1st and 2nd Chronicles

Through both books of Chronicles we are encouraged by the revivals recorded. The wrath of the Lord was against His people and Chronicles records how the Lord’s messengers were mocked as the people of Judah despised the words of His prophets. God handed His people over to king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.

The king confiscated all the articles and treasures from the Temple of God and then set the town on fire. The army of broke down the walls of Jerusalem. All things of value were taken and all the palaces were destroyed.

The remnant of God who escaped the sword became servants to the king and to his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power. The people of Judah went into exile as they became orphans from their land. A total of 4,600 men of Judah were taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar.

The fall of Jerusalem was a result of the disobedience of all the leaders and priests. “In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:

“This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up, and may the Lord their God be with them.’” (2 Chron 36:22) Our Lord came to earth through the people of Judah, and He chose the people of Israel for the fulfillment of His great promises. God is still the God of the Jews. (Romans 11:1)

His will shall be fulfilled through His people. The meaning and power of 2nd Chronicles are found in the great revivals under Asa. A revival under Jehoshaphat, a revival under Joash, a revival under Hezekiah and the revival through Josiah. (2 Chron 15; 2 Chron 20; 2 Chron 23-24; 2 Chron 29-31; 2 Chron 35).

We do well to remember the meaning of the words of Ezekiel 16:8 “‘Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your naked body. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign Lord, and you became mine.” When God created the world, the nation of Israel was yet to be established for His glory, by His chosen infant, immature people.

The story of Israel is the life story of the people God chose a people He loved, a people He protected, a people He nurtured. In many ways the story of Israel reflects our own wanderings, stumblings, doubts and renewals.

Our Father worked tirelessly to win back the love of His little children who struggled to take their first steps of faith. As infants will, they threw a tantrum, and they ran after the things they thought they were missing. It is easy to judge Israel for it’s fickle mindedness, but are we not the same?

Like everyone, Israel was born totally naive of their propensity to sin, to mess up, to be willful and disobedient. Just like us, the nation of Israel was made up of helpless, unsuspecting, immature and gullible people. God was patient as He cared for His child. Like parents do, He watched them fall, He picked them up and encouraged them to trust in Him as they took the next step. He knew what was best for them, and our Father knows what is best for us.

“The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, (Jesus) confronts Jerusalem with her detestable practices and say, ‘Your ancestry and birth were in the land of the Canaanites; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. On the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths. No one looked on you with pity or had compassion enough to do any of these things for you. Rather, you were thrown out into the open field, for on the day you were born you were despised.‘Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, “Live!”I made you grow like a plant of the field. You grew and developed and entered puberty. Your breasts had formed and your hair had grown, yet you were stark naked. “‘Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your naked body. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign Lord, and you became mine.” (Ez 16:1-8) Halleluiah, say this out loud, shout it from your rooftop! “I am His and He is mine”

LESSON: Trust in God to fulfill all His promises.

“It is finished” 4/18/19