Ahaz' treachery - 2 Chronicles 28
1. Text summary
Ahaz reigns in Judah, and follows Baal instead of Yahweh. He "burned his sons" in ritual fire to Baal. So God gives him to defeat by Israel and Syria. But a prophet rebukes Israel in Samaria for taking Judah captive, and has him send them back, restored. This sounds a lot like the Good Samaritan parable...
Ahaz sends to Assyria for help, but they just plunder Judah more.
2. Jesus
Jesus is the son sacrificed to good purpose, not just for destruction.
Jesus restores captives He takes, too.
3. Application
Don't make destructive sacrifices to get ahead, because you can't put faith in Christ's atonement at the cross.
Hezekiah's Reforms - 2 Chronicles 29
1. Text summary
Ahaz' son Hezekiah reigns in Judah for 29 years. He restores the temple, and encourages the priests. He commands they sacrifice and praise God.
2. Jesus
Jesus also restores God's house and brings about faithful worship from His people to God.
3. Application
Prioritize worship. Nothing is more important than worshiping God reverently, in purity.
Hezekiah's Passover - 2 Chronicles 30
1. Text summary
Hezekiah invites Israel's priests to move to Judah. Most mock, but some come. They keep Passover, but most priests aren't ready for it, to their shame. Hezekiah admits the lack of ritual purity to God, and He forgives it. Passover is joyous!
2. Jesus
Jesus wasn't technically the ritually right sacrificial lamb, either, but God accepts His sacrifice.
3. Application
None of this means we should be casual about how we do things in worship, but God is kind when we are figuring it out and don't know exactly what to do, yet.
Hezekiah's Reforms - 2 Chronicles 31
1. Text summary
After Passover, Hezekiah takes down more idols, gets the priests in order, and calls for an offering, which is very successful.
2. Jesus
Hezekiah is a type of Jesus, ordering and providing for His/God's house.
3. Application
We should hate idolatry and love God's house and people.
In times of true revival, the church gets the attention and care it needs.
Be careful to tithe to the church where you are a member.
Assyrian Threat - Hezekiah's Pride - 2 Chronicles 32
1. Text summary
Assyria invades and threatens Jerusalem, mocking Yahweh as weak like all the other gods they had defeated. Hezekiah prepares well for it. God's angel cuts down many officers in the Assyrian camp, and they retreat.
Hezekiah was rich, but later he gets sick and proud. He foolishly lets Babylon see all his treasure.
2. Jesus
Jesus had legions of angels to defeat his foes at the cross, but did not use them then.
3. Application
Prepare prudently for trouble ahead, but trust God to save you, not your wisdom.
It should anger us to hear the true God blashpemed so casually today.
Don't let riches make you self-satisfied and proud.
Manasseh's Wickedness and Repentance - 2 Chronicles 33
1. Text summary
Faithful Hezekiah's son Manasseh is wicked, and reigns for 55 years!
He rebuilds all the Baal worship sites, including in God's temple. He burns his sons to idols and uses sorcery. God judges him with Assyrian conquest and he is imprisoned in Assyria. Manasseh then truly repents, so God has him freed. He returns and takes down all the idolatry and commands Israel to worship God!
Amon his son reigns for only 2 years. He is assassinated, then the assassins are executed by the people.
2. Jesus
Jesus can and does rebuke kings for disloyalty to Him.
Jesus has powerful leaders in His church who "go bad," and work against Him.
3. Application
No sin is so great it is beyond hope of being restored to God's favor. Even killing your own children. Even encouraging others to worship idols.
God will bless repentance and faithfulness. Perhaps not always how you expect, but there will be a blessing in it.
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