Bible Reading Plan

Category: 2 Chronicles

  • 2 Chronicles 6

    2 Chronicles 6

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    6 Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud; 2 I have built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever.”

    3 While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them. 4 Then he said:

    “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his hands has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to my father David. For he said, 5 ‘Since the day I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built so that my Name might be there, nor have I chosen anyone to be ruler over my people Israel. 6 But now I have chosen Jerusalem for my Name to be there, and I have chosen David to rule my people Israel.’

    7 “My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 8 But the Lord said to my father David, ‘You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name. 9 Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, your own flesh and blood—he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.’

    10 “The Lord has kept the promise he made. I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel.11 There I have placed the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord that he made with the people of Israel.”

    Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication

    12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. 13 Now he had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide and three cubits high, and had placed it in the center of the outer court. He stood on the platform and then knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. 14 He said:

    “Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. 15 You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today.

    16 “Now, Lord, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me according to my law, as you have done.’ 17 And now, Lord, the God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David come true.

    18 “But will God really dwell on earth with humans? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! 19 Yet, Lord my God, give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. 20 May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there. May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 21 Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.

    22 “When anyone wrongs their neighbor and is required to take an oathand they come and swear the oath before your altar in this temple, 23 then hear from heaven and act. Judge between your servants, condemning the guilty and bringing down on their heads what they have done, and vindicating the innocent by treating them in accordance with their innocence.

    24 “When your people Israel have been defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you and when they turn back and give praise to your name, praying and making supplication before you in this temple,25 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to them and their ancestors.

    26 “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and give praise to your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, 27 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.

    28 “When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when enemies besiege them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, 29 and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among your people Israel—being aware of their afflictions and pains, and spreading out their hands toward this temple— 30 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive, and deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know their hearts (for you alone know the human heart), 31 so that they will fear you and walk in obedience to you all the time they live in the land you gave our ancestors.

    32 “As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this temple, 33 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.

    34 “When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray to you toward this city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name, 35 then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause.

    36 “When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to a land far away or near; 37 and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong and acted wickedly’; 38 and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity where they were taken, and pray toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and toward the temple I have built for your Name; 39 then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their pleas, and uphold their cause. And forgive your people, who have sinned against you.

    40 “Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.

    41 “Now arise, Lord God, and come to your resting place,
        you and the ark of your might.
    May your priests, Lord God, be clothed with salvation,
        may your faithful people rejoice in your goodness.
    42 Lord God, do not reject your anointed one.
        Remember the great love promised to David your servant.”

    Go Deeper

    After finishing the detailed instructions on how the temple would be built for the past couple of chapters, this chapter might seem daunting because of its length! However, as we read we see that it’s actually a celebration prayer and speech packed with encouragement for the Israelites. The first thing Solomon does is bless God. He acknowledges that it is not by his own work or his father David’s work that the temple is built, but simply because God has faithfully fulfilled His prophecy. He begins his prayer kneeling, with arms stretched to represent surrender and ready reception which was the common posture of prayer in the Old Testament. Solomon humbled himself, glorified God and boldly asked Him to dwell in the temple and honor His people. 

    Then Solomon did something unique: He prayed for the future prayers that would be lifted within the temple. He asked that God would hear the oaths taken there and preserve justice and that God would hear when the Israelites are defeated or crying out from captivity or when there are times of plague and famine. He even asked that when foreigners find themselves near the temple praying that God would listen and they would come to fear Him. Solomon knew that even after this celebration, the world would still be broken and hardship is promised, but God dwelt with them and heard their prayers. 

    Now, we get to celebrate even more abundantly! Because the veil of the temple has been torn, through Jesus’s body being broken, the Holy Spirit now dwells within us. So even though we don’t have the temple or the Ark of the Covenant, we have the security that God not only hears our prayers, but listens. So, how often do we take advantage of this gift that hasn’t always been available? 

    We have the ability to commune with God in our quiet times as well as at work, in our cars, getting coffee, or while doing the dishes. When we shift our mindset from encountering God for thirty minutes in the morning to all throughout our day, we can grow exponentially in our relationship with Him.

    Questions

    1. What sticks out to you most about Solomon’s prayer? Why? 
    2. What small habit could you change today to encounter God more? 
    3. How can you be praying for the people within your church or community?

    Keep Digging

    If you want to learn more about the veil being torn and what that means for us, click here to read this article from GotQuestions.org!

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  • 2 Chronicles 5

    2 Chronicles 5

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    5 When all the work Solomon had done for the temple of the Lord was finished, he brought in the things his father David had dedicated—the silver and gold and all the furnishings—and he placed them in the treasuries of God’s temple.

    The Ark Brought to the Temple

    2 Then Solomon summoned to Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Zion, the City of David. 3 And all the Israelites came together to the king at the time of the festival in the seventh month.

    4 When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the Levites took up the ark, 5 and they brought up the ark and the tent of meeting and all the sacred furnishings in it. The Levitical priestscarried them up; 6 and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted.

    7 The priests then brought the ark of the Lord’s covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim. 8 The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and covered the ark and its carrying poles. 9 These poles were so long that their ends, extending from the ark, could be seen from in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are still there today. 10 There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.

    11 The priests then withdrew from the Holy Place. All the priests who were there had consecrated themselves, regardless of their divisions. 12 All the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. 13 The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lordand sang:

    “He is good;
        his love endures forever.”Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud, 14 and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God.

    Go Deeper

    Finally the day has come. The temple has been finished according to God’s design. Seven years of hard work and excellent craftsmanship have culminated into a work of art. But, even after all that, the temple isn’t complete until the ark of the covenant makes its way into the Temple. All the beautiful details are meaningless without the presence of God, symbolized by the ark of the covenant.

    Solomon knows this and so this day is marked by celebration, sacrifice, and praise. The text tells us that there were so many sheep and cattle sacrificed to God that they couldn’t even be counted. A huge festival marked the occasion, and all the Israelites came together to worship. Once the ark was placed in the Holy Place, the priests and musicians “joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord.” As they praised God, the temple became so full of the glory of the Lord that the priests couldn’t even do their jobs. Five hundred years after God commanded the Israelites to build the ark of the covenant, the day had finally come to move that ark into the Temple. God’s presence was permanently with them. What a celebration it was!

    The crazy thing is, because of Jesus, we no longer must only access God through a Temple and a priest. The very presence of God that filled the Temple that day lives within us as believers. As Paul reminded the church in Corinth: “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?”(1 Corinthians 3:16) Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. We house God’s presence within us; we have access to His power and presence all the time.

    The Israelites threw a massive festival just to celebrate God’s presence nearer to them through the Temple, even though they couldn’t have direct access to God themselves. We walk around housing His Spirit in our bodies and yet don’t think twice about it. We spend most days completely unaware of God’s presence within us. We take the gift of His nearness for granted. But, what would today look like if we were aware of God’s presence throughout each moment? What could God do through us if we were fully alert to His presence? Friends, let’s not miss it. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to guide, direct, and help us every moment today.

    Questions

    1. Solomon knew that as beautiful and detailed as the Temple was, it was incomplete without the presence of God. No matter what your temple looks like, the most important thing about your body is that it houses God’s presence. How can that thinking re-shape how you view yourself today?
    2. How often are you aware that God’s presence is with you each day? How could remembering that He is with you help you to rely on Him more today?
    3. Take the next 5-10 minutes to sit with God in silence. Breathe slowly and tune into God’s presence within you. Acknowledge His presence and ask for more awareness of Him today.

    Listen Here

    Listen to this podcast from The Bible Project about the connection between the Temple and the Spirit.

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  • 2 Chronicles 4

    2 Chronicles 4

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    The Temple’s Furnishings

    4 He made a bronze altar twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide and ten cubits high. 2 He made the Sea of cast metal, circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim and five cubits high. It took a line of thirty cubits to measure around it. 3 Below the rim, figures of bulls encircled it—ten to a cubit. The bulls were cast in two rows in one piece with the Sea.

    4 The Sea stood on twelve bulls, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south and three facing east. The Sea rested on top of them, and their hindquarters were toward the center. 5 It was a handbreadth in thickness, and its rim was like the rim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It held three thousand baths.

    6 He then made ten basins for washing and placed five on the south side and five on the north. In them the things to be used for the burnt offerings were rinsed, but the Sea was to be used by the priests for washing.

    7 He made ten gold lampstands according to the specifications for them and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north.

    8 He made ten tables and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north. He also made a hundred gold sprinkling bowls.

    9 He made the courtyard of the priests, and the large court and the doors for the court, and overlaid the doors with bronze. 10 He placed the Sea on the south side, at the southeast corner.

    11 And Huram also made the pots and shovels and sprinkling bowls.

    So Huram finished the work he had undertaken for King Solomon in the temple of God:

    12 the two pillars;

    the two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars;

    the two sets of network decorating the two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars;

    13 the four hundred pomegranates for the two sets of network (two rows of pomegranates for each network, decorating the bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars);

    14 the stands with their basins;

    15 the Sea and the twelve bulls under it;

    16 the pots, shovels, meat forks and all related articles.

    All the objects that Huram-Abi made for King Solomon for the temple of the Lord were of polished bronze. 17 The king had them cast in clay molds in the plain of the Jordan between Sukkoth and Zarethan. 18 All these things that Solomon made amounted to so much that the weight of the bronze could not be calculated.

    19 Solomon also made all the furnishings that were in God’s temple:

    the golden altar;

    the tables on which was the bread of the Presence;

    20 the lampstands of pure gold with their lamps, to burn in front of the inner sanctuary as prescribed;

    21 the gold floral work and lamps and tongs (they were solid gold);

    22 the pure gold wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, dishes and censers; and the gold doors of the temple: the inner doors to the Most Holy Place and the doors of the main hall.

    Go Deeper

    This chapter continues on with the detailed narrative of how the temple was constructed, down to specific dimensions and the furniture that was built specifically for the temple. Solomon was building according to the plan that had been passed down by God to his father (King David) and, as we read in previous chapters, no expense was spared. The temple was so much more than a building to be half heartedly cobbled together. It was a place of worship–a place where people could worship and experience God (both individually and collectively). 

    Imagine the blood, sweat, and tears that went into the construction of such a place. It is thought that the temple took seven years to build! Everything had been thought through and meticulously built, from the bronze altar (34 feet long, 34 feet wide, and 17 feet high) down to the golden wick trimmers. What makes such labor intensive, grueling work worth doing? At the end of the day, it all comes down to the motivation and the heart behind why you do what you do. The construction of the temple had an important purpose. People would encounter God there! Solomon understood that. A theme throughout the scriptures is the importance of diligence (and the dangers of laziness). God calls us to work (and work well) and when we do, He is ultimately glorified in that.

    While the temple was the place to meet God back then, we know that things are different now for believers in Jesus. Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we have the Spirit of God living inside of us. The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 6, even describes our bodies as a temple of the Holy Spirit. We are no longer limited to a finite space full of elaborate bronze and gold furnishings, but instead we have the Spirit living inside of us. As we go about our days today, ask God to use you (through the Spirit inside you) as a way for people to encounter Him today.

    Questions

    1. What first stuck out to you as you read this chapter? Why?
    2. Do you find yourself lacking purpose in the work that you do (whatever it might be)? How can you focus today on glorifying God through the work that you do today?
    3. With the Spirit living inside of us, we are able to interact with God all throughout the day. How can you be more mindful of that as you go about your day today?

    a Quote

    Check out this quote from Tim Keller’s book Every Good Endeavor on work:

    “Everyone will be forgotten, nothing we do will make any difference, and all good endeavors, even the best, will come to naught. 

    Unless there is God. If the God of the Bible exists, and there is a True Reality beneath and behind this one, and this life is not the only life, then every good endeavor, even the simplest ones, pursued in response to God’s calling, can matter forever.”

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  • 2 Chronicles 3

    2 Chronicles 3

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    Solomon Builds the Temple

    3 Then Solomon began to build the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David. It was on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the place provided by David.2 He began building on the second day of the second month in the fourth year of his reign.

    3 The foundation Solomon laid for building the temple of God was sixty cubits long and twenty cubits wide (using the cubit of the old standard).4 The portico at the front of the temple was twenty cubits long across the width of the building and twenty cubits high.

    He overlaid the inside with pure gold. 5 He paneled the main hall with juniper and covered it with fine gold and decorated it with palm tree and chain designs. 6 He adorned the temple with precious stones. And the gold he used was gold of Parvaim. 7 He overlaid the ceiling beams, doorframes, walls and doors of the temple with gold, and he carved cherubim on the walls.

    8 He built the Most Holy Place, its length corresponding to the width of the temple—twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide. He overlaid the inside with six hundred talents of fine gold. 9 The gold nails weighed fifty shekels.He also overlaid the upper parts with gold.

    10 For the Most Holy Place he made a pair of sculptured cherubim and overlaid them with gold. 11 The total wingspan of the cherubim was twenty cubits. One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long and touched the temple wall, while its other wing, also five cubits long, touched the wing of the other cherub. 12 Similarly one wing of the second cherub was five cubits long and touched the other temple wall, and its other wing, also five cubits long, touched the wing of the first cherub. 13 The wings of these cherubimextended twenty cubits. They stood on their feet, facing the main hall.

    14 He made the curtain of blue, purple and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim worked into it.

    15 For the front of the temple he made two pillars, which together were thirty-five cubits long, each with a capital five cubits high. 16 He made interwoven chains and put them on top of the pillars. He also made a hundred pomegranates and attached them to the chains. 17 He erected the pillars in the front of the temple, one to the south and one to the north. The one to the south he named Jakin and the one to the north Boaz.

    Go Deeper

    In this chapter, King Solomon begins the temple project that his father (King David) prepared for him to accomplish. First Chronicles 28:19 states, “All this, David said, I have in writing as a result of the Lords’ hand on me, and He enabled me to understand all the details of the plan.” The construction of the temple has long been awaited by the people of Israel. This magnificent structure would represent the presence of God in their midst. 

    Solomon’s efforts to construct the house of God spared no expense in decorating every section of it with extravagant materials. The design included nothing but the finest of materials that would be used to build and decorate the house of God. This temple would represent the heavenly King’s earthly palace, displaying His holiness and glory. 

    There are so many details described in the building of the temple that point us to Jesus. The location of the temple is significant. Not only was it the place where the Lord had appeared to David, but it is also the place where Abraham offered Isaac, and the Lord provided a ram instead. (Genesis 22) It is also believed by scholars to be near, if not on the set of hills where Jesus’ cross was placed. 

    Another detail is that the Most Holy Place was separated by a heavy veil. Only the High Priest could enter once a year to offer atonement (payment) for the sins of the people of God. At Jesus’ death, the temple veil was torn from top to bottom, forever representing our access to God through Jesus’ sacrifice of His life. Hebrews 9 describes Jesus, as our high priest, entering once for all by His blood, securing our eternal redemption.

    Now there is no need for an ornate temple to represent God’s presence. As believers in Jesus, we are God’s temple and His Spirit dwells in us. However, pondering the holiness, beauty, perfection, and excellence of God may deepen our desire to reflect His character. Our response to His presence in our lives may prompt awe, worship, praise, and surrender.  He alone is holy, holy, holy, and worthy.

    Questions

    1. How does beauty stir your awe of our Holy God?
    2. How do your gifts to serve Christ reflect His presence in you?
    3. How will you express your thanks for God’s presence in you?

    Watch This

    The construction of the temple was an important milestone in the Old Testament. To learn more about the temple and its significance, check out this video from The Bible Project!

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  • 2 Chronicles 2

    2 Chronicles 2

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    Preparations for Building the Temple

    2 Solomon gave orders to build a temple for the Name of the Lord and a royal palace for himself. 2 He conscripted 70,000 men as carriers and 80,000 as stonecutters in the hills and 3,600 as foremen over them.

    3 Solomon sent this message to Hiram king of Tyre:

    “Send me cedar logs as you did for my father David when you sent him cedar to build a palace to live in. 4 Now I am about to build a temple for the Name of the Lord my God and to dedicate it to him for burning fragrant incense before him, for setting out the consecrated bread regularly, and for making burnt offerings every morning and evening and on the Sabbaths, at the New Moons and at the appointed festivals of the Lordour God. This is a lasting ordinance for Israel.

    5 “The temple I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all other gods. 6 But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him? Who then am I to build a temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him?

    7 “Send me, therefore, a man skilled to work in gold and silver, bronze and iron, and in purple, crimson and blue yarn, and experienced in the art of engraving, to work in Judah and Jerusalem with my skilled workers, whom my father David provided.

    8 “Send me also cedar, juniper and algum logs from Lebanon, for I know that your servants are skilled in cutting timber there. My servants will work with yours 9 to provide me with plenty of lumber, because the temple I build must be large and magnificent. 10 I will give your servants, the woodsmen who cut the timber, twenty thousand cors of ground wheat, twenty thousand cors of barley, twenty thousand baths of wine and twenty thousand baths of olive oil.”

    11 Hiram king of Tyre replied by letter to Solomon:

    “Because the Lord loves his people, he has made you their king.”

    12 And Hiram added:

    “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who made heaven and earth! He has given King David a wise son, endowed with intelligence and discernment, who will build a temple for the Lord and a palace for himself.

    13 “I am sending you Huram-Abi, a man of great skill, 14 whose mother was from Dan and whose father was from Tyre. He is trained to work in gold and silver, bronze and iron, stone and wood, and with purple and blue and crimson yarn and fine linen. He is experienced in all kinds of engraving and can execute any design given to him. He will work with your skilled workers and with those of my lord, David your father.

    15 “Now let my lord send his servants the wheat and barley and the olive oil and wine he promised, 16 and we will cut all the logs from Lebanon that you need and will float them as rafts by sea down to Joppa. You can then take them up to Jerusalem.”

    17 Solomon took a census of all the foreigners residing in Israel, after the census his father David had taken; and they were found to be 153,600. 18 He assigned 70,000 of them to be carriers and 80,000 to be stonecutters in the hills, with 3,600 foremen over them to keep the people working.

    Go Deeper

    In 1 Chronicles, we read about the anointing of David and his reign in Israel. We ended with David passing the torch down to his son Solomon. In the previous chapter, Solomon, who is young and inexperienced, asked the Lord for wisdom and knowledge to lead the people. This wisdom was granted to him. King David’s dream of building a temple for the Lord is now the task of King Solomon. The chapter begins telling us that “Solomon gave orders to build a temple for the Name of the Lord and a royal palace for himself” (v. 1). 

    This temple was going to be built in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah. This place is significant for many reasons. It is where God called Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac back in Genesis 22. Now about a thousand years later, God is calling Solomon to build the First Temple there. Solomon then selected “70,000 men as carriers and 80,000 as stonecutters in the hills and 3,600 as foremen over them” (v. 2). This is a lot of people! The assignment at hand was large, and Solomon needed a big team to complete this project. Solomon then reaches out to the King of Tyre named Hiram. Tyre was a port city on the Mediterranean Sea just north of Israel. We are first introduced to King Hiram back in 2 Samuel 5 after David had conquered the city of Jerusalem and established his capital there. Hiram had always been a friend and ally with David and was now partnering with Solomon in this project.  

    Solomon makes a request to Hiram, seeking help with the Temple. He says, “Send me, therefore, a man skilled to work in gold and silver, bronze, and iron, and in purple, crimson and blue yarn, and experienced in the art of engraving, to work in Judah and Jerusalem with my skilled workers, whom my father David provided. Send me also cedar, juniper, and algum logs from Lebanon, for I know that your servants are skilled in cutting timber there” (v. 7-8).  King Hiram sent silver, gold, craftsmen, and more! This was an opportunity for both kingdoms to mutually benefit, as they formed a trading alliance.  

    What can we learn from this partnership? It is notable that a pagan king, one who did not follow the God of Israel, was a large part of why the construction of the Temple was possible. Hiram praised the God of Israel because of the great wisdom He had given Solomon, but there is no evidence that he was a believer himself. The descendants of Abraham, or the Israelites, were God’s chosen people, and those who were not a part of the nation of Israel were considered Gentiles. However, the Old Testament is filled with references of God’s heart for all nations and all people, not just the Israelites. 

    We see this displayed in 1 Kings 8 where Solomon is praying to dedicate the temple to the Lord. Solomon prays to God saying, “As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name— for they will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this temple, then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name” (1 Kings 8:41-43). This temple would be a means for Gentiles to be introduced to the God of Israel. Solomon’s partnership with Hiram was an example of how God uses all people and desires all people of all nations to be in relationship with Him.

    Questions

    1. For Solomon to build the temple, he needed to recruit people with different talents. What unique gifts or abilities has the Lord given you? How can you use them for His glory?  
    2. Why do you think God used a pagan king to be a part of building His Temple? What does this teach you about the heart of God? 
    3. What are other examples in the Old Testament where you can see God’s intent to redeem, not just the Israelites, but all people to Himself?

    Keep Digging

    Interested in learning more about King Hiram? Check out this article from GotQuestions.org!

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  • 2 Chronicles 1 + Overview

    2 Chronicles 1 + Overview

    2 Chronicles Overview

    Second Chronicles picks up right where the previous book leaves off: as King David’s reign is ending and Solomon, his son, assumes the throne. Originally one long book, 1 and 2 Chronicles were divided into two parts some time around 200 BC as the Old Testament was translated from Hebrew to Greek (known as the Septuagint). Like 1 Chronicles, this was likely written in the fifth century BC after the Jewish people had returned home from exile and began rebuilding the temple. While the author isn’t explicitly identified, one leading theory amongst many scholars is that Ezra was the one who penned this book. 

    This book covers a few hundred year span from when Solomon became king in 971 BC until the southern kingdom of Judah was carried into Babylonian exile in 586 BC. This book focuses on the story of Judah (and less so on the northern kingdom of Israel). The beginning portion of the book opens with the story of Solomon building the temple (according to the plans God had given to David). From there, we see a cyclical pattern of righteous and unrighteous kings that followed and disobeyed God’s instructions (and the ramifications of their choices). 

    Since this book was written as a historical piece to help God’s people remember where they had been and what they had come from, we would do well to let it serve as a reminder to us as well. As we read these words and chapters from over two thousand years ago, let us be reminded of the importance of honoring and obeying God’s instructions in our own lives. We, too, can be forgetful people and fail to remember what God has done in redeeming our own lives, let alone the lives of those who came before us. As we read over the coming weeks, let’s be reminded of the goodness of God in our own lives.

    To refresh your memory and to be reminded of the overall story arch of 1 and 2 Chronicles, check out this video overview from The Bible Project.

    Read 2 Chronicles 1

    Solomon Asks for Wisdom

    1 Solomon son of David established himself firmly over his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.

    2 Then Solomon spoke to all Israel—to the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, to the judges and to all the leaders in Israel, the heads of families— 3 and Solomon and the whole assembly went to the high place at Gibeon, for God’s tent of meeting was there, which Moses the Lord’s servant had made in the wilderness. 4 Now David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim to the place he had prepared for it, because he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. 5 But the bronze altar that Bezalelson of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was in Gibeon in front of the tabernacle of the Lord; so Solomon and the assembly inquired of him there. 6 Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the Lord in the tent of meeting and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.

    7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

    8 Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. 9 Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

    11 God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”

    13 Then Solomon went to Jerusalem from the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting. And he reigned over Israel.

    14 Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. 15 The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. 16 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue—the royal merchants purchased them from Kue at the current price. 17 They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. They also exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and of the Arameans.

    Go Deeper

    Second Chronicles transitions from the end of David’s reign as king to the beginning of the kingship of Solomon. David reigned in Israel for 40 years, and his reign was marked by successes in battle and a heart passionately devoted to God. Solomon’s establishment as king was marked by three things: David’s gathering of building materials to enable his son to build God’s temple, Solomon publicly leading his people in worship of the one true God, and his request to God for wisdom and knowledge to lead the people (v. 10).  

    God offered Solomon anything he wanted, so He was pleased when Solomon asked from his heart for wisdom to rule well rather than for tangible things such as possessions, wealth, or long life. This request was evidence of Solomon’s desire to govern well rather than pursue selfish ambition. As a reward, God blessed him in such a way that his rule was known for riches and honor far beyond any king that ruled before him. 

    As the new king, Solomon had everything he needed to continue David’s work. His reign begins to sound like the perfect, storybook career until we reflect on God’s instruction to the kings in Deuteronomy 17, which specifically warns against multiplying horses, multiplying wives, and multiplying silver and gold. Was Solomon unaware of these instructions? Of course not. David, a man who knew God’s law intimately, would have been sure to instruct his son in them and have him write a copy of the law as commanded.  

    So, like David before him, Solomon also had flaws, despite his great gifts from God. These things appear in the words of the Chronicler, beginning in verse 14. When it came to wealth, Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen. Silver and gold in Jerusalem were as common as stones. He used his wealth to import horses from Egypt (versus 14-16). While his reign began on a promising note, it was his trust in wealth that led to dire consequences in the chapters to come. 

    Questions

    1. If God were to give you anything you wanted, what would you ask for? What is your gut response and what does that reveal about your heart?
    2. How is it possible that the great gifts given to Solomon would become the catalyst that led to his downfall? 
    3. Where else in the Old Testament have we seen man mishandle God’s perfect gifts?

    Pray This

    Father God, 

    Help me see the gifts that you have created exclusively for me. Allow me the wisdom to take those gifts and create fruit that advances your kingdom. Let me understand the importance of being a vessel that you can work through and shine your light to others. Continue to teach me in your Word where you provide everything I need to walk closely with you and share the good news, according to your perfect plan. 

    In Your Son’s name I pray, Amen.

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  • Rest Day

    Rest Day

    Rest Day

    Today is a Rest Day. There is no new Bible reading to do. Today, the goal is simple: rest in the presence of God. Maybe you need to use today to get caught up on the reading plan if you’re behind, maybe you want to journal what you’re learning so you don’t forget what God is teaching you, or maybe you want to spend time in concentrated prayer–do that. Above all, just spend time in God’s presence. 

    Watch This

    As we wrap up 2 Chronicles and start reading from a few of the minor prophets, check out this video from The Bible Project on how to read the prophetic books!

    Worship with us

    Join us in person or online at 9a or 11a at harriscreek.org/live. We’d love to worship with you! We also desire to connect everyone with a local church body where they can thrive in community and use their gifts to serve. If you’re following our Bible Reading Plan from outside of Waco and are eager to get connected with a great local church, email us at [email protected].

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  • 2 Chronicles 36

    2 Chronicles 36

    Read 2 Chronicles 36

    Judah’s Decline

    36 The people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah and made him king in his father’s place in Jerusalem. 2 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.3 Then the king of Egypt deposed him in Jerusalem and laid on the land a tribute of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. 4 And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. But Neco took Jehoahaz his brother and carried him to Egypt.

    5 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God. 6 Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and bound him in chains to take him to Babylon. 7 Nebuchadnezzar also carried part of the vessels of the house of the Lord to Babylon and put them in his palace in Babylon. 8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and the abominations that he did, and what was found against him, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. And Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.

    9 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. 10 In the spring of the year King Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babylon, with the precious vessels of the house of the Lord, and made his brother Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem.

    11 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. 12 He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the Lord. 13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. He stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the Lord, the God of Israel. 14 All the officers of the priests and the people likewise were exceedingly unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations. And they polluted the house of the Lord that he had made holy in Jerusalem.

    15 The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. 16 But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord rose against his people, until there was no remedy.

    Jerusalem Captured and Burned

    17 Therefore he brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or aged. He gave them all into his hand. 18 And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king and of his princes, all these he brought to Babylon. 19 And they burned the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem and burned all its palaces with fire and destroyed all its precious vessels. 20 He took into exile in Babylon those who had escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and to his sons until the establishment of the kingdom of Persia, 21 to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. All the days that it lay desolate it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.

    The Proclamation of Cyrus

    22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: 23 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the Lord his God be with him. Let him go up.’”

    Go Deeper

    Throughout all of 2 Chronicles, and especially in today’s reading, we see a trend that still applies today: just because the world wants something, does not mean that it is actually good for us. We see a common theme of the preferences of the majority of people being placed over the will and desire of the Lord. This never ends well. Not in 2 Chronicles 36. Not in the Old Testament. Not in the New Testament. And not today.

    Reading this chapter feels a little…chaotic. One king appointed, another one carried off to a place, then another king carried off to another place, and so on and so forth. King after king, place after place, battle after battle, complete and utter chaos. Is chaos a characteristic of the Lord? First Corinthians 14:33 says that God is not a God of disorder, but of peace. Does this portion of history represented in this chapter of Scripture trend more towards disorder or peace? It is easy to read these texts and ask, “Why would they not see their mistakes and turn to the Lord? Clearly this was not working.” It is even easier to point the finger today and say, “Why doesn’t society today see their mistakes and turn to the Lord? Clearly this is not working.” However, God calls us to turn that finger around and point it at ourselves. 

    If your common thought pattern when reading Scripture is consistently, “I need to send this to ____,” or “These people in Scripture sure sound like ____,” then there might be a pride problem. If when listening to sermons you think, “I hope ____ is listening to this, they need to hear this,” you might have a pride problem. The common theme of people not knowing what they want does not just apply to “people,” it applies to all of us on an individual level. These texts are not historical reminders for the sake of knowing some fun Bible trivia. These texts are a reminder that we should not trust our own desires, our own plans, or our own opinions. 

    At the end of 2 Chronicles, we are issued a historical warning for what happens when we follow our own desires, plans, and opinions: Jerusalem falls. Death is everywhere. Not even the elderly and children are spared. This is where our ideas take us. God’s plan takes us to abundant life (John 10:10). Death or Life? This decision is not just for others who you deem more “lost.” It is a decision for you to make every day, every hour, and every moment. A decision that can only be made by relying on the strength of the Holy Spirit. Press into Him today. Let Him lead you to abundant life.

    Questions

    1. In what areas are you pursuing your own opinions rather than God’s truth?
    2. Do you tend to think Scripture and sermons that point out sin apply to others more than you? Why?
    3. Notice the age of the kings. They are all different, yet they all committed evil against a holy God. Why do you think it matters that we are shown ages besides just it being a historical fact? Remember Matthew 18:2-4.

    Watch This

    Now that we’re finished with 2 Chronicles, go back and watch this video from The Bible Project about all that transpired during 1 and 2 Chronicles.

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  • 2 Chronicles 35

    2 Chronicles 35

    Read 2 Chronicles 35

    Josiah Keeps the Passover

    35 Josiah kept a Passover to the Lord in Jerusalem. And they slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the first month. 2 He appointed the priests to their offices and encouraged them in the service of the house of the Lord. 3 And he said to the Levites who taught all Israel and who were holy to the Lord, “Put the holy ark in the house that Solomon the son of David, king of Israel, built. You need not carry it on your shoulders. Now serve the Lord your God and his people Israel. 4 Prepare yourselves according to your fathers’ houses by your divisions, as prescribed in the writing of David king of Israel and the document of Solomon his son. 5 And stand in the Holy Place according to the groupings of the fathers’ houses of your brothers the lay people, and according to the division of the Levites by fathers’ household. 6 And slaughter the Passover lamb, and consecrate yourselves, and prepare for your brothers, to do according to the word of the Lord by Moses.”

    7 Then Josiah contributed to the lay people, as Passover offerings for all who were present, lambs and young goats from the flock to the number of 30,000, and 3,000 bulls; these were from the king’s possessions. 8 And his officials contributed willingly to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the chief officers of the house of God, gave to the priests for the Passover offerings 2,600 Passover lambs and 300 bulls.9 Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethanel his brothers, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, the chiefs of the Levites, gave to the Levites for the Passover offerings 5,000 lambs and young goats and 500 bulls.

    10 When the service had been prepared for, the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their divisions according to the king’s command. 11 And they slaughtered the Passover lamb, and the priests threw the blood that they received from them while the Levites flayed the sacrifices. 12 And they set aside the burnt offerings that they might distribute them according to the groupings of the fathers’ houses of the lay people, to offer to the Lord, as it is written in the Book of Moses. And so they did with the bulls. 13 And they roasted the Passover lamb with fire according to the rule; and they boiled the holy offerings in pots, in cauldrons, and in pans, and carried them quickly to all the lay people. 14 And afterward they prepared for themselves and for the priests, because the priests, the sons of Aaron, were offering the burnt offerings and the fat parts until night; so the Levites prepared for themselves and for the priests, the sons of Aaron. 15 The singers, the sons of Asaph, were in their place according to the command of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer; and the gatekeepers were at each gate. They did not need to depart from their service, for their brothers the Levites prepared for them.

    16 So all the service of the Lord was prepared that day, to keep the Passover and to offer burnt offerings on the altar of the Lord, according to the command of King Josiah. 17 And the people of Israel who were present kept the Passover at that time, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days.18 No Passover like it had been kept in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet. None of the kings of Israel had kept such a Passover as was kept by Josiah, and the priests and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 19 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah this Passover was kept.

    Josiah Killed in Battle

    20 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to meet him. 21 But he sent envoys to him, saying, “What have we to do with each other, king of Judah? I am not coming against you this day, but against the house with which I am at war. And God has commanded me to hurry. Cease opposing God, who is with me, lest he destroy you.” 22 Nevertheless, Josiah did not turn away from him, but disguised himself in order to fight with him. He did not listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, but came to fight in the plain of Megiddo. 23 And the archers shot King Josiah. And the king said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am badly wounded.”24 So his servants took him out of the chariot and carried him in his second chariot and brought him to Jerusalem. And he died and was buried in the tombs of his fathers. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.25 Jeremiah also uttered a lament for Josiah; and all the singing men and singing women have spoken of Josiah in their laments to this day. They made these a rule in Israel; behold, they are written in the Laments. 26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his good deeds according to what is written in the Law of the Lord, 27 and his acts, first and last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.

    Go Deeper

    This chapter, the next to last in 2 Chronicles, is one of mixed emotions. We read of the celebratory Passover dinner, which was well attended by people from both the north and south. Every detail in the Law was accounted for and God was honored through their celebration. The reign of Josiah was still going strong! He was righting the wrongs of so many of his predecessors and he was one of the most faithful kings in all of Judah’s history. But then, a sudden downturn. 

    A battle broke out and Josiah decided to insert himself into it, even though Neco (the king of Egypt) warned him against participating on God’s behalf (v. 21). For whatever reason, Josiah trusted his own instincts and impulses instead of trusting the message God has sent him through Neco. Josiah even went so far as to disguise himself so he could participate in the battle. As a result, Josiah was taken down in the battle by an archer. All of a sudden, the reign of this faithful king was over in a fateful moment. 

    The end of the passage ends in mourning. All of Judah and Jerusalem were grieving the loss of the king, as well as the prophet Jeremiah (v. 24-25). The Chronicler makes a point of mentioning just how grieved everyone was. This is a testament to Josiah’s faithfulness as their ruler. By seeking the heart of God during his reign as king, God’s blessing was on Josiah’s reign. As a result, the people prospered. It was clear that the Lord rewarded Josiah’s righteousness and faithfulness, which is consistent with God’s character (1 Samuel 26:23).

    Reading this passage, it is hard to not feel a tinge of sorrow for the way Josiah’s reign ended. As we have read through 2 Chronicles, we have read of so many wicked and unrighteous kings. Josiah was one of the good guys! This passage serves as a reminder to always test our motives alongside God’s Word. While Josiah had Neco bring him a message on God’s behalf, we have the benefit of having the Holy Spirit inside of us and God’s Word to test our motives. If our hearts aren’t aligned with God’s heart, we will ultimately pursue our own desires and fall short, just as Josiah did. 

    Questions

    1. What stuck out to you as you first read through this chapter? Why?
    2. Why was the Passover so significant to King Josiah? What was the importance of it being so perfect?
    3. The end of Josiah’s reign was ultimately a result of his poor choices. What can you proactively do to ensure that you will finish well?

    A Quote

    Pastor and author Tim Keller, who passed away in 2023, is a great example of finishing well. Here are the last words he said as he went to be with Jesus:

    “I’m thankful for all the people who’ve prayed for me over the years. I’m thankful for my family that loves me. I’m thankful for the time God has given me, but I’m ready to see Jesus. I can’t wait to see Jesus. Send me home.”

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  • 2 Chronicles 34

    2 Chronicles 34

    Read 2 Chronicles 34

    Josiah Reigns in Judah

    34 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. 2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father; and he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 3 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet a boy, he began to seek the God of David his father, and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, and the carved and the metal images. 4 And they chopped down the altars of the Baals in his presence, and he cut down the incense altars that stood above them. And he broke in pieces the Asherim and the carved and the metal images, and he made dust of them and scattered it over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. 5 He also burned the bones of the priests on their altars and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem. 6 And in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, and as far as Naphtali, in their ruins[a] all around, 7 he broke down the altars and beat the Asherim and the images into powder and cut down all the incense altars throughout all the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.

    The Book of the Law Found

    8 Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had cleansed the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the house of the Lord his God. 9 They came to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought into the house of God, which the Levites, the keepers of the threshold, had collected from Manasseh and Ephraim and from all the remnant of Israel and from all Judah and Benjamin and from the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 And they gave it to the workmen who were working in the house of the Lord. And the workmen who were working in the house of the Lord gave it for repairing and restoring the house. 11 They gave it to the carpenters and the builders to buy quarried stone, and timber for binders and beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had let go to ruin. 12 And the men did the work faithfully. Over them were set Jahath and Obadiah the Levites, of the sons of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to have oversight. The Levites, all who were skillful with instruments of music, 13 were over the burden-bearers and directed all who did work in every kind of service, and some of the Levites were scribes and officials and gatekeepers.

    14 While they were bringing out the money that had been brought into the house of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lordgiven through[b] Moses. 15 Then Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan. 16 Shaphan brought the book to the king, and further reported to the king, “All that was committed to your servants they are doing. 17 They have emptied out the money that was found in the house of the Lord and have given it into the hand of the overseers and the workmen.” 18 Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it before the king.

    19 And when the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes. 20 And the king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, 21 “Go, inquire of the Lord for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to do according to all that is written in this book.”

    Huldah Prophesies Disaster

    22 So Hilkiah and those whom the king had sent[c] went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter) and spoke to her to that effect. 23 And she said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, 24 Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the curses that are written in the book that was read before the king of Judah.25 Because they have forsaken me and have made offerings to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands, therefore my wrath will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched. 26 But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard, 27 because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and you have humbled yourself before me and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord.28 Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place and its inhabitants.’” And they brought back word to the king.

    29 Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30 And the king went up to the house of the Lord, with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the priests and the Levites, all the people both great and small. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the Lord. 31 And the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book. 32 Then he made all who were present in Jerusalem and in Benjamin join in it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.33 And Josiah took away all the abominations from all the territory that belonged to the people of Israel and made all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God. All his days they did not turn away from following the Lord, the God of their fathers.

    Go Deeper

    Following the assassination of King Amon, his father, Josiah assumed the throne at the age of eight (!) years old. If the thought of an eight year old ruling the land that you live in makes you nervous, you wouldn’t be alone. But, even early on, Josiah’s reign started off promising. He sought after God and removed the idols that were the object of false worship. 

    After 18 years on the throne, he ordered that repairs be made to the temple. Once the restoration project began, something happened that changed the trajectory of Josiah’s reign: He encountered the Book of the Law of the Lord.

    According to Deuteronomy 31:24-27, there should have been a copy of the Law in the temple near the ark of the covenant. It’s possible that this book had been there all along and King Josiah just hadn’t seen it. It’s also possible that it had been buried or misplaced. Either way, let’s re-read what verse 19 says: “When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes.” Remember, this book was the closest thing to the scriptures they would have had back then. These were God’s commandments and instructions that He had given to Moses. As soon as Josiah heard God’s Word, he realized just how far away they had drifted from God’s original intentions. It pierced his heart and the response was lament and grief, so he instantly threw himself into repentance. 

    God meets Josiah’s repentant heart with grace and mercy. He saw Josiah’s humility and decided to hold off on the judgment that was headed their way. God meets our own disobedience and straying from His Word with grace and mercy each time we respond with repentance. When we turn from sin and (like Josiah) say “no more”, we see the heart of a loving Father who cares for his children. This is such a powerful picture of what happens when we take sin seriously! We have an opportunity to use God’s Word (from Genesis to Revelation) as a mirror into our own lives and see how God wants to transform our hearts into ones that look more like His.

    Questions

    1. What stuck out to you as you first read through this chapter? Why?
    2. When was the last time that, by coming face-to-face with God’s Word, you realized you needed to repent?
    3. Where have you drifted from God’s original intentions over time? How has sin crept into your own life? Take some time today to repent and humble yourself before God like Josiah did.

    By the Way

    Hebrews 4:12 is a great reminder for us that the Word of God is to be like a mirror that shows us when our hearts don’t align with God’s heart:

    “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

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