July 29 – The Temple Builder’s Progeny break up the Temple

July 29
2 Chronicles 24:1-25:28
Romans 12:1-21
Psalm 22:19-31
Proverbs 20:8-10

2 Chronicles 24:7 – We think of the destruction of the temple in 586 BC as disgraceful, yet when we realize that the descendants of Solomon (the sons of Athaliah would have been also the sons of Jehoram) – the very builder of the temple’s descendants of the 6th generation “had broken up the house of God.”

2 Chronicles 24:10 – One of the few times you see “all the people” rejoicing about a mandatory tax – perhaps because the people realized that there was a king focused on eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse in this building project!

2 Chronicles 24:17 – Can one man make a difference? Let’s see when Jehoiada is not around – they kill his son! (2 Chronicles 24:21) for speaking the words of God (2 Chronicles 24:20). Interesting that his slaying of a priest is avenged by an Ammonite and a Moabite (2 Chronicles 24:26). They possibly had good intentions (avenge their friend) but God says its better to let a bad king be in power than to bring a better king (2 Chronicles 25:2) in the wrong way (see 1 Samuel 24:6).

2 Chronicles 25:4 – As we’ve seen Moses prohibited human rulers from punishing the children for the sins of the father (Deuteronomy 24:16) – human vengeance, but God can and does judge the children for the sins of the father (Exodus 34:7).

2 Chronicles 25:6 – National unity – the goal of Jehoshaphat, exemplified in the wife of Jehoram, and the fault of Amaziah – hiring mercenaries from Israel. Separation is required from those who are not followers of our LORD (2 Chronicles 25:7). And we can’t say “but I’ve already spent….” – whether its money spent on things that God warns us against – alcohol (Proverbs 20:1), drugs, pornography, etc –  “The LORD is able to give thee much more than this.” Be willing to take a radical stand for God.

2 Chronicles 25:14 – My God beat your god, so I will serve your god…. I’m struggling to follow Amaziah’s logic. And the prophet will echo this in 2 Chronicles 25:15. Speaking of bad logic – why pick a fight with a stronger nation? (2 Chronicles 25:17).

2 Chronicles 25:27 – The front gate of Lachish:

Romans 12:1 Now that we have called upon the name of the LORD, what should we be doing? Serving Him! Put our all on the altar!