2 Chronicles 12 to 16
While the different kings were ruling over the ten tribes of Israel, other kings ruled over the two tribes south of them. It was about 400 years that there were these two kingdoms of the nation of Israel, so there were many kings; some ruled many years, some a few years, some only a few months. Sometimes they visited, or went to war, together; and sometimes they fought against each other; so their histories were written together. Several had the same names, and we will not now learn all, but God has kept these histories very many years, and they are twice given so must he important to know of.
The kings over the two tribes were called “the kings of Judah”, as they were of that tribe, we find the most about them in the Book of 2 Chronicles. They always lived in the city of Jerusalem, where there were the great palaces, bridges, and fountains built by King David and King Solomon. More towers and walls were added by other kings.
But, best of all, the grand temple to God was there, with much to show the king’s and people God’s glory and His holiness. Inside the temple were also kept the writings of God’s words„ written in their language, Hebrew, by Moses, Joshua, David and Solomon, which we now have in our language in the Old Testament. The king was to have a copy of his own (Deut. 17:1818And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: (Deuteronomy 17:18)). There were men to teach those writings to the people, and they could all meet in the big court to listen and to praise God. We will see if they obeyed God’s Words.
The first of these kings of Judah was Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, who took advice of men who did not love God, and “did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord”. 2 Chron. 12:1414And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord. (2 Chronicles 12:14).
How could he have prepared his heart for God? By listening to the words of God and obeying.
The next king was Abijah, who trusted God for his battles but let idols be in the land of Judah.
The next king was Asa, who was a good king for many years. A great army came against his people, and he asked the Lord for help, saying,
“Lord, it is nothing with Thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power”. And the Lord caused the enemy to hurry away.
Asa also obeyed the words of a man of God, and had all the images which had been set up, destroyed, even those of the queen mother, which needed true courage to do. After the idols were taken away, the people came together and praised God.
But near the last years of King Asa’s life he did wrong., by sending gold and silver from the temple to a heathen king to keep his army away.
A man of God told him he should have asked help from the Lord„ which made the king very angry, so his last days were not good.
Find Jerusalem on a map.
We will read of more kings another time.
ML 08/13/1939