The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: 2 Chronicles

  • Stay Strong

    “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.”

    2 Chronicles 16:9

    Asa was one of the good kings in Judah, and he reigned for 41 years. “And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God” (2 Chronicles 14:2). We can read of many good reformations he made (see 2 Chronicles 14:3-8). King Asa recognized that God had given them rest because they had sought God.

    When the enemy came against them, read where Asa placed his trust. “And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee” (2 Chronicles 14:11). Because Asa was a good king, he knew what to do when an enemy came up against Judah. “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me” (Psalm 50:15). When he cried out to God, God delivered. Notice also that the enemy was not fearful of Judah, but of God “for the fear of the LORD came upon them” (see 2 Chronicles 14:12-15).

    As King Asa and all of Judah’s army was returning, God sent His prophet to them with a message. “2. … The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you. … 7. Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded” (2 Chronicles 15:2, 7). Remembering that God had just helped them win a mighty victory over their enemies when they called upon Him, understand how significant these words were. Judah had just endured two bad kings, kings whose hearts’ did not seek God. There had been a dearth in the land of seeking God and His Words (see this in 2 Chronicles 15:3). Nevertheless, King Asa was encouraged because he had done right in seeking God and calling out to Him in his trouble – and God allowed them to defeat their enemy. However, notice that this message also began with a warning – a warning to not forsake God, or God would forsake Asa (see this in 2 Chronicles 15:2).

    What was King Asa’s response to God’s Words by the prophet? “And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 15:8). It takes great courage to follow God’s Words! King Asa had great courage, and when the people saw this, they recognized God was with him (see 2 Chronicles 15:9). Read Judah’s response to these events: “And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul; 15. And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round about” (2 Chronicles 15:12, 15). Because the people made a covenant to seek God, God was found of them. God then gave them rest from their enemies (see 2 Chronicles 15:16-19).

    However, even good kings fail sometimes. We are next reminded of the latter part of King Asa’s life where he failed: when there was trouble with the king of Israel. Do you remember how Asa had previously remembered to take courage and call out to God for help? Well, like most people, he tried to solve the problem himself (see 2 Chronicles 16:1-2). He paid a bribe to the king of Syria (an enemy) to help him. Then King Asa received a message from God’s prophet. “And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand” (2 Chronicles 16:7). Asa blew it. Hanani continued by reminding King Asa of the times that he had trusted God when the enemy had come. Finally, Hanani told King Asa something he had obviously forgotten. “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars” (2 Chronicles 16:9). (Perfect means “complete, full, just, made ready, peaceable, perfect”.) Do you remember how God had previously showed Himself strong to King Asa? God waits for His people to call out to Him – just so that He can show Himself to them. We understand that King Asa’s heart was not right, for instead of acknowledging that he was wrong, Asa was angry with the messenger of the Lord, punishing that messenger (see 2 Chronicles 16:10).

    It is after this that we read of his demise. “And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians” (2 Chronicles 16:12). His greatest failure was that he did not seek God. Instead, King Asa died with this disease in his feet.

    King Asa was a good king. However, he did not stand firm with a perfect heart, allowing God “to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” King Asa forgot to continually seek God.

    Have you stood firm (continually seeking God) with a perfect heart, allowing God to show Himself strong on your behalf?

  • Lesson 9: 2 Kings 23:31 – 25; 2 Chronicles 36: Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah

    Key Verse

    For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.

    —Jeremiah 16:7

    Key Verse Thought: Read the Key Verse and understand that God sees and knows all.  God knows when His people do wrong. Nothing can be hidden from God. Keep that thought in mind as we remember the final kings of Judah today. God saw and knew of their wickedness, and He did not let it go unpunished.

    Emphasis: We are to understand that God sees and knows all – there is nothing hidden from God. He sees mankind’s sin. We will remember again in this lesson, that there is a penalty for sin. Nevertheless, God left them with hope.

    Lesson Summary: In our last lesson, we read of the last good king of Judah, King Josiah. He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. King Josiah made many great reformations, including repairing the house of the Lord. While repairs were being made, a book of the Law was found. When the king heard the Words read, he rent his clothes in repentance. He led all of Judah to make a covenant with the Lord to obey His commands. King Josiah died, and we then come to the final four kings of Judah:  Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah. Jehoahaz did evil and only reigned for three months because the king of Egypt took him. Jehoahaz died in Egypt. The king of Egypt made his brother, Eliakim (changing his name to Jehoiakim) king instead. He too, was an evil king, and King Jehoiakim reigned for eleven years. During his reign, Babylon became known as their enemy, and King Jehoiakim served them for three years. “So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead” (2 Kings 24:6). Babylon began to besiege Jerusalem during his reign, “and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign” (2 Kings 24:12). After carrying away everything of value (including the king, his family, princes, and servants), the king of Babylon made Jehoiakim’s brother, Mattaniah, the king – changing his name to Zedekiah. Zedekiah was a bad king and he reigned for eleven years. None of these men were good kings, and all of them led Judah further from God’s commands – until God allowed Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, to invade the land. He destroyed the house of the Lord, broke down the walls of Jerusalem and burned the city gates.  He killed many and took more hostages to his land, making them his servants.  Babylon besieged Judah in the 9th year of King Zedekiah, and then they took Judah captive. Nevertheless, we find a word of promise – God touched the heart of a king seventy years later, sending God’s people home to rebuild the house of the Lord.

    Y2Q3 – Lesson 9 Questions

    Y2Q3 – Lesson 9 Children’s Worksheets

    If you are teaching this lesson to younger children, the following is a craft idea to reinforce this leson:

    We made a door knocker with stickers and the verses from 2 Chronicles 36:22-23. Although they were carried captive, God left them with the hope of return to Jerusalem.

  • Lesson 8: 2 Kings 22 – 23:30; 2 Chronicles 34-35: Josiah

    Key Verse

    Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

    —Psalm 34:14

    Key Verse Thought: As you read the Key Verse, think about what it means to “depart from evil.” Read the following to help in the understanding: depart means “to turn away; to remove; to put away” and the word evil comes from the word that means “to make useless, to break; to live wickedly or contrary to God’s will; i.e. an attitude that rejects God’s authority.” Instead of evil, we are to do good (means “right; correct; virtuous”). Not only that, but we are to seek peace (remember that seek means “to look, search”). Christians are to stay away from things contrary to God’s will and instead search, choosing to do what is right or virtuous. We will learn about a king who rejected the evil things of his fathers, and instead chose to seek after the things of God – and he pursued them.

    Emphasis: In this lesson, we will learn the importance of departing from evil, much like King Josiah, and choosing instead to do what is right.

    Lesson Summary: After learning about the prophets Zephaniah and Habakkuk in our last two lessons, we can now better understand the condition of the people of Judah. Especially remember the reign of King Manasseh and King Amon and there will be no question about the state of Judah. They were living very wicked, idolatrous lives. Amon was a bad king and did evil in the sight of the Lord. He never humbled his heart as his father, Manasseh had. Remember that there was a conspiracy against bad King Amon after only two years. When he was killed, his son Josiah became king of Judah. “1. Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem … 2. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left” (2 Kings 22:1-2).  

    King Josiah was the last good king of Judah. We will learn today that he sought God while he was still young, and he removed much of the wickedness out of the land. He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. King Josiah made many great reformations, including repairing the house of the Lord. While repairs were made, a book of the Law was found. When the king heard God’s Word read, he rent his clothes in repentance. After the book of the Law was read to all of the people, a covenant was made before God, and King Josiah reinstituted the temple worship. He led all of Judah to make a covenant with the Lord to obey His commands. Not only did King Josiah remove idol worship out of Judah and Israel, he led the people to keep the Passover in Jerusalem.

    King Josiah died in battle with Egypt, and his son, Jehoahaz, became king in his stead.

    Y2Q3 – Lesson 8 Questions

    Y2Q3 – Lesson 8 Children’s Worksheets

    If you are teaching this lesson to younger children, the following is a craft idea to go with this lesson:

    We used rolls of paper and dowel rods to make scrolls. We then glued different Bible verses inside (and wrote a few) to remember the importance of having and reading God’s Word.

  • Lesson 5: 2 Kings 21; 2 Chronicles 33: Manasseh – Amon

    Key Verse

    Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

    —Galatians 5:7

    Key Verse Thought: Read the Key Verse. Have you ever run in a race? How well did you run? What helped you to run your best? (i.e.: keep the goal in sight, not look to the left or the right, make sure there are no obstacles in your path, be healthy by eating good foods as opposed to junk food, be sure and be hydrated by drinking enough water, etc.) There are many things to consider if you want to run a race well. This verse is talking about a different kind of race – living a Christian life that is pleasing to God. Can you think of any things that cause you not to live a life pleasing to God? (i.e.: choosing to lie, choosing to disobey authorities, choosing the wrong friends, not reading your Bible, not attending church, etc.) In this lesson, we will look at a king who made many bad choices – primarily to disobey God’s commands (the truths in God’s Word).

    Emphasis: Christians are not to let anything hinder us from obeying God and living a life pleasing to Him. We are to learn to lay aside any sin that does not allow us to “run the race well” (live a life pleasing to God).

    Lesson Summary: In this lesson, we will continue in our study of the kings of Judah. If you remember, we ended with King Hezekiah, the thirteenth king of Judah, but only the seventh good king. Especially remember that he was the best king who ruled over Judah. “And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did” (2 Kings 18:3). Because he obeyed God’s commands, God blessed him and caused him to prosper. We also looked at two prophets who spoke to God’s people during this timeframe: Isaiah and Micah. Both of them spoke God’s Words during the reign of King Hezekiah, and there were many great reformations during his reign, leading the people back to God. 

    Remember that King Hezekiah was sick unto death. When he prayed, God extended his life by fifteen years. During those fifteen years, a son was born to him. His name was Manasseh. He was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for fifty-five years. Read what kind of a king he was. “And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD …” (2 Kings 21:2). We will learn just how bad of a king he became.  Manasseh was a very wicked king, undoing all of the good that his father, King Hezekiah, had implemented. He became king when he was twelve years old and reigned for fifty-five years.  King Manasseh forsook the commandments of the Lord and served idols instead. Not only that, but he sacrificed his sons to the false god, Molech. He made the people of Judah to do more wickedness than the heathen that God had cast out and destroyed before them. During his wicked reign, God allowed him to be taken bound as a prisoner into Babylon. While Manasseh was there, he sought God, humbled himself, and prayed. God heard his prayer. God allowed Manasseh to return home as king. Once home, Manasseh revealed that he truly knew God by the many reformations he made. When he died, his son, Amon, became king.

    Y2Q3 Lesson 5 Questions

    Y2Q3 Lesson 5 Children’s Worksheets

    If you are doing these lessons with younger children, the following is a craft idea to go along with this lesson:

    We made small books and pasted different Scriptures into it. We wrote the verse Psalm 86:11 on the cover to help us remember the importance of learning God’s Word.

  • Lesson 12: 2 Kings 18-20; 2 Chronicles 29-32: Hezekiah

    Key Verse

    For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

    —Romans 15:4

    Key Verse Thought: Read the key verse. Not only is the Bible written for our learning, but also by watching as God revealed Himself mightily to His people when they obeyed His Word, it not only comforts us, but gives us hope – a confidence that God keeps each and every promise.

    Emphasis: We are to recognize God’s Word was given so we could have confidence that God will hear anyone who will call upon Him with a repentant heart. God will then reveal himself mightily to all of the world.

    Lesson Summary: We have now learned about the first twelve kings of Judah, with only six good kings so far. After ending on such a sour note in our last lesson (remember wicked King Ahaz), it is quite refreshing to learn of the best king Judah ever had – King Hezekiah. “He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him” (2 Kings 18:5). Hezekiah was 25 when he became king and reigned for 29 years. “And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done” (2 Chronicles 29:2). In the first month of the first year of King Hezekiah’s reign, he “opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them” (2 Chronicles 29:3). Not only that, but he reestablished the offices of the priests and Levites. After acknowledging the nation’s sin, King Hezekiah led the people in the reestablishment of the broken relationship between God and His people by reinstituting the Temple worship. After this, King Hezekiah sent letters to all of Judah, calling them to keep the Passover. Hezekiah led the people by example when he brought great offerings into the house of the Lord. Once the people began bringing their first fruits into the Temple, there was such abundance; they had to build extra storage space. What they did not know, was that in their obedience to God’s commands, God was preparing them for the future siege by their enemy. Sennacherib, king of Syria, sent his army to besiege Jerusalem. Hezekiah prepared and encouraged the people. Then he prayed for God’s deliverance. God answered by defeating the enemy for them. In this mighty victory, all of the nations around recognized God’s hand in the deliverance. 

    The next thing we read about King Hezekiah was that he was sick unto death. When he prayed, God extended his life by 15 years. God gave him a sign – the sun’s shadow went backward ten degrees. However, we also learn of a very foolish thing King Hezekiah did toward the end of his life, and the consequences of that foolish act that would come.  

    The period of King Hezekiah’s reign can be considered the greatest revival Judah experienced.  

    “And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead” (2 Kings 20:21).

    Y2Q2 – Lesson 12 in full

    Y2Q2 – Lesson 12 Questions

    Y2Q2 – Lesson 12 Children’s Worksheets

    If you choose to do this lesson with younger children, the following is a craft idea to go along with this lesson.

    We made Bible markers and added stickers. This was to remind us of how important God’s Word was to King Hezekiah.

  • 2 Kings 14-16; 2 Chronicles 25-28: Amaziah, Uzziah (Azariah), Jotham, and Ahaz Lesson 11

    Key Verse

    Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy.

    —Psalm 33:18

    Key Verse Thought: Read the key verse. What does it mean to fear the Lord? (A good example is Job. “… Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil” Job 1:1. He showed his fear by turning from evil.) To fear God is to obey His word. Church is a good place to learn God’s Word.

    Emphasis: To recognize the importance of frequenting the house of the Lord often, knowing that it is there we will learn the fear of the Lord, seeking his mercy upon our lives.

    Lesson Summary: In the lesson before Joel, we remembered the last two who reigned in Judah: Athaliah (an illegitimate queen), and Joash (a good king). Although King Joash made great reformations, he forgot God after Jehoiada (his uncle the priest) died.      

    So far, we have learned of the first eight kings of Judah, with only three good kings so far. In this lesson, we continue in our study of the kings of Judah. We will look at the next four kings of Judah. When Joash was killed, his son Amaziah became king. He reigned for 29 years and was a good king. After killing the servants who killed his father, he began his reign relying upon God. Nevertheless, like many kings before him, he forgot God. It was then that God’s anger was kindled against Amaziah. When Amaziah challenged the king of Israel, Joash, and they fought, he lost the battle. Amaziah turned away from following the Lord, and conspirators killed him in Lachish. His son, Uzziah, became king. 

    Uzziah reigned for 52 years, did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and did much good for Judah. Moreover, God blessed him. Uzziah defeated enemies around, built up the cities, the army, and the defenses of the cities in Judah. However, when he was strong, his heart was lifted up. He went to the temple to perform the duty of the priest (he could not because he was not a priest). When rebuked by the priests, he rejected that rebuke, and God struck him with leprosy. His son, Jotham, judged the people until he died. 

    After Uzziah’s death, Jotham became king. He did right in the eyes of the Lord, but he never entered the house of the Lord. When he died, his son Ahaz became king. He was a very bad king – for he did not right in the eyes of the Lord, but walked in the ways of the kings of Israel. He made images for Baalim and burnt his children in the fire to false idols. God delivered him into the hand of Syria. When rebuked by God’s prophet, not only did he reject the rebuke, but he also sought help from another enemy nation. Instead of helping, that enemy nation took more. Ahaz shut up the house of the Lord and made altars in every corner of the city – provoking the anger of God. When he died, his son, Hezekiah, became king. We will learn about him in our next lesson.

    Y2Q2 – Lesson 11 Questions

    Y2Q2 – Lesson 11 Children’s Worksheets

    If you are doing this lesson with younger children, the following is a craft idea:

    We made a Ten Commandments to remember the importance of obeying God’s Word.

  • Lesson 9: 2 Kings 11-12; 2 Chronicles 22:10 – 24 Athaliah and Jehoash (Joash)

    Key Verse

    … Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

    —1 Corinthians 5:13b

    Key Verse Thought: Read today’s Key Verse. Can you describe a wicked person? Read the following definition to help you: wicked person means “of persons as in morally, meaning wicked, corrupt, or an evildoer.” Today we will see a very wicked person that God’s people “put away” (in the Old Testament they were often killed, whereas today we eliminate them from our lives). 

    Emphasis: We are to receive godly instruction, and eliminate the wicked from our lives.

    Lesson Summary: In our last lesson, we looked at the disappointing son of good King Jehoshaphat, Jehoram. He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel – for wicked King Ahab’s daughter, Athaliah, was his wife. He died of a sickness in his bowels because he rejected the Word of the Lord. We then remembered his son, Ahaziah who reigned only one year. He, too, was a bad king – walking in the ways of wicked King Ahab. Because Ahaziah visited the injured king of Israel at the same time God told Jehu to seek God’s revenge upon the household of wicked King Ahab, King Ahaziah was killed.

    At the death of King Ahaziah, his mother, Athaliah, killed all of the seed royal – or so she thought. King Ahaziah’s sister and a nurse hid one son in the house of the Lord for six years. They hid the child from Athaliah who had made herself queen over Judah. In the seventh year of Queen Athaliah’s reign, the priest Jehoiada revealed the king’s son, Jehoash, to the people as their king. Jehoiada commanded the people kill Athaliah – and they did. The new king, Joash (Jehoash), was seven years old when he began to reign doing good all of the days of Jehoiada.  “And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him” (2 Kings 2:2). Jehoash was a good king. Jehoash saw the breaches in the temple and had the people give money to repair them. After time, when the repairs had not been completed, Jehoiada bore a hole into the top of a chest to allow the people to put their money in the chest. The people brought the money, and the temple of the Lord was repaired.

    Although Joash made many reforms in Israel, when Jehoiada died, he forsook God’s Law, and God allowed the enemy to come up against Jerusalem. There was a conspiracy against King Joash, and he was killed.

    Y2Q2 – Lesson 9 Questions

    Y2Q2 – Lesson 9 Children’s Worksheets

    If you choose to do a craft with younger children, the following is an idea:

    We found these and colored them to remind us to “walk God’s way” to help us remember the good King Joash did when he read God’s Word. They had magnets that attach to the back to hang them.

  • Lesson 8: 2 Kings 8:16 – 9; 2 Chronicles 21 – 22:9 Jehoram (Joram) and Ahaziah

    Key Verse

    You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.

    —Amos 3:2

    Key Verse Thought: Read the Key Verse. Have you ever known someone who got away with doing something wrong? Does it seem fair when you get in trouble for doing something wrong? Do you understand why it is that you may get into trouble, but others seem to get away with doing the same kinds of things? Our Key Verse today may help to remind us that if we are a Christian, belonging to the Lord, we cannot get away with doing things that other people seem to get away with. God will discipline His people (see Hebrews 12:5-8).

    Emphasis: To recognize that when God’s people sin against Him, God will discipline them.

    Lesson Summary: In our last lesson, we remembered King Jehoshaphat – a very good king. Notice that the kings were compared back to King David to determine if they were good kings or bad kings. 

    In this lesson, we will look at two more of Judah’s kings. Notice that we only include the kings of Israel when they are directly involved with a king of Judah – for none of them were legitimate kings (because none were descendants of King David). We begin in this lesson with King Jehoram, son of good King Jehoshaphat. What a disappointment his son was! He rose up and killed all of his brothers, and he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel – for wicked King Ahab’s daughter, Athaliah, was his wife. Remember that King Ahab was a very wicked king from Israel. Elijah sent a writing warning that King Jehoram would die of a sickness in his bowels because he rejected the Word of the Lord. King Jehoram died of a sickness in his bowels after reigning for eight years. 

    His son, Ahaziah, became king, reigning only one year. He, too, was a bad king – walking in the ways of the kings of Israel. Because of advice from bad counselors (including his mother, Athaliah), he helped the king of Israel in battle. The king of Israel was injured in battle. Because King Ahaziah visited the injured king of Israel at the same time God told Jehu to seek God’s revenge upon the household of wicked King Ahab, King Ahaziah was killed.

    Y2Q2 Lesson 8 Questions

    Y2Q2 Lesson 8 Children’s Worksheets

    If you are teaching this to young children, the following is a craft idea to go with this lesson:

    For this lesson, we made a journal to remember that God keeps His promises, and we added Scriptures inside of it.

  • Lesson 7: 1 Kings 22; 2 Kings 3; 2 Chronicles 17-20 Jehoshaphat

    Key Verse

    What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?  

    —Romans 8:31

    Key Verse Thought: Read today’s key verse. As you read this verse, recognize that when God is for us, no one can stand against us. But the important thing to understand – just when it is that God is for us. God is with the people who seek to obey God’s commands. “In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it” (Deuteronomy 30:16). Also see: “The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing” (Psalm 34:10). 

    Emphasis: As you look at today’s lesson, understand the importance of not only hearing and learning God’s Words, but that it is imperative to implement God’s Word in our lives. Then when the enemies oppose, we can trust God to fight our battles for us.

    Lesson Summary: In our last lesson, we considered King Rehoboam a bad king, for he forsook God. We also remembered his son, King Abijam (a bad king) and King Asa (a good king). We learned about many good things they did for Judah. However, King Asa was the king that did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. He put away the false idols and served God only.

    In this lesson, we remember that when King Asa died, his son, Jehoshaphat, became king of Judah. He too, was a good king. Once he became king, he eliminated idol worship. He then strengthened the cities of Judah – physically and spiritually. By placing mighty soldiers in the different cities, he strengthened them physically. When he sent princes, priests, and Levites into every city teaching the Word of God to the people, he strengthened them spiritually. 

    When King Jehoshaphat helped wicked King Ahab in battle (the battle in which King Ahab died), King Jehoshaphat almost lost his life. When he cried out to God, God delivered him. For that alliance with wicked King Ahab (and also with King Jehoram), Jehoshaphat was rebuked by the prophet of the Lord. After that rebuke, he sent judges throughout the land to be sure the people not only knew the Word of the Lord, but that God’s Word was implemented in their lives. Then the enemy came up against them. We will see what happens to a people who place their trust in God – not man. When King Ahab’s son became king of Israel, he asked for King Jehoshaphat’s help against Moab. God gave the promise of victory through his prophet Elisha.

    Remember again:  the Chronicles do not dwell upon the wrongdoings of the kings, but what good they accomplished for Judah.

    Y2Q2 – Lesson 7 Questions

    Y2Q2 – Lesson 7 Children’s Worksheets

    If you are teaching this lesson to children, the following is a craft idea to help them remember it.

    We made a castle frame with the verse 2 Chronicles 20:21 inside to help us remember when God told Jehoshaphat to send the musicians before the army, and God won the battle for them.

  • Lesson 6: 1 Kings 12:1 – 15:24; 2 Chronicles 10-16 Rehoboam, Abijam (Abijah), and Asa

    Key Verse

    Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left.

    —Joshua 23:6

    Key Verse Thought: Read today’s Key Verse. In this verse, courageous means “to be firm; be strong; to retain, hold fast, or keep.”  What are we to be strong doing? We are to do all that is written in God’s Word. Notice especially the addendum:  “that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left.”  There is no allowance for variance – one must adhere directly to God’s Word and hold fast to it with all of our might. In this lesson, we will learn of three kings. Rehoboam, who was not courageous to do all written in the book of the law; Abijam (Abijah), who walked in the sins of his father, and a king (Asa) who, after being very courageous, turned aside at the end of his life.

    Emphasis: In this lesson, we are to understand that God wants to show Himself mighty to His people (Christians). We are also to recognize the importance of remaining courageous – obeying God and His Word all throughout our lives – never failing as King Asa did toward the end of his life.

    Lesson Summary: In the last quarter, we learned about Israel, the Northern Kingdom, and how they were carried captive. In this lesson, we will begin our study of Judah, the Southern Kingdom. 

    We will begin by remembering King Rehoboam’s reign and what happened to cause the nation to divide into two separate kingdoms. King Rehoboam was considered a bad king because he forsook God. When Rehoboam died, his son, Abijam (Abijah), became the king of Judah. He “… walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father” (1 Kings 15:3). Abijam (Abijah) was also considered a bad king. Little is recorded about him in First Kings, so we will focus on information in Second Chronicles. He only reigned for three years, and although God used him to do good things for Judah (King Abijam had the right reasons for fighting King Jeroboam), God knew King Abijam’s (Abijah’s) heart.

    When King Abijam (Abijah) died, his son, Asa, became king. Asa reigned for 41 years in Jerusalem, “And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father” (1 Kings 15:11). He was a good king and it was during his reign that he made many great reformations, and the people of Judah turned their hearts back to God. King Asa knew to cry out to God when the enemy came against Judah, and God was able to show himself mighty before the people. When God sent His prophet to speak to King Asa, he listened. He was told to be strong and seek God, continually. He took courage, and removed the idol worship and broke down the false places of worship. The people recognized God was with King Asa. He even removed his grandmother as queen because she worshiped an idol. He also destroyed her idol. Nevertheless, toward the end of King Asa’s reign, King Baasha of Israel came against a city in Judah. King Asa sought the help of an enemy nation. Although they gained the city back, Asa had failed to seek the Lord. God sent his prophet with a message, but King Asa rejected the message. After this, King Asa was diseased in his feet, but he sought the physicians and never sought God. He died of the disease in his feet.

    Y2Q4 – Lesson 6 Questions

    Y2Q4 – Lesson 6 Children’s Worksheets

    See the following for a craft idea if you teach this with young children:

    We made a book with the Ten Commandments in them to remember the importance of obeying God’s commands.