Day #197

Sermon - Audio
2 Kings 16-17 & 2 Chronicles 28 - Audio
2 Kings 16-17 & 2 Chronicles 28 - Reading

Daily Insights - Please Comment

Apr 18: 2 Chron 28 &

2 Kings 16-17

2 Chronicles 28 shows how quickly things can change course. The new king, Ahaz moves away from the way of his father and the way of God. The reason for his move away from Yahweh most likely has to do with the politics of his day. Assyria is a world power and will conquer Israel during his reign. Ahaz may be trying to keep Judah safe by being committed to Assyria and its ways, rather than trusting God and his ways. Historical records seem to indicate that Ahaz paid tribute to Assyria.

• 28.1: Ahaz’s name that means he who takes or possesses, may reflect that he took the throne not as the firstborn, but as a pro-Assyrian king. His ascension to the throne, therefore, may have not been completely just.
• 28.2: The comment that he follows in the ways of the kings of Israel is a powerful
• statement since the ways of the kings of Israel leave their nation in exile. Ahaz may think that he is politically astute and living in the world of real politics but what he is really doing is leading his people down a path of destruction.
• 28.3: This verse shows just how far Ahaz has fallen. He doesn’t simply worship the Baals; he takes part in child sacrifice.
• 28.4: “Under every green tree” ESV These words are not to be taken literally, but show the extent to which Ahaz has turned away from God.
• 28.5-7: What is perhaps most curious about these verses is that God uses Israel, which will soon be in exile for its own sin, to punish Ahaz. The battle between Pekah and Ahaz shows that the truce between the two nations that has existed since the time of Ahab has come to an end. Nearly 140 years of peace was brought to an end by the sin of Ahaz.
• 28.8-11: God makes it clear that he empowered Israel to punish Judah, but that Israel too has sin. Israel has taken advantage and gone far beyond what God desired.
• 28.12: A group of courageous and God-fearing men call upon those who have just lived through the horrors of battle to give up he prizes they had obtained. While Israel is a place of unfaithfulness, we are reminded that there is always a faithful remnant.
• 28.15: This must have been a moment of great joy for the prisoners. From being herded like cattle, to good treatment and being returned home.
• 28.16: We are introduced to the fact that Ahaz has made his alliance with Assyria. This move will make Judah a vassal of Assyria for 30 years. It is a crucial misstep that so many kings make as they survey what is happening militarily and politically in the region and rely on the strongest power rather than relying on God.
• 28.19: King Ahaz’s reign marks one of the lowest points in the nation of Judah until the time of the exile. A nation that had been expanding and strong during the reigns of the previous kings quickly crumbles.
• 28.20-21: All that Ahaz had hoped to gain from an alliance with Assyria turns out to be an empty hope. His alliance with Assyria ends up costing him much.
• 28.23: Ahaz’s lack of religious sense is shown in this verse. He assumes it is the gods of Syria who have brought about his defeat, rather than seeing it as Yahweh’s punishment for his unfaithfulness. He is a religious dolt. Even people in Samaria know when God is speaking and respond by sending back prisoners and spoil, but Ahaz is clueless.
• 28.25: All of Judah now became a “temple” to foreign idols. Ahaz is doing whatever it takes to secure the good graces of Syria. This is a 180-degree
• turn from Jotham of whom we read, 6 So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered
• his ways before the Lord his God.
• 28.27: We return to those kings who are not buried with the kings of Judah. It is an implied slight.

2 Kings 16: See notes above

2 Kings 17.1-24: The fall of the Northern Kingdom (Israel).

The year is 722 B.C. when the north falls and the people are sent into exile. This chapter outlines the reason for the fall. The strong focus seems to be on idolatry. One of the great concerns when people came back from Babylon was that they avoid idolatry. (notice that Jesus has little to say about idolatry in his teaching, but Paul writes a lot about idolatry as he goes into the Greek/Roman world). At the same time, a careful reading of the passage shows that the people have fallen in every area because they failed to follow God’s law.