The Wisdom of II Chronicles

Introduction

Job 28:28 KJV 1900

28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.

Body

Rehoboam

2 Chronicles 11:17 KJV 1900

17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.

2 Chronicles 12:1 KJV 1900

1 And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him.

We are never strong in ourselves

Our blessings and our “success” is not because of us

Deuteronomy 6:10–12 KJV 1900

10 And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, 11 And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; 12 Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

2 Chronicles 12:14 KJV 1900

14 And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord.

We would live better if we were more careful to seek the Lord in our daily lives.

We need to take this salvation very seriously.

Abijah

There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam

He sought to reunite the kingdom which was not God’s will

He preached against the sins of Israel and for the virtues of living for the One True God

He declared that because they were living in accordance with God’s Law, that God fought for them.

When they engaged, it looked like Judah would be overrun

2 Chronicles 13:18 KJV 1900

18 Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon the Lord God of their fathers.

No matter what situation we find ourselves in, when we cry out to God He will save us.

When our hope and our trust is in God, we will never be confounded.

Asa

2 Chronicles 14:2–7 KJV 1900

2 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God: 3 For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves: 4 And commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. 5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him. 6 And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the Lord had given him rest. 7 Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us; because we have sought the Lord our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.

When we purpose in our hearts to seek the Lord, we will prosper.

2 Chronicles 14:9–12 KJV 1900

9 And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah. 10 Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. 11 And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee. 12 So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.

All God needs is one individual to work His will through.

After this he turned to God with all his heart, and caused all of Judah to do the same

He sat her mother down from being queen because of her idol worship

God gave him rest because he sought the Lord with all his heart

2 Chronicles 16:1–4 KJV 1900

1 In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 2 Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the Lord and of the king’s house, and sent to Ben-hadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, 3 There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me. 4 And Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.

He did not seek the Lord in this

He instead sought help from man

2 Chronicles 16:7–10 KJV 1900

7 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the Lord thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand. 8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the Lord, he delivered them into thine hand. 9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. 10 Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.

God through the prophet chastised Asa for his faithlessness.

God demonstrates here in no uncertain terms that His desire is for us to seek Him first and foremost.

Asa ended his days diseased in his feet

Jehoshaphat

2 Chronicles 17:3–6 KJV 1900

3 And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim; 4 But sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. 5 Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance. 6 And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.

Again, because he sought the Lord God prospered him

2 Chronicles 17:10–12 KJV 1900

10 And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats. 12 And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store.

2 Chronicles 18:1–2 KJV 1900

1 Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab. 2 And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth-gilead.

At the height of his power he joins forces with wicked king Ahab

Jehoshaphat calls to enquire at the Lord concerning the battle

The prophet tells them that God has declared defeat for Israel if they go to fight, and even that He sent lying spirits to convince Ahab to go down and perish in the battle.

They still engaged the battle at Ramoth-gilead

Jehoshaphat was surrounded at one point but called out to God for help and was delivered

Ahab tried to disguise himself but was mortally wounded anyway

When he returned to Judah, he was met by Jehu

2 Chronicles 19:2–3 KJV 1900

2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord. 3 Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.

We cannot ally ourselves with those who are opposed to God

Take a stand! Make a choice! Choose a side!

Joshua 24:15 KJV 1900

15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

We can get to the place sometimes where we wish the choices were different

We sometimes wish the consequences were different — but they’re not!

2 Chronicles 20:1 KJV 1900

1 It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.

Jehoshaphat was again threatened by war, this time by the Ammonites and the Moabites and the Edomites.

He prayed and declared a fast throughout the land

All of Judah gathered themselves together, and set themselves to seek the Lord

Jehoshaphat prays and lays Judah’s case before God

2 Chronicles 20:12–13 KJV 1900

12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. 13 And all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.

Comment on this passage

God responds

2 Chronicles 20:15–17 KJV 1900

15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.

They assembled to the battle

Jehoshaphat councils Judah with these words

2 Chronicles 20:20 KJV 1900

20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

This is good counsel to give our families in times of distress.

It’s good to remind ourselves of this - that God is trustworthy. God is faithful. What God promises must certainly come to pass

2 Chronicles 20:35–37 KJV 1900

35 And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly: 36 And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Ezion-geber. 37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the Lord hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

Again he decides to join himself to someone who hates the ways of the One True God

Again he is chastised for his error

It’s repeated to us twice - have nothing to do with the wicked.

Ahaziah

Son of Jehoram, Grandson of Jehoshaphat

2 Chronicles 22:3–5 KJV 1900

3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counseller to do wickedly. 4 Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the Lord like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellers after the death of his father to his destruction. 5 He walked also after their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead: and the Syrians smote Joram.

He destroyed himself because of those he let speak into his life

Conclusion

In II Chronicles we see many examples of wisdom, and foolishness

We also see the end results of both

Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV 1900

19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: