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Revival Under King Hezekiah. 2 Chronicles, Chapters 29 - 31. PULL OUT THIS CHART : JUDAH IS JUDGED. PULL OUT THIS CHART : JUDAH IS JUDGED. A Brief Review…. GOOD KING OR BAD KING? JOTHAM UZZIAH AMAZIAH JOASH AHAZ. A Brief Review…. GOOD KING OR BAD KING? JOTHAM UZZIAH
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Revival Under King Hezekiah 2 Chronicles, Chapters 29 - 31
A Brief Review… GOOD KING OR BAD KING? • JOTHAM • UZZIAH • AMAZIAH • JOASH • AHAZ
A Brief Review… GOOD KING OR BAD KING? • JOTHAM • UZZIAH • AMAZIAH • JOASH • AHAZ
Good King or Bad King? • JOTHAM He was a good king, better than his father. • UZZIAH He tried to a priest’ job and was punished with leprosy. • AMAZIAH He trusted God at the beginning of his reign, but later worshiped the gods of Edom. • JOASH Jehoiada rescued him from assassination by his grandmother, Queen Athaliah.
AHAZ = BAD KING • He closed the Temple and led the people of Judah into worshipping Assyrian gods. • He invited the Assyrians into Judah for protection from Aram and Israel. Instead of leaving peacefully, Assyria made Judah into a vassal state (definition?). • Judah had to pay tribute and worship the Assyrian gods. In trying to appease the Assyrians, Ahaz even built an Assyrian altar and sacrificed his own son!
HEZEKIAH • When Hezekiah became king, he recognized the spiritual and political danger of the alliance with Assyria. • Hezekiah listened to the prophet Isaiah and did not join in the Philistine rebellion against Assyria. • Still, Hezekiah tried to set the stage for pulling Judah away from Assyria’s control. His starting point for doing this was a series of religious reforms. (Why start here?)
The Cleansing of the Temple2 Chronicles 29:1 - 19 What cause and effect lesson did Hezekiah’s opening speech include? (verses 4 – 9) Because their fathers had been unfaithful to the Lord, disaster had struck them. (Does this mean all children who have bad parents or grandparents are doomed?)
The Cleansing of the Temple2 Chronicles 29:1 - 19 What effect did Hezekiah’s faith and commitment to God have on the priests and the Levites? They consecrated (set themselves apart to the Lord) themselves and purified the temple.
The Cleansing of the Temple2 Chronicles 29:1 - 19 What did the priests and Levites do to cleanse the Temple? (verses 16 – 19) They brought out everything unclean and carried it out to the Kidron Valley. They purified all the temple utensils and furniture. (Why is it important to physically get rid of unclean or evil things?)
The Cleansing of the Temple2 Chronicles 29:1 - 19 How did Hezekiah’s father, King Ahaz, affect his faith and trust in God? Even though Ahaz had disobeyed God, Hezekiah obeyed God and encouraged his people in faithful worship.
The Rededication of the Temple2 Chronicles 29:20 - 36 What did the people do to rededicate the Temple? (verses 27 – 29) Rededication included sacrifice, music and worship. (What were they really rededicating?)
The Rededication of the Temple2 Chronicles 29:20 - 36 What was the mood of the people when the Temple was restored? (verses 30, 36) There was great rejoicing and praise.
The Rededication of the Temple2 Chronicles 29:20 - 36 What might explain their praise and joy? A sense of accomplishment. A feeling of freedom. The joy over what God has done for them.
The Invitation to Israel2 Chronicles 30:1 - 11 Why might Hezekiah be called a second Solomon? (2 Chronicles 6:39 and 30:9) Like Solomon, Hezekiah reminded the people that God was full of compassion and forgiveness for his people when they turned to him with repentant hearts.
The Invitation to Israel2 Chronicles 30:1 - 11 Whom did Hezekiah invite to celebrate the Passover? He invited all the people of Israel to join with Judah in celebrating the Passover. (What did the Passover celebrate? Why would that be relevant now?)
The Invitation to Israel2 Chronicles 30:1 - 11 How might Israel’s Assyrian rulers have viewed Hezekiah’s invitation? They may have seen Hezekiah’s religious reforms as a rejection of their gods and thus an announcement of rebellion. (In fact, Assyria strengthened false worship in Israel in response to this invitation!)
The Invitation to Israel2 Chronicles 30:1 - 11 How did the people of Israel respond to Hezekiah’s summons to celebrate the Passover? A few people from Ephraim, Manasseh and Zebulun came to worship in Jerusalem, but most of the people of Israel scorned and ridiculed Hezekiah’s messengers and rejected the invitation.
Celebration of the Passover2 Chronicles 30:12 - 27 How did the people of Judah respond to the invitation? (verse 12) The people enthusiastically carried out the king’s orders.
Celebration of the Passover2 Chronicles 30:12 - 27 Why did Hezekiah pray for a group of the people celebrating the Passover? (verse 18) They had not purified themselves ceremonially. (Why would this be important?)
Celebration of the Passover2 Chronicles 30:12 - 27 Read Joel 2:13. How does Hezekiah’s prayer compare with Joel’s point of view? What did they both emphasize? Both Hezekiah and Joel emphasized the status of the heart and the relationship with God.
Celebration of the Passover2 Chronicles 30:12 - 27 What was God’s response to Hezekiah’s prayer? (verse 20) The Lord heard Hezekiah’s prayer and healed the people.
Celebration of the Passover2 Chronicles 30:12 - 27 Read 2 Chronicles 6:36 – 39. How was Hezekiah’s prayer (30:18 – 19) like Solomon’s? Both prayers asked God to forgive the people whose heart was not right with God.
The People’s Response2 Chronicles 31: 1 - 8 What did the people in response to the great worship experience? (verse 1) They destroyed the idols of their fertility gods and the high places and altars where pagan worship was practiced. (What things would we have to destroy in rededicating ourselves to the Lord?)
The People’s Response2 Chronicles 31: 1 - 8 Why might Hezekiah have decided not to order the people to destroy the high places and idols? Perhaps Hezekiah wanted the people to get rid of the evil their worship not because they were forced to but out of a heartfelt response to God’s love and mercy revealed in true worship.
The People’s Response2 Chronicles 31: 1 - 8 How did the people respond to the request to tithe? (verses 4 – 5) The people gave generously.