Category: 2 Chronicles Devotionals

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2 Chronicles Devotionals

Living according to the Word

2 Chronicles

It’s amazing to think about how the book of the Law had apparently been lost for years.  (The book of the law was the Jewish Bible of the time which comprised of Genesis to Deuteronomy.)

Apparently, during the time of Amon (and perhaps Manasseh), worship of God had so deteriorated that even the priests didn’t have a copy of God’s word.

What in the world were they teaching the people at that time?

Probably what they remembered being taught by their fathers and grandfathers.

But even then, a lot was apparently forgotten.

Even when Josiah became king and started to lead the nation back to God, people were worshiping God and living as they thought was right.

Then the Book of the Law was found, and Josiah and the people realized how far off track they had gotten.

And by reading God’s word and following it, not only did their lives change, but also their worship of God, specifically the Passover.

No longer did they do things as they saw fit, but they did things according to God’s word (2 Chronicles 34:31, 35:6, 12).

How about you? Are you living according to God’s word?

Are your morals and values coming from it?

Are your ideas about God and how to please him coming from what he has said?

Or, because you’re not reading God’s word regularly, are you just living by what you think is right?

Let us not merely follow our culture or our own ideas on the best way to live.

Rather, let us make God’s word the center of our lives and live by it.

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2 Chronicles Devotionals

What’s in your temple?

2 Chronicles

Sometimes people wonder why we need both Chronicles and Kings in our Bible, considering the fact that they cover much of the same material in Israel’s history.

Just as the putting the gospels together gives us a fuller picture of Jesus’ story, putting together Kings and Chronicles helps us to get the fuller picture of Israel’s history.

And while there is overlap in the stories, we do get more details by putting the accounts together.

In this passage, for example, you see the repentance of Manasseh. You don’t see that in the Kings’ account.  (2 Kings 21)

Beyond that, there are two key differences between Kings and Chronicles.

After Solomon died, the kingdom of Israel split into two kingdoms, the northern kingdom of Israel, and the southern kingdom of Judah.

The kings of Israel were all bad, following idols.

The kings of Judah had many bad kings, but they also had a few good kings who served the Lord.

Kings gives us information about both kingdoms.

Chronicles primarily focuses on Judah.

The other thing about Chronicles is it tends to put more emphasis on the temple and worship at the temple.

You see this in today’s story. Manasseh had wrecked worship at the temple.

It’s absolutely amazing to think that he would put idols of other gods in God’s temple.

Can you imagine setting up a statue of Buddha in your church and worshiping it?

That’s essentially what Manasseh did.

But think about this:  We are called temples of God (1Corinthians 6:18-20).

What do you put into your temple?

What kind of music do you listen to?

What kind of things do you watch on TV or on the internet?

What kind of books and magazines do you read?

Are these things pleasing to God?

Is your whole life an expression of worship to God?

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2 Chronicles Devotionals

Seeking the Lord

2 Chronicles

As we read about the imminent attack on Judah, it’s hard to miss what Jehoshaphat’s response was.

Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he resolved to seek the Lord. Then he proclaimed a fast for all Judah, who gathered to seek the Lord. They even came from all the cities of Judah to seek him. (2 Chronicles 20:3-4)

Three times, we see Jehoshaphat’s response: he sought God.

He resolved to seek God.

The people gathered to seek God.

In fact, they came from all over to seek God.

How often do we do the same?

What does it mean to seek the Lord?

It means we seek his will.

It means we seek his help.

But more than all that, we seek a close relationship with him.

How often do we do that?

When we read our Bibles, is it just a habit, or are we seeking God?

When we fast, is it just a religious discipline, or are we seeking God?

When we gather at church, is it just a social club, or are we seeking God?

When we meet for our small groups, are we just hanging out with friends, or are we seeking God?

Let us not be like most of the people of Judah, who sought God in their time of need, but never really gave their hearts to him. (2 Chronicles 20:33)

Instead, let us be like Jehoshaphat, and truly seek God with all our hearts. (2 Chronicles 19:3; 20:32)

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2 Chronicles Devotionals

Unequally yoked

2 Chronicles

The apostle Paul wrote,

Don’t become partners with those who do not believe. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness?

Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

What agreement does Christ have with Belial?

Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? (2 Corinthians 6:14-15)

While most times, we associate this passage with dating and marriage, this is true about any relationship where an unbeliever has too much influence in our lives.

We see this in the life of Jehoshaphat. He allowed Ahab far too much influence in his life, and it nearly cost him his life.

And while God showed grace to Jehoshaphat by sparing his life, nevertheless, God severely chastised him for his decision.

We, of course, cannot simply cut off all relationships with the people of this world.

Nevertheless, we need to be wise about who we build relationships with.

The biggest question is, are they influencing us, or are we influencing them?

If they are influencing us and causing us to make bad decisions as Ahab did with Jehoshaphat, we are unequally yoked, and we need to “unyoke” ourselves from them.

So let us heed the words of Paul.

Therefore, come out from among them
and be separate, says the Lord;
do not touch any unclean thing,
and I will welcome you.

And I will be a Father to you,
and you will be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:17-18)