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II Chronicles

II Chronicles. God’s Sovereign Glory. Introduction. Author: Generally attributed to Ezra because I & II Chronicles and the book of Ezra have similar style, vocabulary, and contents. The early Jewish tradition of the Talmud affirms this truth. Date: written between 425 and 400 B.C.

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II Chronicles

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  1. II Chronicles God’s Sovereign Glory

  2. Introduction • Author: Generally attributed to Ezra because I & II Chronicles and the book of Ezra have similar style, vocabulary, and contents. The early Jewish tradition of the Talmud affirms this truth. • Date: written between 425 and 400 B.C. • Period Covered: From the beginning of the reign of Solomon in 971 B.C. to the end of the Exile around 538 B.C.

  3. Background of the Book • The background is the period after the exile. • What was left of Jerusalem was ruled by a provincial governor appointed by Persia. • The exiles were allowed to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple

  4. Occasion and Purpose Duel Purpose: • To provide encouragement to those who had returned to keep their faith and hope alive. • To exhort those returning to adhere to the Mosaic covenant and ritual so that the tragedy of the past would not be repeated.

  5. Content “Things Passed Over” • In some ways it is a supplement to I & II Samuel and I & II Kings • Can be divided into 3 main sections 1. Chapters 1-9 Outline the Reign of King Solomon accenting the construction of the temple and his wealth and wisdom. 2. Chapters 10-36 concentrates almost exclusively on the southern kingdom and its 20 rulers. 3. Chapter 36:17-23 Judah’s Captivity and Return

  6. Kings Written to hostages Embraces both kingdoms Presents a prophetic outlook Written to answer the question “why” Written as theology in the form of a historical narrative Chronicles Written to returning exiles Focus is only Judah Operates from a priestly vantage point Written to encourage and exhort Same Comparison with I & II Kings: TheyAre Alike in Content, But They Offer Two Different Historical Perspectives

  7. Personal Application • II Chronicles accentuates the sovereign deliverance of God. God is faithful to deliver those that cry out to Him. • Demonstrates how God is a promise-making and promise-keeping God who is worthy to be trusted. • Warns us to learn from the failure of God’s people in the past, in order that we might not make the same mistakes.

  8. Christ Revealed • The failure of Solomon and the other Kings points to the necessity of Christ. • Many see an allusion to Christ in the temple 1) In the N.T. Paul refers to believers as the “temple of God”. 2) It is Christ who has purchases the ground for this spiritual temple (David paid for the land to make a sacrifice to stop the plague against the people) 3) It was Christ’s sacrifice that delivered us from death.

  9. Important Things to be Noted: • In Chronicles “Judah” tends to be called “Israel” • The Chronicler (author) mentions Jeremiah as the only illustration of a prophet who spoke a prophetic word that the Chronicler and his audience have seen fulfilled (He foretold they would be in captivity to Babylon for 70 years)

  10. Categories of the Kings in Chronicles • Kings who are uniformly good: David, Solomon, Abijah, Jotham & Hezekiah • Kings/Queens who are uniformly evil and/or ineffective: Jehoram, Ahaziah, Athaliah, Ahaz, Amon, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin & Zedekiah. • Kings who are a mixture of good and evil: Manasseh, Rehoboam, Jehoshaphat, Asa, Joash, Amaziah, Uzziah and Josiah.

  11. Note That These Same Categories Are Used in the N.T. • In Revelations these 3 categories are applied to the 7 churches of Asia Minor. • Paul also applies these categories to people in general: 1. The spiritual 2. The unspiritual 3. The “people of the flesh” or “worldly” or carnal.

  12. The “Glorification” of Solomon? In Chronicles there is no mention of Solomon’s sins: • Killing of his enemies • His multiple marriages • His apostasy There are also some good events that are left out. Conclusion: The deletions or omissions are the way that the author of this book concentrates on what he sees as the lasting significance of Solomon’s reign.

  13. Solomon is Chosen by God to Replace David (I Chr.28:6 & 29:1) • He is represented as another David • He is also represented as another Joshua: • Moses was disqualified from leading the people into the promised land like David was disqualified to build the temple. • Both Joshua and Solomon say that God exalted them (Jos 3:7, 4:14 & I Ch. 29:25) • Both leads Israel to “rest” as a result of their leadership • “Be strong, be bold, and do not be afraid” is given to both of them (Deut. 31:6 and I Chron 22:13)

  14. The Writer Portrays Solomon as “The Builder of the Temple” • I Chron. 28:6 "He said to me, 'Your son Solomon is the one who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be a son to Me, and I will be a father to him. • I Chron. 28:10-"Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be courageous and act." • I Chron. 29:1Then King David said to the entire assembly, "My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen, is still young and inexperienced and the work is great; for the temple is not for man, but for the LORD God.

  15. Solomon’s Role as Temple Builder is Highlighted by the Division of His role Into Two 20-year Periods • Chapters 1-7 is the Temple Building Era • Chapters 8-9 His Post-Temple projects The activities of the 2nd Division are seen as a result of the success of the first.

  16. David and Solomon are the Standard For All the Other Kings • Do they live up to the standard of David and Solomon? If so , how and with what results? • If they don’t live up to the standard of David and Solomon then how do they not live up and with what results? • Conclusion: For those kings who model the example of David and Solomon there is blessing. For those who do not, there is disaster.

  17. Frequent Mention of the Hebrew Word “Ma’al” • Meaning; to transgress, be unfaithful, faithless • 25% of the use of the word in the O.T. is found in Chronicles • Can be applied to individuals or it can be applied to a whole community (either present or past) • Saul died for his “ma’al” unfaithfulness • Judah was taken into exile in Babylon because of their unfaithfulness.

  18. Three Instances of Ma’al Involve Misuse of the Temple • Uzziah commits ma’al when he offers incense inside the temple. He is stricken with leprosy (2 Chron. 26:16-18). • Ahaz decimates the temple’s utensils, locks the temple doors and erects altars and high places elsewhere this causing spiritual disaster for the whole nation. • The cause of the exile is stated boldly in 36:14: “All the leading priests… were exceedingly unfaithful…they polluted the house of the Lord.

  19. Another Form of Ma’al Idolatry-which is also a sin against God • Rehoboam and his people abandon Yahweh’s Torah and thus commit ma’al. • Both Ahaz and Manasseh succumb to idolatry, an act of ma’al against Yahweh, breaking the oath to serve Him only.

  20. What We Can Learn • Trust in anything other than God is a sure recipe for disaster. “There is strength neither in numbers nor in material resources.” • Asa learned this lesson the hard way. -When attack Zerah and his troops, Asa prayed and Yahweh helped them. -When attacked by King Baasha of Israel, Asa tries to form an alliance and is chided by a prophet, “Because you relied on….” which ended in disaster.

  21. Others Seemed to Get It • Jehoshaphat is attacked and he offers no military response • Instead they sing and pray and God defeats the army. • Ch 20:22 When they began singing and praising, the LORD set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed.

  22. Conclusion to Study of Ma’al • Good kings/leaders not only avoid wrong kinds of behavior (such as ma’al), but also lead their people to the joyous, awesome worship of God such as: • Solomon’s dedication of the temple • Asa’s festival (Festival of weeks/Pentecost) • Hezekiah’s cleansing and rededication of the temple. • Hezekiah’s Passover/Unleavened Bread festival. • Josiah’s Passover/Unleavened Bread festival In all these reformation/commitment is combined with celebration

  23. Distinguishing Features of II Chronicles • Solomon is David’s most important son • The Levites are especially prominent • The description of the return of Zion • The kings of Judah are presented as test cases versus the integrity of David and Solomon. -Those that model David and Solomon in terms of honoring the Torah and temple observance are favored by God. -Those who do not, experience God’s disfavor.

  24. Conclusions • The community of Israel’s faith has deep roots in the past • God provided leaders (both political and religious) who had the opportunity to give to the community the means to engage with God in worship. • God’s call to worship is also a call to holiness. There are “wages” to sin.

  25. Last thought • Israel stands at the brink of return; • It is not just a return to their homeland and to worship in Jerusalem. • They are being called to return to their God with their whole heart. It is a return to be God’s set-apart-by-grace people. • Without this return they will not have a future.

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