Friday, May 05, 2017

2 Chronicles

I finally finished 2 Chronicles!  I read a Lent devotional every day and got me back in the habit of reading daily, and since Lent, I've kept up with finishing 2 Chronicles.  I typically read before bed, and I'm so happy to be doing this.  I would like to get to a place where I'm reading earlier in the day, but for now, this works.

  • God appeared to Solomon and told him to ask for something
  • Solomon asked for wisdom
  • God gave wisdom and wealth because Solomon knew he needed God's help to rule
  • "Not even the highest of heaves can hold him (God)." (2:6)
  • Solomon builds a temple
  • Much was covered in gold and carved and much detailed description in the 3rd chapter of the book
  • Solomon has the temple built and the Ark brought in - God's Glory fills the place :)
  • Solomon speaks to the people about god's work
  • Then Solomon prays of discipline from God of prayer and repentance of how Israel will behave in the future
  • Solomon asked in prayer for forgiveness and to hear their prayers
  • Temple is given to God; sacrifices are made (large amounts of sacrifices) - joy & celebration
  • "He is good; his love continues forever."
  • The Lord says Solomon and Israel must follow his laws; repentance = forgiveness; disobedience = discipline
  • Solomon also rebuilt towns
  • Brought a wife from Egypt - with her own palace since David's was holy
  • Queen of Sheba came with many people to see Solomon's wealth, success & wisdom - She didn't believe what she'd heard
  • Sheeba  Queen gave many fancy gifts
  • Solomon gave more gifts back to Queen of Sheeba and she returned home
  • Solomon was brought many gifts; Solomon had a LOT of gold
  • Solomon ruled 40 years and records were kept
  • Solomon died and Rehoboan became king (Solomon's son)
  • People asked Rehoboam to work them less hard than Solomon - Solomon's advisers (older leaders) advised him to oblige so they would serve him, but Rehoboam asked his friends (young men) and they said work them harder
  • Israel turned against Rehoboam
  • Rehoboam wanted to fight/war then, but God stopped it
  • Rehoboam strengthens Judah
  • Rehoboam has 18 wives, 6 slave women, 28 sons and 60 daughters - he spread his sons around and gave them wives
  • Rehoboam built a strong city and stopped following God
  • Shishak came to attack Jerusalem
  • Rehoboam & Judah were srorry & God did not destroy them; he did make them servants - there was some good in Judah
  • Israel & Judah fight under Abijah (Judah) and Jeroboam (Israel)
  • Israel was against God; Judah remained with God and defeated Israel
  • Asa was king of Judah - he destroyed the idols and there was peace
  • Asa had a big army that won in way v. the Cushites
  • Asa received a message that: God is with you when you are with him. If you look for him you will find him.
  • People recommitted to God and Asa was faithful
  • Israel attached Judah after 35 years with Asa as King
  • Asa went to Aram for help instead of God and peace ended
  • Asa became ill (foot disease) and asked doctors for help, but not God - then he died after 41 years as king
  • Jehoshaphat, Asa's son become king
  • Jehoshaphat is good, obedient and destroys idols
  • Jehoshaphat builds a strong army
  • King Ahab asks King Jehoshaphat to go to war with him, but Jehoshaphat says they must ask the Lord first
  • The prophets come and tell them to attack, but Michaiah warns them they are tricking him into death
  • Ahab disguises himself in battle but is hit with an arrow, he stays up in his chariot until sundown when he dies
  • Jehoshaphat selects judges
  • Lands came to fight Judah so Jehoshaphat asked the Lord - people came together & asked
  • Spirit entered Jahaziel and said it was not their battle, but God's - Jehoshaphat just had to stand strong with his men
  • The thanks God and praised him
  • Jehoram, eldest son of Jehoshaphat, becomes king
  • Jehoram kills his brothers and some leaders of Judah and followed Israel's way
  • Jehoram married Ahab's daughter
  • Group broke away from Jehoram
  • Jehoram led them away from the Lord
  • Prophet Elijah delivers Jehoram message: He is terrible & will become very sick
  • Land attack Jehoram and took his sons and wives, except his youngest
  • Jehoram was ill and in pain for 2 years until his death
  • No one was sad when Jehoram died and he wasn't buried with kings
  • Ahaziah, youngest son - because all others were killed - became king
  • He ruled 1 year, was sinful and his mother encouraged bad - then he was killed
  • When Ahaziah died, his mother, Athaliah, killed all of Judah's royal family
  • Ahaziah's sister, Jehosheba, took his son Joash and hid him for 6 years
  • Athaliah (the mother) ruled Judah
  • Jehoiada, priest, husband of Jehosheba decided to take action in year 7
  • Jehoiada gathered all the Levites to protect the temple and the king
  • Joash becomes king at 7 years old
  • Joash's grandmother, Athaliah, heard the news and was very unhappy - they took her out of the temple and killer her with the sword
  • Joash had peace in Jerusalem and was good while Jehoiada (priest & his uncle) was alive
  • Joash collected money and repaired the temple
  • Johoiada died and was curried with kings for the good he did for Judah
  • Joash became evil & Jehoiada's son, Zechariah, tells them, but they stone him to death
  • Aramen army attacks and take Judah & injures Joash
  • Joash's men kill him in his bed because he had killed Zechariah
  • Joash wasn't buried with kings
  • Amaziah is king and does good, but doesn't want to
  • Amaziah pay Israel to join them in war, but a man of God tells him not to because they've turned against God and God can give more
  • Amaziah does win the war without Israelites, but brings home Edom's idols and begins worshipping them
  • Because he turned against God, Israel defeated Judah
  • Uzziah becomes king and is good; he follows Zechariah's teachings
  • Uzziah becomes power because God helps him with many victories
  • Uzziah became prideful and was ruined; priests stopped him from unlawful acts in the temple and he got a skin disease and was ushered out
  • Uzziah is buried with the kings
  • Jotham is now king and he is good and victorious in battle with God's help
  • Ahaz is king of Judah - he is bad and defeated many times
  • Ahaz worshipped many idols and other gods
  • Hezekiah is king; he was good and quickly purified the temple
  • They celebrated with JOY! Praise! Worship!
  • Hezekiah sent letters to the outer villages to bring folks back to celebrating passive, some laughed, some came
  • Hezekiah command people to share their harvest to take care of the priests - they do!
  • Assyria attacks, Hezekiah is smarter with God's direction
  • Hezekiah dies; his son Mansseh is king
  • Manasseh was 12 when he became King and did wrong - alters and idols everywhere
  • Lord had Assyria attack and take him - then he humbled himself before God who heard him
  • God allowed him to return to Jerusalem and they worshipped the Lord
  • Amon is king after Manasseh dies and does very wrong - his officers kill him - the people then kill those people that killed him
  • Josiah is king; he was good and removed other idols and alters
  • The book of teachings from Moses is found and Josiah realizes how angry God is
  • Josiah tears his clothes and humbles himself and God let his lifetime be peaceful
  • Josiah celebrated Passover with the people like it hadn't been done in years (since Samuel)
  • Josiah went to battle against Egypt and was shot by archers - he was taken back to Jerusalem and died
  • They were very sad over his death and sad songs were written by Jeremiah
  • Jehoahaz becomes king for 3 months, then Egypt takes him away and makes brother Eliakim king, but names him Jehoiakim
  • Egypt makes Judah pay $
  • Jehoiakim was bad and Babylon attacked and took him away
  • Jehoiachin is king and is bad
  • Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, made Jehoiachin's Uncle, Zedekiah, king
  • Zedekiah was bad and didn't listen to the prophet Jeremiah's message from the Lord
  • Lord sent prophets to warn them, but Judah didn't listen
  • Lord became angry and Babylon came and killed and destroyed Jerusalem
  • Babylon took those left alive as slaves
  • Judah was empty 70 years as that is the number of years since the Sabbath was kept
  • Persia then defeated Babylon
  • Cyrus, king of Persia, is appointed to build a temple in Jerusalem
A few others things I wrote about:
People in the Bible are always having to remember.  Reminder themselves and recommitting to God.  I too do this often.  I forget, I come back, sometimes daily or more.  There is reassurance that I am not new to this, but I MUST KEEP COMING BACK!

Toward the end of this chapter, it started to be other countries that were now determining kings for Judah and no longer themselves. 

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