AM June 1st Acts 14th

June 1^st             They return to Antioch

21: And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 22: Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 23: And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. 24: And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25: And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia: 26: And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. 27: And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. 28: And there they abode long time with the disciples.

The Missionary team return retracing their steps through the cities in which they had seen Gods blessing and suffered persecution. On their way they are not presenting the Gospel primarily but meeting with the believers and strengthening them in their faith. Encouraging them to continue in the faith and telling them that it was through much tribulation that they will enter into the kingdom of God. They also ordained elders to look after the spiritual welfare of the believers in each city and they prayed and fasted and commended them to the Lord. As they passed on they preached the word in Perga and went down to the harbour of Atalia and took a ship for Antioch. On arriving at Antioch they gathered the whole church to report the work which God had done with them and how God had opened the door to Gentiles. They remained in Antioch a long while. 

PM May 31st 2 Chronicles

May 31^st            2 Chronicles 31             Hezekiah reforms Priest & Levites

1: Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities. 2: And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD. 3: He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of the LORD. 4: Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD. 5: And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the fields; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly. 6: And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps. 7: In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month. 8: And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel. 9: Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. 10: And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store. 11: Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD; and they prepared them, 12: And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was the next. 13: And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God. 14: And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of the LORD, and the most holy things. 15: And next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small: 16: Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even unto every one that entereth into the house of the LORD, his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses; 17: Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their charges by their courses; 18: And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness: 19: Also of the sons of Aaron the priests, which were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every several city, the men that were expressed by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all that were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites. 20: And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God. 21: And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.

2 Chronicles 32             Sennacherib threatens Jerusalem

1: After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself. 2: And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem, 3: He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him. 4: So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water? 5: Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance. 6: And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying, 7: Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: 8: With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. 9: After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying, 10: Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem? 11: Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria? 12: Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it? 13: Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand? 14: Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand? 15: Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand? 16: And his servants spake yet more against the LORD God, and against his servant Hezekiah. 17: He wrote also letters to rail on the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand. 18: Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city. 19: And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man.

God delivers Judah

20: And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven. 21: And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword. 22: Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side. 23: And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.

Hezekiah’s sickness and pride

24: In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the LORD: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign. 25: But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. 26: Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

Hezekiah’s success

27: And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels; 28: Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks. 29: Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much. 30: This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works. 31: Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.

Hezekiah dies

32: Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 33: And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

2 Chronicles 33             Manasseh rules Judah

1: Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem: 2: But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. 3: For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. 4: Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever. 5: And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. 6: And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. 7: And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever: 8: Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses. 9: So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel. 10: And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken. 11: Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. 12: And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, 13: And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God. 14: Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah. 15: And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city. 16: And he repaired the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel. 17: Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the LORD their God only. 18: Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the seers that spake to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel. 19: His prayer also, and how God was intreated of him, and all his sin, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers. 20: So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.

Amon rules Judah

21: Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem. 22: But he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them; 23: And humbled not himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more. 24: And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house. 25: But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.

On this last day of May we will be looking at the rest of the life of Hezekiah. Of how Hezekiah reorganises the priests and of how the LORD delivers him in his day of trouble but we also read of his pride and sickness and his death. All of these things war, sickness are indications of Gods discipline on a nation that has forsaken the LORD. Then we read of his successors Manasseh and Amon, both kings of Judah. In the early days of Hezekiah there was a general revival bringing about the destruction of the idolatry in the land. Hezekiah appointed all the courses of the priests and Levites. He also appointed the portion of his own wealth that was dedicated to the LORD. He also encouraged the people to give to the work of the priests so that they could continue in the work. It took four months to arrange the tithe that the people brought. The offerings were so great that they had to build chambers to put it all in. The people sought the Lord with all their heart and the LORD blessed them greatly. As soon as he had been established the Assyrian king Sennacherib invaded the land. So Hezekiah had a meeting of his princes and they stopped the wells and stopped the brook that ran through the land. They also fortified the city of Jerusalem and increased their weapons. He declared martial law and addressed the people, saying,

Be strong and have courage and do not be afraid or panic because of the Assyrian king nor for his huge army because we are greater than he is. He comes in human strength but with us is the LORD God to help us and to fight our battles.

So the people trusted in the leadership of Hezekiah. Sennacherib sent a message addressed to the people over the head of Hezekiah. He said..

On what are you trusting, that you remain shut up in Jerusalem? Has Hezekiah persuaded you to die of famine and thirst? Saying that the LORD will deliver us? So do not believe him or be deceived by him because no god is able to deliver you from us.

He also wrote other letters railing on the LORD God of Israel. Then they shouted at this to try to frighten the people. Hezekiah and Amoz prayed and called to heaven. And the Lord sent an angel to kill all the strong men of the Assyrian army and the leaders and captains. And so Sennacherib returned to his land in shame. And when he went into his temple his own children murdered him there. This great victory was won by prayer alone. And Hezekiah grew in wealth and power. Then we read that Hezekiah was sick and likely to die so he prayed to the LORD and the Lord gave him a sign. Hezekiah did not give thanks to the Lord but thought that he was his own Saviour and so the wrath of God came on him and on Judah and Jerusalem. Hezekiah did not humble himself before the Lord. Hezekiah was very wealthy in both riches and honour. He prospered in all his works but the LORD left him to try him to enable Hezekiah to see what was in his heart. When he died he was given a very great honour of being buried with David his father. His son Manasseh reigned in his place he was only 12yrs old when he began and he reigned for 55yrs. He was a bad king. He restored the cults of Baalim. He sacrificed his children and encouraged the occult of witches, wizards and mediums. He set a totem pole in the temple of the Lord. He did worse than the heathen that were thrown out of the land. The LORD spoke to him and brought the Assyrians who took him captive and carried him away to Babylon but in that place he sought the Lord and humbled himself before the LORD and the Lord heard him and allowed him to return to Jerusalem. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was his God. He brought about a general revival. Destroying the heathen altars and reorganising the priesthood. When he died his son Amon reigned in his place. He was 22yrs when he began and he reigned only 2 yrs. He was a bad king doing all the evil things that his father did in his younger years. His servants murdered him.

AM May 31st Acts 14

May 31^st            Acts 14             Paul and Barnabas in Iconium

1: And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. 2: But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. 3: Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4: But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 5: And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them, 6: They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about: 7: And there they preached the gospel.

At Lystra

8: And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked: 9: The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, 10: Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. 11: And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. 12: And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. 13: Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. 14: Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, 15: And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: 16: Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. 17: Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. 18: And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them. 19: And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. 20: Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

Again Paul and Barnabas go to the Synagogue at Iconium. Their ministry was to the Jews first because of their Apostolic calling. Their preaching is so successful that a great crowd of people, Jews and Gentiles believe the Gospel. But the Jews that were unconverted stirred up the unbelieving Gentiles and poisoned their minds against Paul and Barnabas. So they stayed a long time giving their testimony and showing signs and wonders. The city was divided and the unbelievers assaulted Paul and Barnabas to stone them, but they were aware of it and so they escaped to Lystra and Derbe. At Lystra they healed a man crippled from birth (A messianic sign) but the People misunderstood who Paul and Barnabas were they thought they were the gods Jupiter and Mercurius. The high priest wanted to sacrifice to them and Paul had difficulty stopping it. Paul said that they should turn from this empty idol worship and serve the living God who made heaven and earth and sea. This God who left the nations alone in the past and who showed kindness in providing fruitful seasons and filling their lives with the good things such as food and joy. When Jews came from Antioch and Iconium they persuaded the people to stone them which they did and they threw out the body of Paul out of the city thinking he was dead. However, when the believers came to him he recovered and stood up and returned to the city and the next day he moved on to Derbe with Barnabas.

PM May 30th 2 Chronicles

May 30^th            2 Chronicles 28             Ahaz rules Judah

1: Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father: 2: For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim. 3: Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. 4: He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. 5: Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter. 6: For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. 7: And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king. 8: And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria. 9: But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven. 10: And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God? 11: Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you. 12: Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war, 13: And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the LORD already, ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel. 14: So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation. 15: And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria. 16: At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him. 17: For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives. 18: The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there. 19: For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD. 20: And Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not. 21: For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the LORD, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not. 22: And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz. 23: For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel. 24: And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem. 25: And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers. 26: Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 27: And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.

2 Chronicles 29             Hezekiah rules Judah

1: Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. 2: And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done.

Hezekiah’s Temple reforms

3: He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them. 4: And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street, 5: And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place. 6: For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned their backs. 7: Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel. 8: Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes. 9: For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. 10: Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us. 11: My sons, be not now negligent: for the LORD hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that ye should minister unto him, and burn incense. 12: Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites: and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehalelel: and of the Gershonites; Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah: 13: And of the sons of Elizaphan; Shimri, and Jeiel: and of the sons of Asaph; Zechariah, and Mattaniah: 14: And of the sons of Heman; Jehiel, and Shimei: and of the sons of Jeduthun; Shemaiah, and Uzziel. 15: And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and came, according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the LORD, to cleanse the house of the LORD. 16: And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad into the brook Kidron. 17: Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month came they to the porch of the LORD: so they sanctified the house of the LORD in eight days; and in the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end. 18: Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed all the house of the LORD, and the altar of burnt offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread table, with all the vessels thereof. 19: Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his transgression, have we prepared and sanctified, and, behold, they are before the altar of the LORD. 20: Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the LORD. 21: And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the LORD. 22: So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar. 23: And they brought forth the he goats for the sin offering before the king and the congregation; and they laid their hands upon them: 24: And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel. 25: And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the LORD by his prophets. 26: And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. 27: And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel. 28: And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished. 29: And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped. 30: Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped. 31: Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the LORD. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings. 32: And the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation brought, was threescore and ten bullocks, an hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt offering to the LORD. 33: And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep. 34: But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests. 35: And also the burnt offerings were in abundance,with the fat of the peace offerings, and the drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of the house of the LORD was set in order. 36: And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly.

2 Chronicles 30             Hezekiah’s Passover

1: And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel. 2: For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month. 3: For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem. 4: And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation. 5: So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beer-sheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written. 6: So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7: And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see. 8: Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you. 9: For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him. 10: So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them. 11: Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem. 12: Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the LORD. 13: And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation. 14: And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron. 15: Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the LORD. 16: And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites. 17: For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the LORD. 18: For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one 19: That prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. 20: And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people. 21: And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the LORD. 22: And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers. 23: And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they kept other seven days with gladness. 24: For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves. 25: And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced. 26: So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem. 27: Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.

In Chapters 28-30 we have the record of the lives of King Ahaz and King Hezekiah, both Kings of Judah. The first was a bad king but the second a good king. Ahaz was just 20 when he began his reign and he reigned for only 16 years in Jerusalem. He did not follow in his father David’s example but he was like the kings of Israel who worshipped Baalim. He sacrificed his own children to his god, burning them in the fire like the heathen nations that were driven out of the Land before Israel. He sacrificed in the hills and groves and under every green tree. It seems that trees were a place of worship for the cult of Baalim. The Lord gave him up to the Syrians and they beat him in battle and took away the people in great numbers captive and took them to Damascus. There was a great slaughter of his army. 120,000 died in one day alone. They were all strong fighters but they had forsaken the LORD their God. 200,000 people were taken captive both men, women and children. And they took away a great deal of the wealth of Judah. The prophet Oded confronted the people of Samaria and said, you have destroyed Judah and carried away the people to make them slaves. But are there not among you those who sin against the LORD? Send all the captives home because the fierce wrath of the LORD is on you and so all the captives were set free. In those days the Edomites fought against Judah so Ahaz sent a message to Assyria asking for help. The Philistines also invaded from the south west. The LORD humbled Judah because of the unrighteousness of the king. The king of Assyria Tiglath-pileser came to Judah and invaded the land. Ahaz tried to pay them off. Yet in this time of distress he did not seek the LORD his God. He sacrificed to the gods of Damascus because he thought they are helping the Syrians so l might as well sacrifice to them – perhaps they will help me. But this brought complete ruin on all Israel. So he destroyed the temple and cut into bits the holy vessels and sealed the doors of the Temple. And he erected altars all over Jerusalem. He went mad in his devotion to the gods but this increased the Lords displeasure. He died and was buried in a place but not with the kings. His son Hezekiah reigned in his place. Hezekiah was 25 when he began to reign and he reigned for 29 years in Jerusalem. He was a good king like his father David. When he began to reign he opened the doors of the Temple and repaired them. He gathered the priests and Levites and addressed them saying,

Sanctify yourselves and sanctify this house of the LORD God of your fathers and carry out all of the filth and rubbish out of this Holy Place. Because our fathers have trespassed against the LORD and done that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD our God. They forsook the Lord and turned away their faces from this place. They turned their backs on him. (The LORD ordained that worship was to be toward the west but they turned toward the east turning their backs on the Lord) They shut the doors and put out the lights. And they did not burn incense to the Lord or offer burnt offerings. Therefore the wrath of the LORD was on Judah and Jerusalem and he delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing (The expression of disgust and sharp intake of breath through the teeth) you can see all this with your eyes. Our fathers were killed in battle and some of our sons, daughters and wives are in captivity because of this. Today it is in my mind to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, so that his fierce wrath may turn away from us. So, my sons be diligent because the LORD has chosen you to stand before him and serve and minister to him burning incense.

Then the Levites responded, Mahath, Joel, Kish, Azariah, Joah, Eden, Zechariah, Mattaniah, Jehiel, Shimei, Shemaiah, Uzziel and they gathered their brothers and washed themselves setting themselves apart to the Lord. And they came to clean up the house of the LORD. The priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD to clean it and they brought out all the filthiness that they found in the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD. Then the Levites took the rubbish and carried it out the the brook Kidron.

This began on the first day on the year. It took them 8 days to clear it up. On the 16^th day everything was finished. Then the Levites went to tell Hezekiah saying, we have cleansed all the house of the LORD and the altar of burnt offering with all the vessels and the table of shewbread. All of the vessels which Ahaz destroyed have been repaired. Then Hezekiah went up early to the House of the LORD. And the Levites brought seven bullocks, rams, lambs, goats for a sin offering. It was a sin offering for the kingdom, the sanctuary and for Judah. And when the offerings were begun the Children of Israel sang praises to the Lord and worshipped the LORD. The music joined in, with the trumpeters. Hezekiah told the singers to sing the Psalms of David. Then the people gathered to offer sacrifices of thanksgiving. There was so much given that the Levites had to assist the priests. This was nothing short of Revival. It happened suddenly and was a complete restoration of the spiritual life of Judah. After the hearts of all the people were put right Hezekiah sent letters to all Israel and Judah that they should come to the temple to worship the Lord. Because it was his intension to celebrate the Passover once again. The celebration of the Passover was the litmus test of Israel when ever they forsook the Lord they ceased the Passover but whenever they returned to the LORD their God the Passover was reinstituted. The letter read…

You children of Israel turn again to the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel and he will return to the remnant of you who escaped from the kings of Assyria. And do not be like your fathers and brothers who sinned against the LORD God of their fathers, who gave you up to desolation. So now do not be rebellious like your fathers were but yield yourselves to the LORD and enter to his sanctuary and serve the LORD your God, so that the fierceness of his wrath may be turned away from you. Because if you turn again to the LORD your brothers and your children will find compassion in the eyes of their captors. And they will return to this land because the Lord is full of grace and mercy and he will not turn away his face from you.

This letter past from city to city throughout the land. And there were some that humbled themselves before the Lord. But others laughed and mocked them. The people of Judah responded well to the message of the Lord sent by the King. In Jerusalem a great number of the people assembled to the feast of unleavened bread. They rose up in one body to destroy the idolatrous altars in the land. They kept the Passover but some of the people were unclean so Hezekiah prayed that the Lord would forgive them saying may the Good Lord pardon everyone who prepared himself to seek the Lord and the Lord healed them. (Why did they need healing? Because the judgment of God was going out to the unclean who celebrated the Passover in an unclean state) there was great rejoicing before the Lord and the LORD filled their hearts with joy. There had never been such great joy since David’s and Solomon’s time. The priests blessed the people and their prayers went up into heaven itself.

AM May 30th Acts 13

May 30^th            Acts 13             D.  Preaching in Power – Paul & Barnabas  

(To the uttermost parts of the earth)       1) (The First Missionary Journey)            Paul & Barnabas called

1: Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2: As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3: And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

They go to Cyprus

4: So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. 5: And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister. 6: And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus: 7: Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. 8: But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. 9: Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10: And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11: And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. 12: Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

Antioch in Pisidia

13: Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem. 14: But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. 15: And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. 16: Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. 17: The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it. 18: And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness. 19: And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot. 20: And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. 21: And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. 22: And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will. 23: Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus: 24: When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25: And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose. 26: Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. 27: For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. 28: And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. 29: And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. 30: But God raised him from the dead: 31: And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. 32: And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, 33: God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. 34: And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. 35: Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 36: For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: 37: But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. 38: Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40: Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; 41: Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you. 42: And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. 43: Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 44: And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. 45: But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 46: Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 47: For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. 48: And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. 49: And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. 50: But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. 51: But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. 52: And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

The focus of Luke’s history moves north to the city of Antioch. In the church there were prophets and teachers. The difference between a prophet and a teacher is that the prophet receives direct revelation from God and the teacher teaches on the basis of previously given revelation. As these Godly men ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit gave direction regarding Paul and Barnabas. They were to be separated unto the Lord for the work that he had called them to. Did this come out of the blue? No, this was a confirmation of the call that Paul and Barnabas felt already. God confirmed his call to the believers. Paul and Barnabas were to be separated unto the work that God had called them. Paul and Barnabas set out for Cyprus. When they arrived at Seleucia they visited the Jewish Synagogue and they preached the word. John Mark came along as their assistant. Then they moved on to Paphos were they found a sorcerer and a false prophet a Jewish man called Bar-Jesus. He was close to the Roman Deputy Sergius Paulus who sent for Paul to hear the message that they brought. But Elymas (Bar-Jesus) withstood him seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Paul filled with the Holy Spirit gave a stinging rebuke to him. Then Paul commanded him to be blind for a while as a discipline of God. (He was a Jew) When Paulus saw this he believed the Gospel. They moved on to Perga in Pamphylia but John left the team and returned to Jerusalem. Then Paul and Barnabas went to Antioch in Pisidia and again they attended the Jewish Synagogue. It was the Jewish custom to allow speakers to stand up if they wished to address the people. So after the reading of the Law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue invited them to speak. Paul rose to speak and Luke records his sermon. He addresses the men of Israel and the god-fearing proselytes. He spoke of the whole history of Israel from the call of God in Egypt and of their greatest King David and from him directly to Jesus the Son of David. He describes the ministry of John the Baptiser. Then he applies his message directly to the Jews and proselytes. He describes the rejection of Christ by the Jerusalem leaders and of their murderous plot and he spoke of his crucifixion, burial. But then he delivers his bomb shell. BUT GOD raised him from the dead and he was seen for many days. Then he went on to prove this from scripture. Psa 2. Then he summarises his message saying that through his name is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins. And by Christ all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by obedience to the Law of Moses. Then he gives them a general warning not to despise this message. The Jews left the Synagogue but the proselytes asked Paul to come again the following week. When they left the synagogue there were many Jews and proselytes who followed them. On the next Sabbath the whole city came to hear the message of Paul. The Jews when they saw the huge multitudes were full of envy and opposed them, contradicting them and blaspheming. Paul and Barnabas became very bold and said it was right that you should hear the word first but because you show yourselves to be unworthy of everlasting life we will turn to the Gentiles. Paul showed that this was a fulfilment of prophecy. The Gentiles were very glad and the message was preached throughout the whole region by the converts. However the Jews stirred up trouble and expelled Paul and Barnabas from the area. They did the apostolic thing of shaking the dust from their feet. This was like saying I do not want to be contaminated by the dust of the streets where the gospel is rejected. They moved on to Iconium. The disciples were filled with joy and power for serving God.

PM May 29th 2 Chronicles

May 29^th            2 Chronicles 25             Amaziah rules Judah

1: Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. 2: And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart. 3: Now it came to pass, when the kingdom was established to him, that he slew his servants that had killed the king his father. 4: But he slew not their children, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin. 5: Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield. 6: He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valour out of Israel for an hundred talents of silver. 7: But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim. 8: But if thou wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down. 9: And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give thee much more than this. 10: Then Amaziah separated them, to wit, the army that was come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again: wherefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in great anger. 11: And Amaziah strengthened himself, and led forth his people, and went to the valley of salt, and smote of the children of Seir ten thousand. 12: And other ten thousand left alive did the children of Judah carry away captive, and brought them unto the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, that they all were broken in pieces. 13: But the soldiers of the army which Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell upon the cities of Judah, from Samaria even unto Beth-horon, and smote three thousand of them, and took much spoil. 14: Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them. 15: Wherefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand? 16: And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the king's counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel. 17: Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us see one another in the face. 18: And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle. 19: Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites; and thine heart lifteth thee up to boast: abide now at home; why shouldest thou meddle to thine hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee? 20: But Amaziah would not hear; for it came of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edom. 21: So Joash the king of Israel went up; and they saw one another in the face, both he and Amaziah king of Judah, at Beth-shemesh, which belongeth to Judah. 22: And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to his tent. 23: And Joash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits. 24: And he took all the gold and the silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God with Obed-edom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria. 25: And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years. 26: Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel? 27: Now after the time that Amaziah did turn away from following the LORD they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there. 28: And they brought him upon horses, and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah.

2 Chronicles 26             Uzziah rules Judah

1: Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah. 2: He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers. 3: Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. 4: And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did. 5: And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper. 6: And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines. 7: And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gur-baal, and the Mehunims. 8: And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened himself exceedingly. 9: Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them. 10: Also he built towers in the desert, and digged many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains: husbandmen also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved husbandry. 11: Moreover Uzziah had an host of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains. 12: The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valour were two thousand and six hundred. 13: And under their hand was an army, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy. 14: And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the host shields, and spears, and helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and slings to cast stones. 15: And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong. 16: But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense. 17: And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men: 18: And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God. 19: Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar. 20: And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him. 21: And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land. 22: Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, write. 23: So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the burial which belonged to the kings; for they said, He is a leper: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.

2 Chronicles 27             Jotham rules Judah

1: Jotham was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok. 2: And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into the temple of the LORD. And the people did yet corruptly. 3: He built the high gate of the house of the LORD, and on the wall of Ophel he built much. 4: Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers. 5: He fought also with the king of the Ammonites, and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year an hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. So much did the children of Ammon pay unto him, both the second year, and the third. 6: So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God. 7: Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. 8: He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. 9: And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.

Today we read of three kings of Judah, Amaziah Uzziah and Jotham. All three were good Kings who served the LORD faithfully and led Judah into blessing. The first king Amaziah was only 25 yrs old when he took the throne and he reigned for 29 yrs. He was a good king yet he had his flaws, he did execute the judgment of God on those servants that had killed his father. He had a great army and hired Israel to go and fight with him but this displeased the Lord because Israel was not in a right relation to God. The LORD said you are to trust in me because l am able to make the battle go well or bad. Amaziah said l have paid the money to hire them now but the prophet replied forget the money God can give you more than all that. Amaziah sent home the hired men who were not at all pleased. The Lord gave Amaziah a great victory but he stole the gods of his enemy and bowed down to them. The Lord sent a prophet to him to rebuke him of his sin but he refused to listen. Amaziah sent twice a message to Israel asking that they join him in battle but he received a curt reply from Joash. In the end they did meet and Judah was beaten in battle by Israel and they fled. Joash arrested Amaziah and came to Judah and destroyed his house and plundered the house of God. After Amaziah forsook the Lord men went after him to murder him he escaped but they eventually found him and executed him. Amaziah had reigned well in the beginning it was only in the end that he went all wrong. Uzziah reigned in his place from the age of just 16yrs and he reigned for 52 years. He sought to know the mind of God in the days of Zechariah the prophet. (Not the prophet who wrote the book) As long as he sought the Lord he prospered. He had victories against the Philistines and the Arabians. The Ammonites gave him gifts instead of going to war with him. Uzziah became very strong militarily. He had a huge army and a number of crack units of mighty men. They had a huge array of fighting implements. What is called here Jerusalem Engines for throwing huge stones long distances - called today Trebuchet. They were thought to be a middle ages invention. And they had what we call Ballista which could shoot bolts or spears. Thought to be a Roman invention. God helped him to gain huge power but when he became strong he became full of pride and he went and burnt incense in the temple which he was forbidden to do. Azariah the priest with 80 mighty men went into the temple and told him that he was wrong to do this. Uzziah was very cross and he stood in the temple with the censer in his hand and at that moment the leprosy came into his head. They threw him out of the temple. Uzziah was a leper till the day of his death. In the year that he died Isaiah saw his first vision becoming a prophet of the Lord. Another king who started well but finished cast out of the presence of the Lord. Jotham reigned in his place. He came to the throne at 25yrs and reigned for 16yrs. He did a great deal of building but the people in his day were corrupt. He won a war against the Amorites. Jotham sought the Lord and God blessed him. He never forsook the Lord all his life.

AM May 29th Acts 12

May 29^th            Herod dies

11: And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. 12: And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. 13: And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. 14: And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. 15: And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. 16: But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. 17: But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place. 18: Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter. 19: And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode. 20: And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's country. 21: And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. 22: And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. 23: And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. 24: But the word of God grew and multiplied. 25: And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

When Peter finally woke up he realised that he had been delivered by the hand of God from Prison and from Herod and from the murderous plots of the Jews. When he had figured out what he was doing he made his way to Mary’s house, because he knew they were praying for him. When Peter knocked on the outer door Rhoda came to see who was knocking. Rhoda was probably a servant of the lowest order. It was her job to keep the door and wash the visitor’s feet after their journeys. She was expert at recognising voices – it was her job and she knew Peters voice. I wonder what he sounded like. However she was so excited that she forgot to open the door and ran into the prayer room to tell everyone that Peter was knocking. They said to her, you are mad! Then, maybe its his angel knocking. (Little did they know of angelic activity this night) Peter was still knocking! When they finally opened the door and saw him they were completely astonished and overjoyed. Peter raised his hand for quiet and then told them how the Lord had delivered him from Prison. Then he said go and tell James and the brethren. Then Peter went to another home. When the day dawned and the guards woke up they were in a great flap as to what had become of him. Herod tortured the guards to find out what had happened and then he executed them all. Then Herod left Judea and went to Caesarea and stayed there. Herod was very displeased with the people of Tyre and Sidon but the men of the city came to make things up and they secured an ally in Blastus. On a particular day Herod was clothed in his king’s garments and he was sitting on his throne and he made a great speech. The people shouted, it is the voice of a god and not a man. And it that moment the angel of the Lord killed him because he did not give glory to God. He was eaten of worms and died. But the Word of God – that is the preaching of the gospel flourished and multiplied. (The converts were becoming evangelists) Paul and Barnabas returned to the north and they took John Mark with them he was the nephew of Barnabas. 

PM May 28th 2 Chronicles 22

May 28^th            2 Chronicles 22

1: And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned. 2: Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri. 3: He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counseller to do wickedly. 4: Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellers after the death of his father to his destruction. 5: He walked also after their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead: and the Syrians smote Joram. 6: And he returned to be healed in Jezreel because of the wounds which were given him at Ramah, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was sick.

Jehu kills Ahaziah

7: And the destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming to Joram: for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab. 8: And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, that ministered to Ahaziah, he slew them. 9: And he sought Ahaziah: and they caught him, (for he was hid in Samaria,) and brought him to Jehu: and when they had slain him, they buried him: Because, said they, he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart. So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the kingdom.

Athaliah rules Judah

10: But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah. 11: But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not. 12: And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.

2 Chronicles 23

1: And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him. 2: And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem. 3: And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the king's son shall reign, as the LORD hath said of the sons of David. 4: This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you entering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the doors; 5: And a third part shall be at the king's house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation: and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the LORD. 6: But let none come into the house of the LORD, save the priests, and they that minister of the Levites; they shall go in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD. 7: And the Levites shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whosoever else cometh into the house, he shall be put to death: but be ye with the king when he cometh in, and when he goeth out. 8: So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that were to go out on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses. 9: Moreover Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been king David's, which were in the house of God. 10: And he set all the people, every man having his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, by the king round about. 11: Then they brought out the king's son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, God save the king. 12: Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of the LORD: 13: And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of musick, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason. 14: Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and said unto them, Have her forth of the ranges: and whoso followeth her, let him be slain with the sword. For the priest said, Slay her not in the house of the LORD. 15: So they laid hands on her; and when she was come to the entering of the horse gate by the king's house, they slew her there.

Jehoiada’s reforms

16: And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the LORD's people. 17: Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and brake it down, and brake his altars and his images in pieces, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. 18: Also Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of the LORD by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David. 19: And he set the porters at the gates of the house of the LORD, that none which was unclean in any thing should enter in. 20: And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the house of the LORD: and they came through the high gate into the king's house, and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom. 21: And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword.

2 Chronicles 24             Joash rules Judah

1: Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Zibiah of Beer-sheba. 2: And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3: And Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he begat sons and daughters. 4: And it came to pass after this, that Joash was minded to repair the house of the LORD. 5: And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that ye hasten the matter. Howbeit the Levites hastened it not. 6: And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of Moses the servant of the LORD, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness? 7: For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD did they bestow upon Baalim. 8: And at the king's commandment they made a chest, and set it without at the gate of the house of the LORD. 9: And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in to the LORD the collection that Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in the wilderness. 10: And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end. 11: Now it came to pass, that at what time the chest was brought unto the king's office by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, the king's scribe and the high priest's officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to his place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance. 12: And the king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the LORD, and also such as wrought iron and brass to mend the house of the LORD. 13: So the workmen wrought, and the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it. 14: And when they had finished it, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels for the house of the LORD, even vessels to minister, and to offer withal, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada. 15: But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an hundred and thirty years old was he when he died. 16: And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house. 17: Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them. 18: And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass. 19: Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear. 20: And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you. 21: And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD. 22: Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon it, and require it. 23: And it came to pass at the end of the year, that the host of Syria came up against him: and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people, and sent all the spoil of them unto the king of Damascus. 24: For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash. 25: And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings. 26: And these are they that conspired against him; Zabad the son of Shimeath an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith a Moabitess. 27: Now concerning his sons, and the greatness of the burdens laid upon him, and the repairing of the house of God, behold, they are written in the story of the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.

Today we read very unusual events in the life of Gods ancient people. Ahaziah was made king over Judah because all his brothers had been assassinated. And a mother called Athaliah took revenge killing all the king’s sons and she was crowned queen and reigned for seven years. However one of the king’s sons had escaped and was brought up in secret in the house of the Lord by his mother. Then after seven years she revealed him to Judah, organising all the priests and the army to protect him and they executed the wicked queen. The new king Joash is very young when he comes to the throne so his mother reigns on his behalf bringing in many good reforms to Judah. All of these events begin with the killing of the king’s sons by the Arabians. It was by these assassinations that kings sought to control the politics of nations without resorting to warfare. So Ahaziah reigned in Jerusalem. He became king at 42 yrs of age but he only reigned for 1 year. He was a wicked king because he had been brought up by his mother to be like the wicked king Ahab. He went to war with the Syrians but was wounded in battle and returned home to seek a healing. Jehu had been raised up by the LORD to bring the judgment of God on Ahab and his house. The king was hiding in Samaria but when he was found Jehu executed him and had him buried in honour to his father. However when his mother Athaliah found out that her son had been executed she took terrible revenge and killed all the kings sons. This was to become a battle between mothers. But Jehoshabeath the daughter of the king took Joash the little son of Ahaziah and secretly stole him away into her bed chamber and he was looked after in the temple by her brother the priest in secret. Athaliah reigned over Judah for six years as Queen. However in the seventh year Jehoiada the priest made himself strong to carry out the Lords will. He took the captains of the army and made an agreement with them to protect the young prince. They set a body guard all around the temple to protect the prince. And all the men were armed by the weapons of David which were kept in the Temple. Then they gathered the people an anointed him saying God save the King! When the wicked Queen heard this she ran out shouting treason treason but she was followed and arrested and executed by the king’s men. Jehoiada was a very good mother and she made an agreement with the men of Judah to destroy the temple of Baal. Which they did and smashed it all to pieces. They killed the high priest of Baal. Then she reorganised the priests to offer the sacrifices to the Lord and there was a general revival and the people were full of the joy of the Lord. Then they crowned the young boy king and all the land had peace after the removal of the wicked queen. What a great Movie this would make! Joash was only seven when he became king and he was a good king. He reigned for 40 yrs. After a while Joash wanted to repair the temple so he sent out a message for the people to gather what was required to bring it into good repair. But the priests dragged their feet. So Joash took a chest and made a hole in the top and put it outside the gate where the people passed by and when there was money in the chest they took the money to pay the workmen to make the repairs. Jehoiada died at 130 years of age and they buried her among the Kings of Judah. After her death the children of Judah forsook the Lord and served Baal again. So the Lord sent prophets to them but they refused to hear the Lord. Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Zechariah the prophet and he addressed Judah. He said because you have forsaken the LORD he has forsaken you. But they conspired again him and murdered the prophet at the instigation of the King. When the prophet died he called on the Lord to see his death and avenge him. After just one year the Syrians came against Judah and they killed all the princes and took away all the spoils of Jerusalem to Damascus. They left Joash full of disease and he was murdered by his own servants on his own bed. Amaziah took his throne in his place.