2Chronicles 25-27; Psalms 77
One Story That Leads to Jesus, Day 232
2Chronicles 25
25Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Jehoaddin from Jerusalem.H558H6242H2568H8141H1121H4427H4427H6242H8672H8141H3389H517H8034H3086H33892Amaziah did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight, but not wholeheartedly.H6213H3477H5869H3068H8003H38243When Amaziah was well established as king, he executed the officials who had assassinated his father.H4467H2388H2026H5650H5221H4428H14However, he did not kill the children of the assassins, for he obeyed the command of the LORD as written by Moses in the Book of the Law: "Parents must not be put to death for the sins of their children, nor children for the sins of their parents. Those deserving to die must be put to death for their own crimes."H4191H1121H3789H8451H5612H4872H3068H6680H559H1H4191H1121H1121H4191H1H376H4191H23995Then Amaziah organized the army, assigning generals and captains for all Judah and Benjamin. He took a census and found that he had an army of 300,000 select troops, twenty years old and older, all trained in the use of spear and shield.H558H6908H3063H6908H5975H8269H505H8269H3967H1004H1H3063H1144H6485H6242H8141H1121H4605H4672H7969H3967H505H977H3318H6635H270H7420H67936He also paid about 7,500 pounds of silver to hire 100,000 experienced fighting men from Israel.H7936H3967H505H1368H2428H3478H3967H3603H37017But a man of God came to him and said, "Your Majesty, do not hire troops from Israel, for the LORD is not with Israel. He will not help those people of Ephraim!H935H376H430H559H4428H6635H3478H935H3068H3478H1121H6698If you let them go with your troops into battle, you will be defeated by the enemy no matter how well you fight. God will overthrow you, for he has the power to help you or to trip you up."H935H6213H2388H4421H430H3782H6440H341H430H3426H3581H5826H37829Amaziah asked the man of God, "But what about all that silver I paid to hire the army of Israel?" The man of God replied, "The LORD is able to give you much more than this!"H558H559H376H430H6213H3967H3603H5414H1416H3478H376H430H559H3068H3426H5414H723510So Amaziah discharged the hired troops and sent them back to Ephraim. This made them very angry with Judah, and they returned home in a great rage.H558H914H1416H935H669H3212H4725H3212H639H3966H2734H3063H7725H4725H2750H63911Then Amaziah summoned his courage and led his army to the Valley of Salt, where they killed 10,000 Edomite troops from Seir.H558H2388H5090H5971H3212H1516H4417H5221H1121H8165H6235H50512They captured another 10,000 and took them to the top of a cliff and threw them off, dashing them to pieces on the rocks below.H6235H505H2416H1121H3063H7617H935H7218H5553H7993H7218H5553H123413Meanwhile, the hired troops that Amaziah had sent home raided several of the towns of Judah between Samaria and Beth-horon. They killed 3,000 people and carried off great quantities of plunder.H1121H1416H558H7725H3212H4421H6584H5892H3063H8111H1032H5221H7969H505H962H7227H96114When King Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought with him idols taken from the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down in front of them, and offered sacrifices to them!H310H558H935H5221H130H935H430H1121H8165H5975H430H7812H6440H699915This made the LORD very angry, and he sent a prophet to ask, "Why do you turn to gods who could not even save their own people from you?"H639H3068H2734H558H7971H5030H559H1875H430H5971H5337H5971H302716But the king interrupted him and said, "Since when have I made you the king's counselor? Be quiet now before I have you killed!" So the prophet stopped with this warning: "I know that God has determined to destroy you because you have done this and have refused to accept my counsel."H1696H559H5414H4428H3289H2308H5221H5030H2308H559H3045H430H3289H7843H6213H8085H609817After consulting with his advisers, King Amaziah of Judah sent this challenge to Israel's king Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz and grandson of Jehu: "Come and meet me in battle!"H558H4428H3063H3289H7971H3101H1121H3059H1121H3058H4428H3478H559H3212H7200H644018But King Jehoash of Israel replied to King Amaziah of Judah with this story: "Out in the Lebanon mountains, a thistle sent a message to a mighty cedar tree: 'Give your daughter in marriage to my son.' But just then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and stepped on the thistle, crushing it!H3101H4428H3478H7971H558H4428H3063H559H2336H3844H7971H730H3844H559H5414H1323H1121H802H5674H7704H2416H3844H7429H233619"You are saying, 'I have defeated Edom,' and you are very proud of it. But my advice is to stay at home. Why stir up trouble that will only bring disaster on you and the people of Judah?"H559H5221H123H3820H5375H3513H3427H1004H1624H7451H5307H306320But Amaziah refused to listen, for God was determined to destroy him for turning to the gods of Edom.H558H8085H430H5414H3027H1875H430H12321So King Jehoash of Israel mobilized his army against King Amaziah of Judah. The two armies drew up their battle lines at Beth-shemesh in Judah.H3101H4428H3478H5927H7200H6440H558H4428H3063H1053H306322Judah was routed by the army of Israel, and its army scattered and fled for home.H3063H5062H6440H3478H5127H376H16823King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah's king, Amaziah son of Joash and grandson of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. Then he brought him to Jerusalem, where he demolished 600 feet of Jerusalem's wall, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate.H3101H4428H3478H8610H558H4428H3063H1121H3101H1121H3059H1053H935H3389H6555H2346H3389H8179H669H6437H8179H702H3967H52024He carried off all the gold and silver and all the articles from the Temple of God that had been in the care of Obed-edom. He also seized the treasures of the royal palace, along with hostages, and then returned to Samaria.H2091H3701H3627H4672H1004H430H5654H214H4428H1004H1121H8594H7725H811125King Amaziah of Judah lived on for fifteen years after the death of King Jehoash of Israel.H558H1121H3101H4428H3063H2421H310H4194H3101H1121H3059H4428H3478H2568H6240H814126The rest of the events in Amaziah's reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.H3499H1697H558H7223H314H3789H5612H4428H3063H347827After Amaziah turned away from the LORD, there was a conspiracy against his life in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But his enemies sent assassins after him, and they killed him there.H6256H558H5493H310H3068H7194H7195H3389H5127H3923H7971H3923H310H419128They brought his body back on a horse, and he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David.H5375H5483H6912H1H5892H3063
2Chronicles 26
26All the people of Judah had crowned Amaziah's sixteen-year-old son, Uzziah, as king in place of his father.H5971H3063H3947H5818H8337H6240H8141H1121H4427H1H5582After his father's death, Uzziah rebuilt the town of Elath and restored it to Judah.H1129H359H7725H3063H310H4428H7901H13Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother was Jecoliah from Jerusalem.H8337H6240H8141H1121H5818H4427H4427H2572H8147H8141H3389H517H8034H3203H33894He did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight, just as his father, Amaziah, had done.H6213H3477H5869H3068H1H558H62135Uzziah sought God during the days of Zechariah, who taught him to fear God. And as long as the king sought guidance from the LORD, God gave him success.H1875H430H3117H2148H995H7200H430H3117H1875H3068H430H67436Uzziah declared war on the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. Then he built new towns in the Ashdod area and in other parts of Philistia.H3318H3898H6430H6555H2346H1661H2346H2996H2346H795H1129H5892H795H64307God helped him in his wars against the Philistines, his battles with the Arabs of Gur, and his wars with the Meunites.H430H5826H6430H6163H3427H1485H45868The Meunites paid annual tribute to him, and his fame spread even to Egypt, for he had become very powerful.H5984H5414H4503H5818H8034H3212H935H4714H2388H46059Uzziah built fortified towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the angle in the wall.H5818H1129H4026H3389H6438H8179H1516H8179H4740H238810He also constructed forts in the wilderness and dug many water cisterns, because he kept great herds of livestock in the foothills of Judah and on the plains. He was also a man who loved the soil. He had many workers who cared for his farms and vineyards, both on the hillsides and in the fertile valleys.H1129H4026H4057H2672H7227H953H7227H4735H8219H4334H406H3755H2022H3760H157H12711Uzziah had an army of well-trained warriors, ready to march into battle, unit by unit. This army had been mustered and organized by Jeiel, the secretary of the army, and his assistant, Maaseiah. They were under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king's officials.H5818H2428H4421H6213H3318H6635H1416H4557H6486H3027H3273H5608H4641H7860H3027H2608H4428H826912These regiments of mighty warriors were commanded by 2,600 clan leaders.H4557H7218H1H1368H2428H505H8337H396713The army consisted of 307,500 men, all elite troops. They were prepared to assist the king against any enemy.H3027H2428H6635H7969H3967H505H7651H505H2568H3967H6213H4421H2428H3581H5826H4428H34114Uzziah provided the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and sling stones.H5818H3559H6635H4043H7420H3553H8302H7198H7050H6815And he built structures on the walls of Jerusalem, designed by experts to protect those who shot arrows and hurled large stones from the towers and the corners of the wall. His fame spread far and wide, for the LORD gave him marvelous help, and he became very powerful.H6213H3389H2810H4284H2803H4026H6438H3384H2671H1419H68H8034H3318H7350H6381H5826H3588H238816But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the LORD his God by entering the sanctuary of the LORD's Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar.H2393H3820H1361H7843H4603H3068H430H935H1964H3068H6999H4196H700417Azariah the high priest went in after him with eighty other priests of the LORD, all brave men.H5838H3548H935H310H8084H3548H3068H2428H112118They confronted King Uzziah and said, "It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD. That is the work of the priests alone, the descendants of Aaron who are set apart for this work. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have sinned. The LORD God will not honor you for this!"H5975H5818H4428H559H5818H6999H3068H3548H1121H175H6942H6999H3318H4720H4603H3519H3068H43019Uzziah, who was holding an incense burner, became furious. But as he was standing there raging at the priests before the incense altar in the LORD's Temple, leprosy suddenly broke out on his forehead.H5818H2196H4730H3027H6999H2196H3548H6883H2224H4696H6440H3548H1004H3068H7004H419620When Azariah the high priest and all the other priests saw the leprosy, they rushed him out. And the king himself was eager to get out because the LORD had struck him.H5838H7218H3548H3548H6437H6879H4696H926H1765H3318H3068H506021So King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in isolation in a separate house, for he was excluded from the Temple of the LORD. His son Jotham was put in charge of the royal palace, and he governed the people of the land.H5818H4428H6879H3117H4194H3427H2669H2669H1004H6879H1504H1004H3068H3147H1121H4428H1004H8199H5971H77622The rest of the events of Uzziah's reign, from beginning to end, are recorded by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.H3499H1697H5818H7223H314H3470H5030H1121H531H378923When Uzziah died, he was buried with his ancestors; his grave was in a nearby burial field belonging to the kings, for the people said, "He had leprosy." And his son Jotham became the next king.H5818H7901H1H6912H1H7704H6900H4428H559H6879H3147H1121H4427
2Chronicles 27
27Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.H3147H6242H2568H8141H1121H4427H4427H8337H6240H8141H3389H517H8034H3388H1323H6659 2Jotham did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight. He did everything his father, Uzziah, had done, except that Jotham did not sin by entering the Temple of the LORD. But the people continued in their corrupt ways.H6213H3477H5869H3068H1H5818H6213H935H1964H3068H5971H7843 3Jotham rebuilt the upper gate of the Temple of the LORD. He also did extensive rebuilding on the wall at the hill of Ophel.H1129H5945H8179H1004H3068H2346H6077H1129H7230 4He built towns in the hill country of Judah and constructed fortresses and towers in the wooded areas.H1129H5892H2022H3063H2793H1129H1003H4026 5Jotham went to war against the Ammonites and conquered them. Over the next three years he received from them an annual tribute of 7,500 pounds of silver, 50,000 bushels of wheat, and 50,000 bushels of barley.H3898H4428H5984H2388H1121H5983H5414H8141H3967H3603H3701H6235H505H3734H2406H6235H505H8184H1121H5983H7725H2063H8145H8141H7992 6King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the LORD his God.H3147H2388H3559H1870H6440H3068H430 7The rest of the events of Jotham's reign, including all his wars and other activities, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.H3499H1697H3147H4421H1870H3789H5612H4428H3478H3063 8He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years.H2568H6242H8141H1121H4427H4427H8337H6240H8141H3389 9When Jotham died, he was buried in the City of David. And his son Ahaz became the next king.H3147H7901H1H6912H5892H1732H271H1121H4427
Psalms 77
77[For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of Asaph.] I cry out to God; yes, I shout. Oh, that God would listen to me!H5329H3038H4210H623H6817H430H6963H430H6963H2382When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted.H3117H6869H1875H136H3027H5064H3915H6313H5315H3985H51623I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help. InterludeH2142H430H1993H7878H7307H5848H55424You don’t let me sleep. I am too distressed even to pray!H270H5869H8109H6470H16965I think of the good old days, long since ended,H2803H3117H6924H8141H57696when my nights were filled with joyful songs. I search my soul and ponder the difference now.H2142H5058H3915H7878H3824H7307H26647Has the Lord rejected me forever? Will he never again be kind to me?H136H2186H5769H3254H75218Is his unfailing love gone forever? Have his promises permanently failed?H2617H656H5331H562H1584H1755H17559Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he slammed the door on his compassion? InterludeH410H7911H2589H639H7092H7356H554210And I said, “This is my fate; the Most High has turned his hand against me.”H559H2470H8141H3225H594511But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.H2142H2142H4611H3050H2142H6382H692412They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.H1897H6467H7878H594913O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you?H1870H430H6944H1419H410H43014You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations.H410H6213H6382H3045H5797H597115By your strong arm, you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. InterludeH2220H1350H5971H1121H3290H3130H554216When the Red Sea saw you, O God, its waters looked and trembled! The sea quaked to its very depths.H4325H7200H430H4325H7200H2342H8415H726417The clouds poured down rain; the thunder rumbled in the sky. Your arrows of lightning flashed.H5645H2229H4325H7834H5414H6963H2687H198018Your thunder roared from the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world! The earth trembled and shook.H6963H7482H1534H1300H215H8398H776H7264H749319Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters—a pathway no one knew was there!H1870H3220H7635H7227H4325H6119H304520You led your people along that road like a flock of sheep, with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds.H5148H5971H6629H3027H4872H175
Dublin, OH
from Jerusalem.H558
