael in which to have a house built suitable for the honour of (is na!e. =or had(e chosen any !an to be a suitable ruler for 0srael until (e gave $avid that honour -vv.3. =ow finally God%s choice of a city has been !ade clear. (e had chosen +erusale!which na!e !eans <the foundation of peace< a truly appropriate place for God%sdwelling for the foundation of peace is righteousness. <The work of righteousness will be peace and the effect of righteousness ?uietness and assurance forever< -0sa.D&:12. 0nfact this verse looks forward to the !illenniu! when Christ the 'ing <will reign in



righteousness< -0sa.D:11 a wonderful contrast to all the kings who have ever reigned onearth.

0n addressing the people "olo!on speaks of $avid being God%s chosen king thereforeChrist is called <the "on of $avid.< 8et it was in $avid%s heart to hi!self build a house

for the na!e of the *ord and God did not allow hi! to though God co!!ended hi!that such a desire was in his heart -vv.234. )ut God pro!ised $avid that his son would build the te!ple and now God%s Word was fulfilled in the co!pletion of that great project. "olo!on added also that he had put the ark in the te!ple for it was the ark ofGod%s covenant with 0srael the centre (e had chosen.

SOLOMONS PRA/ER #$$%12'2)

"olo!on then stood before the altar of the *ord in the presence of all the asse!bly andspread out his hands. Herse 1D is a parenthesis speaking of his having !ade a bron6e platfor! five cubits s?uare and three cubits high the sa!e si6e as the altar where all the

asse!bly could see hi!. (e stood on this then knelt down and spread out his handstoward heaven -v.1D.

(e began his prayer by giving God (is place of great dignity and honour as the *ord Godof 0srael greater than all others and the Ene who keeps (is covenant with those whokeep (is covenant also walking before (i! with all their heart -v.15. (e shows too hisappreciation of God%s having kept (is pro!ise no doubt in the fact of "olo!on%s being put on the throne and enabled to build the te!ple -v.1.

(e prayed therefore that God would further keep (is pro!ise to $avid that he should notfail to have a !an sit before God on the throne of 0srael but on condition that $avid%s

sons would walk in God%s law -v 1. 0n fact this pro!ise will be fully fulfilled in spiteof !any of $avid%s sons failing to obey God%s law. God overrules all the failure in such away that the "on of $avid the *ord +esus will take the throne of 0srael in perfectrighteousness but this is still future.

Aeanwhile because 0srael has not kept God%s covenant they -including $avid%s posterity are suffering great sorrow and obscurity and will do so until they finallyrecognise +esus as the true "on of $avid the Aessiah of 0srael at the end of their GreatTribulation.

)ut "olo!on asks a pertinent ?uestion <Will God indeed dwell with !en on earth><

-v.14. To do so would re?uire an astounding act of grace for the heavens and the heavenof heavens cannot contain God. (e is infinite without li!its and o!nipresent presenteverywhere at all ti!es. We cannot understand the greatness of (is being. (e cannot beconfined anywhere yet in a very real sense (e dwelt in the te!ple in the holiest of allthough in thick darkness. This is a parado, in which we !ay rejoice. "olo!on i!ploredGod%s attention and concern as regards his intercession for 0srael with God%s eyes opentoward the te!ple. (e realised that when 0srael prayed they would have need offorgiveness and he asks God to forgive.



0n fact each one of the detailed prayers that follow conte!plates a condition of failure onthe part of 0srael e,cept for verses D& to D. 0n verse && the case of one sinning againstanother is seen and intercession !ade that God would hear prayer in this !atter and judge according to truth -v.&D. Herses &5 and & deal with prayer being !ade toward thete!ple when 0srael%s sin has caused the! to suffer defeat by an ene!y asking that when

they pray God !ay bring the! back to their land.

This was in !easure fulfilled when God brought a large nu!ber of +udah back fro!)abylon after the 29 years of captivity. )ut the true fulfil!ent of this will be when alltwelve tribes are gathered back by the power of the *ord +esus at the end of the GreatTribulation when their guilt will practically drive the! in repentance to the *ord.

Herses &3&2 conte!plate the case of 0srael%s sin causing God%s judg!ent by withholdingrain fro! the land. 0n the days of hab 7lijah prophesied drought like this which lastedD I years -just the length of the future Great tribulation though we do not read that0srael after this forsook their sin and sought the *ord. Thus God%s grace was even !ore

considerate than "olo!on asked. (owever in verse &2 "olo!on asked for 0srael%srestoration in order that God !ight teach the! the good way in which they should walkas well as sending rain on the land. The full acco!plish!ent of this will not be until theintroduction of the !illenniu! when 0srael will have the character of being willingvolunteers in the day of the *ord%s power -#s. 119:D and the land will bear fruitabundantly.

Herses &43D1 consider a case of fa!ine in the land which !ight follow the withholdingof rain but !ight be acco!panied by pestilence blight or !ildew locusts orgrasshoppers. This !ight occur however when ene!ies besieged the! in their citieswhen they had no access to food. #lagues and sickness could be very prevalent at such a

ti!e. 0f this would drive people in prayer and confession to God then "olo!on asks thatGod would hear fro! heaven and forgive 0srael%s sin rendering to each individual such!ercy as is appropriate considering the state of each heart -v.D9. The desired effect wasthat 0srael would fear the *ord -v.D1.

0n verses D& and DD "olo!on prays for any foreigner who had co!e to 0srael fro! a farcountry because of his regard for God%s great na!e. 0f such a person would co!e and pray in the te!ple -for the te!ple court was considered a part of the te!ple "olo!onasks that God would hear his prayer and answer it that this !ight have so!e real effecton all the peoples of the earth in recognising the greatness of the God of 0srael -v.DD.

0f God should send 0srael to battle against their ene!ies and they would pray toward+erusale! and the te!ple there then "olo!on asks that God would hear and answer their prayer and !aintain their cause -vv.D53D. *et us note that he does not pray for this if0srael went to battle without God%s direction. We can e,pect God%s blessing only in God%sway.

0n verses D3D; "olo!on speaks of an occasion when 0srael sins against God -not <if theysin< <for there is no one who does not sin< and God%s anger causes the! to be delivered



to the captivity of an ene!y whether near or far. (e adds <when< -not <if< they co!e tothe!selves in the land where they are carried captive and repent and !ake supplicationto God in the land of their captivity saying <We have sinned we have done wrong andhave co!!itted wickedness.< There is no shadow of doubt that 0srael will do thiseventually though centuries have passed since they have been scattered through the

world. The pride of !an%s natural heart is so great that he will stubbornly continue inrebellion against God even while going through the for!s of religious observance. )utthe Great Tribulation will eventually break down their arrogant pride to !ake such aconfession as is seen in verse D2.

0t will be a work of God%s grace in their hearts that !oves all this causing the! to returnto the *ord with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity -v.D4. @or this prayer of "olo!on has in it the ele!ent of a prophecy. 7ven today the eyes of !any0sraelites are turned toward +erusale! though still in a state of coldness toward the *ord+esus. )ut very soon a great change will take place for the Great Tribulation is certainlynot far off.

"olo!on prays that God would hear fro! heaven and (e certainly will in such a waythat the re!nant of 0srael will be fully restored to their land per!anently with the fullfree forgiveness of God -v.D;.

The prayer draws to its close with an appeal to God for (is kind attention to what is prayed -v.59 and "olo!on%s desire that the *ord God would with the ark of (isstrength find a true resting place and that the priests those who served in the te!ple beclothed with salvation and all the saints rejoice in God%s goodness -v. 51.

@inally and !ost i!portantly he draws attention to the grace of God%s nointed. Christ

alone is the Centre of blessing for !ankind God%s anointed 'ing. 0t is in (i! that all theinterests of believers are !aintained and all God%s interests too. The finishing sentence is!ost precious also <Be!e!ber the !ercies of 8our servant $avid.< This refers to theresurrection of Christ -cts 1D:D5 though "olo!on did not realise this significance atthe ti!e he spoke.

CHAPTER (

GO"S GLOR,O+S ANS!ER #$$%1'&)

God wonderfully de!onstrated (is approval of the te!ple and of "olo!on%s prayer by

sending fire fro! heaven to consu!e the burnt offering and the sacrifices -spoken of inch.: and filled the te!ple with (is glory -vv.13&. When the children of 0srael sawthis. they were prostrated in lowly worship praising the *ord and particularlye!phasising <@or (e is good for (is !ercy endures forever< -v.D. This was a wonderful beginning of a new era in 0srael%s history though it is sorrowful that the freshness of joyin the *ord very soon wore off so that both "olo!on and 0srael departed far fro! theirearly condition.



THE "E",CAT,ON OF THE TEMPLE #$$%'11)

The *ord had accepted the offerings without nu!ber -ch.:F2:1 by sending fire toconsu!e the! and now in order to dedicate the te!ple "olo!on and the people offered&&999 bulls and &9999 sheep. The priests would have abundant work to do with these

offerings and the *evites acco!panied this by playing !usical instru!ents that $avidhad introduced when offering praise to the *ord -v..

"ince the copper altar was not large enough to acco!!odate all the offerings "olo!onconsecrated the !iddle of the court in front of the te!ple to offer the burnt offerings-v.2.

'eeping the feast for a full week they ended this with a special asse!bly on the eighthday before "olo!on sent the people to their ho!es on the &Drd day of the seventh !onth-v.1. This feast therefore -the @east of Tabernacles pictured the co!ing glory of the!illennial blessing of 0srael though the joy at that ti!e great as it was did not last long

co!pared to the joy of the *ord%s reign in the !illenniu!.

Though they were long in building both the te!ple and the house of "olo!on wereeventually finished -v.11. The work was not in vain as is so!eti!es the case with thosewho have not before counted the cost but what God builds is always perfectly finished.The te!ple pictures the @ather%s house in glory while "olo!on%s house is a picture of theChurch in her condition and circu!stances on earth where God%s order is to be!aintained a!ong (is saints.

THE LOR"S SECON" APPEARANCE TO SOLOMON #$$%12'22)

The *ord had first appeared to "olo!on -ch.1:2 to offer hi! what he !ight ask. =ow (eappears to assure hi! that (e has heard his prayer and to encourage hi! to put God firstin the rule of his kingdo!. This was the sa!e night after the dedication and the *ordsought to i!press on "olo!on the i!portance of single hearted obedience to (is Word.(e had chosen the te!ple for (i!self as a house of sacrifice and (e would have specialconsideration for those who looked toward the te!ple.

The *ord then spoke of specifically answering "olo!on%s prayer in regard to (isgovern!ental chastening of 0srael by (is withholding rain or sending locusts or pestilence. 0f 0srael would hu!ble the!selves and pray seeking God%s face turning fro!the evil of their ways then God would indeed hear fro! heaven forgive the! and heal

their land -vv.1D315.

God affir!s again that (e had both chosen and sanctified the te!ple. that is (e had set itapart for (i!self that (is na!e !ight be there forever (is eyes and (is heart there perpetually -v.1. 8et after this the te!ple was destroyed and there has been no te!ple in+erusale! for centuries Why is this> )ecause 0srael was guilty of the!selves desecratingthe te!ple. Though it was rebuilt in the days of 76ra then destroyed again and rebuilt by(erod the *ord +esus declared before (is crucifi,ion when (is disciples showed hi!



the buildings of the te!ple <$o you not see all these things> ssuredly 0 say to you notone stone shall be left here upon another that shall not be thrown down< -At.&5:13&. Thiswas fulfilled before long and 0srael has been without any te!ple for nearly &999 years

)ut God anticipated all this even in & Chronicles 2 for he speaks conditionally to

"olo!on in verse 12 and the verses following. <s for you if you walk before Ae asyour father $avid walked and do according to all the 0 have co!!anded you and if youkeep Ay statutes and Ay judg!ents then 0 will establish the throne of your kingdo! as0 covenanted with $avid. )ut if "olo!on turned away forsaking the co!!and!ents ofthe *ord and serving and worshipping other gods he could e,pect God%s serious judg!ent in uprooting 0srael fro! the land casting the te!ple out of (is sight !aking ita proverb and byword a!ong all the nations.

Was such a warning necessary for "olo!on> bsolutely so @or he very soon fell into thetrap of !arrying !any wo!en of foreign nations and adopting the false worship of theirvarious idols -1 'i.11:134. 7ventually the judg!ent of God fell on 0srael for this: their

land beca!e desolate their te!ple was destroyed and the people taken captive by the)abylonians. Then indeed everyone who observed the ruin of the land and the te!plewere astonished and ?uestioned why the *ord had done this after e,pressing (is approvalof the house and greatly blessing 0srael -v.&1.

"olo!on was warned then that the answer would be <)ecause they forsook the *ord Godof their fathers who brought the! out of the land of 7gypt and e!braced other gods andworshiped the! and served the!F therefore (e has brought all this cala!ity upon the!<-v.&&. 8et "econd Chronicles does not speak of "olo!on%s sha!eful failure in turningfro! the *ord as does 1 'ings for Chronicles e!phasises the grace of God rather than(is govern!ent as in the books of 'ings.

CHAPTER

F+RTHER ACCOMPL,SHMENTS OF SOLOMON #$$%1'1)

fter "olo!on had co!pleted the building of the te!ple and his own house he rebuiltthe cities that (ira! had given hi! and settled so!e of the children of 0srael there -vv.13&. "olo!on also gave (ira! so!e cities though (ira! was not pleased with the! -1'i.;:1&31D. While we read of no wars in "olo!on%s ti!e because his reign sy!bolisesthat of the *ord +esus in the age to co!e yet verse D tells us that "olo!on went to(a!ath obah and sei6ed it just as Christ will bring cities and nations into subjection to

(i! without bloodshed. Herses and speak of his building various cities storage citiesand fortified cities so!e for his cavalry. Thus he was prepared for war which is ani!portant way of preserving peace. 0t is true that God had said that a king should not!ultiply horses -$eut. 12:1 but "olo!on is not reproved for this here for again hisactions serve as a picture of the future glory of Christ rather than as e,posing his ownunfaithfulness as is done in 1 'ings.



The Gentiles who had been left in the land (ittites !orites #eri66ites (ivites and+ubusites were put by "olo!on under forced labour -vv.234. This re!inds us that in the!illennial age so!e Gentiles will be re?uired to sub!it to the *ord +ews even thoughunwillingly -#s.14:5D35. =ot so with the children of 0srael who will <be volunteers inthe day of 8our power< -#s. 119:D. Thus <"olo!on did not !ake the children of 0srael

servants for his work< that is slaves. They were rather given higher positions such as!en of war captains of his officers captains of his chariots and his cavalry. Ethers werechiefs of the officers who ruled over the people -vv.;319. Thus "olo!on was are!arkable organiser giving work to 0sraelites that they appreciated and this beco!es afaint picture of the wonderful organisation of the kingdo! of the *ord +esus in the!illenniu!.

"olo!on%s first wife was the daughter of #haraoh king of 7gypt. God had not forbidden a!arriage with an 7gyptian though !arriage with wo!en of Canaan was clearlyforbidden. 8et "olo!on realised that his wife was not entitled to live in the house of$avid because the ark had been there and 7gyptians had no proper relationship to the ark

of God. "o $avid built a house for his 7gyptian wife -v.11. Chronicles does not !entionhis !any other wives of Canaanitish origin for "olo!on%s !arriage to these wasdisobedience to God and Chronicles deals with God%s work of grace in 0srael not"olo!on%s work of disobedience.

"olo!on%s offerings to the *ord are then noted the daily burnt offerings offerings for the"abbaths and =ew Aoons and for the three particular feasts of the *ord which were to beattended by all the !en of 0srael J the @east of Knleavened )read -the #assover the@east of Weeks -#entecost and the @east of Tabernacles. The other three feasts are not!entioned and whether they were kept at all we are not told. 0t !ay be that only that is!entioned which was co!!endable on the part of "olo!on while the rest is left without

co!!ent.

The divisions of the priests and *evites were appointed also as $avid had done andgatekeepers were stationed at each gate. These three characteristics of activity are of vitalconse?uence for believers today.

#riesthood has to do with worship which is too often neglected a!ongst God%s peoplewhile they use the word <worship< for any kind of Christian activity. )ut true worship isheart adoration of the @ather and the "on and it is i!portant that definite ti!e should betaken for this !ost precious feature of Christian life. The *evites were servants so thise!phasises the service of obedient activity as to the *ord. Christians too often !akeservice !ore i!portant than worship so that worship beco!es practically side3tracked.)ut both are of great value in their place. The gatekeeper%s picture the genuine care that isso necessary in keeping out of the asse!bly what ought to be out and allowing in whatought to be in. This proper care has been ignored in the great !ajority of churches todayso as to have believers and unbelievers !i,ed together and sinful practices not onlytolerated but justified. 0f one seeks to be a true gatekeeper he is accused of beingintolerant legal !inded and unloving. )ut God appreciates the genuine care that (issaints show for the true welfare of the Church of God and for the honour of (is na!e.



The order that "olo!on !aintained therefore in the beginning of his reign is an e,a!pleof the order that should always characterise the state of the Church of God. Herse 1 tellsus <=ow all the work of "olo!on was well ordered fro! the day of the foundation of thehouse of the *ord until it was finished.< re our lives well ordered> re our asse!blieswell ordered> 0f so it is a contrast to the great confusion that spreads everywhere in the

world and in professing Christendo!. 0n fact today confusion is invading the testi!onyof !any who have at one ti!e been faithful servants of God. Aay the *ord preserve us by (is grace.

Herse 12 speaks of "olo!on going to the e,tre!e south of the land to 76ion Geber and7lath on the gulf that leads to the Bed "ea. (ira! sent hi! ships. 0t see!s that they !usthave transported these overland to 76ion Geber for fro! there the ships went to Ephirwhich is evidently in rabia to bring 59 talents of gold to "olo!on. The friendliness of(ira! toward "olo!on is a lovely picture of the glad response of Gentiles to the *ord+esus when (e reigns in a co!ing day such as is indicated in 0saiah 9:D <The Gentilesshall co!e to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising.< 0n fact !ore than

this <Then you shall see and beco!e radiant and your heart shall swell with joyF becausethe abundance of the sea shall be turned to you the wealth of the Gentiles shall co!e toyou. The !ultitude of ca!els shall cover your land the dro!edaries of Aidian and7phah. ll those fro! "heba shall co!eF they shall bring gold and incense and they shall proclai! the praises of the *ord< -0sa.9:3. "olo!on%s wealth was thus increased sothat his kingdo! was the !ost !agnificent of any that had been on earth and since thatti!e there has never been any like it.

CHAPTER 5

THE 4,S,T OF THE *+EEN OF SHEBA #$$%1'12)

The report of the visit of the Lueen of "heba with "olo!on differs only in few detailsfro! the report in 1 'ings 19. )ut her visit is a lovely picture of the great interest in the*ord +esus that will be awakened a!ong the Gentiles when (e takes (is kingdo! andthe glad response when they witness (is wisdo! and his glory.

"he ca!e to test hi! with hard ?uestions. Whatever hard ?uestions we have the *ord+esus can be depended on to answer anything that is worth answering in such a way as to bring us fullest satisfaction. "he spoke to hi! of all that was in her heart. $o we fully lay bare our hearts to the *ord +esus with willingness to accept whatever answer (e gives> 0f we have confidence in (i!. this should not be difficult whether or not the answer is as

pleasant as we desire.

The Lueen of "heba ca!e with a great retinue bringing spices gold and precious stones-v.1. "olo!on answered all her ?uestions. (ow !uch !ore capable the *ord +esus isthan "olo!on to answer whatever ?uestions we !ay have 1 'ings 5:D&3DD tells us that"olo!on wrote D999 proverbs and co!posed 199 songsF and that he spoke of treesfro! the cedar to the hyssop of ani!als birds creeping things and fish. )ut he could notspeak of the heavenly things to which the *ord +esus referred in +ohn D:1& for he could



not know these since at that ti!e they were not revealed by God. Today it is heavenlythings that should have the !ore absorbing interest for us and the *ord +esus can answerthese for us.

)ut the Lueen saw the wisdo! of "olo!on in the house he had built and the striking

order of his house all of which though literal was a picture of the !ore beautiful orderof the house of God the Church today. <The food of his table< re!inds us that the *ord+esus has !ade wonderful provision for the nourish!ent and blessing of (is saints inconnection with (is house which is the Church -all believers of the presentdispensation. The *ord tells us <Ay flesh is food indeed and !y blood is drink indeed<-+n.:. (aving (i! as the Ene who gave (i!self in sacrifice for us is wonderful foodand drink.

<The seating of his servants< speaks of the placing of each believer in his proper placeseated to hear the wisdo! of their *ord for there !ust be ?uiet attention to the *ord%sinstructions before there can be proper service. )ut service does follow for <the service

of his waiters< as added here. Erderly service in the Church of God should certainly beno less observed than in "olo!on%s house and if we are subject to God%s Word ourservice will be good and acceptable. Their apparel too is !entioned here which was nodoubt very attractive for it speaks of Christ%s righteousness since we are seen by God as<in Christ< -1 Cor.1:D9.

<(is cupbearers and their apparel< speaks of believers who give into the hand of the *ordthat which refreshes and delights (is heart. $oes this not re!ind us of the *ord%s supperand the privilege of giving the *ord +esus pleasure and honour by the praise andadoration of our hearts> Their clothing too was appropriate not the <filthy rags< of theirown self3righteousness but the <gar!ents of salvation< provided by the 'ing.

lso the Lueen of "heba observed <the ascent< or causeway by which "olo!on wentfro! his own house up to the house of the *ord -v.5. pparently no scripture describesthis ascent which !ust have been noteworthy but the spiritual significance of it is the!ost i!portant fact. "ince "olo!on%s house pictures the Church on earth and the te!plespeaks of the @ather%s house in glory then the ascent surely sy!bolises the Bapture when believers will be caught up to be forever with the *ord.

0f the wonderful facts of "olo!on%s wisdo! and glory seen in all these things caused theLueen of "heba to have <no !ore spirit in her< what of the !ore wonderful facts of thewisdo! and glory of the *ord +esus !anifested in the order that (e has established in theChurch of God cul!inating in the pro!ise of (is co!ing to rapture all believers (o!eto the presence of (is glory>

nyone who has witnessed the truth of scripture as regards the wisdo! of the *ord +esusin the order of (is house -the Church !ust surely echo the Lueen of "heba%s words <0twas a true report which 1 heard< -v.. Ksually it is a report that first awakens people%sinterest in the truth of God though at first we !ay be like the Lueen of "heba who said<0 did not believe their words until 0 ca!e and saw with !y own eyes< -v.. 0s it not true



also that we have proven the fact that <the half of the greatness of your wisdo! -that ofthe *ord +esus was not told !e<>

"he showed no jealousy of "olo!on but rather genuine delight in recognising God%sgoodness to "olo!on%s servants and to all 0srael in giving the! such a king -vv.234

through whose wisdo! they could be so blessed. This looks forward to the day when the*ord +esus is !anifested in (is glory and beauty to the nation 0srael and before all theworld. God will so work in the hearts of redee!ed Gentiles then that they will have no!ore attitude of en!ity toward 0srael but genuine delight in her e,altation

The Lueen of "heba%s gifts to "olo!on were rather a!a6ing for the 1&9 talents of gold ise?ual to M4999 in 1;;4 The gold speaks of the glory of God while that great a!ountof spices speaks of the fragrant virtues of the *ord +esus the "on of God and the?uantity of precious stones speak of the fruit of the "pirit of God. This pictures what trueworship is at the present ti!e that is the response of the heart to the work of God the@ather God the "on and God the (oly "pirit. There is no work of the flesh in this but

that which is produced by the sovereign power and grace of God.

#ersonal faith and affection are e!phasised in the gifts of the Lueen of "heba while inverses 19 and 11 we see the provision !ade by (ira! a Gentile king and so!e servantsof "olo!on for walkways and instru!ents of !usic. The Lueen of "heba%s gifts speak ofworship to the *ord but the others are secondary to worship yet precious nonethelessfor they speak of walking in God%s ways and rejoicing in that which pleases God.

)ut the Lueen of "heba was not i!poverished by her giving to "olo!on just as believerstoday do not suffer lack because they give to the *ord. 0n fact "olo!on gave to theLueen all that she desired and !uch !ore and this is no less true of the gracious giving

of the *ord +esus as #sal! &2:5 assures us <$elight yourself in the *ord and (e shallgive you the desires of your heart.< Thus indeed the *ord will always give us !uch !orethan we give to (i!.

THE !EALTH OF SOLOMON #$$%1&'2)

0t was very clearly the *ord who endowed "olo!on with wealth far greater than anykingdo! has ever had for in this (e furnished so!e little picture of the wealth of thekingdo! of the *ord +esus when (e takes (is throne. The weight of only the gold thatca!e to "olo!on in a year was talents -v.1D. t present day value -1;;4 this woulda!ount to over four !illion 299 thousand dollars. )ut added to this was what !erchants

traders and the kings of rabia and governors brought in the way of gold and silver.

"o!e gold was used for !aking &99 large shields -of D99 shekels and D99 shields of half the weight. These were put in the (ouse of the @orest of *ebanon -v.1. This house wasnot a dwelling but held the offices of ad!inistration for the kingdo! so that the shieldsspeak of defence in the place where the interests of the kingdo! were !aintained



"olo!on also had a great throne of ivory overlaid with gold -v.12. This was in the (ouseof the @orest of *ebanon placed in a special (all !ade for it called the (all of +udg!ent-1 'i.2:2. "i, steps ascended to the throne. footstool of gold was fastened to thethrone and beside the ar! rests were two gold lions one on each side. Eil each side ofthe si, steps a lion stood -v.1; thus 1& lions were on the steps no doubt representing the

1& tribes of 0srael.

0n "olo!on%s house all the drinking vessels were gold and the vessels in the (ouse of the@orest of *ebanon were gold. =one were silver for silver was accounted as nothing in"olo!on%s kingdo! -v.&9. Gold sy!bolises the glory of God which will be predo!inantin the Aillennial kingdo! of the *ord +esus.

7very three years "olo!on sent ships to Tarshish enlisting the help of (ura!%s servantsto bring to 0srael gold silver ivory apes and peacocks -v.&1. Thus he had Gentile co3operation in such endeavours as will be true in the future kingdo! of 0srael. "o "olo!onsurpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdo! though he furnishes only a faint

picture of the greater glory of <the world kingdo!< of the *ord +esus.

The glory of "olo!on pro!pted other kings to bring presents to hi! articles of silverand gold gar!ents ar!our spices horses and !ules at a set rate every year whichindicates that it was intended as tribute -v.&5. This co!pares with echariah 15:1speaking of the recognition of the authority of the 'ing of kings in the !illenniu! withall nations called upon to give (i! honour every year.

Though "olo!on had no wars he was fully prepared in case war should rise against hi!.(e had 5999 stalls for horses and chariots stationed in stated chariot cities and in+erusale!. 0n this we are re!inded that the *ord +esus will provide co!plete protection

for 0srael in the !illenniu!.

Herse & speaks of "olo!on reigning over all the kings fro! the Biver -the 7uphrates tothe land of the #hilistines as far as the border of 7gypt. This was not all the land pro!ised by God to braha! -Gen.1:143&1 for only the kingdo! of the *ord +esuswill acco!plish this. Herses &23&4 picture the abundance with which 0srael will be blessed when the *ord +esus reigns.

dditional infor!ation concerning "olo!on%s reign was recorded by three prophets-v.&; but these records are not scripture and have not been preserved. "olo!on reignedfor 59 years as did $avid his father and was buried in +erusale!. (is son Behoboa!

took the throne.

CHAPTER 1-

6EROBOAM LEA"S A RE4OLT #$$%1'1)

Behoboa! was inaugurated as king at "heche!. +ereboa! who had gone to 7gypt forfear of 'ing "olo!on hearing of "olo!on%s death returned to 0srael. The tribes of 0srael



had so!e respect for this capable leader and asked hi! to intercede for the! toBehoboa!. Thus +ereboa! and others with hi! ca!e to Behoboa! telling hi! that"olo!on had laid heavy burdens on the! and asking hi! to lighten this severe bondageso that they would willingly serve hi! -vv.D35.

Behoboa! asked for three days to consider this -v. then consulted with the elders whohad served in "olo!on%s court. They rightly advised hi! to be kind to the people thustreating the! with respect and consideration and assured hi! that the people wouldrespond to gladly serve hi!. Behoboa! could well afford to show such kindness for hehad inherited great wealth fro! his father.

(owever he rejected the wise counsel of !en of e,perience -v.4 and instead acceptedthe foolish counsel of the young !en who had grown up with hi!. They told hi! to givethe !en of 0srael a crushing reply <Ay little finger shall be thicker than !y father%swaist nd now whereas !y father put a heavy yoke on you 0 will add to your yoke: !yfather chastised you with whips but 1 will chastise you with scourges< -vv.19311.

En hearing so harsh a reply fro! the king it is not surprising that the people i!!ediatelyrebelled saying <What share have we in $avid> We have no inheritance in the son of+esse< -v.1. Thus they declared their i!!ediate separation fro! +udah a separation thathas never been repaired and never will until the *ord +esus returns to 0srael at the end oftheir Great Tribulation.

0n futile ignorance Behoboa! sent his head ta, collector to de!and revenue fro! these0sraelites but they stoned hi! to death. Then Behoboa! realised the rebels were not!erely bluffing and he ?uickly drove in his chariot to +erusale! -v.14. lest he shouldsuffer the sa!e fate as his servant.

CHAPTER 11

GO" FORB,"S REHOBOAM TO ATTAC0 ,SRAEL #$$%1')

When Behoboa! saw his kingdo! so largely torn away fro! hi! he asse!bled an ar!yof 149999 warriors of +udah and )enja!in -for )enja!in re!ained with +udah with theobject of forcing the ten tribes back into subjection to hi! -v.1. What suffering anddesolation this would cause with no good result

)ut Behoboa! was spared the hu!iliation of a great defeat for God intervened by

sending the prophet "he!iah to tell the people <Thus says the *ord 8ou shall not go upor fight against your brethren<-v.5.

Bather all were co!!anded to return to their ho!es because as God said <this thing isfro! !e.< Though the rupture was occasioned by the folly of Behoboa! yet God was behind it to e,pose the disunity that already e,isted in 0srael just as God often e,posessi!ilar evil in the Church of God evil that is sought to be covered up but eventually



causes public divisions. This is certainty to our sha!e but God is perfectly righteous to!anifest any condition for what it really is.

t least Behoboa! had enough sense to obey the Word of the *ord at this ti!e.

PREPAR,NG "EFENSES #$$%3'12)

)eing preserved fro! the folly of attacking the ten tribes Behoboa! then concentratedon the strategy of defence building fifteen Cities in +udah and )enja!in for strongholdswith !ilitary officers over the! and the cities stored with provisions of food oil andwine. (e realised now he was in danger fro! attack not only fro! foreign nations butfro! his own nation 0srael. (ow sadly this condition has been repeated in the Church ofGod where believers find the!selves in danger fro! the attacks of other professingChristians. @or this we need the preparation of the nourishing and refreshing of the Wordof God. We should certainly store this in our hearts with the !inistry of the "pirit of God-the oil.

"hields and spears were also provided in every city -v.&. We are thus re!inded of <theshield of faith with which you will be able to ?uench all the fiery darts of the wicked one<-7ph.:1. The spear is the only offensive weapon !entioned but it re!inds us of <thesword of the "pirit which is the Word of God< -7ph.:12. (ow !uch wiser it was forBehoboa! to !ake these preparations than it would have been for hi! to seek to forcethe ten tribes back under his control

PR,ESTS AN" LE4,TES MO4E TO 6ER+SALEM #$$%1&'1()

God had appointed the fa!ily of aron as priests and the *evites to serve the!. )ut

+ereboa! refused this clai! and appointed priests of his own choosing for worship ofidols in high places -v.1. J Therefore the priests and *evites !oved to +udah leavingthe lands that had been given the! a!ong the ten tribes -vv.1D315. What else could theydo> +ereboa!%s idolatry had left no roo! for priests of the *ord.

The priests and *evites who ca!e to +udah fro! the ten tribes strengthened the kingdo!of +udah and for three years it appeared that Behoboa! pro!ised to prove a faithfulking <because they walked in the way of $avid and "olo!on.< "ad to say howeverthough Behoboa! had a relatively good beginning it was not long before he spoiled it.

REHOBOAMS !,4ES AN" CH,L"REN #$$%1'2&)

Eutwardly Behoboa! was !ore careful as to the wives he took than was "olo!on forhe first took Aahalath the granddaughter of $avid and he added also Aaachah thegranddaughter of bsalo!. )ut outward orthodo,y does not guarantee godliness and besides it was no !ore right for Behoboa! to have 14 wives and si,ty concubines than itwas for "olo!on to have his large hare! of wives and concubines -v.&1. Ef course a!an will be greatly affected by such relationships.



Though Behoboa!%s first wife bore hi! sons he set those aside in favour of bijah theson of Aaachah who! he preferred above Aahalath. $euterono!y &1:1312 had warnedagainst such an arrange!ent saying that a !an <!ust not bestow firstborn status on theson of the loved wife in preference to the son of the unloved the true firstborn.< #erhapsBehoboa! did not know this scripture but he ought to have for a king in 0srael was

responsible to provide hi!self with a copy of the law and read it all the days of his life-$eut.12:1431;. =evertheless the grace of God transcended the failure of Behoboa!for bijah is confir!ed in the genealogy of the *ord +esus in Aatthew 1:2.

0n spite of Behoboa!%s great lack of wisdo! in causing the revolt of the ten tribes heshowed !ore wisdo! in the ad!inistration of the kingdo! of +udah and )enja!inappointing so!e of his sons to be dispersed throughout his territories and givingabundant provision. This was far !ore wise than threatening to chastise the! withscourges as he did with the ten tribes. 0t see!s strange that he could be so cruel in theone case and so generous in the other. )ut perhaps the latter was because his own fa!ilywas involved. 0n fact his generosity went beyond proper bounds for he sought !any

wives for his sons (ow true it is that one who goes to e,tre!es in one direction is likelyto also go to e,tre!es in the opposite direction Enly true faith in the *ord +esus canenable us to !aintain a proper balance.

CHAPTER 12

EG/PT ATTAC0S 6+"AH #$$%1'5)

Behoboa!%s prosperity however beca!e his downfall. When he strengthened hi!self inhis kingdo! sufficiently to think hi!self secure he gave up any regard he had for the lawof the *ord and the people willingly followed in his steps. (ow often this kind of folly

has been repeated in the history of the people of God #ro!inence and popularity can bea dreadful snare for we dare to think !ore of our reputation than of the *ord%s honour)ut God was not !erely a disinterested bystander. 0n the fifth year of +ereboa! becauseof his transgression God allowed "hishak king of 7gypt to attack +erusale! with 1&99chariots 9999 horse!en and people without nu!ber -vv.&3D. These included not only7gyptians but *ubi! "ukki! and 7thiopians. These evidently had no inclination toattack 0srael while "olo!on was reigning but they knew that Behoboa! did not have thestrength of "olo!on and if God%s people are not walking with (i! they beco!evulnerable to the attacks of the ene!y.

This for!idable ar!y had no difficulty in capturing the fortified cities of +udah and ca!e

to +erusale! with the object of capturing it also -v.5. The *ord then graciously sent the prophet "he!aiah to Behoboa! and the leaders of +udah who told the! that they weree,posed to the threat of "hishak because they had forsaken the *ord.

This word fro! the *ord took so!e effect and the king and his officials hu!bledthe!selves before the *ord acknowledging that the *ord was righteous in allowing theattack of 7gypt. The *ord will always take full account of the attitude (is people takeand (is word ca!e to "he!aiah again that because the people had hu!bled the!selves



(e would grant the! so!e deliverance so that (e would not pour out (is wrath on+udah by the attack of "hishak. 8et (e would put +udah into subjection to "hishak inorder to learn the pain of subservience to a Gentile nation in contrast to the pleasure ofobedience to God -vv.234.

Thus God restrained "hishak fro! shedding blood in +erusale! but allowed hi! to treat+udah as slaves by taking away the king%s house and the golden shields "olo!on had!ade -v.;. (ow strikingly significant it is that Behoboa! !ade copper shields to replacethe golden ones -v.19. Gold speaks of the glory of God but copper pictures holiness.This sa!e type of thing has certainly taken place in the professing church of God today.Bather than God%s glory being e!phasised in the testi!ony of the church. people arecontent to forget about God%s honour and to concentrate on personal holiness. Ef courseholiness is co!!endable but if it takes the place of God%s glory it beco!es insipid andcounterfeit.

The copper shields that replaced those of gold were co!!itted to the care of the captain

of the guard who guarded the doorway of the king%s house. When the king entered thehouse of the *ord the guard brought the shields out and returned the! afterward to theguardroo!. This was evidently a for!ality the shields indicating the protection of theking but his dependence was on his holiness -of which copper speaks not on the God of glory as gold sy!bolises.

Though Behoboa! did not walk with the *ord yet when he hu!bled hi!self he avertedthe wrath of God to so!e decided e,tent so that conditions continued relatively well in+udah -v.1&. Behoboa! took advantage of favourable conditions to strengthen hi!selfand reigned 12 years in +erusale! less than half of the length of his father%s reign. We arere!inded that his !other was an !!onitess -v.1D whose influence would not likely

encourage hi! to prepare his heart to seek the *ord and he was left in this unholycondition till the day of his death -v.15.

Ether acts of Behoboa! were recorded in a book of "he!aiah the prophet and of 0ddothe seer but these were not scripture and have not been preserved. 8et sadly we are toldthat wars continued between Behoboa! and +ereboa! all their days -v.1. The sa!estrife between brethren persisted afterwards also just as strife has per!eated thecondition of the professing church since its early years. What !arvellous relief it will befor 0srael to be brought together at the end of the Great Tribulation What relief also for believers of the Church of God to be united in the *ord%s presence when (e co!es

t his death Behoboa! was at least buried in +erusale!. Then (is son bijah took thethrone of +udah.

CHAPTER 1&

THE RE,GN OF AB,6AH #$$%1'22)



+ereboa! outlived Behoboa! though not for long -v.&9. (e died after reigning && years-1 'i.15:&9 five years longer than Behoboa!. )ut bijah son of Behoboa! reignedonly for three years in +udah -v.&. 1 'ings 1:D tells us that bijah wa1ked in all the sinsof his father and his heart was not loyal to the *ord. 8et Chronicles does not !ention this but e!phasises rather what was to his credit in regard to overco!ing +ereboa! in battle.

The guilt of +ereboa!. was far greater than that of bijah. We are not told whatoccasioned the great battle between +udah and the ten tribes but bijah gathered an ar!yof 599999 to fight against 499999 chosen warriors of 0srael -v.D. Then bijah took theopportunity of standing on Aount e!arai! in 7phrai! to address +ereboa! and his!en. (e !ust have had a loud voice and called upon the! to hear what he said -v.5.

(e first insists that the *ord%s covenant with +udah that $avid and his descendants werethe royal line was absolute and unchangeable -v. "econdly he says that +ereboa! hadrebelled not only against the king but against God and had collected worthless rogues to boldly refuse Behoboa!%s authority while Behoboa! was still young and ine,perienced-vv.32. This too was true though bijah did not !ention that Behoboa! had treated the

a!bassadors of the ten tribes with cruel conte!pt.

Thirdly bijah tells the! they think to withstand the kingdo! of the *ord having a great!ultitude of followers and depending on the golden calves that +ereboa! had adopted asidolatrous gods -v.4. This was a deeply incri!inating fact.

)ut as a fourth !atter of serious i!portance 0srael had totally refused the worship of the*ord. casting out the priests the sons of aron and ordaining priests of any !en theydesired if these !en virtually bought their way into the priesthood by bringing a bull andseven ra!s -v.;.

0n contrast to 0srael%s rebellion bijah tells the! that +udah had continued to faithfully practice the worship of the *ord. <We have not forsaken (i!< he says <and the priestswho !inister to the *ord are the sons of aron and the *evites attend to their duties. ndthey burn to the *ord every !orning and evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incenseF theyalso set the showbread in order on the pure gold table and the la!pstands of gold with itsla!ps to burn every eveningF for we keep the co!!and of the *ord our God< -v.11. =odoubt all this was true as regards the for!al worship of +udah though the spiritualsignificance of this worship did not have any real effect on the heart of bijah.

What a picture of the state of things in the professing church today #eople !ay becha!pions of orthodo,y !ay be able to e,pose the evils of idolatrous worship that are prevalent in !any deno!inations. )ut though their for!s are in !easure orthodo, theirhearts !ay still be far fro! God. This is hypocrisy. Aay we judge it absolutely and seekgrace to honestly walk with God. bijah thought that he was righteous in co!parisonwith the evil of 0srael but he ought to have considered hi!self as under the eye of Godrather than co!paring hi!self with others.

+ereboa! had no answer to the charges of bijah but deter!ined to attack by sending ana!bush to circle around behind the +udean ar!y -v.1D. This was good !ilitary strategy



but God is greater than +ereboa!. The !en of +udah were taken by surprise in finding the battle on both sides of the!. )ut they cried out to the *ord and the priests sounded thetru!pets -v.15. 7ven though God%s people were not in a good spiritual state yet Godheard their prayer of distress. The !en of +udah shouted and God intervened by putting0srael in fear of +udah -v.& so that they turned and fled.

bijah and his ar!y defeated the! with a tre!endous slaughter with 99999 choicewarriors of 0srael killed -v.12. =o other battle in history has been so devastating as this.7ven today with the world%s greatly increased population it would be unheard of that onehalf a !illion !en should be killed in one battle. )ut how !uch !ore sad it is to consider that this battle was between brethren

0n this engage!ent bijah depended on the *ord and was able also to capture cities andvillages in 0srael including )ethel +eshanah and 7phrai!. Thus the strength of+ereboa! was greatly weakened and he did not recover fro! the effects of his defeat. )ythe *ord%s intervention he was struck with an illness that took his life. This was evidently

soon after the death of bijah for +ereboa! reigned && years -1 'i.15:&9 and it was inhis 14th year that bijah beca!e king of +udah -ch.1D:1 and bijah reigned only threeyears. 0n that short ti!e he grew !ighty -v.&1 !arried fourteen wives and had && sonsand 1 daughters Ef course he !ight have had so!e of his wives and children before he began to reign. Ether activities of bijah were recorded in the writings of the prophet0ddo but these are not scripture.

CHAPTER 1

THE RE,GN OF ASA #$$%1'13)

bijah was buried in +erusale! and his son sa took the throne of +udah. To his creditthe land was ?uiet for ten years with no attacking ene!ies for the character of sa wassuch that he did what was good and right in the eyes of the *ord -vv.&3D. (is faithfulnessinvolved the constructive work of co!!anding +udah to seek the *ord and to observe thelaw but so!e destructive work was no less i!portant: he re!oved the high places andincense altars that had been introduced in "olo!on%s ti!e and was continued byBehoboa! and bijah.

)ut while the land enjoyed rest fro! war he was wise in preparing for wan (e builtfortified cities in +udah and encouraged the people to build and !ake walls about theincluding towers gates and bars. )elievers today also are wise to take advantage of ti!es

of peace to store up the Word of God in their hearts as a protection fro! the attacks of theene!y that are sure to co!e eventually. Thus sa%s prosperity is an incentive for us todayto learn to prosper spiritually while we have opportunity for it.

sa also gathered an ar!y of D99999 fro! +udah and &49999 fro! )enja!in allcapable warriors -v.4. (owever after ten years of his reigning the king of 7thiopia ca!eto attack hi! with an ar!y of one !illion !en and D99 chariots -v.;. Thus he had5&9999 !ore !en than sa had. )ut sa was not discouraged. fter setting his troops in



battle array he prayed a prayer of si!ple confidence in the *ord re!inding (i! <it isnothing for 8ou to help whether with !any or with those who have no powerF help us E*ord our God for we rest on 8ou and in 8our na!e we go against this !ultitude. E*ord 8ou are our GodF do not let !en prevail against 8ou< -v.11.

"uch genuine confidence in the *ord produced the results we ought to e,pect. )y the*ord%s intervention the 7thiopians were routed in fear. sa%s ar!y pursued the! andoverthrew all their power leaving the! without any ability to recover. +udah carriedaway a great a!ount of spoil -v.1D. t the sa!e ti!e they defeated all the cities aroundGerar. This was #hilistine territory which really belonged to +udah but had not been possessed by the!. @ro! these cities they took a great a!ount of plunder also including!uch livestock -vv.1531.

CHAPTER13

A MESSAGE FROM GO" #$$%1'()

s sa returned fro! his victory the *ord sent a prophet 6ariah son of Eded to !eethi! with encouraging words telling sa <The *ord is with you while you are with (i!.0f you seek (i! (e will be found by youF but if you forsake (i! (e will forsake you<-v.&.

bijah re!inded sa that for a long ti!e 0srael was without the true God without ateaching priest and without law< -v.D. This refers especially to the ti!e of the +udgeswhen everyone did what was right in his own eyes. 0n that book we are told that !anyti!es when in trouble if they turned to the *ord and (e delivered the! -v.5. )ut thegeneral condition was so low that God troubled the! because of their self3will. )ut

6ariah urges sa to show hi!self strong against such dangers -v.2.

ASAS REFORMS #$$%'15)

0n verse 4 the prophecy is said to be that of Eded so that 6ariah Eded%s son wasevidently only the !essenger to deliver Eded%s prophecy. This word fro! God had realeffect on sa to give hi! fresh courage to re!ove fro! +udah and )enja!in theabo!inable idols that had been entertained by his father. (e also took such idols awayfro! the cities he had captured fro! 7phrai!.

When it is !entioned that he restored the altar of the *ord this !ay !ean that he restored

the proper sacrifices to be offered on that altar for there see!s to be no evidence that thealtar itself had been da!aged.

)esides this sa was diligent to encourage all the people in the proper worship of the*ord. (e gathered all +udah and )enja!in and others even fro! 7phrai! Aanasseh and"i!eon who were willing to co!e when they learned of the *ord%s blessing of sa incontrast to the idolatry of the ten tribes. 0n this great gathering in the fifteenth year ofsa%s reign they offered to the *ord 299 bulls and 2999 sheep which had been taken as



plunder -vv.19311. (ow good it was to draw the attention of the people to the value ofthe sacrifice for every case of recovery in 0srael was attended by sacrifice a re!inder ofthe i!portance of the sacrifice of Christ as being the source of all blessing for (is people.

En this occasion they entered into a covenant to seek the *ord God of their fathers with

all their heart and with all their soul specifying too that any who would not agree to thisshould be put to death -vv.1&31D. s in the case of various other covenants being !adethis was si!ply a renewing of the covenant of law as first given by Aoses and as inthose cases so in this case it was not long before the covenant was broken. t this ti!ehowever they took an oath before the *ord with a great display acco!panying it -v.15.They had sworn with all their heart and sought the *ord with all their soul. There is nodoubt they !eant it but they did not suspect the treachery of their own hearts. "till Godrespected the good intentions they had and gave the! rest all around for the ti!e being-v.1 Enly in the =ew Testa!ent do we find the law set aside because it is ineffectiveand the pure grace of God introduced as the only principle that can truly bring forth fruitfor God. The epistle to the Galatians is a !ost valuable treatise on this subject.

lso sa showed no favouritis! to his own close relative J his grand!other J who had!ade an idolatrous i!age of sherah -v.1. (e re!oved her fro! the place of LueenAother. =ot even her age would !ake any difference in this case. "uch evil can not bee,cused no !atter who is guilty of it. sa cut down and crushed her i!age then burnedit.

Though sa re!oved the high places fro! +udah -ch.131: he did not re!ove thesefro! the rest of 0srael -v.12. Ef course he did not have the sa!e authority over the tentribes as he did over +udah though so!e fro! those tribes had chosen to recognise hi!.)ut in the !ain sa%s heart re!ained faithful to the *ord. 0t is also reported that he

brought into the house of the *ord silver and gold utensils that both (is father and he haddedicated. 0t see!s bijah had not carried through his pro!ise in dedicating these thingsand sa fulfilled this for hi! as well as adding his own contribution.

CHAPTER 1.

ASA GOES TO THE !ORL" FOR HELP #$$%1'.)

)aasha king of 0srael had beco!e alar!ed at the thought of so!e fro! 0srael defectingto +udah Therefore he ca!e and built Ba!ah as a buffer between the two co!panies-v.1. What a picture of the fact that those who have departed fro! the *ord%s centre will

do all they can to keep their followers fro! returning to the *ord%s place for the! Thiswas not a direct attack upon +udah but sa considered it an offence. Why did he not thenappeal to God as he did in the case of the attack of the 7thiopians> )ut instead he sadlysought the help of those who were ene!ies of the *ord the "yrians. 0t see!s !oststrange that a king whose godliness and faith had been so co!!endable should sink solow as to take silver and gold fro! the house of the *ord by which to enlist the help of"yria against his brother 0sraelites -v.&.



)en (adad king of "yria !oved only by his love for silver and gold agreed to break atreaty he had with 0srael and take sides with +udah -v3v.D35. (e attacked so!e of thecities of 0srael including the storage cities of =aphtali. This had the effect that sa haddesired and sa would no doubt feet hi!self justified as !any do who consider that theend justifies the !eans -vv.3. sa was able thus to attack Ba!ah and reduce it to

nothing. (e gained his object through friendship with the world 0f instead of this he hadsought the grace and guidance of the *ord in an effort to be relieved fro! the threatenedopposition of the ten tribes certainly God would have intervened in the best way possible. )ut we too after we have found great blessing through depending on the *ord!ay find ourselves in great danger of then depending on our own ability to gain our ends.

GO"S MESSAGE TO ASA #$$%('1-)

Though sa had gained his ends in hiring "yria to help hi! God did not congratulatesa Bather (e sent (anani the prophet to hi! to strongly reprove hi! for having reliedon the king of "yria instead of on the *ord J < Therefore he tells hi! <the ar!y of the

king of "yria has escaped fro! your hand< -v.2. (e re!inded sa that the ar!y of the7thiopians and *ubi!s had been huge -far greater than that of 0srael with !any chariotsand horse!en: yet because sa had then relied on the *ord God gave hi! a decisivevictory. < @or the eyes of the *ord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show(i!self strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to (i!< -v.;. Thus (anani soughtto persuade sa that God was deeply desirous of doing the very best for those who hadtheir full confidence in (i!. The prophet faithfully told the king he had done foolishlyand because of this he would be troubled by wars fro! that ti!e onwards. (ow badlydoes our lack of faith affect our nor!al life

(owever instead of seriously taking to heart the !essage as fro! God sa beca!e

angry with (anani and put hi! in prison -v.19. )eing a believer why did he notrecognise that (anani did nor speak his own thoughts but had been God%s !outhpiece>Thus sa in his later years spoiled a testi!ony that had been bright and co!!endable. 0nfact when faith beco!es weak we shall show this in our treat!ent of others also andsa was guilty of oppressing so!e of the people.

ASAS ,LLNESS AN" "EATH #$$%11'1)

The *ord gave sa three years following his bad treat!ent of the prophet to considerand change his ways before he allowed sa to beco!e diseased in his feet -v.1&. 0t issad that he did not turn back to the *ord in that ti!e. )ut also when his feet were so

diseased why did he not then at least seek the *ord%s !ercy> Bather he sought to physicians. There is nothing wrong in going to a physician but sa sought not only a physician but <physicians.< Aore that that if in going to a physician we pray for the*ord%s intervention this is good but sa did not seek the *ord at all but only physicians.The *ord gave hi! two years following the attack of his ail!ent before (e took hi!away in death but that additional two years did not turn hi! back to the *ord. (isdiseased feet sy!bolised a bad walk but sa evidently did not discern this. Thus he diedin the 51st year of his reign. There was !uch in his reign that the people had cause to



appreciate and they laid hi! in a bed filled with spices and oint!ents and !ade a verygreat burning for hi!. The people would not be as concerned about sa%s relationshipwith God as about his outward success in reigning.

CHAPTER 1(

THE RE,GN OF 6EHOSHAPHAT #$$%1'15)

sa%s son +ehoshaphat at the beginning of his reign strengthened hi!self against 0srael-v.1. This was a wise !ove because 0srael was still in a state of idolatrous departure fro!the *ord. "ad to say he did not !aintain such strength for in Chapter 14.1 it is reportedthat he !ade an alliance with hab king of 0srael.

)ut as sa had done +ehoshaphat prepared for war by placing troops in all the fortifiedcities of +udah and the cities of 7phrai! that sa had con?uered. gain this is a re!inder to us that while we have ti!e we should prepare for the conflict that !ust be !et

so!eti!e by storing up the Word of God in our hearts.

)ecause sa walked in the ways of $avid avoiding the idolatrous worship of )aal the*ord was with hi!. (e sought the God of his fathers in obedience to (is co!!and!entsin contrast to the ways of the ten tribes -v.5. Therefore the *ord established the kingdo!under hi! and +udah was influenced to bring hi! presents for they recognised the valueof his honourable e,a!ple. The *ord greatly increased his wealth. Though Christianscannot count on !aterial wealth because of their devotion to the *ord yet this will givethe! true spiritual wealth which is far better.

@inding true delight in the *ord%s ways +ehoshaphat re!oved the high places and

wooden i!ages fro! +udah. sa had done this early in his reign -ch.15:D so it see!sthat at least so!e of these idolatrous objects had been brought back in the latter part ofhis reign when he beca!e la, in honouring God. Ef course !any people will revivesuch evils without even consulting the authorities.

+ehoshaphat also did the positive good work of sending five leaders seven *evites andtwo priests to teach the )ook of the *aw in all the cities of +udah -vv.234. This of courseincludes the five books of Aoses. There are !any efforts today to revive interest inspiritual things but the e!phasis is on personal goodness rather than on teaching theWord of God which is of the greatest i!portance the only guide to spiritual blessing.God blessed the faith of +ehoshaphat by restraining any ene!ies fro! attacking hi! for

(e i!pressed the! with the fear of the *ord -v.19. Thus during the ti!e of peace hewas able to strengthen his kingdo!.

+ehoshaphat%s character was such that even so!e of the #hilistines recognised the valueof his reign and willingly brought presents to hi! as a tribute and the rabians broughtflocks of ra!s and goats. Thus is illustrated the scripture <When a !an%s ways please the*ord (e !akes even his ene!ies to be at peace with hi!< -#rov.19:2.



)eco!ing increasingly powerful +ehoshaphat built fortresses and store cities in +udah-v.1&. (ow good for Christians too in ti!es of peace to prepare for the conflict thatre?uires a good defence such as the fortress of the truth of God and the storing up of thetruth in our hearts.

+ehoshaphat%s ad!inistration was well organised and the total of his ar!ed !en was119999 as well as soldiers the king put in the fortified cities -vv.1531;. This is reallyan a!a6ing standing ar!y for a ti!e of peace )ut it pictures the fact that all believersshould be fully prepared for conflict which will co!e to us in so!e way. Thus the *ord presents us first with all those things that were a credit to the faith of 'ing +ehoshaphatfor (e loves to co!!end all that is co!!endable.

CHAPTER 1

6EHOSHAPHATS COMPROM,SES #$$%1'2()

Though +ehoshaphat had at first strengthened hi!self against 0srael -ch.1:12 hisdecision wavered badly after he had beco!e strong and wealthy. (e beca!e friendly withhab a king of 0srael <who sold hi!self to do wickedness in the sight of the *ord< -1'i.&1:&. $id +ehoshaphat not realise that 0srael was in a state of idolatrous worship anddisregard for God> (e !ust have done so at first or he would not have strengthenedhi!self against 0srael. =ow by the very fact of his going to visit hab he wasco!pro!ising his devotion to the *ord -v.&. hab flattered hi! by offering largenu!bers of sheep and o,en for hi! not for the *ord though he !ay have wanted+ehoshaphat to take the i!pression that he was honouring the God of 0srael.

0n response to hab%s re?uest that +ehoshaphat go with hi! to fight against Ba!oth

Gilead +ehoshaphat i!!ediately responded favourably. (e knew that Ba!oth Gileadactually belonged to 0srael but had been captured by the "yrians. )ut why had Godallowed "yria to take Ba!oth> )ecause of 0srael%s bad condition. +ehoshaphat did not!ention this but his conscience troubled hi! enough that he asked hab to en?uire ofthe *ord about this project. (ow sad that he would first !ake his co!!it!ent andafterward suggest asking the *ord%s guidance. )ut believers can so!eti!es be too kind to people.

hab however was agreeable and gathered together 599 prophets -or so3called prophetsto ask their counsel. )ut they already knew what hab wanted and they wanted to pleasehi! rather than have any concern for pleasing the *ord. They all dared to tell hab that

God would deliver Ba!oth into hab%s hand -v.. There are such s!ooth talking prophets today who clai! to be speaking for God but are plainly lying 0f we have God%sclear word in the scriptures we !ay declare this with full confidence but if we do notthen let us not dare to speak as though representing (i!. @or this we shall have to giveaccount to (i!.

+ehoshaphat was not persuaded by this great crowd of prophets. Why not> )ecause hewas a believer and discerned that they did not speak as the oracles of God< -0 #et. 5:11



but !erely as progra!!ed robots with no spiritual conviction. (e asked hab if therewas not a prophet of the *ord available of who! they !ight in?uire -v.. hab ad!ittedthere was one prophet who! he had not called because hab hated hi! since he did not prophesy good concerning hab but always evil.

"ince +ehoshaphat wanted to hear this prophet however hab had hi! brought. )othkings were sitting on thrones at the entrance of the gate of "a!aria. Ene of the false prophets edekiah to draw special attention to hi!self had !ade iron horns and prophesied that with these horns hab would attack and co!pletely defeat the "yrians-v.19.

The !essenger sent to call Aicaiah thought it necessary to urge hi! to speak just thesa!e as all the false prophets spoke -v.1&. Aicaiah%s answer was si!ple and to the point:he would speak what God gave hi! to speak -v.1D.

When hab asked Aicaiah if he should go to war against Ba!oth Gilead hab knew that

Aicaiah was speaking sarcastically when he said <Go and prosper and they shall bedelivered into your hand< -v.15. =otice he did not say the *ord would deliver the! northat his !essage was fro! God. )ut hab told Aicaiah that he should only speak truth inthe na!e of the *ord. hab knew the difference between the prophets but he !ust haverealised that none of those prophets had spoken truth in the na!e of the *ord J sinceAicaiah had said the sa!e as they did.

Therefore Aicaiah spoke the truth <0 saw all 0srael scattered on the !ountains as sheepthat have no shepherd. nd the *ord said These have no !aster. *et each return to hishouse in peace< -v.1. Terrible startling !essage for hab )ut he had asked for truthand God gave it to hi!

When Aicaiah told hab that the *ord had prophesied that 0srael would have no !asterhab rightly considered that Aicaiah had prophesied evil concerning hi! -v.12. )utAicaiah had !uch !ore to say and declared this to hab as the word of the *ord. (e hadseen the *ord on (is throne and all the host of heaven standing so!e on (is right handothers on (is left. This included evil spirits. The *ord asked the! <Who will persuadehab king of 0srael to go up that he !ay fall at Ba!oth Gilead>< fter so!e had !adesuggestions a spirit spoke confidently that he would persuade hab by being a lyingspirit 0n the !ouths of all hab%s prophets. This !ay see! a strange situation but itillustrates the fact that the *ord allows evil spirits to do their evil work of lying so thatungodly people will be deceived just as & Thessalonians & indicates the folly of thosewho are deceived by the strong delusion the *ord sends by !eans of the antichrist because of people%s refusing to believe the truth of God -vv.311. Thus because habhad refused God%s Word he would accept the falsehood of "atan%s prophets. Aicaiahtherefore declares that the *ord had put a lying spirit in the !ouths of these prophets andthe *ord had declared disaster to fall on hab -v.&&.

hab was not happy about such a prophecy but it did not change his stubborn will to doas he pleased. )ut (e6ekiah "urely he realised that this prophecy was fro! God but he



had already co!!itted hi!self to acco!pany hab.. What did (e6ekiah think whenedekiah not only spoke disdainfully to Aicaiah but struck hi! on the cheek clai!ingthat since he hi!self had spoken by the "pirit of the *ord how could the "pirit havespoken to Aicaiah> -v.&D. "uch was the conte!ptible wickedness of a false prophet.Aicaiah replied that edekiah would yet have the e,perience of going into an inner

cha!ber to hide hi!self -v.&5. When that did take place what would be the thoughts ofthat poor deluded dupe of "atan>

0n foolish pride hab co!!anded that Aicaiah should be put in prison and fed only bread and water until hab returned in peace -v.&. $id he think such action woulddefeat the prophecy of Aicaiah> )ut Aicaiah gave one parting !essage <0f you everreturn in peace. the *ord has not spoken by !e< -v.&2. (e e!phasised this by calling onall the people to witness what he said. Why did (e6ekiah say nothing> (e surely ought tohave defended the !an of God.

THE "EATH OF AHAB #$$%2'&)

hab feared there !ight be so!e truth to Aicaiah%s prophecy and he e,posed both thatfear and his own selfishness when he told +ehoshaphat to wear his royal robes saying thathe would disguise hi!self J (e was plainly telling +ehoshaphat that he would !uchrather see hi! killed than hi!self )ut +ehoshaphat !eekly sub!itted to this.

The "yrians knew that in this battle hab was their chief ene!y and their king gaveorders that his !en were to concentrate only on attacking hab -v.D9. When the captainsof the chariots of "yria saw +ehoshaphat in his royal attire they of course thought he washab and surrounded hi! in his chariot just as hab desired +ehoshaphat cried out butit is not said he cried out to the *ord. Why not> #erhaps it was because he had -rather

unwillingly left the *ord out of this whole project and was not so confident of the *ord%s protection. )ut in pure grace the *ord helped hi! and diverted the "yrians fro! hi!when they realised he was not the king of 0srael -vv.D13D&.

(owever hab%s disguise did not fool God and it was God who directed a "yrian toshoot an arrow at rando! and God caused the arrow to pierce through between the jointsof hab%s ar!our inflicting a !ortal wound. hab ordered his chariot driver to turn andtake hi! out of the battle -v.DD. Why did he prop hi!self up in his chariot> Was it because he wanted to persuade hi!self that he was not so badly injured and would by this!eans defeat the likelihood of death> (ow !any there are who seek to prop the!selvesup instead of turning in prayer to God They will no !ore succeed than did hab. (e

died about the ti!e of sunset. 0 'ings &&:D4 adds that his chariot was washed in "a!ariaand the dogs licked up his blood as 7lijah had prophesied -1 'i.&1:1;.

CHAPTER 15

6EHOSHAPHAT REPRO4E" #$$%1'&)



+ehoshaphat%s e,perience with hab ought to have been enough to speak deeply to hi! asto the folly of bad associations but God knew he needed !ore than e,perience so he sent+ehu the son of (anani to !eet +ehoshaphat and to ask hi! <"hould you help the wickedand love those who hate the *ord> -v.&. +ehoshaphat surely knew the answer to this was<%=o< and +ehu adds <Therefore the wrath of the *ord is upon you.< 0f believers beco!e

involved in wrong associations they can only e,pect to incur the anger of the *ord. Thisis certainly as true in the =ew Testa!ent as it was in the Eld as & Corinthians :15314insists: <Co!e out fro! a!ong the! and be separate says the *ord. $o not touch what isunclean and 0 will receive you.<

Though the *ord reproved +ehoshaphat%s being friendly with hab yet at the sa!e ti!e(e co!!ended the good things that +ehoshaphat had practised in re!oving woodeni!ages fro! the land and preparing his heart to seek God -v.D. @or God delights toencourage godly character though (e !ust reprove what is contrary to this. 7vidently+ehoshaphat received this !essage without resent!ent in contrast to the bad response ofhis father to (anani in putting hi! in prison -ch.1:2319.

6EHOSHAPHATS REFORMS #$$%'11)

+ehoshaphat%s dwelling was in +erusale! but he went out to all +udah and )enja!in asfar north as the border of 7phrai! with such a !essage that brought the people back torecognise the God of their fathers -v.5. <Then he set judges in the land throughout all thefortified cities of +udah< -v.. (e gave the! good instruction urging the! to re!e!berthey were to judge for God not for !an. They were to be thoroughly i!partial refusing bribes -w. 32. ll history has shown the obno,ious tendency of judges to stoop to taking bribes to pervert justice.

0n +erusale! +ehoshaphat appointed so!e of the *evites and priests as judges in regard tocontroversies that !ight arise a!ong the people. gain his instruction to the! was vitallyi!portant that they should act in the fear of the *ord faithfully and with a loyal heart-vv.43;. 0f any case of wrongdoing arose these !en were to be ?uick to discern the eviland to warn the people against it that they !ight not be guilty of allowing it to spreadand cause the wrath of God to fall -v.19. lso +ehoshaphat called upon the priests and*evites to recognise the authority of !ariah the chief priest and ebadiah the ruler ofthe house of +udah. (ow i!portant is this !atter of recognising proper authority andsub!itting to it. 0srael has suffered fro! the lack of this recognition and the Church hassuffered too fro! this ail!ent. +ehoshaphat finished his instructions with the encouragingwords <)ehave courageously and the *ord will be with the good< -v.11.

CHAPTER 2-

THREE ENEM,ES A,TAC0,NG #$$%1'2)

The *ord now allowed a further test of the faith of 'ing +ehoshaphat. r!ies of Aoaband !!on ca!e against +udah and others were added in this attack. Aoab speaks ofself3satisfied religion -+er.54:11 and re!inds us that a s!ug self3co!placent attitude is



a bad ene!y for any of us. *et us not dare to sub!it to it !!on -!eaning <peoplish< pictures the falsehood of evil doctrine its king in $avid%s ti!e being na!ed <=ahash<which !eans <a serpent< -& "a!.19:&. "o also we !ust not for a !o!ent sub!it todeceptive teaching.

When +ehoshaphat was told of a great !ultitude co!ing against hi! fro! beyond the sea-the sea of Galilee he realised this was a strong ene!y and he would re?uire !ore thanhu!an strength for the battle. (e feared and set hi!self to seek the *ord proclai!ing afast throughout all +udah -v.D. @asting speaks of self3denial which is the negative side of faith for faith in the *iving God gives (i! the positive place of pre3e!inence andtherefore puts self in the negative place of uni!portance.

6EHOSHAPHATS PRA/ER #$$%&'12)

Herse 5 therefore introduces the positive side when +ehoshaphat gathered the people of+udah together to seek the intervention of God. (e then stood in the house of the *ord to

address God in earnest prayer -v..

0n beginning his prayer +ehoshaphat asked four ?uestions that he knew were to beanswered with a resounding <8es< <re you not God in heaven>< <$o you not rule overall the kingdo!s of the nations>< <0n 8our hand is there not power and !ight so that noone is able to withstand 8ou>< <re you not our God who drove out the inhabitants ofthe land before 8our people 0srael and gave it to the descendants of braha! 8our friendforever>< Ef course these are absolute facts that +ehoshaphat hi!self felt necessary to bere!inded of and his speaking this way would be refreshing to the heart of God.

(e re!inded God also that 0srael had dwelt in the land and had built a sanctuary for

God%s na!e -v.4. This refers to "olo!on%s building of the te!ple and also he refers to"olo!on%s prayer at its dedication <0f disaster co!es upon us J sword judg!ent pestilence or fa!ine J we will stand before this te!ple and in 8our presence -for 8ourna!e is in this te!ple and cry out in our affliction and 8ou will hear and save.<

<nd now< a specific case had arisen -v.19. The people of !!on Aoab and Aount"eir -who had been spared by 0srael when on their way to Canaan were attacking +udahwith the object of dispossessing the! of the land God had given the!. Therefore+ehoshaphat rightly e,pects God to judge the! and pleads in this way -v.1&. $eeplyfeeling the weakness of +udah as co!pared to the power of the ene!y he acknowledgedthat they not only lacked power but did not know what to do. Their one and only

resource was therefore the God of 0srael. <Eur eyes are upon 8ou< he says.

+ehoshaphat had prayed in confiding faith to God and God answered by choosing a*evite +eha6iel to give the !essage of God in clear decided ter!s <*isten all you of+udah and you inhabitants of +erusale! and you 'ing +ehoshaphat Thus says the *ord.$o not be afraid nor dis!ayed because of this great !ultitude for the battle is not yours but the God%s. To!orrow go down against the!. They will surely co!e up by the ascentof ig and you will find the! at the end of the brook before the wilderness of +eruel. 8ou



will not need to fight in this battle. #osition yourselves stand still and see the salvation of the *ord who is with you E +udah and +erusale! $o not fear or be dis!ayed to!orrowgo out against the! for the *ord is with you< -vv.1312. Who could doubt that this wasthe plain answer of God to the prayer of +ehoshaphat>

)ut how good it is to see the effect this had on the godly king. (e bowed his head beforethe *ord and this influenced +udah to do the sa!e worshipping the *ord. This hu!bleworship was followed by the standing up of the *evites to praise the *ord God of 0sraelwith loud and strong voices. 0f we have prayed for God%s intervention in any !atter dowe re!e!ber to really thank God when (e answers our prayer>

0n fir! decision of faith the people rose early in the !orning to !eet their ene!ies. Entheir way however +ehoshaphat stood and addressed the! si!ply and pointedly <)elieve in the *ord your God and you shall be established: believe (is prophets and youshall prosper< -v.&4. )ut then he did so!ething !ost unusual for the benefit of an ar!ygoing to war. Consulting with the people with who! he desired to be in concord he

appointed singers who would praise the beauty of holiness e!phasising the words of the psal! <#raise the *ord for (is !ercy endures forever< -v.&1. These went before thear!y a beautiful testi!ony of faith in the living God.

The *ord always responds to faith and (e did so very re!arkably on this occasion. (eset a!bushes against the three ene!ies evidently a!bushes of their own people so thatthey were confused as to who was for the! and who was against the!. Aoab and!!on evidently thought that those of Aount "eir -7do!ites were 0sraelites andvigorously destroyed the!. Then in the heat of battle the Aoabites and !!onites turnedagainst one another possibly also confused in thinking the other ar!y was that of 0srael-v.&D. 0t was a si!ple !atter for God to cause this confusion and as (e had foretold

0srael would not have to fight

@inding all their ene!ies dead 0srael was enriched by a great abundance of spoil thattook the! three days to transport fro! the battlefield -vv.&53&. =ot only were theyspared fro! the cruel ravages of war but they profited greatly by the attack of the ene!yTrue faith will always find it this way. Aay we dependently cling to the *ord and cal!lywatch (i! work against every threatening ene!y.

)ut in leaving the scene of battle they did not forget to thank God for (is great gracetoward the!. They asse!bled in the valley of )erachah -which !eans <a blessing< andthere e,pressed their thanksgiving together in blessing the *ord. They did this before theyactually returned to +erusale!. With great joy with stringed instru!ents and harps andtru!pets they ca!e to the te!ple the house of God -vv.&23&4. (ow fitting a recognitionof God%s honour at this ti!e

Ether nations also heard of this !arvellous occasion of God%s !anifest intervention in thedestruction of three nations who sought to attack 0srael and this put the fear of God intothe! -v.&; not the fear of 0srael.



6EHOSHAPHATS RE,GN EN",NG ,N PEACE #$$%&-'&()

The victory God had given +ehoshaphat had such lasting effect that the rest of his reignwas ?uiet with no !ore efforts of the ene!y to !olest hi!. 0t was God who gave hi!rest -v.D9. We are told that he was D years of age when he took the throne over +udah

and he reigned & years thus was only 9 at his death. (is !other%s na!e is !entionedtoo an indication she !ust have been a godly wo!an to have son so devoted to the *ord.(e walked in the way of his father sa whose earlier years were ad!irable though saacted badly near the end in putting God%s prophet in prison which was not true of+ehoshaphat.

8et there was one ble!ish that re!ained in the history of +ehoshaphat. (e did not takethe high places away. The high places indicated a desire for the recognition of !en in theworship of God. just as hu!an religion wants a church steeple that stands out in theco!!unity. (ow different was the character of the apostles at the beginning ofChristianity J as #aul says <we have been !ade a spectacle to the world both to angels

and to !en. We are fools for Christ%s sake we are poorly clothed and beaten andho!eless< etc. -1 Cor.5:;311. Aore than this he took the attitude of destroying the high places when he wrote <Casting down argu!ents and every high thing that e,alts itselfagainst the knowledge of God bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience ofChrist -& Cor.19:.

We have read of !uch that was good in the history of +ehoshaphat but other acts of hisalso were recorded in the book of +ehu son of (anani which is not available today. )utthis !an evidently appreciated +ehoshaphat since he recorded his actions but not thoseof sa who had persecuted his father -ch.1:19.

(owever in spite of all the good that +ehoshaphat had done he did not learn well enoughfro! his e,perience of hu!iliation when he allied hi!self with hab nor fro! the wordsof God in reproving hi! through +ehu -ch.1;:&3D who asked hi! <"hould you help thewicked and love those who hate the *ord>< $id these words not burn into his heart whenhe allied hi!self with ha6iah the wicked son of a wicked father and !other hab and+e6ebel> -v.D. )ut he joined with ha6iah in a business venture building ships to go toTarshish.

This ti!e the *ord did not only reprove hi! but sent another prophet 7lie6er toannounce to hi! that because he had allied hi!self with ha6iah the *ord had brokenhis works -v.D2. That word was backed up i!!ediately by God%s intervention in

wrecking his ships before any voyage to Tarshish. =othing is said of how +ehoshaphatreceived this !essage and action against hi! but we are surely re!inded that God is norespecter of persons. (e will not e,cuse sin in even the !ost godly persons.

CHAPTER 21

THE RE,GN OF 6EHORAM #$$%1'2-)



Though verse 1 speaks of +ehora!%s reigning when +ehoshaphat died it is !ade clear in &'ings 4:1 that +ehora! began to reign before +ehoshaphat%s death for it reads <0n thefifth year of +ora! the son of hab king of 0srael +ehoshaphat being then king of +udah+ehora!. the son of +ehoshaphat king of +udah began to reign< -+=$ Trans.. 7vidently+ehoshaphat gave his son the place of reigning along with hi!self or as regent.

+ehoshaphat had seven sons but he gave the kingdo! to +ehora!. the firstborn thoughgiving also great gifts to each of his si, brothers including fortified cities in +udah. )ut+ehora! was a far different character than his father and soon e,pressed the wickednessof his character by killing all his brothers as soon as he was established over thekingdo! and killing also other princes of 0srael who! he !ight suspect of having anyaspirations of reigning.

Why did he not follow the godliness of his father> Ene reason is that his father had lefthi! the bad e,a!ple of having bad friends. "ince +ehoshaphat was friendly with habhis son +ehora! !arried hab%s daughter thaliah who was no less wicked than her

parents -v..

8et in spite of +ehora!%s wickedness the *ord would not destroy the house of $avid because of his pro!ise to $avid and to $avid%s descendants -v.2. Thus the grace of Godis e!phasised as greater than judg!ent though in righteous govern!ent God would bring serious suffering on 0srael. This is seen in verse 4 as 7do! revolted against the ruleof +udah. +ehora! atte!pted to bring 7do! back under subjection but could do nothing-vv.;319. *ibnah also revolted and the reason is si!ply given. The *ord allowed this because +ehora! had forsaken the *ord.

+ehoshaphat had not done away with the high places but +ehora! added to these causing

the inhabitants of +erusale! to co!!it harlotry that is idolatry by !eans of the high places for though at first they clai!ed to have the high places for the worship of Godthis very soon developed into the worship of idols. "i!ilarly our desire for highrecognition by !en in our outward worship of God will very easily beco!e virtualidolatry. God will be displaced and "atan%s counterfeit will take God%s place.

God had anticipated the evil of +ehora! however in having before inspired 7lijah-previous to his translation to write a letter of sole!n reproof to +ehora!. Herses 1&31record this !essage fro! <the *ord God of your father $avid.< En the one hand+ehora!. had the e,a!ple of sa his grandfather and that of +ehoshaphat his father whosought the honour of the *ord -v.1&. )ut on the other hand the kings of 0srael had left ane,a!ple of ungodly rebellion against the truth and it was these who! +ehora! followed.(e was guilty of !aking +udah and the inhabitants of +erusale! to play the harlot just ashab did in 0srael. lso 7lijah wrote that +ehora! had killed his brothers who were better than hi!self -v.1D.

Therefore he added that God would judge +ehora! severely for this bringing a seriousaffliction on his people his children his wives and all his possessions but that he wouldalso personally suffer the infliction of a dreadful disease of his intestines so severe that



his intestines would co!e out <day by day< -v.1. This would !ean protractedsuffering. This sole!n !essage written before +ehora! was born ought to have hadspecially profound effect upon the wicked king for it ca!e to hi! in a !ost unusual waywhich was clear evidence that it was a !essage fro! the all knowing God of creation.

The !essage of God by the writing of 7lijah apparently did not at all turn +ehora!. to the*ord as it ought to have and the *ord stirred up his ene!ies against hi!. 0f one%s ways please the *ord (e would !ake his ene!ies to be at peace with hi! but it was just thereverse with +ehora!. The #hilistines and rabians invaded +udah and +udah had notenough defence to keep the! fro! plundering the king%s house. They carried away his possessions his sons and his wives though leaving his youngest son +ehoaha6 -v.12.

$id +ehora! not reflect on the great contrast between his reign and the peaceful reign ofhis father> "ince there is no record of his turning fro! his evil way surely he could havenothing but utter re!orse as his reign drew to a close. The *ord then struck hi! with anincurable disease of the intestines which afflicted hi! for two years before his intestines

ca!e out and he died in severe pain. Thus God allowed hi! an e,tra two years forrepentance but he had evidently sold hi!self to do evil as hab had done -1 'i.&1:&so that to the end be resisted the goodness of God that !ight have led hi! to repentance.

The people !ade no burning for hi! as they had for his fathers for they were not sorryfor his death. (e reigned fro! the age of D& until he was 59 a brief eight years and diedwith no one to !ourn for hi!. Though he was buried in +erusale! his grave was notwith the kings. (ow sad an end for the son of the faithful 'ing +ehoshaphat

CHAPTER 22

AHA7,AHS RE,GN #$$%1'5)

"ince all +ehora!%s sons had been killed e,cept ha6iah the youngest he was !ade king by the people. Taking the throne at the age of && -not 5& he reigned only one year."adly the *ord%s judg!ent on his father did not affect hi! to turn to the *ord but hefollowed the ways of the house of hab. (is !other was thaliah the daughter of haband +e6ebel and he accepted the wicked advice of his !other -v.D. (ow different to sawho re!oved his !other fro! the place of ?ueen !other because she had !ade an idolan i!age of sherah -& Chron.1:1. Ene who deliberately ignores the *ord leaveshi!self open to being led into every for! of evil.

ha6iah therefore accepted advice fro! the house of hab and joined hi!self to +ehora!the son of hab to fight against (a6ael king of "yria. (is grandfather had !istakenlyunited with hab in going to battle and was seriously reproved by God for doing so butha6iah was so friendly with +ora! king of 0srael that after +ora! was wounded in battleha6iah went to visit hi! -v.. )ut the ti!e had co!e when God had sent +ehu the sonof =i!shi to cut off the house of hab and ha6iah co!pro!ised his own safety by hisfriendship with +ora!. +ehu ca!e to "a!aria and killed all the relatives of hab he foundthere including +ora! king of 0srael. Ef course +ehu knew that ha6iah was the husband



of thaliah hab%s daughter and that he had co!e to "a!aria. ha6iah hid in the city but +ehu%s !en found hi! and brought hi! to +ehu -v.;. They killed hi! but because hewas the grandson of +ehoshaphat they buried hi!. (is !other3in3law +e6ebel was not buried because the dogs ate her body e,cept for her skull her feet and the pal!s of herhands -& 'i.;:D.

"ince ha6iah was only &D years old at this ti!e his sons were young children so thatthere was no one of his descendants capable of taking the throne.

ATHAL,AHS +S+RPAT,ON OF PO!ER #$$%1-'12)

The callous wickedness of thaliah rose to a terrible height at this ti!e. "he killed hergrandsons so that she could have free rein to take the kingdo! of +udah. ha6iah beingthe son of +ehora! who was the son of +ehoshaphat was of the royal line but his !otherthaliah was not. "he was a usurper with no royal rights whatever. )ut God was notdefeated by her wickedness. (e preserved one descendant of ha6iah by !eans of

+ehoshabeath a daughter of 'ing +ehora! who hid the youngest son when thaliah!urdered the rest -v.11. 0t was "atan who !oved thaliah in her atte!pt to co!pletelydestroy the seed royal. Aany such atte!pts were !ade through history but God is aboveall the hateful plans of !en and of "atan. +oash was only one year old when he washidden and since +ehoshabeath was the wife of the priest +ehoiada they were able to hide+oash in the te!ple for si, years. ll this ti!e thaliah had her way in ruling over +udah.

Certainly God did not recognise her as Lueen. 0n fact in the genealogy of the kings inAatthew not only is thaliah totally ignored but also her son ha6iah her grandson+oash and his son !a6iah are dropped out of the genealogy. -At. 1:4. Thus Godshowed (is disapproval of the sinful union of +ehora! with thaliah which affected all

their descendants to the third generation. This is just one of various occasions when the*ord saw fit to !ake o!issions that are significant in (is sacred Word. @or (is wisdo!is !arvellously great whether in (is inclusions or (is o!issions..

CHAPTER 2&

6OASH CRO!NE" 0,NG ,N 6+"AH #$$%1'11)

thaliah%s tyranny was borne with for si, years when finally +ehoiada the priest took thelead in gaining the support of the !ilitary leaders in +udah to plan the crowning of theyoung boy +oash. Aessengers went throughout +udah to gather the *evites fro! the !any

cities and the chief elders of the people to +erusale! -v.&. This was done without theknowledge of thaliah.

The asse!blage ca!e to the te!ple where they !ade a covenant with +oash that heshould be king in accordance with the Word of God that the ruler !ust be of the sons of$avid -v.D. $etailed plans were !ade as to how the crowning was to take place. Enethird of the priests and *evites were to keep watch over the doors one third were to be atthe king%s house and one third at the Gate of the @ountain. The people were to be in the



courts of the te!ple but only the priests and *evites who served in the te!ple were to beallowed inside -v.. )ut all the people were to keep watch for this is typical of theconcern of the saints of God that the *ord +esus should be fully honoured with nothingallowed that would in any way co!pro!ise that honour. The *evites were to surround theking having weapons also for his protection. 0f anyone atte!pted to co!e into the house

without authorisation he was to be put to death -v.2.

Thus +ehoiada had everything organised and the *evites and all +udah co3operated fully.+ehoiada gave to the captains spears and large and s!all shields which $avid had provided to be put in the te!ple. When all had been put in order then they brought out+oash crowned hi! and gave hi! the Testi!ony a copy of the law of God and proclai!ed hi! 'ing of +udah saying <*ong live the 'ing< -v.11. Ef course this is a picture of the recognition of Christ as 'ing when (e will displace every usurper at (isco!ing in glory. The power for reigning was not in +oash however as it will be in theEne who is 'ing of kings and *ord of lords.

THE +S+RPER 6+"GE" #$$% 12'13)

thaliah had been kept unaware of what was taking place until she heard the noise of people running and praising the king. This great celebration brought her to the te!plewhere she saw +oash standing crowned by the pillar with leaders and tru!peters besidehi!. Tru!pets and other !usical instru!ents were acco!panying the singing of the!any rejoicing at the inauguration of the 'ing -v.1D. The poor wo!an tore her clothesand cried out <Treason treason.< )ut she herself was the only person guilty of treasonand guilty also of !urder and !any other cri!es.

+ehoiada the priest not a govern!ent official gave orders to the captains of the ar!y to

take thaliah outside under guard and ki1l her there. The work of a priest is to <haveco!passion on the ignorant who go astray< -(eb..& but in this case a priest was to proclai! sentence against an evildoer. "i!ilarly when the *ord +esus is seen as ready to judge the world (e is clothed in priestly gar!ents -Bev.1:1D showing that (is judg!ent will not be !erely carried out in righteous anger but rather will be a judg!entconsistent with (is character of goodness and co!passion. 0t is goodness that abhorswhat is evil and judges faithfully for God thaliah%s judg!ent ca!e far !ore suddenlythan she e,pected but it confir!s the truth of #roverbs &;: 1 <(e who is often rebukedand hardens his neck will suddenly be destroyed and that without re!edy.<

+ehoiada also gave orders that anyone who followed thaliah should be killed -v.15 but

we are not told that anyone followed her.

OR"ER AN" *+,ETNESS RESTORE" #$$%1.'21)

+ehoiada took the lead in !aking a covenant between hi!self the people and the kingfor the king was really a ward of +ehoiada being of such tender age -v.1. The covenantwas in opposition to the idolatry of thaliah and consistent with the law of Aosesstressing that +udah should be the *ord%s people not an idol worshipping people.



"uch a covenant re?uired the destruction of the te!ple of )aal which the people pro!ptly acco!plished breaking in pieces its altars and i!ages and killing the priest of)aal -v.12. This negative work was necessary just as was the e,ecution of thaliah before the positive establish!ent of the true worship of God as follows in verses 143&9.+ehoiada the priest was a faithful !an who gave back into the hand of the priests and

*evites the oversight of the house of the *ord consistent with the assign!ent of $avid inhis insisting that the law of Aoses should be obeyed in the offering of burnt sacrifices tothe *ord.

Where there has been departure in our present day fro! the truth of the Word of Godhow vital it is that we should return not !erely to what our fathers !ay have practised but to the truth laid down in the =ew Testa!ent as to the character and practice of theChurch of God. 0srael was to return to recognise the beginning of their history under law.The Church should return to realise the character of its beginning under grace to actconsistently with what God established in the )ook of cts and the epistles of +a!es#eter #aul and +ohn.

0t is good to see that when +ehoiada re3established order in the house of the *ord this wasacco!panied by rejoicing and singing -v.14. )ut also gatekeepers were set at the gates of the house of the *ord to keep outside that which was unclean -v.1;. This godly care isi!portant in the Church of God today also. "uch work !ay not be appreciated by !any but we !ust not ignore it on this account. We always need discern!ent as to what should be allowed in and what !ust be refused entry. @or if the ene!y once gains ad!ittanceeven in a s!all way he will take advantage of this to gain further ground causingcorruption in the Christian testi!ony.

The *ord thus being given (is true place in +udah the nobles and governors of the

people brought the king fro! the house of the *ord to the king%s house and set hi! onthe throne of the kingdo! -v.&9. The orderly way in which these things were all donewas a great credit to the faith of +ehoiada. The people of the land responded with great joy and the city was ?uiet in contrast to the trouble thaliah had caused. (ow instructiveis the fact that when a wicked ruler dies the people rejoice

CHAPTER 2

6OASH BEG,NS !ELL #$$%1'1)

)eing only seven years old at his coronation +oash reigned 59 years thus was only 52

when his own servants killed hi! -v.&. 0n his younger years he did what was right inthe sight of the *ord for he had the good influence of +ehoiada. (e had !uch for which tothank God under the patronage of +ehoiada and +oshabeath who had preserved hi! fro!death and enabled hi! to beco!e king. )ut he leaned too heavily upon the godly priestand did not learn to depend truly on the *ord. 0n fact we are told that +ehoiada took twowives for +oash -v.D. Why did he not si!ply instruct +oash to be careful to choose thewife that God desired hi! to have> )ut how often is it true that people so depend on a



godly leader that they never learn to stand on their own feet Ef course the leader is to bla!e if he encourages this.

0t is co!!endable however that +oash set his heart on repairing the house of the *ord-v.5. (e gathered the priests and *evites giving the! orders to go out to the cities of

+udah and gather !oney fro! the people to bear the e,penses of the repairs telling the!to do this ?uickly -v.. (owever this was not done ?uickly. 0t !ay have been that theydid not have a heart for de!anding !oney fro! the people because people generallyresist such de!ands. 0t is the principle of law3keeping which always awakens resistancein people%s !inds.

+oash confronted +ehoiada with the fact that the priests and *evites had not done as theywere told for the need was evident. thaliah and her sons had stolen the dedicated thingsof the te!ple to use the! in the worship of )aal -v.2 and if restoration was to be done inthe te!ple it would be necessarily e,pensive.

The king then e!ployed different !eans of raising funds for this project. 0nstead ofde!anding fro! the people he had a chest !ade and put outside at the gate of the houseof the *ord. Then a public announce!ent was sent throughout +udah and +erusale! thatthe chest was there to receive the contributions the people would bring -v.;.

This !ethod proved effective for people ca!e to give voluntarily without pressure being put on the!. This is the principle of grace shown us in the =ew Testa!ent where believers are not re?uired to give but being infor!ed of definite needs. They are told<*et each one give as he purposes in his heart not grudgingly or of necessity for Godloves a cheerful giver< -& Cor.;:2. de!and is not !ade but encourage!ent is given.The leaders rejoiced in this as did all the people and they willingly brought their

contributions putting the! into the chest -v.19.

Checking the chest each day the king%s officers found an abundance of !oney then theking and +ehoiada gave the !oney to those in charge of the service of the house of the*ord who hired !asons carpenters and iron and brass workers. When thus there was a!ind to do the work the restoration of the te!ple was soon acco!plished -v.1D.

0n this project it !ust have been the influence of +ehoiada that !oved +oash for of course+ehoiada was in charge of the service of the te!ple. When the repair work had been donethere re!ained further !oney with which articles of gold and silver for serving in thete!ple were added. The te!ple being given its true place then burnt offerings were

offered continually there all the days of +ehoiada -v.15.

THE "EATH OF 6EHO,A"A #$$%13'1.)

+ehoiada lived to an age of 1D9 years a faithful devoted !an. t his death he was burieda!ong the kings because he had really acted as a good king -v.1 not assu!ing the place of king but giving that place to the rightful heir to the throne yet influencing hi!rightly all the days of his life. We should rightly e,pect that +oash would keenly feel the



loss of one through who! had had been so greatly blessed and in !ourning his deathwould be purposed to continue to follow his e,a!ple.

6OASH !,LL,NGL/ M,SLE" #$$%1('22)

"adly +oash had only for!ally accepted +ehoiada%s leadership. (e did not follow the faithand e,a!ple of +ehoiada. 0nstead of continuing to stand faithfully for God he listened tothe leaders of +udah who ca!e to bow down to hi! with the intention of influencing hi!to accept again the worship of idols -vv.12314. (ow !any since hi! have been !oreswayed by a desire to please !en and therefore forget to please God

+udah%s idolatry of course incurred the anger of God who sent prophets to the! seekingto draw the! back to the *ord testifying faithfully against their idol worship but theyrefused to listen -v.1;.

@inally the "pirit of the *ord laid hold of echariah the son of +ehoiada to give a strong

prophetic !essage to +udah <Thus says God: Why do you trespass the co!!and!ent ofthe *ord so that you cannot prosper> )ecause you have forsaken the *ord (e also hasforsaken you< -v.&9. "ince this was spoken by a priest of God who was +ehoiada%s sonwe should e,pect +oash at least to pay serious attention but instead +oash issued theco!!and to stone echariah to death in the court of the house of the *ord -v.&1. Thus+oash was guilty of despising the blessing he had received through +ehoiada and coldlyrejecting the God of 0srael -v.&&.

The *ord +esus referred to this sole!n incident when speaking to the scribes and#harisees saying <The blood of echariah son of )erechiah who! you !urdered between the te!ple and the altar< -At.&D:D. 0t !ay be that )erechiah was the

grandfather of echariah but we know of no record of +ehoiada%s father. Why did the*ord +esus accuse the scribes and #harisees of !urdering echariah when this had taken place years before> )ecause they were e,hibiting the sa!e cruel unbelieving attitudetoward God by their opposition to Christ an infinitely greater Aessenger than echariahwas. )y their attitude they were identifying the!selves with those who hated God.

s echariah died he said <The *ord look upon it and repay< -v.&&. This wasconsistent with his being under law. (ow different were the words of the *ord +esus at(is death < @ather forgive the! for they not know what they do< -*k.&D:D5 and thewords of "tephen when he was stoned to death <*ord do not charge the! with this sin<-cts 2:9. )ut the prayer of echariah was answered by !eans of serious conse?uences

co!ing on +oash and his kingdo!.

6OASH S+FFER,NG "EFEAT AN" "EATH #$$%2&'2()

The *ord gave +oash at least a short ti!e to reconsider the folly of his evil course butthere was no change in the unhappy king. 0n the spring of the year the ar!y of "yriaca!e against hi! and even though the "yrian ar!y was s!all in co!parison to 0srael%svery great ar!y -vv.&D3&5 the *ord delivered the 0sraelites into the hand of the ene!y



who destroyed !any of the leaders of the people as well as taking !uch spoil thenretiring leaving +oash severely wounded. They did not kill hi! for God had decided thatthe poor king would be killed by his own servants. They took. advantage of the fact thathe was wounded and killed hi! in bed -v.&. Thus +oash had a little ti!e to consider thatGod%s judg!ent was upon hi! because of his idolatry and his cruelty to the son of

+ehoiada.

+ehoiada the protector of +oash had been buried with the kings -v.1 but +oash thoughking was not buried with the kings. The people discerned that he was not worthy of sucha burial as +ehoiada was though the people had followed +oash in his idolatry. (ow sadwas the end of the !an who wanted to please the people rather than to please God The people the!selves knew enough to despise this attitude. !a6iah son of +oash was thengiven the throne over +udah.

CHAPTER 23

AMA7,AH BEG,NS !ELL #$$%1')

The reign of !a6iah was relatively long J &; years because as his father +oash he atfirst did what was outwardly right in the eyes of the *ord though his heart was not fullyfor the *ord -v.&. *ike +oash also his testi!ony for good broke down in his later yearsso that it is ?uestionable if he knew the *ord at all.

When his kingdo! was established he e,ecuted the two servants who had killed hisfather -v.D but in accordance with scripture -$eut.&5:1 he did not e,ecute the childrenof these !en which so!e !en !ay have done since they !ight pose a threat to theruling king.

!AR !,TH E"OM #$$%3'1.)

!a6iah had energy to gather an ar!y fro! +udah with the object of warring against7do! but one thing is painfully lacking in this endeavour. While it was right to contendagainst 7do! yet in all conflict we should first consult the *ord which !a6iah did notdo. (e knew enough about scripture to nu!ber only those who were &9 years or olderand found he had an ar!y of D99999 -v.. (owever he !ade the blunder of hiring199999 warriors fro! 0srael to support the !en of +udah -v.. (e should certainly havefirst asked the *ord about such a project but did not.

"ince !a6iah had hired 199999 soldiers fro! 0srael to support the ar!y of +udah the*ord sent a !an of God to hi! to tell hi! God was not with 0srael and if he used 0srael%shelp !a6iah would be defeated -vv.234. !a6iah was therefore concerned about theloss of 199 talents of silver he had already paid to 0srael. )ut what was the loss co!paredto a hu!iliating defeat by 7do!> The answer of the !an of God was si!ple and to the point <The *ord is able to give you !uch !ore than this< -v.;.



=ot only did !a6iah lose 199 talents of silver but be incurred the proud anger of 0sraelwhen he discharged the! fro! going to war. Though they ought to have been thankful togain the 199 talents without going to battle yet their pride was wounded and theyreturned ho!e in great anger.

Without the help of 0srael !a6iah went to battle against the people of "eir -the7do!ites and gained a clear victory taking 19999 captives. )ut he did not re!e!berthe words of 7lisha to the king of 0srael when 7lisha brought the ar!y of the "yrians to"a!aria -1 'i.:1;3&D. When the king asked 7lisha if he should kill the! he responded<8ou shall not kill the!. Would you kill those who! you have taken captive with yoursword and bow>< 0nstead !a6iah%s !en took. these captives to a high rock in the!ountains and threw the! down so that they were all dashed in pieces -v.1&. This wasgross cruelty unworthy of a king of +udah.

(owever the 0sraelite soldiers who had been sent back by !a6iah attacked the cities of+udah fro! "a!aria to )eth (oron and killed D999 !en taking !uch spoil -v.12. This

ought to have spoken deeply to !a6iah in driving hi! to the *ord. )ut rather when bereturned fro! his victory over 7do! he brought with hi! the idols of 7do! and setthe! up as his own gods bowing down to the! and burning incense to the!. Thus hefollowed the foolish e,a!ple of his father who had begun well but lapsed into the snareof idolatry.

Certainly the *ord is angry with such evil as this and (e sent a prophet to !a6iah toask hi! <Why have you sought to the gods of the people which could not rescue theirown people fro! your hand>< -v.1. !a6iah%s conscience was stung by the plain forceof these words but being deter!ined to stifle his own conscience he arrogantly answeredthe prophet <(ave we !ade you the king%s counsellor> Cease Why should you be

killed>< pparently he thought that since +oash had killed echariah he hi!self could aseasily kill this prophet. The prophet then said no !ore e,cept to warn !a6iah <0 knowthat God has deter!ined to destroy you because you have done this and have not heeded!y advice< -v.1. "ole!n words indeed Would !a6iah forget the!>

AMA7,AH "EFEATE" B/ ,SRAEL #$$%1('2)

(owever this deluded king invited his own destruction by asking advice -not God%sadvice fro! his own idolatrous counsellors to send word to +oash king of 0srael askingthat they engage in battle -v.12. (e had previously given 199 talents of silver to 0srael toenlist their help. )ut now he thought he was strong since he defeated 7do! and was

confident he could subdue 0srael. "uch is the pride of fleshly !en.

+oash answered hi! with a withering parable co!paring hi! to a thistle de!andingrecognition fro! a cedar tree -v.14. )ut a wild beast tra!pled the thistle. +oash wellunderstood that !a6iah was proud of having defeated 7do! and wanted to bolster his pride by con?uering 0srael. (e advised hi! to stay at ho!e for if !eddling where heought not he would involve not only hi!self in a hu!iliating fall but +udah also -v.1;.



!a6iah%s foolish stubbornness refused to consider such serious warning yet he did notrealise that God was !oving hi! in this bad direction because he had adopted the idols of 7do! -v.&9. When one gives hi!self up to idolatry he can e,pect to succu!b to any evilinfluence for he has sought folly rather than wisdo!.

The result of the battle had been settled beforehand and !a6iah si!ply went to hiscertain defeat -v.&&. +oash took !a6iah captive and brought hi! to +erusale! where hecould witness the destruction of a large section of the wall of the city -v.&D besidesseeing the house of God stripped of all the gold and silver articles that were in it to betaken as plunder by +oash and 0srael.

What a lesson was this for !a6iah (e had shown no regard for God%s glory -of whichthe gold speaks nor for the need of rede!ption -sy!bolised by the silver and thereforeGod allowed the very sy!bols to be taken fro! hi!. What do we today think of thosetwo vital !atters J God%s glory and the rede!ption that is in Christ +esus> The wall broken down is the confir!ation that !a6iah had already broken down his proper

separation fro! the ungodly nations by his adoption of 7do!%s idols. t least +erusale!ought to have kept out of the gross evil of idolatry. The wall was therefore of no practicalvalue any !ore. @or us today the wall of separation fro! evil should be not the !erefor!al separation fro! people but a godly stand for the truth that separates us to the*ord and therefore fro! whatever dishonours (i!.

AMA7,AH M+R"ERE" #$$%23'2)

Though +oash had defeated !a6iah he did not live long to savour his victory but diedfifteen years before !a6iah -v.1. "till there is no indication that !a6iah recoveredhis treasures fro! 0srael. While +udah re!ained in the place God had given the! and

!aintained their outward allegiance to God%s te!ple yet they were greatly hu!iliated by0srael who had left God%s place of worship. This is a serious lesson for believers todaywho !ay be hu!bled in the eyes of those who !aintain a for!al observance ofChristianity but with no vital knowledge of Christ. Why are we thus hu!bled> )ecausewe have not wholeheartedly acted on the truths that we know and God seeks by such!eans to drive us back to walk truly in (is ways.

)ut the hu!bling of !a6iah did not acco!plish the result it ought to have. (is ungodlycharacter beca!e offensive even to his servants who conspired against hi!. Through fear he fled to *achish but to no avail for they sent !en there to kill hi! -v.&2. Thus hesuffered the sa!e sad fate as did his father +oash -ch.&5:&. (is body was carried back to

+erusale! for burial which is said to be <with his fathers< -v.&4 which sounds as thoughhe was buried with the kings though his father did not have such a burial -ch.&5:&.

CHAPTER 2.

THE RE,GN OF +77,AH #$$%1'13)



K66iah the son of !a6iah took the throne of +udah when he was only 1 years old andreigned for & years. The first thing !entioned about hi! is the positive good work of building the city of 7lath bringing it back under +udah%s authority. This was a good beginning. (e did right in the *ord%s eyes as did his father !a6iah in the early stages of his reign -v.5.

Herse indicates that echariah evidently a priest who was a seer also understanding<the visions of God< had so!e influence over K66iah who sought the *ord in the daysof echariah. There was a echariah before hi! who was killed at the co!!and of +oash-ch.&5:&93&1 and a later echariah a prophet whose book was na!ed after hi!-ech.1:1. )ut we know of no other !ention of this prophet of verse . K66iah soughtthe *ord and as long as he did so the *ord !ade hi! prosperous.

@ollowing the positive work of building 7lath K66iah also !ade war against the#hilistines. 0f this sounds negative it was still good work for it speaks of our contendingagainst the !ere for!ality of Christian religion. The na!e #hilistines !eans <wallowers.<

They had co!e fro! 7gypt as 0srael had but not through the Bed "ea which picturesrede!ption through the death of Christ. (ow !any there are today who take the outward place of Christians though they know nothing of being redee!ed to God by the blood ofChrist Thus we !ust contend not against people but against this for!al e!pty profession without reality. K66iah did this and broke down the walls of Gath +abneh andshdod. @or the walls that harbour !ere for!al religion are far better broken downwhile walls that protect the true testi!ony of God should be kept intact. K66iah also builtcities in the vicinity of shdod and a!ong the #hilistines -v.. These were a testi!ony toGod in contrast to #hilistine character.

Thus because of K66iah%s faithfulness God helped hi! in his victories over the

#hilistines rabians and Aeunites -v.2. The !!onites picture those who hold falsesatanic doctrine. t certain ti!es they gained so!e advantage over 0srael but not sowhen K66iah reigned. Thus he beca!e e,ceedingly strong.

(e built towers in +erusale! at points that !ight be co!paratively weak -v.;. We tooneed watchtowers in places where the ene!y is likely to take advantage of us. The towersthe!selves were fortified. 7very precaution was to be taken for the protection of God%stesti!ony. 0n fact be also built towers in the desert. Why was this> Was it not to be awareof any approaching danger fro! the ene!y> (e was concerned not only for the te!ple but also for the welfare of the production of food fro! rural areas. (e dug !any wells for livestock in the lowlands and for far!ers and vinedressersF in the !ountains for as weare told <he loved the soil< -v.19. This is unusual for a king but it is certainly to hiscredit that he was diversified in his activities.

This diversity also included an ar!y of warriors who were well organised by theinstru!entality of +eiel the scribe and Aaaseiah an officer under the authority of(ananiah one of the king%s captains -v.11 and the total nu!ber of chief officers undertheir authority was &99. 0n turn under the officers% authority was an ar!y of D9299.Thus K66iah was well prepared for war having prepared for all the warriors shields



spears hel!ets body ar!our bows and slingshots -vv.1&315. lso for the protection of+erusale! he had !echanised devices with which to shoot arrows and large stones fro!the towers on the wall. We today should be just as concerned for the protection of God%ssaints fro! evil. "o scripture tells us <he was !arvellously helped till he beca!e strong<-v.1.

FA,L+RE BECA+SE OF H,S O!N STRENGTH #$$%1.'2&)

(ow tragically sad was the abrupt fall of K66iah fro! his place of power and dignity toone of disgrace and sha!e (is strength beca!e his downfall. Though God had!arvellously helped hi! he forgot that it was God%s help that !ade hi! strong and hesuccu!bed to his own pride. $id he not have the Word of God to tell hi! that only the priests of aron%s line could enter into the sanctuary of the te!ple to burn incense> 8et he boldly entered there to burn incense -v.1.

6ariah the high priest and 49 other priests i!!ediately followed K66iah and faced hi!

with the guilt of his action ordering hi! out of the sanctuary -vv.12314. 0f he hadi!!ediately hu!bled hi!self and left he !ight have spared hi!self fro! the suddeninfliction of leprosy but he beca!e furious. "ince he was king he no doubt felt insulted by their reproof. (owever God i!!ediately intervened by inflicting K66iah with leprosyin his forehead. When the priests saw this they pushed hi! out of the place. 0n fact hehi!self recognised he !ust leave because it was evident the *ord had brought thisterrible judg!ent on hi! -v.&9.

There was no reversing of this as there had been in the case of Airia! -=u!. 1&:1931and K66iah was isolated for the rest of his life no longer able to act in a kingly capacitynor to have anything to do with the te!ple. (is son +otha! took his place as king. (ow

long he lived following his leprosy outbreak we are not told but at his death he was buried a!ong his fathers a recognition at least of his for!er faithfulness.

CHAPTER 2(

THE RE,GN OF 6OTHAM #$$%1'5)

+otha!%s reign was co!paratively short just 1 years and he died at 51years. (e didwhat was right as his father had done though he did not follow his father%s bad e,a!pleof entering the te!ple of the *ord. 8et in spite of his reign being better than !ost of thekings the people still acted corruptly. This evil included their sacrificing in high places -&

'i.1:D. Thus though +otha! was personally faithful to the *ord he did not have thespiritual energy to banish the false worship fro! +udah. )ut his good work of buildingthe upper gate of the te!ple and on the wall of Ephel and his building cities in the!ountains and fortresses and towers in the forests is co!!endable -vv.D35.

+otha! also by warfare brought the !!onites into subjection so that they paid hi!tribute of 199 talents of silver 19999 corsF of wheat and 19999 of barley for three yearsin succession -v.. The !!onites picture the doctrine of de!ons which though not



destroyed were allowed no liberty during +otha!%s reign. Thus we are told <+otha! beca!e !ighty because he prepared his ways before the *ord his God< -v.. (is shortreign of 1 years he died and was buried in +erusale!. Then his son ha6 beca!e king.

CHAPTER 2

THE +NGO"L/ RE,GN OF AHA7 #$$%1')

ha6 stands in painful contrast to his father. +otha! had been unable to rightly influence+udah to cease worshipping in high places and it see!s his influence over his own sonwas ineffective for ha6 fro! the beginning of his reign at the age of &9 was co!!ittedto a course of evil. 0gnoring the faithfulness of his father $avid and that of other kings of+udah he chose to follow the wicked e,a!ple of the kings of 0srael. (e !ade idolatrousi!ages and burned incense in the Halley of the "on of (inno! in that place sacrificinghis own children to the fire -v.D. This was done through placing the young child in thear!s of a !etal idol a fire fit under the child and dru!s beaten to drown out the child%s

cries. "uch is the callous wickedness of idolatry though such !en as ha6 think they arevery religious in practising such idolatry. Though his father +otha! did not burn incensein the high places he had allowed those places to re!ain and ha6 forgot the te!ple ofGod and burned incense in the high places and other outdoor areas -v.5. (e was like!any today who clai! they need not gather with others to worship God but can worship just as well in enjoying the scenery while they bunt or fish or play golf or hike in the!ountains.

"EFEATE" B/ S/R,A AN" ,SRAEL #$$%3')

)ecause of the idolatry of ha6 God sent the king of "yria against hi! to badly defeathi! and take a great nu!ber of captives to $a!ascus -v.. )ut also #ekah the king of0srael ca!e against +udah and in one day killed 1&9999 able warriors -v.. Three pro!inent !en of +udah including the king%s son were killed by one !an of 7phrai!.

)ut as well as this the 0sraelites captured &99999 people wo!en with their sons anddaughters as well as a great a!ount of plunder bringing this to "a!aria. The devastationof +udah !ust have been aweso!e with the nu!ber of !en killed by "yria and greatnu!bers taken captive then 1&9999 killed by 0srael and &99999 captives taken Whydid ha6 not realise that this was a judg!ent fro! God and turn to the *ord inrepentance> )ut his heart re!ained hard as a stone.

CAPT,4ES RET+RNE" B/ ,SRAEL #$$%5'21)

The *ord intervened to stop 0srael fro! e,ceeding in their harsh treat!ent of +udah.(aving the upper hand 0srael was bent on doing all in their power to hu!iliate their brethren in +udah but God sent the prophet Eded to the ar!y of 0srael with a sole!n!essage. (e told the! that because the *ord was angry with +udah (e had allowed0srael to soundly defeat the!. )ut 0srael%s rage against +udah had reached up to heaven



and now they were planning to force the wo!en and children into slavery. 0srael%s lawhad forbidden the! to !ake slaves of other 0sraelites -*ev.&:D;. $id the 0sraelites think that because +udah had sinned against the *ord therefore it was right to !ake the!slaves> )ut Eded answered this by re!inding 0srael that they also were guilty before God-v.19. Therefore he told the! return those captives to +udah for the fierce wrath of God

was against their plan to !ake slaves of the! -v.11.

0t was a !ercy of God that there were so!e leaders a!ong the people who took Eded%swords to heart. @our are !entioned by na!e who stood up against the ar!ed warriorswho ca!e bringing the captives and told the! <8ou shall not bring the captives here for we already have offended the *ord. 8ou intend to add to our sins and to our guilt: for ourguilt is great and there is fierce wrath against 0srael< -v.1D. These !en realised that0srael was guilty in the first place of killing 1&9999 !en which was far !ore thannecessary to win the war. To also take &99999 wo!en and children captive as staveswould add greatly to their guilt.

#ekah the king of 0srael is not !entioned as having anything to do with the protest ofthese four !en but it is good to see that they acted rightly without consulting the king.Their word had good effect on the warriors who left the captives and the spoil then forthe leaders to do with as they saw fit. Then these !en na!ed in verse 1& showed properconcern for the captives using the spoil to clothe and feed the! even providing donkeysfor those who were feeble and brought the! to +ericho to be returned to +udah. )ut inspite of the *ord%s dealing with +udah in allowing the! to be so devastated by "yria and0srael and in spite of kindness being shown to +udah by the return of the captives ha6did not turn to the *ord. 0t see!s he re!ained as cold and hard as he been before. Thereare so!e cases of !en who are so decidedly sold to do evil that though God patientlyappeals to the! again and again they not only fail to respond but beco!e !ore hardened

still. This is all the !ore tragic when we consider that the father of ha6 was a believer.When standing before the Great White Throne such !en will have the past all brought before the! with all its kind overtures by God and no e,cuse will even co!e to theirlips.

ha6 having refused the *ord sought help fro! the kings of ssyria when the 7do!iteagain attacked +udah and took captives and the #hilistines invaded +udah%s cities taking possession of so!e of the! -vv.1314. Thus the *ord brought +udah low and anyoneought to have been able to discern the reason for this was the bad influence of ha6 in hisown !oral depravity and his despising of the worship of the God of 0srael -v.1; )utha6 was so deluded by his own wickedness that he was blind to the reasons for hisdefeat. The king of ssyria also ca!e to +udah but not to help ha6 rather to add to histroubles. 0n fact ha6 robbed the te!ple of God to give so!e of its treasures to the kingof ssyria which the king gladly took without any intention of helping ha6 -v.&9.

,NCREASE" E4,L AN" "EATH OF AHA7 #$$%22'2.)

God%s patience had no good effect on ha6 for his deter!ination to do evil onlyincreased instead of being arrested -v.&&. "ince "yria had defeated hi! he thought "yria



did so by the power of their idols and therefore he adopted "yria%s idolatry sacrificing totheir gods. )ut this only involved hi! and all +udah in deeper evil. 0t see!s he was doingeverything he could to li!it the God of 0srael going so far as to cut in pieces the articlesof the house of God shutting its doors and instead !ake altars in every corner of+erusale! -v.&5. This pictures what !any religious leaders are doing today. @or instance

the table of showbread in the te!ple sy!bolised Christ as the "ustainer of trueco!!union with God. "uch truth has been cut to shreds by the false teachings of ungodly professors of religion. The la!pstand speaks of Christ as the "ustainer of testi!ony butthis truth too has been treated with utter conte!pt as have !any other scripture truthsthat are illustrated in the articles of the te!ple.

)y shutting the doors of the te!ple ha6 was indicating he considered the te!ple nolonger of any use just as today the truth of the Church the present3day house of God isflatly refused by !any religious deno!inations. 0n contrast to this ha6 !ade altars inevery corner of +erusale!. God had placed (is na!e in the te!ple but ha6 refusedGod%s centre and !ade centres wherever he wanted just as deno!inations today consider

it right to forget God%s one centre which is Christ and adopt for the!selves any nu!berof centres that appeal to their selfish feelings.

)esides his !any other wicked actions ha6 !ade high places in every city of +udah for burning incense to false gods. "ince he despised God%s centre +erusale! he !ade centresall through +udah !aking their worship !ore convenient with !any locations -v.&"atan likes to !ake people feel at ease with no e,ercise of heart and conscience to knowand to obey the Word of God so he has religions of every kind to cater to the fleshlydesires of everyone. )ut such things provoked the *ord to anger and ha6 died at theearly age of D years (e was buried in +erusale! but not with the kings of +udah. The people evidently refused hi! this honour for he was not worthy of it.

CHAPTER 25

HE7E0,AH MA"E 0,NG #$$%1'2)

(e6ekiah took the place of ha6 in reigning over +udah at the age of & years. (is!other%s na!e bijah is told us. "he !ust have been a far different character than herhusband because her son did what was right in the sight of the *ord in sharp contrast tohis father%s wickedness -v.&. Though his father was an e,ceptionally bad e,a!ple(e6ekiah did not follow that e,a!ple and every individual should realise that he doesnot have to go in his father%s ungodly footsteps. The grandfather of (e6ekiah -K66iah

had been a co!paratively faithful !an but we are not told that (e6ekiah did according toall that K66iah had done but according to all that his father $avid had done. Thus $avidwas his e,a!ple the first king of God%s choice in 0srael. *et us re!e!ber too that weought to follow the e,a!ple of the *ord +esus and not to be satisfied with any lessere,a!ple.

HE7E0,AHS REGAR" FOR THE HO+SE OF GO" #$$%&'15)



t the very beginning of (e6ekiah%s reign in the first !onth he opened the doors of thehouse of the *ord and repaired the! -v.D. Thus he ?uickly reversed what his father ha6had done. Bespect for God%s house is respect for God (i!self. Today we also shoulddesire the truth of the house of God which is the truth of the sse!bly to be available tothe people of God. =ot that the doors were taken away: they were opened and repaired to

perfor! their proper function of allowing in what should be in and keeping out whatshould be out.

(aving opened the doors of the te!ple (e6ekiah then gathered the priests and *eviteswho were designated by God to do the work of the te!ple. ha6 had stopped this by hisarrogant actions. )ut (e6ekiah was no weakling. (e told the priests and *evites to firstsanctify the!selves then sanctify the house of the *ord and carry out the rubbish that had been accu!ulated in the sanctuary -vv.53. =ot only had ha6 taken away the vessels ofthe te!ple but he had replaced the! with rubbish. "uch too has been the guilt of present3day religion. $espising the sacred truths of the Word of God leaders have not only gotrid of these but have introduced rubbish in their place the rubbish of hu!an substitutes

for godliness and obedience to the Word of God.

(e6ekiah !et the evil s?uarely and decidedly. (e said <Eur fathers have trespassed anddone in the eyes of the *ord our God they have forsaken (i! have turned their facesaway fro! the dwelling place of the *ord and turned their backs on (i!< -v.. (espoke also of their having shut the doors put out the la!ps and ceased to burn incense oroffer burnt offerings in this one place that God had set apart for this purpose. 0t is strikingthat he realised the enor!ity of the evil of his fathers and that this had to be corrected. (eclearly saw what his father had failed to see that the great evil that had co!e on +udahwas because of their disobedience to God -v.4. (e e,pected +udah to see this also. Aany!en of +udah had died by warfare and !any !others and children had been taken captive

-v.;.

Therefore (e6ekiah advocated a positive return to the *ord calling upon +udah to agreeto a covenant -v.19. This was consistent with 0srael%s being under law though it would bewrong today for covenants have nothing to do with the Church of God. Knder grace Godhas shown that (e wants no pro!ises fro! !an for the Eld Testa!ent has proven 0srael-and therefore all !ankind to be so sinful that they cannot keep their pro!ises. (ow!uch better to obey God without pro!ising to do so than to pro!ise and fail

)ut (e6ekiah desired a true return to God on +udah%s part and he urged the priests and*evites to not be negligent in their duties for the *ord had chosen the! to stand before(i! to serve (i! and to burn incense to (i!. )oth priests and *evites should serve(i! though only the priests were to burn incense.

(ow good it is to see the response of these !en @ourteen *evites are !entioned by na!eas instru!ental in gathering their brethren and being sanctified to do the work ofcleansing the te!ple -vv.1&31. "ervants of the *ord today too should be diligent to!inister the Word of God faithfully that the Word !ay have its proper effect in cleansingaway the rubbish of hu!an inventions and opinions.



<nd when the burnt offering began the song of the *ord began.< "urely this tells us thatwhen God is honoured by the sacrifice of Christ -of which the burnt offering speaks thenthere is reason for the saints to respond with the song of the *ord. There is far !ore joy inthe burnt offering aspect of the sacrifice of Christ than there is in the sin offering aspectfor while we !ay be profoundly thankful that by the sacrifice of Christ our sins have

been forgiven yet it is only when we realise that God has been glorified in that sacrificethat our hearts really e,pand with rejoicing. )ut all the asse!bly worshiped -v.&4 at leastfor!ally continuing till the burnt offering was finished and indeed beyond this -vv.&43&;.

(e6ekiah and other leaders then co!!anded the *evites to sing praise to the *ord usingthe psal!s of $avid and saph for this. They did so with gladness and bowed their headsand worshiped. This was a re!arkable result of the godly leading of (e6ekiah. Today weneed no such co!!and!ent but !ay be led by the "pirit of God. 'nowing the greatglory and grace of the *ord +esus we surely desire to praise (i!.

The freewill offerings of +udah continued for so!e ti!e the burnt offerings a!ounting to29 bulls 199 ra!s and &99 la!bs as well as offerings of consecration totalling 99 bullsand D999 sheep -vv.D&3DD. There were not enough priests to do all the work of skinningthe offerings so the *evites helped the!. "o!e of the priests had not sanctifiedthe!selves being not as diligent as the *evites in this !atter. $oes this not re!ind usthat we too often lack willingness to carry out priestly duties of true worship> We !ay be!ore inclined to serve -as *evites than to worship -as priests. )ut (e6ekiah and all the people greatly rejoiced in the goodness of God so preparing the! at this ti!e.

CHAPTER &-

0EEP,NG THE PASSO4ER #$$%1'2()

The concern of (e6ekiah to honour the *ord was then e,tended to his purpose that the#assover should be kept and that all 0srael should be invited to this feast. Therefore hesent letters to 7phrai! and Aanasseh -in fact announcing it throughout all 0srael v. toinvite the! to co!e to the only centre where God had ordered that the #assover should bekept +erusale!. t this ti!e the ten tribes had been so overrun by ene!ies that they hadno king reigning over the! but (e6ekiah in great co!passion for the! desired thatindividuals at least should be awakened to recognise God%s centre and co!e to honour(i! by keeping the #assover.

(owever being so concerned as (e6ekiah was the ti!e was too late to gather the peopletogether on the first !onth of the year which was the stipulated ti!e. )ut God hadallowed that if anyone was unable to keep the #assover in the first !onth because ofuncleanness or travelling away fro! ho!e he !ight keep the #assover in the second!onth. (e6ekiah took advantage of this provision to announce the #assover in the second!onth -v.&.



Bunners then took the !essage to all 0srael and +udah urging the! as <children of 0srael<to return to the *ord God of braha! 0saac and 0srael assuring the! that if so Godwould return to the! the s!all re!nant that had not been taken captive by the kings ofssyria. @urther they were told <$o not be like your fathers and your brethren whotrespassed against the *ord God of their fathers so that (e gave the! up to desolation as

you see.< @or the idolatry that the ten tribes chose was a refusal of God%s centre+erusale!. =ow at least let the! recognise that centre and God would bless the! for it. 0twas necessary that they should be told not to be stiff3necked as their fathers were but toyield the!selves to the *ord -vv.234. 0f they would show the faith to return to +erusale!they would not be refused per!ission to enter God%s sanctuary -not the holiest of all ofcourse but would be welco!ed to the house of God.

Though the !essage was one of kindness and grace -v.; when it was brought to7phrai! Aanasseh and ebulun it was received with only conte!pt and !ockery onthe part of the people generally -v.19. The *ord had largely broken down their falseworship yet when the opportunity was given the! to return to God%s true centre of

worship +erusale! they foolishly and proudly refused.

=evertheless there were so!e who responded to the invitation fro! sher Aanassehand ebulun and hu!bly ca!e to +erusale!. lso God disposed the hearts of the peopleof +udah to willingly obey the co!!and of (e6ekiah so that there was a large gatheringin the city in the second !onth -v.1D.

)ut as soon as the #assover was conte!plated it was clearly seen that the idolatrousaltars raised by for!er kings !ust be allowed no place. These were taken away andthrown into the )rook 'idron. "i!ilarly when we desire to honour the *ord byre!e!bering (i! in the breaking of bread we shall want to get rid of all those for!s and

relics of hu!anly devised worship and give the *ord +esus (is place of supre!e honour.

The #assover la!bs were then slaughtered on the 15th day of the second !onth -v.1. 0tis noted that the priests and *evites were asha!ed and sanctified the!selves. 0t appearsthat the conte!plation of the #assover woke the! up to the sha!e of their previousla,ity for surely they ought to have purified the!selves i!!ediately if there wasdefile!ent just as we too ought to confess our wrongs and be restored just as soon as wehave done the wrong. t least they beca!e asha!ed enough to sanctify the!selves. The#assover was kept <according to the law of Aoses the !an of God< -v.1. We too shouldkeep the *ord%s supper in accordance with its institution by the *ord +esus on the night of(is betrayal. The si!plicity of that institution is beautiful yet !any churches have addedsuch ritual and cere!ony to it today that it cannot be recognised as the sa!e service the*ord introduced.

The ordinance of the #assover re?uired that those who were defiled by a dead body couldnot eat of the #assover until they were sanctified fro! this -=u!.;:;. )ecause of so!e being defiled at the ti!e of the #assover in =u!bers God had !ade an allowance forthe! the keep the #assover in the second !onth -=u!.;:19311. (owever since it wasthe second !onth that (e6ekiah arranged the #assover and there were large nu!bers



fro! 7phrai! Aanasseh 0ssachar and ebulun who had not been purified yet they wereallowed to eat the #assover though it was contrary to the Word of God. This was a!arked e,ception and (e6ekiah prayed for the! that the *ord would provide atone!entfor this infraction of the law. The *ord accepted this prayer and healed all the people-vv.1;3&9. 0n e,planation of this would it not have been cruel to refuse their

participation in the #assover after having invited the! to co!e fro! so far for this purpose and after these people had shown such faith as to co!e to God%s centre in orderto honour the *ord> This was the e,ception of pure grace.

ll those present at +erusale! at this ti!e kept the feast for seven days with greatgladness and the priests and *evites daily praised the *ord in singing with theacco!pani!ent of !usical instru!ents -v.&1. 0nstru!ental !usic is pleasant to thehu!an ear though it is not really worship in spirit and in truth -+n.5:&D3&5 as the *ordinsists that worship should be in this present age in contrast to the <carnal -or fleshlyordinances< prescribed for 0srael -(eb.;:;319. The =ew Testa!ent is silent as to the useof !usical instru!ents in the service of God. When the *ord instituted the *ord%s supper

it is recorded that they sang a hy!n -Ak.15:& but there is no !ention of any !usicalinstru!ent. Why> )ecause true worship is fro! the heart and though one plays aninstru!ent well this is not worship for worship is for the *ord not for people. The people !ay enjoy the instru!ental !usic but it is not worship of God. gospel !eetingis for the benefit of people and instru!ental !usic !ay attract people to hear but this isnot worship.

)ut (e6ekiah acted according to the ti!es in which he lived and he encouraged the*evites during the feast to teach the knowledge of the *ord for the feast was seven dayslong -v.&&. (owever the asse!bly agreed to keep it up for seven days !ore which gaveopportunity for !uch teaching as well as offering peace offerings and !aking confession

to the *ord -v.&D. Their history under previous kings surely called for such confession.

(e6ekiah hi!self gave to the asse!bly 1999 bulls and 2999 sheep for offerings and theleaders of +udah gave 1999 bulls and 19999 sheep. great nu!ber of priests sanctifiedthe!selves so that they could help in the offering of all these -v.&5.

Thus the whole asse!bly of +udah rejoiced together with the priests and *evites and thenu!ber who ca!e fro! 0srael. There had been no occasion like this since the ti!e of"olo!on -vv.&3& so that it was a uni?ue revival after years of failure on the part of thekings. The prayer of the priests and *evites ca!e up to God%s holy dwelling place toheaven. God was vitally interested and heard their prayer with glad approval.

CHAPTER &1

HE7E0,AHS !OR0 OF REFORMAT,ON #$$%1'21)

When (e6ekiah had taken positive action to give God (is true place of authority in the#assover feast he rightly followed this up with the negative work of destroying theidolatrous pillars i!ages high places and altars that had been introduced by earlier



kings. The !any people who had been present for the #assover carded out thisdestruction in the Cities of +udah but also in )enja!in 7phrai! and Aanasseh -v.1 before returning to their own property.

Then (e6ekiah restored the priests and *evites to their proper places and their proper

work according to the divisions appointed for the! by the law of Aoses to cake care ofthe sacrifices of burnt offerings and peace offerings to serve and to give thanks and to praise in the gates of the house of the *ord -v.&. (e also appointed a part of his possessions to be provided as burnt offerings whether for the !orning and evening or for the sabbaths new !oons and set feasts as was prescribed in the law -v.D.

=otice the e!phasis placed on the burnt offering. This was totally for God all going upin fire to (i! indicating the value of the sacrifice of Christ to God (i!self for God has been perfectly glorified in that sacrifice apart fro! all the blessing we !ay havereceived.

The people had apparently not been taught that the *evites depended on their support forthe service they perfor!ed in the te!ple. (e6ekiah therefore took notice of this andco!!anded the people of +erusale! to contribute to the support of the *evites so thatthey could devote the!selves to their proper service. When this order was circulated the people were ?uick to respond for (e6ekiah%s personal devotion to the *ord had very realinfluence on the!. They brought in grain wine oil and honey and other produce inabundance -v . When people%s hearts were affected by the truth of God tithes were notconsidered a hardship. Knder grace there is no co!!and!ent given to tithe but since weare infinitely blessed by the sacrifice of Christ for us our giving is to be voluntary andspontaneous. <*et each one give as he purposes in his heart not grudgingly or ofnecessityF for God loves a cheerful giver< -& Cor.;:2.

Ethers of the children of 0srael -outside of +erusale! brought tithes of o,en and sheepand of other holy things that were consecrated to the *ord -v.. These holy things theyhad laid in heaps so that at the end of four su!!er !onths of gathering there was agreat over3abundance. When (e6ekiah and other leaders of +udah ca!e to view theheaps they were so i!pressed as to gladly bless the *ord and the people also -vv.234.

6ariah the chief priest told (e6ekiah of the abundance re!aining after the *evites had been sufficed so that (e6ekiah ordered the! to prepare roo!s in the house of the *ord inwhich to store the offerings -v.11. (ow good it is to read that <they faithfully brought inthe offerings the tithes and the dedicated things< -v.1&. The *ord delights in recordingthe na!es of the twelve faithful !en who did this.

Ene official 'ore was appointed to take charge of the freewill offerings and theirdistribution and under hi! si, assistants who are called <faithful< -vv.1531. 7ven !alesas young as three years were included in the distribution of these offerings though ofcourse the priests who served were re?uired to be &9 years or older -vv.1312. )ut thefa!ilies of the *evites were all entitled to the support of the freewill offerings -v.14.



lso there were !en designated to distribute portions to the sons of aron the priests inthe fields and co!!on lands surrounding the cities -v.1;. Thus (e6ekiah was diligent tosee that nothing was neglected in the work of the *ord to provide for the people what wasright and good. 0t is a precious co!!endation that he did every good work in the serviceof the house of God with all his heart. Therefore he prospered greatly -v.&1.

CHAPTER &2

ASS/R,A THREATENS 6+"AH #$$%1'1)

ssyria had before this con?uered the ten tribes -& 'i.12 and their king "ennacharibconfident of taking +udah also ca!e to enca!p against the fortified cities -v.1. The *orddid not send hi! because of any guilt on +udah%s part as was the case with 0srael but itwas to be a test of the faith of the godly king (e6ekiah. (e consulted with his leaders andco!!anders to stop the water fro! the springs which were outside the city -v.5"piritually speaking this tells us that the ene!ies of the *ord have no right to the

refresh!ent of the Word of God: this belongs to believers. The unbeliever if he getsknowledge of God%s Word will only !isuse it.

(e6ekiah !ade full preparations for war just as the believer is told to <put on the wholear!our of God% -7ph.:11. (e built up the wall that was broken and built another walloutside as a double protection also !aking !any weapons and shields. )ut though he prepared these ar!a!ents he did not depend on the!. Gathering the !ilitary leaders inthe open s?uare of the city gate he told the! to <be strong and courageous< -v.2 thoughnot to depend on their strength and courage but on the *ord their GodF for the king ofssyria depended on an ar! of flesh but 0srael%s God was infinitely greater. Thus thewords of (e6ekiah were of real strength to the people -v.4. God would certainly not fail

the!.

"ennacharib then tried the force of hu!an argu!ent against +udah. )ut +udah wouldi!!ediately discern the ignorance of his argu!ents. (e said that (e6ekiah was trying to persuade +udah to give the!selves over to die of fa!ine and thirst when he assured +udahthat the *ord God would deliver the! fro! the power of the king of ssyria. (e knewthat (e6ekiah had abolished the high places of worship and thought that these wereGod%s high places so that he considered that (e6ekiah had insulted God

What abject ignorance. (e6ekiah had honoured God by destroying this idolatrousworship and returning to the true worship of having one altar sy!bolical of Christ.

"ennacharib further declared that the gods of !any nations had not delivered thosenations fro! destruction at the hand of ssyria therefore +udah could not depend on their God to deliver the! -vv.1D315. (ow little he realised that the gods of the nations-including his own nation were helpless idols in contrast to the God of 0srael whocreated all things.



This haughty ene!y of God appealed to the people of +udah to not let (e6ekiah deceivethe! but to refuse to believe hi!: for "ennacharib wanted +udah to let hi! deceive the!into thinking that God was no better than the idols of the nations -v.1. Thus his servantsspoke both against the *ord and against (e6ekiah -v.1. dded to this deter!inedca!paign were letters written by "ennacharib using the sa!e insulting language against

God declaring (i! to be as helpless as the idols of other nations -v.12. lso the servantsof "ennacharib who were besieging the city called out loudly in the (ebrew language tothe people of +erusale! desiring to frighten the! into sub!ission -vv.1431;. 0saiahD:113&9 records this attack as being the work of Babshakeh in railing against God.

GO"S ANS!ER TO ASS/R,A #$$%2-'2&)

s we have seen though (e6ekiah had prepared for war it was not his preparations thatsaved +udah. Bather in utter helplessness (e6ekiah and 0saiah prayed and cried out toheaven and the *ord gained the victory for hi!. The *ord sent an angel who cut downevery !ighty !an of valour leader and captain in the ca!p of the king of ssyria -vv.&93

& 1. 0n fact at that ti!e the angel of the *ord killed 14999 of the ssyrians -0sa.D2:D."ennacharib returned in sha!e to his own land and in the te!ple of his idolatrous godhis own sons killed hi! with the sword. (ow helpless his god was to deliver hi! J andhow little respect for his god did his own sons show Thus the evil of !an defeats hisown selfish ends.

(owever the si!plicity of (e6ekiah%s faith assured his salvation fro! the king ofssyria as fro! other ene!ies as well and he was given the blessing of the *ord%sguidance in every way. Ether nations recognised the *ord%s grace over +udah and broughtgifts to the *ord and also presents to (e6ekiah. Thus God e,alted hi! in the sight of allthe nations.

HE7E0,AHS FA,L+RE AN" H+MBL,NG #$'$%2'2.)

This book of Chronicles does not give the details as regards (e6ekiah%s sickness andrecovery as does & 'ings &9:1 311. There we read that 0saiah had told hi! to set his housein order for he would die fro! the sickness God had allowed hi!. )ut instead of si!ply bowing to the Word of the *ord he urgently prayed on the basis of his faithful walk thatGod would change his !ind. (e wept bitterly at the thought of dying. What hadhappened to his faith at this ti!e> $id he not know that God was perfectly wise in what(e had said> )ut evidently he needed a lesson he had not learned before.

The *ord then sent 0saiah back to hi! with the !essage that (e had heard his prayer andhad seen his tears and would heal hi! and add fifteen years to his life -& 'i.&9:3.Then 0saiah had instructed that a lu!p of figs be laid on the boil which led to (e6ekiah%srecovery. Aore than this God gave hi! the sign of the shadow going back ten degrees onthe sundial -& 'i.&9:;311. This is the sign of which & Chronicles D&:&5 speaks.

<)ut (e6ekiah did not repay according to the favour shown hi! for his heart was liftedup< -v.&. (e was evidently proud of the fact that he had gained fifteen years because of



his faithful life. 0f he had died when the *ord told hi! to he would have been the onlyking of 0srael to have a really bright end to his reign for his e,tra fifteen years added painful sorrow to his history. 0n fact i!!ediately following his recovery he failed badlywhen the king of )abylon sent hi! letters and a present to co!pli!ent hi! on hisrecovery. (e was deceived by the friendliness of this ene!y of 0srael and showed his

servants all his treasures and his ar!a!ents -& 'i.&9:1&31D. )ecause of this the *ordsent 0saiah to tell hi! that all these treasures would be carried away to )abylon -&'i.&9:1314. What a warning to us not to be deceived by friendly ene!ies

(owever (e6ekiah did hu!ble hi!self because of his failure in this case so that Goddid not in his lifeti!e bring the )abylonians to attack. +udah -v.&.

HE7E0,AHS PROSPER,T/ AN" HONOR #$$%2('&1)

& Chronicles does not dwell on (e6ekiah%s failure but on the grace of God in blessinghi! so greatly. (e was given great riches and honour with treasuries for silver gold

precious stones spices shields and !any other desirable thingsF also storehouses forgrain wine and oil barns for all kinds of livestock and folds for flocks. ll of thesethings are sy!bolic of the great blessing of the !illennial kingdo! of the *ord +esus yetonly a faint picture.

n i!portant project of (e6ekiah was his bringing running water into +erusale! by atunnel the water being diverted fro! the Kpper Gihon Biver -v.D9. This pictures his!aking available to all the people the truth of the Word of God -the water so that they!ight procure it for the!selves. (ow good it is if leaders help others to find blessing inscripture for the!selves.

(owever in spite of all the good (e6ekiah had done God did not !ini!ise his sadfailure in feeding his own pride through unwisely entertaining the princes of )abylonwho ca!e not only to congratulate hi! on his recovery of health but to en?uire aboutthe wonder of the sun going backward ten degrees -v.D1. God had done these things for(is own glory not that attention should be drawn to (e6ekiah. )ut God used this as atest that (e6ekiah !ight learn so!ething of the evil in his own heart and which he hadnot suspected. What a lesson for every believer

HE7E0,AHS "EATH #$$%&2'&&)

Though (e6ekiah had gained fifteen years through his tearful prayer yet he died. Herse

D& records the fact that other acts of (e6ekiah are to be found written in the book of0saiah and in the book of 'ings -& 'ings. (e was buried a!ong the honoured kings of+udah in +erusale! and all +udah honoured hi! at his death a contrast to the burial of hisfather ha6 who was not buried a!ong the kings -ch.&4:D2.

CHAPTER &&



THE RE,GN OF MANASSEH #$$%1'5)

Aanasseh was only 1& years old at the ti!e of his father%s death therefore he was bornduring the e,tra fifteen years that God had allowed (e6ekiah. Aanasseh was given years to reign over +udah but he was the !ost wicked king +udah ever had. $uring his

first twelve years did his father not give hi! the help he needed to be preserved fro!evil> We are surely taught here that God knew better what was good for (e6ekiah than(e6ekiah thought. We should certainly learn to bow to God%s will at all ti!es whateverwe !ay think about it.

Aanasseh followed the idolatrous abo!inations of the nations 0srael had dispossessedreversing the good that his father had done for 0srael. (e rebuilt the high places that(e6ekiah had destroyed raised up altars to idols and !ade i!ages and worshiped all thehost of heaven.

7ven in the te!ple of God Aanasseh set up altars to worship idols. With all his altars and

i!ages he !ay have thought he was very 6ealous religiously !ore 6ealous than hisfather but this was the folly of unbelief. dded to this evil he caused his sons to passthrough the fire in the valley of (inno! thinking that the sacrifice of his own sons wouldsecure hi! so!e recognition fro! heaven -v.. (e also practised witchcraft soothsayingand sorcery thus involving his kingdo! in the bondage of satanic deception. #lacing acarved i!age in the te!ple was a direct insult to God who had declared the te!ple as the place where God would set (is na!e -v 2. 8et God%s pro!ise to not re!ove 0srael fro!their land was conditional upon their being careful to observe all God%s co!!and!entswhich involved the whole law with its statutes and ordinances -v.4. Aanasseh had totallydeparted fro! such a path of obedience seducing +udah and +erusale! to practice !oreevil than the nations God had destroyed because of their idolatry.

GO" BR,NGS MANASSEH TO REPENTANCE #$$%1-'1()

When Aanasseh had resisted the Word of God in seeking to correct his evil the *ordtherefore brought the ar!y of the king of ssyria to take Aanasseh captive and transporthi! to )abylon -v.11. 0t was plainly the goodness of God that brought Aanasseh downto this !iserable condition of bondage for Bo!ans &:5 tells us that it is the goodness ofGod that leads to repentance. (ow !arvellous it is that the discipline of Godacco!plished the result of bringing Aanasseh to repentance. =o doubt God has used this!eans !any ti!es in seeking to bring people to repentance yet !ost do not see! torespond. )ut though Aanasseh had sinned so grievously against God he did repent and

hu!bled hi!self greatly before God praying earnestly to the Ene he had before sodishonoured and God accepted his prayer of hu!iliation -vv.1&31D. This is a !oststriking e,a!ple of the grace of God being available for any sinner who repents.

=o details are given as to how the king of ssyria was !oved to release Aanasseh fro! prison and allow hi! to return to his place as king over +udah but it was God (i!selfwho dictated this restoration and Aanasseh then knew indeed that the *ord is God. Thiswas certainly a co!plete transfor!ation acco!plished by the grace and power of God.



There were good results also for Aanasseh built profitably instead of tearing down whatwas of God. (e built a wall on the west of +erusale! no doubt with the object ofwithstanding the attacks of ene!ies and he appointed !ilitary captains in all the fortifiedcities of +udah indicating his concern for the protection of these cities -v.15.

(e also cook away the idols fro! the house of the *ord idols that he hi!self hadintroduced as well as all the altars he had built in +erusale! -v.1. En the positive sidehe repaired the altar of the *ord and sacrificed peace offerings and thank offerings on it-v.1. These offerings indicate his thankfulness for God%s !ercy to hi! but no !entionis !ade of burnt offerings which e!phasise the glory God receives by virtue of thesacrifice of Christ a far !ore i!portant !atter than the blessing we receive.

8et while (e6ekiah had banished worship in the high places Aanasseh did not followhis father in this but allowed the people to sacrifice in these though only to the *ord-v.12. This is the sa!e principle as is seen today in those Christians who desirerecognition fro! the world in worshipping God rather than being willing to take the low

place of rejection with Christ. 0n this Aanasseh failed.

THE "EATH OF MANASSEH #$$%1'2-)

ny further history of Aanasseh is recorded in the book of the kings of 0srael -v.14 andother books not available to us today. (aving reigned years Aanasseh died and was buried in his own house thus having !ore respect shown to hi! at his death than wastrue of so!e of the kings. (is son !on then took the throne.

AMONS BR,EF RE,GN AN" "EATH #$$%21'23)

!on was && years of age in being crowned king but in great contrast to his father hereigned only two years. Though Aanasseh had thrown out of the city the idols andidolatrous altars he had !ade !on evidently brought the! back for he sacrificed to allthe i!ages that his father had !ade placing hi!self in servitude to these abo!inations.(e certainly !ust have known that his father had repented and changed his waysradically but this had no proper effect on !on who did not at all hu!ble hi!self butsinned !ore and !ore -vv.&&3&D. (is evil was so great that even his own servants had norespect for hi! but conspired together and killed hi! in his own house. (ow pathetic itis that he had learned nothing either through the folly of his father or through therepentance of his father

(owever the people of the land had so!e sense of the wrong of servants killing their!aster and they e,ecuted those who had done this. Thus in both cases God shows that(e has ways of bringing judg!ent on the guilty. Then the people !ade +osiah !on%sson king over +udah.

CHAPTER &



6OS,AH BEG,NS H,S GOO" RE,GN #$$%1'()

+osiah was only eight years old when put on the throne -v.1. (is father at this ti!e -whenhe died was &5 years old so that he !ust have been only 1 when +osiah was born. )ut+osiah reigned D1 years in +erusale!. What a contrast he was to his father !on (e did

what was right in the sight of the *ord choosing to walk in the ways of $avid!aintaining a consistent path not turning to either side right or left -v &. 0ndeed he wasthe last king in +udah to have a good record which shows us that even when thecondition of the people generally has sunk to a low ebb there !ay still be brighte,ceptions to the general trend. t the tender age of 1 he began to seek the *ord and at&9 years he began to purge +udah and +erusale! of the high places the carved and!oulded i!ages and had the altars of )aal broken down the incense altars cut down breaking in pieces the wooden carved and !oulded i!ages grinding the! to dust whichwas scattered on the graves of those who had sacrificed to the! -vv.D35

Thus he !ade sure that those i!ages would never again be introduced into +erusale!.

Though Aanasseh had taken away the i!ages he had before !ade he did not destroythe! so !on had brought the! back. +osiah would allow no such thing.

+osiah also burned the bones of the idolatrous priests on their altars. 7vidently these werethe bones of those who had before died. )ut be did not stop with cleansing +udah and+erusale!: he did the sa!e in the cities of Aanasseh 7phrai! "i!eon and =aphthalifor those tribes had been so reduced as to have no king -v.. When he had acco!plishedthis work of breaking down the altars and i!ages reducing the! practically to powderand had cut down all the incense altars throughout the land he returned to +erusale!-vv.32 which !eans <the foundation of peace.< ll this took place before +osiah evenknew of God%s law. (e had not needed the law to tell hi! that idolatry was sin against

God. Why not> )ecause the practice of idolatry is sin against God as Creator as everyoneshould know not only sin against (is law.

THE BOO0 OF THE LA! FO+N" #$$%'2)

When one acts rightly on the light he has God will certainly further enlighten hi!. Theevil in +udah having been judged at the age of & +osiah was concerned about repairingthe house of the *ord. (e sent three ?ualified !en with instructions to do the repair work.They ca!e to (ilkiah the high priest and delivered hi! !oney that had been gatheredfro! Aanasseh 7phrai! +udah and )enja!in. -v.;.

Those who were overseers of the !aterial needed for the house of God used this !oneyfor the hiring of work!en to repair the house and for crafts!en and builders to buy hewnstone and ti!ber for bea!s and for the floor the house -v.19. This was evidently a large project for the ungodly kings previous to +osiah had been guilty of destroying a greatdeal of that which was not their own property but God%s.

+osiah%s influence was good for the !en did the work faithfully -v.1&. The na!es ofthose who supervised the work are recorded in verse 11. Thus God highly co!!ends



those who are true builders and surely no less today if we have concern for the buildingup of the saints of God thus building the asse!bly. *evites are !entioned here as beingskilful with !usical instru!ents. This is sy!bolical of skill in !inistering the Word ofGod for the refresh!ent and encourage!ent of saints. They !ay have played theirinstru!ents while the !en were working picturing servants willing to help those serving

in practical !atters by !inistering the Word of God to the!.

There were overseers set over the burden bearers also. (ow good for us if we are burden bearers. )ut we need instruction as to how to do such good work. lso so!e of the*evites were scribes officers and gatekeepers -v.1D. Though there was diversity in thework yet it was done in unity. "cribes were needed to keep things orderlyF gatekeeperswere re?uired to see that only that was allowed in which ought to be in. These are allnecessities in the Church of God today though none are by !an%s appoint!ent. Batherthe "pirit of God !oves those (e sees fit to carry out such functions with no oneassu!ing any special place for this.

(owever in the course of doing the repair work (ilkiah the priest found the )ook of the*aw of the *ord given by Aoses. (ow sad that the book had been given no place ofhonour but was obscured in the house of God -v.15. 0n that book it was written thatwhen one ruled as king over 0srael he should write a copy of this law in a book and read itall the days of his life -$eut.12:1431;. )ut by the ti!e +osiah took the throne he did noteven know that this book e,isted Who was to bla!e for this> =o doubt both earlier kingsand priests.

"haphan received the book fro! (ilkiah and brought the !essage to the king that hisorders were being carried out in reference to repairing the te!ple but also told that(ilkiah had given hi! this book -vv.1314. "haphan -a scribe then read fro! this book

before +osiah.

(ow profoundly serious was the effect upon the godly king +osiah in hearing the Word of God 0n a spirit of deep self3judg!ent he tore his clothes then co!!anded five !enincluding (ilkiah and "haphan to go and en?uire of the *ord for hi! and for the s!allnu!ber left in 0srael and +udah. @or he recognised that 0srael was under the great wrath of God because their fathers had not kept the Word of the *ord -vv.&93& 1. (e did notatte!pt to rationalise but faced directly the truth declared in scripture and wanted toknow just how God was now going to deal with his nation.

The condition of 0srael was so low at this ti!e that there was no prophet who! theycould consult but a prophetess na!ed (uldah was available and they went to her -v.&&."he faithfully gave the! God%s answer that (e would bring cala!ity upon 0srael all thecurses written in the book +osiah had heard read. The reason is given plainly <becausethey have forsaken Ae and burned incense to other gods that they !ight provoke Ae toanger with all the works of their hands. Therefore Ay wrath will be poured out on this place and not be ?uenched< -vv.&53&. =ot even the e,ceptional faithfulness of +osiahcould avert this judg!ent.



(owever God would still show (is appreciation of the character and work of +osiah.)ecause +osiah%s heart was tender and he had hu!bled hi!self before God when he heardwhat had been written in the book of the law had torn his clothes and wept before (i!the *ord would respond kindly toward hi! allowing hi! to die before the threatened judg!ent fell on +udah so that he would not see all the cala!ity that was the result of

+udah%s sin -vv.&2314. This is a striking case of which 0saiah speaks <The righteous perishes and no !an takes it to heartF !erciful !en are taken away while no oneconsiders that the righteous is taken away fro! the evil.< 0s this not true today also> Thecondition of the professing Church today is so seriously evil that there is no re!edy. Godwill judge this condition: but (e will take away the godly by rapturing the! (o!e toheaven before (is judg!ent is poured out.

P+RPOSE TO SER4E GO" FOR THE T,ME

The prediction of future judg!ent against 0srael%s sin did not discourage +osiah fro!serving God during whatever little ti!e was left for this. (e gathered all the elders of

+udah the priests and *evites and all the people of +erusale! to read to the! all theword of the )ook of the *aw. Whether or not they were all affected by this as he was heconsidered it necessary that all the people should hear God%s Word. This was the basis ofany relationship with God.

(e then !ade a covenant before the *ord re?uiring all the people to ratify it -vv.D13D&.This was si!ply a renewal of the covenant of law in spite of the fact that they had brokenthat law. Was there really any hope they would now keep it> =o but it was the only basisof blessing that God had given the! at the ti!e and they were still responsible God wasallowing the! every opportunity to change if it had been possible.

Thus we are told <+osiah re!oved all the abo!inations fro! all the country that belonged to the children of 0srael and !ade all who were present in 0srael diligentlyserve the *ord their God. ll his days they did not depart fro! following the *ord God of their fathers< -v.DD. This illustrates what the devoted energy of faith on the part of one!an can acco!plish. (e was a leader whose influence was great though the eventualresults a!ong the people were not good. 0n the days of +osiah the *ord told +ere!iah<+udah has not turned to Ae with her whole heart but in pretence< -+er.D:19. +osiah hadturned to God with his whole heart but not so with the people generally. They could -anddid easily go in the opposite direction when +osiah died.

CHAPTER &3

AN E8CEPT,ONAL PASSO4ER #$$%1'15)

"o near to the end of the history of the kings of 0srael it is beautiful to see a #assover being kept of which we are told <There had been no #assover kept in 0srael like thatsince the days of "a!uel the prophet and none of the kings of 0srael had kept such a#assover as +osiah kept with the priests and the *evites all +udah and 0srael who were present and the inhabitants of +erusale!< -v.14. $oes this not tell K" that it is possible



even in our own day of the ruin and failure of the Church publicly to give so!e truehonour to the na!e of the *ord +esus such as will delight the heart of God> @or the#assover speaks of the thankful worship of the *ord +esus as the Ene who sacrificed(i!self for us on the cross of Calvary. While the people !ay fail !iserably yet (ere!ains faithful and true.

(e6ekiah had kept a re!arkable #assover -ch.D9 but it was one !onth later than the prescribed ti!e though none like it had been kept since the days of "olo!on -ch.D9:D.(owever there had been no #assover like +osiah%s since before any king had everreigned. +osiah !ade sure that all the details of order were observed in this #assover.Today this would re!ind us that for centuries the si!ple service of breaking of bread inre!e!brance of the *ord +esus was ignored and as we near (is co!ing (e would surelydesire us to give (i! honour in this si!ple way.

The #assover that +osiah kept was the !ost correct in all its details of any that were keptin the ti!e of the 'ings because +osiah was careful to see that it corresponded to the

Word of God. +osiah was the last of the kings in 0srael or +udah who truly honoured Godand this should be an encourage!ent for believers today to get back to the truth ofscripture at a ti!e when God%s rights have been cast aside by the professing church. Thefollowing outline will be helpful in our studying this passage:

1. The Ti!e -v.1 J that which scripture had prescribed.

&. The Centre -v.D J The rk typical of Christ to who! the people were to gather.

D. The #reparation -v.5 J 7very house finding its place according to the instructions of$avid and "olo!on.

5. The Erder -v. J #riests and *evites standing in their place to kill the #assoveraccording to the Word of the *ord by Aoses.

. The #rovision -vv.23; J +osiah the princes and chief of the *evites willingly givingto the people the necessary offerings for the #assover

. The $eath -v.11 J The #assover killed the blood sprinkled with burnt offeringsacco!panying the sacrifice.

2. The Boasting -v.1D J "peaking of the severe judg!ent of the *ord +esus e,posed

directly to the fla!e of God%s wrath.

4. The "inging -v.1 J "peaking of the unspeakable joy resulting fro! the value ofChrist%s sacrifice.

;. The Guarding -v.1 J #orters -or gatekeepers were necessary at every gate allowingin what should be in and keeping out all that should be out.



Thus the #assover was kept on the 15th day of the first !onth with the priests set intheir proper places and encouraged to serve the *ord. The *evites were told to put the ark of the covenant in the te!ple "olo!on had built for this was the gathering centre of0srael -v.D just as Christ is the gathering centre for the Church of God. <@or where twoor three are gathered together unto Ay na!e there a! 0 in the !idst of the!< -At.14:&9.

The *evites were told also to prepare the!selves by the houses of their fathers -v.5.Their fathers were 'ohath Gershon and Aerari whose distinct services are recorded in =u!bers 5:&&55&. Thus having prepared the!selves they were to <stand in the holy place according to the divisions of their fa!ilies< -v. !aintaining an order according toGod when they killed the #assover according to God%s word by Aoses -v..

)efore the actual killing of the #assover however the provision for it is seen in verses 2319. +osiah%s gift for this far outnu!bered the gifts of the princes and of the chief of the*evites. @or the king is typical of the *ord +esus whose giving far e,ceeds the willing3heartedness of the !ost devoted servants. +osiah gave D9999 la!bs and kids and D999

bulls -v.2. The rulers gave &99 s!all ani!als -sheep etc. and D99 o,en -v.4. Thechief of the *evites gave 999 s!all ani!als and 99 o,en. This was !ore than therulers gave but only one3si,th of +osiah%s gift.

Herse 1& records the killing of the #assover the priests sprinkling the blood and the*evites skinning the ani!als. The burnt offerings were however re!oved fro! the#assover sacrifice which was a peace offering of which the offerers were to share. )utthe burnt offerings were evidently gifts given to the people to offer J not to eat but tooffer all in fire to the *ord signifying the glory that God receives fro! the value of thesacrifice of Christ.

fter being killed the #assover offering was roasted as prescribed in 7,odus 1&:4. Etherofferings were !ade at the sa!e ti!e so!e boiled in pots or cauldrons so!e baked in pans those too being peace offerings -see *eviticus 2:1131. These were divided a!ongthe people which shows they were peace offerings.

The *evites afterward prepared portions for the!selves and for the priests all of who!had been unselfishly occupied with caring for the people -v.15. (ow lovely an e,a!plefor the Church of God Those pro!inent are to re!e!ber they are servants to the need ofothers not !asters who de!and first consideration.

The singers are seen in their place for the occasion was one of real joy in praising the

*ord -v.1. The death of the ani!als is of course sy!bolic of the death of the *ord+esus and this surely affects believers with deep sorrow yet the results of that !atchlessdeath are so great and !arvellous that we should be filled with unspeakable joy in thevery face of the greatest sorrow. 0s this not true when we re!e!ber the *ord in the breaking of bread>

Thus at this late date in the history of the 'ings the *ord !oved (is servant to keep the#assover in its prescribed order and the seven days% @east of Knleavened )read. This



took place in the 14th year of his reign -v.1; his age only & at the ti!e. Who coulddespise his youth>

6OS,AHS +NT,MEL/ "EATH #$$%2-'2()

<fter all this< J after +osiah%s faithful devotion to the *ord in banishing idolatry out of+udah and after his keeping so outstanding a #assover to the *ord J this favoured king!ade a serious blunder in not consulting the *ord before going out to war. The king of7gypt ca!e to the 7uphrates Biver to engage Carche!ish -a (ittite king in battle and+osiah intervened to fight against 7gypt -v.&9. Why he did this we are not told. Could ithave been that since be had been preserved by God fro! har! in warfare that he thoughthe could settle the disputes of others by the force of ar!s> 0n this case the king of 7gyptwas wiser than +osiah telling hi! that he was !eddling with God who! the king of7gypt considered was on his side -v.&1.

"urely +osiah ought to have considered this advice and to have at least sought God%s

guidance hi!self before proceeding any farther. )ut he had co!!itted hi!self andrefused to change. 0n fact he disguised hi!self -always a bad act for any believer andlike hab who disguised hi!self to go to battle -& Chron.14:&;. he suffered si!ilarconse?uences though he was a believer as hab was not.

Herse && tells us that +osiah <did not heed the words of =echo fro! the !outh of God.<God !ay speak to believers through any agency and we should be awake to discernwhether it !ay be God speaking even through an unbeliever. t least =echo%s wordsought to have !ade +osiah pause to consider that he ought to consider God%s will in this!atter.

+osiah received no benefit fro! his going into battle. We are not even told whether otherswere killed in the battle but only that +osiah was wounded by an arrow and ordered hisservants to take hi! away -v.&D. (e was taken by his second chariot to +erusale! anddied then was buried in one of the graves of the kings. (ow unspeakably sad was thisunnecessary death of a king who been so faithful to the *ord for the years before

+ere!iah and all the people were deeply affected by +osiah%s death and la!ented greatly.Well they !ight for his reign had been like a shining light in the !idst of 0srael%sdarkness which darkness descended again rapidly after his death. 0n fact thela!entations of the singing !en and wo!en beca!e a regular !e!orial of +osiah -v.&.

Herse & tells us that the rest of +osiah%s acts and his goodness in observing the law of the*ord are !atters recorded in the book of the kings of 0srael and +udah.

6EHO,A0,MS RE,GN AN" CAPT,4,T/ #$$%3')

+ehoiaki! was evidently older than +ehoaha6 for he was & when he began to reign-cf.v.&. (e reigned 11 years in +udah but he also dishonoured the !e!ory of his father+osiah by his ungodly actions. 0t was not =echo who ca!e against hi! however but



=ebuchadne66ar king of )abylon. (e took +ehoiaki! captive to )abylon. t the sa!eti!e he took so!e of the articles fro! the te!ple and put the! in his own te!ple at)abylon. The *ord allowed this as a warning to +udah for =ebuchadne66ar !ight havetaken all the treasures of the house but did not. 0f +udah had turned back to the *ord this!ight have preserved the! fro! the later da!age of verses 19 and 14.

This book does not record the death of +ehoiaki! though & 'ings &5: does. (e !usthave died in captivity. (is son +ehoiachin then beca!e king -v.4.

6EHO,ACH,NS RE,GN AN" CAPT,4,T/ #$$%5'1-)

+ehoiachin was 14 years old at this ti!e -not 4 as is !istakenly given in one translation but he reigned only three !onths which was enough to prove hi! evil in the sight of the*ord. & 'ings &5:1931& records that the )abylonians ca!e to besiege the city though weare not told the i!!ediate reason for this. +ehoiachin and his servants surrenderedwithout resistance. & Chronicles D:19 speaks of his being su!!oned by

=ebuchadne66ar to )abylon and the costly articles fro! the house of God were alsotaken to )abylon not all the articles as yet. This is a picture of how the truth of God has been gradually stolen fro! the Church in the present age because of the failure anddisobedience of the people. =ebuchadne66ar then !ade edekiah +ehoiaki!%s brother-+ehoiachin%s uncle king in +udah. =ebuchadne66ar%s dealings in deposing one king andsetting up another see!s rather ludicrous but he evidently was trying to find one who!he could fully control.

7E"E0,AHS E4,L RE,GN #$$%11'1)

edekiah was the last of the kings ruling in +udah before their co!plete captivity. (e

beca!e king at age &1 reigning 11 years during which he proved as evil as the kings before hi! though being a son of +osiah. Thus following +osiah%s good reign thecondition of +udah degenerated rapidly.

R+,N AN" CAPT,4,T/ #$$%11'21)

The )ook of +ere!iah speaks e,tensively of God%s warnings to edekiah through+ere!iah -+er.D5:& & 1 and of edekiah%s fear of !en in speaking with +ere!iah insecret. concerned about what God had spoken but fearfully giving in to his nobles indisobeying the word of the *ord -+er.D2:13&1 D4:53&2.

0t was this fear of his servants that !oved edekiah to rebel against =ebuchadne66ar after he had sworn an oath by God an oath of allegiance to =ebuchadne66ar. This was plaindishonesty and God could not e,cuse it because of his fear of !en. 0n fact God says thatedekiah stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against all God%s gracious advances.Together with the leaders and priests of the people he resisted =ebuchadne66ar when thatking besieged +erusale! again and refused +ere!iah%s words fro! God that he shouldsurrender to the king of )abylon -+er.D4:123&9. Thus leaders and priests and people were



guilty of transgressing !ore and !ore which included gross idolatry and desecration ofthe house of God -v.15.

Herse 1 speaks of the !any warnings God had given +udah by (is servants -specially+ere!iah because (e had co!passion on (is people and the centre where (e dwelt.

<)ut they !ocked the !essengers of God despised (is words and scoffed at (is prophets until the wrath of God arose against (is people till there was no re!edy<-v.1.

This haughty refusal of both God%s goodness and (is authority occasioned the final attack of the king of the Chaldeans who killed their young !en even in the house of theirsanctuary -v.12. They had no regard for the holiness of the place. )ut after all +udah had been guilty of showing conte!pt for God%s house: how could they e,pect anything betterfro! ungodly nations> 8oung !en and virgins aged or weak were killed.

lso all the treasures of the house of God large and s!all and the treasures of edekiah

and his nobles were taken to )abylon -v.14. The Chaldeans also burned the house ofGod a terrible insult for +udah to have to bear broke down the wall of +erusale! burnedits palaces with fire and destroyed everything of value in the city -v.1;.

Those who were not killed were carried captive to )abylon where they beca!e slaves to =ebuchadne66ar and his sons until the rule of the kingdo! of #ersia which took placewhen the Aedes and #ersians con?uered )abylon on the sa!e night that )elsha66ar sawthe handwriting on the wail -$an.:&53D9.

Thus the word of God by +ere!iah was fulfilled that the land of 0srael would be leftdesolate to enjoy the sabbaths that it had not enjoyed for years because of the greed of the

people in wanting crops in the seventh year as well as for the si, years God had allowedthe!. Therefore God had told the! by +ere!iah that the land would re!ain desolate for29 years J the length of +udah%s captivity in )abylon -+er.&:;31&.

SE4ENT/ /EARS LATER #$$%22'2&)

The king of )abylon never did give release to any of the captives of +udah but when theAedes and #ersians defeated )abylon this soon worked for the blessing of +udah. $ariusthe Aede ruled at first but when the authority was taken over by the #ersians Cyrus wasruler. s 0saiah had prophesied so!e years before Cyrus would perfor! all God%s pleasure in having +erusale! rebuilt -0sa.55:&4.

0t was the *ord who stirred up the spirit of Cyrus to issue a procla!ation 29 years after+udah%s captivity sending the procla!ation throughout all his kingdo! -v.&& to theeffect that the God of heaven had co!!anded hi! to build a house for God in +erusale!.(e did not say by what !eans God had given hi! this !essage but he was evidently persuaded that it was authentic. Therefore he gave full liberty to any 0sraelites in captivityto go back to +erusale! to help in this rebuilding. 0n fact he encouraged the! to do thisdesiring that the *ord God would be with those who responded to this invitation. (ow



beautifully this shows that God was still deeply concerned about (is people 0srael in spiteof their previous departure and rebellion. "i!ilarly today (e has not cast away (is people -Bo!.11: 1 though they have been far fro! (i! for al!ost &999 years (e willyet restore the! for (e is a God of grace.

Thus the book of Chronicles does not end in total !isery but shows the pure grace ofGod that would not leave 0srael in hopeless despair but would graciously seek theirrestoration. We !ight well consider this in the light of conditions in the professing churchtoday when departure and rebellion against the pure truth of the =ew Testa!ent has so broken and scattered the people of God that !any are inclined to think the outlook ishopeless. )ut God still cares for (is Church !ore faithfully than we do and is willing togive to those who cry to (i! the grace to !aintain so!e testi!ony for (i! in the face of all the opposition of "atan together with the natural bent of our hearts to beco!ediscouraged.

*eslie A Grant

comments on 2 chronicles-l m grant

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