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AUGUST 2
2 Chronicles 32:1-33:13
These are two chapters full of observations and lots to think about.
Basically we'll see Hezekiah's greatest challenge and God's amazing
deliverance. Hezekiah will be shaken and will stumble. Manasseh will royally
ruin Judah; he will be humbled, repent and be restored. It is all quite an
adventure and it all happens today.
2 Chronicles 32
Vs. 1-8 A couple of things are of note here that were not covered in 2
Kings 18. First, Hezekiah hid all the streams around Jerusalem and created a
tunnel under the city, and was able to draw water from it during the siege.
Hezekiah's tunnel was an engineering feat; because they began at opposite sides
of the mountain on which Jerusalem is built, tunneling about 1700 feet through
rock and met in the middle under the city. Second, vs. 7 and 8 show that
Hezekiah gave a lot of leadership in preparation for the coming of the Assyrian
army. He strengthened them and gave them confidence. Although they prepared,
they knew their real hope was in the Lord.
Vs. 9-15 Some of this we've read; some is summary, and some is brand
new. Hezekiah’s spiritual leadership was really under fire in what was said. It
is interesting that Sennacherib thought that Hezekiah had given the people
confidence in his leadership and the preparations. Hezekiah had given them
confidence in the Lord. Verse 15 was the height of arrogance. I’ll bet he
remembered these words.
Vs. 16-19 Although this is in summary form, Ezra is trying to show his
readers that being scorned for following God was nothing new. The returnees
were ridiculed and encouraged to abandon the rebuilding of the temple.
Vs. 20-23 What is interesting to me is that it mentions that Isaiah
also prayed and cried out to God. We didn't see that in 2 Kings. Notice that
both God and Hezekiah were honored by the surrounding nations.
Vs. 24-33 This is also in summary form, although some significant stuff
is added by Ezra. You might want to read the account of this in 2 Kings 20 to
compare.
V. 31 Notice that the envoy from Babylon came because of the sign, that
is, the sun going back on the sundial. It is interesting that they knew where
to come and inquire, and it is interesting that Hezekiah showed off the glory
of Israel more than he did the glory of God.
It seems that Hezekiah was shaken by the prospect of an early death. He
was only 39. He felt like he deserved more. After he was given the additional
15 years, he became proud about his reputation and flaunted all the Lord had
given him, as if it were his doing. This pride was already in place when
Hezekiah acted proud before the envoy from Babylon. Verse 31 is a very scary
commentary on what happened here. I think the Lord does this to us too; and in
my case, when it happens, it probably doesn't show the kind of stuff that is
glorifying to God. It is hard to say when God rebuked Hezekiah. It might have
been before the visitors from Babylon, but Kings and Chronicles both mention
the envoy, so maybe this was when Isaiah spoke and told him that everything the
envoy saw would someday become theirs.
When you see this all in the perspective of time and the drama on
earth, you wonder if it was worth it. Hezekiah, even with 15 more years, only
lived to be 54. And his last 15 years were a disaster in his relationship with
God. Do we really consider it "death" and the loss of everything good
to go to be with God and get off this rotting rock? Even when Isaiah came with
God's rebuke, Hezekiah’s only thought was, "At least there will be peace
during my life," as we read in 2 Kings 20. And with this thought and his
newly found pride, Hezekiah decided to “slide for home,” and the next
generation of Israel was lost. The next godly king, Josiah, will hear the same
message from God (judgment is coming, but you will have peace); and his
response to that news will be used to save Israel.
2 Chronicles 33
Vs. 1-9 Manasseh was a piece of work. He was the child born in those
extra 15 years that God gave Hezekiah. I assume that Hezekiah had other sons
who could have reigned. This was the son then that Hezekiah selected to
continue his legacy. Manasseh was the king who reigned the longest, 55 years,
and he was the worst king either kingdom, north or south, had ever known. God
vowed to bring punishment against Judah because of this guy.
Notice the references to David. The promise to David is now in conflict
with the desecration of the temple and Jerusalem. Ezra will show that in spite
of the great evil of this man, God would still hold true to the promise to
Abraham, David and Israel.
V. 10 Not only did they pay no attention to those sent by God, but they
killed them. What brought irrevocable judgment against Judah was that Manasseh
filled Jerusalem with innocent blood. (2 Kings 21:16 and 24:4) Manasseh ruled
for 55 years by killing the competition and silencing all the servants of the
Lord. Tradition has it that Manasseh sawed Isaiah in two.
Vs. 11-13 I wish they hadn't ended this portion here, so read ahead to
v. 20. This is completely new information given to us from Ezra and the Spirit.
It is ironic that though captured by Assyria, Manasseh was led to and
imprisoned in Babylon. Manasseh would be responsible for Judah being taken
there in exile. Notice too that they captured him with hooks. The Assyrians had
a brutal way of leading people captive. They would put a hook through the flesh
of the chest (or in the nose) and connect it by a rope to a wagon or horse.
This not only struck fear into the people who saw what Assyria did to those who
opposed them, but it motivated the person who was "hooked" up, to
keep up. Also, all the people of other lands would see these processions of
prisoners and decide they didn’t want that to happen to them.
If you know the story here, v. 13 has to be one of the most amazing
verses in the Bible. Who says God doesn't show grace and love in the Old
Testament? Who says there is no hope for those who have fallen the deepest?
Ezra is showing that the returned nation can find grace and restoration. He is
also showing that those who returned and fell into sin could turn to the Lord
and find forgiveness.
For us in the harvest, we need to remember that we cannot
"convince" people to come to Christ or follow Him in the harvest.
Only God can humble a heart. It is enough for us to know that even the worst
person can come to Christ and receive forgiveness, even in the 11th hour.
Romans 15:23-16:7
Romans 15:23-33
Vs. 22-23 So the reason that Paul never visited was that he was being
urged on by the Spirit to complete his mission in Asia Minor.
V. 24 No one knows if Paul ever went to Spain.
V. 25 This is the collection mentioned in 1 Corinthians 16.
Vs. 26-27 Notice that Paul was very much focused on the interaction
between God's plan for the Jews and His plan for the Gentiles. Salvation was
from the Jews, and the Gentiles were allowed to become partakers.
Vs. 28-29 These were Paul’s plans, but we’ll see in v. 32 (also Rom.
1:10) that there was an “if God wills,” attached to this.
Vs. 30-33 Paul appealed to them for their prayers, knowing that he was
walking into danger. In fact, this prayer was answered with a "sort
of." We've read Acts and know that Paul was arrested in Jerusalem and sat
under house arrest for the next 4-5 years. God had another plan for Paul not
envisioned in this prayer. However, Paul did make it to Rome and was there in
peace with freedom to preach.
Romans 16:1-7
Vs. 1-2 The word servant is
the word deaconess. Cenchreae was a port suburb of Corinth. Phoebe was probably
on her way to Rome to do something for her church, maybe to extend some kind of
aid to a relative of someone in the church in Corinth. It is suggested that
when Paul found out she was heading to Rome, he “whipped off” this letter and
sent it with her to save postage. J
Vs. 3-4 This couple was very close to Paul. They were not just friends
and very devoted workers, but they were well known, sort of like heroes of the
early church. If there were action figures for the people in Acts, there would
be one for Prisca and one for Aquila. It is quite an honor for Paul to say that
all the churches of the Gentiles were thankful for them. In Acts 18 we met P&A
after all the Jews got kicked out of Rome. By divine appointment and
displacement, they met Paul in Corinth and we see them again in Ephesus.
Apparently they did some traveling with Paul. What is interesting here is that
they were now back in Rome.
V. 5 Did you know this guy was the first convert in Asia?
V. 7 Apparently these guys were relatives of Paul who were believers
before he was.
Tomorrow we get some more names, a great conclusion, and you will have
finished Romans. When’s the last time that happened?
Psalm 25:16-22
This is like a summary of the psalm. It is interesting to me that all
of the sweat and fear and tears and hope and love and yearning are mixed
together by God to help us know and understand Him.
Vs. 16-18 It is interesting that David couldn’t calm his own heart. He
knew that only the Lord could give him the peace and rest he sought. Part of
this was giving David a sense of being forgiven for his fears and lying.
Remember that when David first ran from Saul, he acted pretty badly. He lied to
the priests, which resulted in the death of the priests and their families; and
David went to Gath seeking refuge and had to act crazy to get out of it. These
were not David’s finest moments. His own efforts didn’t bring him peace. David
needed peace, knowing that God would continually rescue him.
Vs. 19-21 It is hard to depend on the Lord when the threat is very real
and physical. God doesn’t always seem physical and present. In danger, if it
came down to relying on God’s invisible presence or grabbing a baseball bat,
most people would go for the Louisville Slugger. Yet David’s hope was in the
Lord, and he was willing to be looked upon as a fool.
V. 22 I think that David saw all of the events around him as not only
pertaining to Israel, but as a part of Israel’s troubles. But through the Son
of David, all of David’s shame will be put to rest and Israel will be
established.
Proverbs 20:16-18
Vs. 16 and 17 are actions with regrets that did not come from v. 18,
wise counsel.
Please Read
the Following Disclaimer
I'm writing the Reading Notes to and
for those who are following a One Year Bible and are interested in growing deeper
as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of
a discipleship culture in the church, that is, groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting
weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make
disciples, who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal and
important discipleship manual we have and it is the key to our growth and
service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here, or what we
are to be doing, or whom we are to be following. My comments are only meant to
provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of
redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us,
as disciples, focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that
the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to
find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, making
disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive
commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC).
I read the BKC in doing background for the Reading Notes and refer to it quite
often. I also make reference to maps or charts in the BKC, though I will only
note where those resources can be found. Often you can do a search for these
and find them in Google books. Buying both volumes of the Bible Knowledge
Commentary would be a good idea.
I am not endorsing any particular
One Year Bible translation; in fact, I read something you probably don't, Die
Revidierte Lutherbibel, 1984. Unless noted, all Scripture quotes are from the
ESV Bible.
Anyone reading along with us is
welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own
observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition
or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any
point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as
I understand it. Often there is a breadth of opinion on certain events, both
historical and prophetic. Many of my views come from my church background,
theological training and my personal study.
I'm
doing this with discipleship in mind, meaning, I'm writing out thoughts that
will keep discipleship and our growth as disciples applied to what we are
reading. Remember, the real focus of the Reading Notes is to be a
supplement, a disciple’s commentary, giving motivation and insight so that we
will keep following our Lord in the harvest, reaching the lost and making
disciples, who make disciples. Being in
the Word every day, sitting at Jesus’ feet, learning directly from Him, is the
essential essence of being and making disciples.
May the Lord bless you as you follow Him in the
harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who make disciples. Dan
If you would like documents
containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
If you would like a full
presentation of discipleship read Simply
Disciples*Making Disciples.
Or if you are struggling with
insomnia and would like a long boring dissertation on disciple making, these
can both be found on https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
Reading Notes ©, Dan Kachikis
2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018
The One Year Bible © by
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton Illinois 60189
The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of
Good News Publishers.
All charts/graphics/outlines
from the Bible Knowledge Commentary are used with the permission of David C.
Cook.
© 1983, 2001 John F Walvoord and Roy B Zuck.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary is published by David C Cook.
All rights reserved. Publisher permission
required to reproduce.
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