Category: 2 Chronicles

Reading

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SAA Notes

Manasseh was the worst of kings and the best of kings. In his old age, the Assyrians captured him and imprisoned him for a while in Babylon. Manasseh is a prime example of the prodigal son. The lesson is: don’t stay in the dregs of life. Return to your Father in heaven!

SJA Notes

* God of light and righteousness, we ask that Your steadfast love and faithfulness are with us, bound around our neck, written on the tablet of our heart.

“Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.”

Here is a great big deep truth. One to wrestle with, to roll over, layer on layer, to think through, to ask God for help in understanding.

Manasseh did great evil. Manasseh committed terrible atrocities.

But Manasseh turned to the Lord.

Manasseh came to a knowledge that THE LORD WAS GOD.

Manasseh saw the truth of who God is.

And in doing so, because you cannot but know this, he saw the truth of himself – a sinner saved by grace!

Manasseh humbled himself before the Lord, the God he had for many years rejected and actively brought dishonour to.

How could God forgive such a person?

The good news of Jesus is the message that cuts through any human state or experience.

We see with Manasseh that even the most vile despot can turn to Jesus.

This should encourage us to pray for one another, for those around us, for those who are antagonistic and angry, those who fight against the church, for those who are actively doing evil.

We have a God who can overcome the greatest evil with HIS GREAT GOOD!

* Dear Lord,

Thank You for saving Manasseh. Please humble us as Manasseh was humbled.

Help us to know You, to know that You are the LORD, You are GOD.

There is none like You.

May we tell those around us of You and Your saving grace.

Amen.

Reading

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SAA Notes

When hard and terrible times came, Hezekiah joined Isaiah in prayer, and the Lord answered and delivered His people. When God tested Hezekiah, Hezekiah, just like us, failed the test. Jesus did not fail! Look again at what Jesus said when tested in Luke 4:1-13.

SJA Notes

* Father God in Heaven, we call out to You for insight, we raise our voice to You for understanding.

“After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself.”

Is this an experience we have had?

After choosing wisdom, seeking the Lord and putting Him first – Have hardship and trouble come knocking?

Why does this happen?

Peter speaks directly to us, in a similar way that this passage in Chronicles spoke to the returning exiles and speaks to us also,

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”

Sennacherib and those around him mocked the Lord. They ridiculed the king. They sought to sow fear and uncertainty amongst God’s people.

Today much the same is happening.

Those in the world around us seek to undermine God and His word, they seek to tear down the church, the people of God, living stone by living stone.

The apostle Peter continues,

“But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”

We are to rejoice!

As hard-won as the practice will be, we are to rejoice.

Hezekiah helps us with this, words that are echoed throughout all of scripture,

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.”

* Lord God,

Praise Your Name!

You are with us, You help us, You fight our battles.

All glory be to You, the Holy God of Israel.

You have saved us from the bands of death. Saved us into life, and life to the full!

May we work to rejoice in the suffering we experience, for our joy lives in Christ – Who suffered much more for our good.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Many from the northern tribes came to this Passover. They help to cleanse the land of Judah of its idolatry. Like the healed Gadarene demonic, they went back home to the north to declare the wonderful things God had done! Let us do what is good and right and true in God’s sight!

SJA Notes

* Dear God, remind us to make our ears attentive to Your wisdom, to incline our hearts to the understanding You bring.

“As soon as the command was spread abroad, the people of Israel gave in abundance of the firstfruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field. And they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything.”

Here is what a willing and free offering is!

Giving out of the abundance of a heart reborn in Christ.

In 2 Corinthians 9 we read,

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

It is not the metrics that matter, not the amount or the type that determine success in giving.

God loves a _cheerful giver_.

We read in today’s passage that the people of Israel were being transformed by the renewing of their minds, offering up spiritual worship.

They were cheerful givers!

Are we cheerful in our giving – of our time, our energy, our produce and goods?

God loves a cheerful giver.

* Dear Lord God,

Thank You for what You have given to us – New life, and life to the full!

Please help us to remember what we read in today’s passage – Please help us to give cheerfully.

Amen.