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BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 16, Day 4: 2 Kings 18:1-8; 2 Chronicles 29-31

by atozmom, posted in BSF People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided 2022/2023

SUMMARY OF 2 Kings 18:1-8; 2 Chronicles 29-31

Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign in Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast to the Lord and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses. He purifed the temple, celebrated Passover, and encouraged worship of the Lord.

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 16, Day 4: 2 Kings 18:1-8; 2 Chronicles 29-31

9a) He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. The first commandment is to love the Lord your God before all others. Therefore, idol worship could not be tolerated ever.

b) The Lord has to be first in everything we do, always. The hard part is trying to remember that.

10)

The role and activity of the priests: He purified the temple and the priests and rededicated them to the Lord. Hezekiah assigned the priests and Levites to divisions—each of them according to their duties as priests or Levites—to offer burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, to minister, to give thanks and to sing praises at the gates of the Lord’s dwelling. He ordered the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion due the priests and Levites so they could devote themselves to the Law of the Lord.

Calling the people back to God: He celebrated Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread, inviting everyone including Judah to come to Jerusalem and do so. More high places were smashed.

11a) You have to fix what is wrong before you can do what is right. Hezekiah understood this by smashing idol worship and restoring the priesthood and retraining them to serve God. He took action once the corrective measures were taken to restore the priesthood and put God at the center of people’s lives once again.

b) Good question. He’s definitely asking me to put him first more and get my priorities straight.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 16, Day 4: 2 Kings 18:1-8; 2 Chronicles 29-31

Amongst all the bad kings, the good ones shine out — and boy do they shine brightly. Love reading about Hezekiah and his example of how it can only take a few things to turn the world around for many.

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 16, Day 4: 2 Kings 18:1-8; 2 Chronicles 29-31

In 2 Kings, we see Hezekiah’s reign was righteous, so he prospered. God preserved the royal line of King David (and thus Jesus) through Hezekiah.

In 2 Chronicles 29-31, we see Hezekiah cleanse the temples and restore worship and sacrifices. Passover is celebrated, and the regular work of the priests is restored.

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BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 16, Day 3: 2 Kings 15:1-7, 32-38; 16; 2 Chronicles 26-28

by atozmom, posted in BSF People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided 2022/2023

SUMMARY OF 2 Kings 15:1-7, 32-38; 16; 2 Chronicles 26-28

2 Kings 15:1-7, 32-38

Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah began to reign. He reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years and did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. The Lord afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died, and he lived in a separate house.

Jotham his son succeeded him as king. He reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God

2 Kings 16

Ahaz son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign. He reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. He did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God. Ahaz asked for help from Assyria rather than God.

2 Chronicles 26-28

Uzziah succeeded his father Amaziah as king in Judah. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God. The Lord afflicted him with leprosy, and he lived in a separate house.

Jotham reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years.. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the Lord his God.

Ahaz reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. Therefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hands of the king of Aram.

King Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria for help. Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came to him, but he gave him trouble instead of help. In his time of trouble King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the Lord.

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 16, Day 3: 2 Kings 15:1-7, 32-38; 16; 2 Chronicles 26-28

6) Idol worship infiltrated Judah in several ways. First, the Israelites intermixed with the surrounding kingdoms, adopting their ways and gods. Next, Israel would partner with pagan nations for help, rather than with God. And, the kings would worship idols, so the people followed suit.

7a) He made idols for worshiping the Baals. He burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and sacrificed his children in the fire, engaging in the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree. He asked for help from the king of Assyria. He constructed pagan altars and made offerings on them.

b) It’s easy to keep on sinning once you’ve entered sin. The best solution is to pray to resist sin or to turn away and repent as soon as you realize it. Don’t let the lies and sins compound.

8 ) God is in control, and we find hope in Him and His ways, not the ways of the world.

Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 13:1-2: Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

Isaiah 55:8-9: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 16, Day 3: 2 Kings 15:1-7, 32-38; 16; 2 Chronicles 26-28

It’s easy to see how infectious sin can be and how it can completely destroy lives. We must always be on guard against this.

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 16, Day 3: 2 Kings 15:1-7, 32-38; 16; 2 Chronicles 26-28

Azariah (also called Uzziah in 2 Kings 15:13 and other places in 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and Isaiah) was good in the eyes of the Lord. He was a strong king and a builder. He built up the army, too. He left the foreign altars and was struck by God with leprosy for burning incense in the temple (2 Chronicles 26:16). Kings were to be separate from the priests.

Jotham did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father had who influenced him. He improved the towns with building projects.

God began to send countries against Judah as a test.

2 Chronicles 26-28 covers the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, and Ahaz. Ahaz did evil, rejected God, and chose idol worship. Many Judeans were captured by Syria and carried away. Many died. Ahaz turns to Assyria for help instead of turning to the Lord. Isaiah the prophet was preaching during the reign of Ahaz. God preserved a remnant and did not allow the Syrians to destroy all of Judah so the Messianic prophecy would be fulfilled.

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BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 16, Day 2: 2 Kings 15:8-31; 17

by atozmom, posted in BSF People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided 2022/2023

SUMMARY OF 2 KINGS 15:8-31; 17

2 Kings 15:8-31

Zechariah son of Jeroboam became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned six months. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah. He attacked him in front of the people, assassinated him and succeeded him as king. So the word of the Lord spoken to Jehu was fulfilled: “Your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.

Menahem son of Gadi went from Tirzah up to Samaria. He attacked Shallum son of Jabesh in Samaria, assassinated him and succeeded him as king. He reigned in Samaria ten years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

Pekahiah son of Menahem became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned two years. Pekahiah did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

Pekah killed Pekahiah and succeeded him as king. He reigned twenty years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

Hoshea son of Elah conspired against Pekah son of Remaliah. He attacked and assassinated him, and then succeeded him as king.

2 Kings 17

Hoshea son of Elah became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned nine years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria.

All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Kuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took over Samaria and lived in its towns.

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 16, Day 2: 2 Kings 15:8-31; 17

3a)

  • Zechariah son of Jeroboam became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned six months.
  • Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah. He reigned one month.
  • Menahem son of Gadi. He reigned 10 years.
  • Pekahiah son of Menahem became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned two years
  • Pekah killed Pekahiah and succeeded him as king. He reigned twenty years.
  • Hoshea son of Elah became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned nine years.

b) Probably chaotic. There were assassinations at every turn. There was no stability. Then Shalmaneser king of Assyria attacked and took the Israelites captive and deported them.

4) Israel had been paying Shalmaneser king of Assyria tribute to avoid an invasion. Instead, Hoshea went to the king of Egypt instead and quit paying tribute, so the king of Assyria attacked and took the Israelites captive and deported them.

5a)  All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God. They worshiped other gods and followed the practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of Israel had introduced. The Israelites secretly did things against the Lord their God that were not right. They set up sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree. At every high place they burned incense. They did wicked things that made God angry. Thye forsook all the commands of God, so exile was their punishment.

b) Well, as we’ve seen, they get attacked and deported. God’s blessings turn to judgment, and anything can happen. Life becomes even harder without God.

c) Lots of ways. We can look to other people, material things, other items we own, have, or want. Ultimately, every path is empty.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 16, Day 2: 2 Kings 15:8-31; 17

Lots of history here and a good insight into just how turbulent ancient times were.

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 16, Day 2: 2 Kings 15:8-31; 17

In 2 Kings 15, we see 5 kings that reigned over Israel in a short amount of time.

Note that all did evil in the eyes of the Lord except Shallum, whom the writer does not say whether he was good or bad. It’s probably safe to assume he was bad.

Assyria moved many conquered nations and peoples to their lands. The land of Israel is not reduced to a small piece of land.

2 Kings 17 tells about the complete fall of Israel into the hands of the Assyrians.

Hoshea and Israel were subjects under Assyria and paid them money. However, Hoshea hoped to find help with Egypt. When Assyria found out, they attacked Israel, showing no mercy. Hoshea needed to turn to the Lord for help, not Egypt.

It took Assyria three years to conquer Israel, but they did. They deported all but the poor to Assyria.

It had been a short 200 years and many kings (19 in total) since Solomon when Israel was united when the Northern Kingdom of Israel fell.

It has been reported that Assyrians would lead captives away naked and pierced. Truly humbling for God’s people — all because God was ignored.

When Israel was resettled by the Assyrians, God is angry because they did not fear Him. He sent lions to show His power. Priests were sent, but the people still forsook God.

It’s simple — obey God and be saved. Yet, this is the ulimate example of Israel’s failure to do so.

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