生命之道

Category: 圣经笔记

  • Jeremiah Introduction

    Jeremiah Introduction

    Background

    God called Jeremiah to be a prophet when he was a young man. It was in the thirteenth year of the reign of King Josiah (627B.C.). King Josiah was 8 when he became King, so he was 21 when God called Jeremiah. Jeremiah served beyond the fall of Judah for total of over 50 years from Kings Josiah to Jehoahaz to Jehoiakim to Jehoiachin to Zedekiah, and after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.

    Josiah was a the last good king of Judah. The rest of the kings, which are his sons and grandsons, were all bad kings.

    During Jeremiah time, there were false prophets who prophesied lies (5:31), the priests rule by their own authority instead of God’s authority (5:31).

    King Josiah was a good king. He removed the idols and reestablish worship in the temple. Five or siz years after Jeremiah’s call, the Book of the Law was found in the Temple, the reading of which resulted in widespread confession of sin and wholesale destruction of both idols and idolatrous priests. Judah rose to the occasion with Josiah, but at the height of his prospects, he went uncommissioned against Necho, kong of Egypt, and was mortally wounded at the battle of Megiddo. With his death Judah’s hope died.

    He was followed by Jehoahaz who reigned but three months; then Jehoiakim came to the throne, and with him the days of folly and idolatry, of injustice and cruelty were revived. The reformation of Josiah had come too late. The work was superficial and therefore only temporary; sin was like a cancer, eating away at the very heart of the nation.

    God said the Jews were like well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing for another man’s wife (5:8).

    God said if Jeremiah can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, He would forgive Jerusalem (5:1). However Jeremiah could not find any among the citizens and the leaders of Judah (5:5).

    The people did not want to listen to the true prophets of God, the said: “the prophets are but wind and the word is not with them.” (5:13).

    Thus God raised up Babylon, an ancient and enduring nation, a distant nation whose language the Jews could not understand, who were mighty warriors and skilled archers to devour the Jews’s harvests and food, their sons and daughters, their flocks and herds, their vines and fig trees and their cities (4:16; 5:15-17). God called the Babylonians a destroyer of nations (4:7).  It was their own conducts and actions that brought this punishment upon them (4:18).

    The Jews forsaken God and served foreign gods in their own land, thus God disciplined them by making them to serve foreigners in a land not their own (5:19).

    By God’s mercy, He would not destroy them completely (4:27, 5:18).

    Other prophets served in the same time with Jeremiah’s 50 years ministry was Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Daniel and Ezekiel.

    Jeremiah

    He was son of a priest (1:1). His name means “Jehovah establishes, or appoints, or sends.”

    He was a priest and a prophet. God called him to be single, and he remain as such (16:2).

    He had coworker, a scribe, named Baruch. Jeremiah would dictate the Words from God and Baruch would write them down on scrolls and read to the people. (36:4, 32; 45:1)

    He has been known as the “weeping prophet” (9:1; 13:17; 14:17). He and God weeped because the sins of the Jews. He lived a life of conflict because of his predictions about judgement by the invading Babylonians. He was threatened, tried for his life, put in stocks, forced to flee from King Jehoiakim, publicly humiliated by a false prophet, and thrown into a pit.

    Early in his ministry, he called Judah to repent to avoid judgement from God (Ch 7; 26). Once invasion was certain after Judah refused to repent, he pled with them not to resist the Babylonian conqueror in order to prevent total destruction (Ch 27).

    He also called on delegates of other nations to heed his counsel and submit to Babylon (ch 27), and he predicted judgements from God on various nations (25:12-38; chapters 46-51).

    After the falled of Jerusalem in 586 BC, he was forced to go with a fleeing remnant of Judah to Egypt (Chapters 43 – 44).

    A rabbinic note claims that when Babylon invaded Egypt in 568 BC, Jeremiah was taken captive to Babylon. He could have lived even to pen the book’s closing scene in 561 BC, when Judah’s king Jehoiachin, captive in Babylon since 597 BC, was allowed liberties in his last days.

    Jeremiah in the rest of the bible

    Jeremiah was named and quoted many times outside of his book, in the rest of the bible:

    2 Chr. 35:25 Jeremiah composed laments for Josiah, and to this day all the male and female singers commemorate Josiah in the laments. These became a tradition in Israel and are written in the Laments.

    2 Chr. 36:12 He did evil in the eyes of the LORD his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke the word of the LORD.

    2 Chr. 36:21 The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah.

    2 Chr. 36:22 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:

    Ezra 1:1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:

    Dan 9:2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years.

    Matt 2:17-18 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” (Quoted Jeremiah 31:15)

    Matt 16:14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

    Matt 27:9 Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel,

    1 Cor 1:31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” (Quoted 9:24)

    2 Cor 10:17 But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” (Quoted 9:24)

    Hew 8:8-12, 10:16-17 But God found fault with the people and said: “The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. (Quoted 31:31-34)

  • Jeremiah 4

    Jeremiah 4

    v3: Break up your unplowed ground and do not sow among thorns.

    The are many grounds in our life that has not been plowed. These could be areas in our life where we have not experience the works of the Lord. These could be areas where we are afraid to venture into, because of fear. These could be areas we do now even know they exist. When we feel our are stucked in our pursue of the Lord, we need to pray and ask the Lord to reveal to us, to open the heart of our eyes, so that we can see the unplowed ground in our life. Once we see them, ask to Lord to give us to power to break up these unplowed ground. Pray that we will labor in these lands, and with great expectation that the Lord is going to grow fruits out of the lands, and we will once again experience His abundance, in greater capacity we had ever experienced before.

    Then, the Lord says: “do not sow among thorns.” This morning as I was praying to the Lord, told the Lord that I am doing many things in my life at this moment, it just seem like I do not have enough time in a day to accomplish what I like to accomplish. The Lord has blessed me with many great responsibilities, like being a husband, being a father, being a coworker, being a minister. I was praying for a word from the Lord. I was wondering what it means to be a good and faithful steward of the Lord. Does it mean to be efficient? How can I be efficient and at the same time wait for the Lord? And then the Lord gave me this verse: “do not sow among thorns.”

    The Lord told us to sow on good soil (Matthew 13:8). When we are the heart to serve the Lord, we will soon see many needs surrund us that we could serve. But all of us have limited resources, where should I have my time? We need to be wise and ask to the Lord, :”Lord, show me where the good soil is, so I do not sow among thorns, so that I can be fruitful, and effective, for Your glory.”

  • 1 Timothy Introduction

    1 Timothy Introduction

    Author

    Paul identified himself as the author on 1:1. Paul wrote a total of 13 letters in the NT, all the letters were addressed to local churches, except 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, which were addressed to an individual.

    Some modern liberal scholars suggested these three letters were written by not by Paul, but by a Paulinist one or two generations removed from Paul. For me it is pretty clear that it was Paul of Tarsus who wrote these letters. The introduction of all three letters clearly tell us that it was Paul who wrote to Timothy and Titus, their relationships were clearly documented in Acts.

    Date

    The following is a short timeline of Paul’s ministry:

    48-56 AD

    Paul three missionary journeys. Wrote Galatians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians in 51/52AD. Wrote Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians in 55/56AD

    56-60 AD

    Paul in Jerusalem, Caesarea and finally arrived in Rome

    61-62 AD

    Paul under house arrest in Rome. Wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon in 61/62AD

    63-66 AD

    Paul was released from Rome and traveled to Ephesus and Create. He left Timothy in Ephesus and Titus in Create. He wrote 1 Timothy and Titus in 65/66AD.

    67AD

    Paul was imprisoned the second time in Rome. Wrote 2 Timothy, the last letter by Paul.

    Recipient

    Timothy was the son of a Greek father and Jewish mother (Acts 16:1).

    His mother Eunice and grandmother Lois were both known for their sincere faith (2 Tim 1:5).

    Paul first met Timothy in Lystra on his 1st missionary journey (Acts 14:6;16:1)

    Timothy already knew and believed the OT, thanks to his mother and grandmother (2 Tim 3:15), and Paul took him on a a promising protege.

    Paul became like a spiritual father to Timothy, referring to him as “my true son in the faith” (1 Tim 1:2) , and my dear son (2 Tim 1:2; Phil 2:22)

    Timothy became Paul closest coworker. Six of Paul’s epistles include Timothy in the salutations (2 Cor 1:1; Phil 1:1; Col 1:1; 1 Thes 1:1; 2 Thes 1:1; Philemon 1).

    Timothy has become so dear to Paul that in the apostle’s last message was a touching appeal for Timothy to join him in his final days (2 Tim 1:4;4:9, 21).

    After Paul was released from the Roman’s prison the 1st time. He revisited the churches in Asia minor, including Ephesus and left Timothy there to provide leadership to the church. Then after an internval Paul wrote Timothy this letter.

    Timothy may have been by nature somewhat passive, timid, easily intimidated (2 Tim 1:7). Thus Paul repeatedly spurred him into action (1 Tim 1:3; 4:11; 5:7; 6:2;2 Tim 3:14). He was to let nothing, including his relative youth ( 1 Tim 4:12) stand in the way of his performance of duty (2 Tim 2:1-7). Like a good soldier he was to fight the good fight (1 Tim 1:18), protecting the truth and propagating the gospel using his spiritual gifts ( 1 Tim 4:14; 2 Tim 1:6).

    Key Topics in Each Chapters

    Chapter 1

    1. Warning against false teachers, protect the glorious gospel
    2. The grace of Jesus has changed Paul from a persecutor of Christians, a blasphemer, a violent man to a servant of Christ
    3. Hand over those who rejected faith and good conscience to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme

    Chapter 2

    1. Instructions concerning prayers (2:1-7)
    2. Instructions concerning men and women (2:8-15)

    Chapter 3

    1. Instructions concerning elders and deacons (3:1-13)

    Chapter 4

    1. Warning against deceiving spirits and demons
    2. Spiritual Training
    3. Life and Doctrine are both important for a minister of Christ

    Charter 5

    1. Concerning various age-groups
    2. Concerning widows
    3. Concerning elders

    Chapter 6

    1. Concerning salves and masters
    2. Concerning false doctrines and greediness
    3. Concerning man of God
    4. Concerning the rich
    5. Guard what has been entrusted to your care.

     

  • 1 Timothy 4

    1 Timothy 4

    v4: Everything God created is good.

    However in today’s world, we human have created many food and polluted our food chain so drastically that a lot of what we called food are no longer the food originally created by God. I am referring to highly processed food, genetics modified organic, hormone given our animals and extensive pesticides. May the Lord gives us wisdom in choosing the food created by Him and partake the food with thanks giving heart.

    v7: train yourself to be godly

    For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things. Many people spend hours in physical training, but completed ignore spiritual training. Just like our body needs training to be strong and healthy, our spirit needs training to be strong and healthy.

    v16: Watch your life and doctrine closely

    Two most important things when we want to be teaching others about spiritual things. First is our life, second is our doctrine, or our knowledge of God’s truth.

    Our life needs to reflect the likeness of Christ. We need to know the word of God by studying and meditating of His words on daily basis.

  • 1 Timothy 2

    1 Timothy 2

    Jesus gave Himself as a ransom for all men (v6)

    Ransom means redemption price. It is a price paid to release a slave from his master.This verse does not mean all men and women are saved, because the rest of the bible clearly teaches that only those who believes (John 3:16; Rom 10:9) are saved.

    What this verse means is Jesus’s death is sufficient as ransom for all mankind. God loves all men and thus sent Jesus to die for all men, however only those who believes that will be saved. In another word, Christ’s death is unlimited in its sufficiency, but limited in its application. Christ’s death is sufficient to cover the sins of all men in all human’s history and future, however only those who responded will receive the redemption.

    I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayers, without anger or disputing (v8)

    Few principles we can learned from this verse.

    First, men (aner G435) is a specific word referring to men. Everywhere means all meeting places. Paul is teaching that man, instead of woman should be the spiritual leaders in public worship.

    We work with our hands. Holy hands mean our works should be separated from the world. In another word, our live should be holy and separated from the world for God. Paul is calling men to live godly life, so they can lead God’s people to come before God, which is what prayers are. The condition of our heart is the key, not the outward form of raising our hands in prayers. Although we can surely lift our hands while praying, but make sure are heart are holy for God before we lift our hands.

    Without anger or disputing are towards other people. If we are in anger or in dispute with others, it does not matter how high we lift our hands in prayers. Jesus said: “leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brothers; then come and offer your gift.” (Matt 5:24).

    I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent (v12)

    Men should be the spiritual leaders at home and at church. This is that arrangement of God. Men symbolize Christ and women symbolize His church. Christ should be the head, not His church. “…the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” (11 Corinthians 11:3)

    Paul taught the same principle earlier in his life when he wrote to the Corinthians church (1 Cor 14:34).

    However it does not mean women cannot exercise their spiritual gifts at home or in church. Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head – it is just as though her head were shaved.” Women can pray or teach, but they ought to do that with their head covered. Not physically, but spiritually. In their spirit must acknowledge and submit to God’s principle in His church, which is glorify Christ.

    The most appropriate environments are sisters to exercise their spiritual gift in teaching is at home with her children, at church with the children, and in sisters’ meetings.

    Women will be saved through childbearing if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety (v15)

    This is a very difficult verse to interprete. Here is my understanding. If a woman has no faith, has no love, and does not live a holy life, even if she give birth to many children, she would not be saved.

  • 2 Chronicles 32

    2 Chronicles 32

    “But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart”(v31).

    Hezekiah was one of the five good kings of the southern kingdom. He was probably the greatest among them because he did not only smash down idols (31:1), he also reestablished the temple worship (29:35), as well as the Passover for both Israel and Judah (30:1).

    His was a prayer warrior (2 Kings 19:14-19). When he was sick, he prayed a prayer that changed the mind of God. God responded with a miraculous sign: the LORD made the shadow go back the ten steps it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz (20:11).

    Up to this point, his life as king for 14 years has been victorious in the eyes of God. Now God wanted to test him and to know everything that was in his heart (v31). When the babylon king sent messengers to Hezekiah to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left Hezekiah to test him.

    Hezekiah failed the test. Instead of giving glory to God, he was proud and did not respond to the kindness shown him (v25). He choose to show his own glory by showing the Babylonian his treasures. “There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them” (2 Kings 20:15).

    Most of the time, God is protecting us from temptations. But sometimes God chooses to test everything in our heart, by removing his protection from us. This is the time when our faith is truly tested. Do we have the heart to glorify God or to glorify ourselves? I have to admit, many times I sinnful nature desires to glorify myself, and as a result I robed the glory of God. Hezekiah finally repented of the pride of his heart and God forgave him (v26). We need to get down to our needs to repent and ask for God’s forgiveness when His words reveal the darkness of our hearts. God is faithful and He is just, He will surely forgave us and embrace us with His loving arms.

  • 2 Chronicles 29

    2 Chronicles 29

    Revival By a Young and Godly King – Hezekiah

    Hezekiah’s father, King Ahaz was the most wicked king of all the kings of the southern kingdom. Yet Hezekiah did not follow his father’s foot step.

    It seems to me that Hezekiah has been wanting to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord, however he had no authority when his wicked father Ahaz was alive. So when he became the king at 25 old years old, immediately on the 1st month he opened the doors of the temple that was closed by his father, removed all defilements from the temple, led the people in making a covenant with the Lord (v10) and reestablished the temple worship by the priest (v35).

    It was such an encouragement to see a young man who set his heart on the things of the Lord. We need many young men like the young Hezekiah in today’s church. Many fathers have forsaken the Lord, did not live and lead as a father should and as a result many young men grew up without a role model of what Godly men should be. That is why many young men are spiritually weak in today’s church. They are church goers instead of God’s soldiers.  However, just like Ahaz’s wickedness did not stop Hezekiah from becoming a Godly king, the young men in today’s church can also make decision to follow the Lord regardless of the spiritual condition of their father.

    So young men of God, rise up, don’t let your age or your family background became hinders, we need more Hezekiah in this generation than ever to reestablish the true worship of our Lord with our life, you could be one.

  • 2 Chronicles 27

    2 Chronicles 27

    Do you feel weak as christian some times? Do you have the desire to be a powerful christian? How can we become powerful christians? This chapter tells us that Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the LORD his God. This is a hint to us. If we want to be powerful, we need to walk steadfastly before our Lord Jesus Christ.

    A powerful christian may look weak outside by worldly standards, but he or she is a soldier of the Lord inside. Nothing could stop him or she from following the Lord, that is the definition of a powerful christian.

  • 2 Chronicles 25

    2 Chronicles 25

    Two verses caught my attentions:

    v2: “He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly.”

    God not only desires us to do the right things in His eyes, He desires us to do it whole heartedly. The Lord told the Church in Laodicea He would spit them out of His mouth because they were lukewarm – neither hot nor cold.

    Are you a lukewarm christian? Are you doing things for the Lord, but only doing it halfheartedly? Like a Chinese proverbs: Are your legs on different boats? Yes the answer is yes, eventually you will fall into the water because these boats are heading to different direction.

    v9: “The LORD can give you much more than that”

    Sometimes we felt that we have spend many energy, time, and money on worldly things. If we are to give up pursuing the world, how do we recuperate our energy, time and money? Well, the man of God said to Amaziah: “The LORD can give you much more than that!” Our God is the God of the universe, He has all the resources and power to give us anything He desires to give us. All we need to do is to trust in Him.

  • 2 Chronicles 10 – 36

    2 Chronicles 10 – 36

    King

    Good

    Bad

    Rehoboam (41+17)

    Prophets: Shemaiah, Iddo

    11:2 He obeyed God’s command when God told him not to flight with brothers

    11:17 walked in the ways of David and Solomon

    12:12 He repented and God forgave him

    10:14 listened to young friend instead of elder and put heavy burden on people. As a result 10 tribes decided to follow Jeroboam and the kingdom devided into two

    12:1 Abandon the Law

    12:14 didn’t set his heart to seek God

    Abijah (?+3)

    Prophets: Iddo

    13:10 “the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken Him.”

    13:11 Unlike Jeroboam who worshipped golden calves, Abijah lead his people to worship God in the temple by following God’s law

    13:12 “God is with us; He is out Leader…. do not flight against the LORD, the God of your fathers, for you will not succeed.”

    13:14 Even though Abijah was outnumbered by Jeroboam’s troops, he trusted in God (13:12) and cried out to God during the battle, and God gave him victory over Jeroboam.

    12:21 He married fourteen wives

    Asa (?+41)

    Prophets: Oded, Azariah, Hanani

    14:2-3 “Asa did what was good and right in the eyes God. He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles”

    14:4 He commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to obey His laws and commands.

    14:5 He removed the high places and incense altars in every town of Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under him.

    14:11 Called on God when being attacked by the Cushite and God struck down the Cushites. Asa’s prayer: “There is no one like You to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in Your Name we have come against this vast army.”

    15:8 Removed idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the towns he had captured in the hills of Ephraim. He repaired the altar of the LORD that was in front of the portico of the LORD’s temple.

    15:16 Deposed grandma who worshiped idol

    16:2-7 When being attacked by Baasha king of Israel, King Asa made treaty with Ben-Hadad king of Aram instead of relying on God.

    16:10 Asa was angry with the seer and put him prison.

    16:10 Asa brutally oppressed some of the people.

    16:12 Even in his illness he did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians.

    Jehoshaphat(35+25)

    Prophets: Jehu, Eliezer, Jahaziel

    17:3-6 walked in the ways of David. Sought God. Removed Asherah poles.

    17:9 Taught God’s law to Judah

    18:4 Desired to seek the counsel of God when Ahab asked him to go to war against Ramoth Gilead

    19:3 set his heart on seeking God

    19:4 went from Beersheba to Ephraim and turned people back to God

    19:9 taught the leaders to serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of God

    19:10 warned the people not to sin against God

    20:3 Led the people, all men with their wives and children (20:13) to fast and pray to God when attacked by Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites

    20:6 He is a man of prayer (see 20:20), a man who knows God. “You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations… We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You” As a result, God fought the battle for them, God caused the enemies to attack each other (20:23).

    20:30 He is a great ruler, the kingdom was at peace, God had given him rest on every side.

    20:32 He walked in the ways of his father Asa. He did what was right in the eyes of God. However people still had not set their hearts on God.

    19:2 help the wicked and love those who hate God (Ahab). Made alliance with northern kingdom by marrying his son Jehoram with Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel

    20:36 He made alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel who was guilty of wickedness. They constructed a fleet of trading ships, but were destroyed by God.

    Jehoram (32+8)

    Prophets: Elijah (North)

     

    21:4 he put all his brothers to the sword along with some of the princes of Israel

    21:6 He married Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel and followed in the ways of the kings of Israel

    21:6 He did evil in the eyes of the LORD

    21:10 Forsaken God

    21:11 built high places on the hills of Judah

    21:11 caused the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves and had led Judah astray.

    21:14 God struck his family and people. He was lingering with disease of the bowels.

    21:16 God aroused Philistines and Arabs to attack Judah and carried off all the goods found in the king’s palace, together with his family.

    Ahaziah (22+1)

     

    22:3 walked in the ways of the house of Ahab

    22:3 his mother encouraged him in doing wrong

    22:4 did evil in the eyes of the LORD

    22:4 made people from King Ahab as his advisors

    22:5 partnered with Joram son of King Ahab to war against Hazel king of Aram

    Athaliah (?+6)

     

    22:3 encouraged her son Ahaziah in doing wrong

    22:10 destroyed the whole royal family of Judah

    22:12 self proclaimed first woman ruler for Judah

    24:7 her sons broken into the temple and used its sacred objects for Baals

    Joash (7+40)

    Prophets: Joel

    24:2 did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the years of Jehoiada the priest

    24:4,13 restored the temple of the LORD according to its original design

    24:17 turned into a wicked King after the death of Jehoiada. He listened to officials who paid him homage, he abandoned the temple and worshiped Asherah poles and idols.

    24:19 did not listen to prophets of the LORD

    24:22 did not remember the kindness of Jehoiada, even killed Jehoiada’s son Zechariah

    24:25 killed by his own officials in his bed

    Amaziah (25+29)

    25:2 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD

    25:2 but not wholeheartedly

    25:4 did not put his father’s killer’s son to death, but acted in accordance with Deut 24:16

    25:6 hired a hundred thousand fighting men from Israel for 100 talents of silver

    25:14 worshiped Edomites gods

    25:27 turned away from following the LORD

    Uzziah (16+52)

    Prophets: Isaiah, Zechariah

    26：4 did what was right in the eyes of the LORD

    26:5 He sought God during the days of Zechariah

    26:16 after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.

    26:19 became angry. While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar, leprosy broke out on his forehead.

    26:21 had leprosy until the day he die. Lived in a separate house – leprous, and excluded from the temple.

    Jotham (25+16)

    Prophets: Isaiah, Micah

    27:1 did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done, but unlike Uzziah he did not enter the temple.

    27:3 rebuilt the Upper Gate of the temple and did extensive work on the wall at the hill of Ophel

    27:4 built towns in the Judean hills and forts and towers in the wooded areas

    27:6 grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the LORD his God

     

    Ahaz (20+16)

    Prophets: Isaiah, Micah

     

    28:1 Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD

    28:2 He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and also made cast idols for worshiping the Baals

    28:3 He burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and sacrificed his sons in the fire, following the detestable ways of the nations of the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.

    28:4 He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the hight places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree

    28:6 one day Pekah son of Remaliah killed 120,000 soldiers in Judah – because Judah had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers

    28:9 God was angry with Judah and gave them into the hand of Israel.

    28:16 ask for help from king of Assyria when attacked by Edomites

    28:19 promoted wickedness in Judah and had been most unfaithful to the LORD

    28:20 took some of the things from the temple and from the royal place and from the princes and presented them to the king of Assyria

    28:22 In his time of trouble King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the LORD

    28:23 offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus… for he thought,”Since the gods of the kings of Aram have helped them, I will sacrifice to them so they will help me.”

    28:24 gathered together the furnishings from the temple and took them way. Shut the doors of the temple and set up altars at every street corner in Jerusalem.

    28:25 In every town in Judah he built high places to burn sacrifices to other gods and provoked the LORD.

    Hezekiah (25+29)Prophets: Isaiah, Micah

    29:2 did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done

    29:3 In the first month of the first year of his reign, he opened the doors of the temple and repaired them

    29:6-9 He recognized the sins of previous generation

    29:10 make a covenant with the LORD so that His fierce anger will turn away from us

    29:15-19 consecrated the entire temple29：35 reestablished the service of the temple

    30:1 sent word to all Israel and Judah inviting them to come to the temple and celebrate the Passover together.

    30:26 There was great joy in Jerusalem, there had been nothing like this since Solomon

    31:1 led Judah to smashed the sacred stones, cut down the Asherah poles, destroyed high places and the altars throughout Judah and Benjamin and in Ephraim and Manasseh.2 King 18:4 broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it.

    31:4 Ordered the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion to the priests and Levites so they could devote themselves to the Law of the LORD. The people gave abundantly.

    31:20 doing what was good and right and faithful before God.

    31:21 In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.

    32: 8 trust in God is with them and would fight the battles with Assyrians for them

    32:20 Prayed with Isaiah and God responded with an angel who annihilated the army of Assyrian (185,000 men).2 Kings 19:19 Hezekiah prayed to God to deliver them so that all kingdoms on earth may know that Yahweh alone are God.

    32:26 repented of the pride of his heart.

    32:29 He built villages and acquired great numbers of flocks and herds, for God had given him very great riches2 Kings 20:11 God listend to Hezekiah prayer, He made the shadow go back 10 steps

    32:25 He was sick and prayed to God, and God answered him and gave him a miraculous sign. But his heart was proud and did not respond to the kindness shown him.2 Kings 20:13 Hezekiah was proud and shown his place and all the kingdom treasures to messengers from Babylon

    Manasseh (12+55)

    33:12 In his distress he sought the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. And when he prayed to God, God was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; s God brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.

    33:14 rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David

    33:15 got rid of the foreign gods and removed the image from the temple and all the altars he had built on the temple hill and in Jerusalem; and he threw them out of the city.33:16 restored the altar of the LORD and sacrificed fellowship offerings and thank offerings on it, and told Judah to serve the LORD.

    33:2 did evil in the eyes of the LORD, following the detestable practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites

    33:3 Rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had demolished; erected altars to the Baals and made Asherah poles. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them.

    33:4 built altars in the temple of the LORD

    33:5 built altars to all the starry hosts

    33:6 sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom. Practiced sorcery, divination and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists.

    33:6 He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking Him in anger.

    33:7 He took the carved image of Asherah (2 Kings 21:7) he had made and put it in God’s temple.

    33:9 led Judah astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the LORD had destroyed before the?Israelite

    33:10 The LORD spoke to Manasseh and His people, but they paid no attention.

    33:11 God brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in His nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon

    2 King 21:13 God said: “I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab. I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. I will forsake the remnant of my inheritance and hand them over to their enemies. They will be looted and plundered by all their foes, because they have done evil in my eyes and have provoked me to anger from the day their forefathers came out of Egypt until this day.”

    2 Kings 21:16 He also shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end

    2 Kings 23:26-27, 24:4 Although Manasseh has repented, God will choose to remove Judah from His presence.

    Amon (22+2)

    Only Jewish king bears the name of a foreign – an Egyptian deity.

    33:22 He did evil in the eyes of the LORD.33:22 Worshiped and offered sacrifiecs to all the idols Manasseh had made.33:23 Unlike his father, he did not humble himself before the LORD, Amon increased his guilt

    Josiah (8+31)

    Prophets: Zephaniah, Huldah, Jeremiah, Nahum, Habakkuk

    34:2 did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.34:3 in the 8th year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David.

    34:3 In his 12th year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles, carved idols and cast images.

    34:4 Under his direction the altars of the Baals were torn down; he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them, and smashed the Asherah poles, the idols and the images. These he broke to pieces and scattered over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.

    34:5 He burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and so he purged Judah and Jerusalem.

    34:6 In the towns of Manasseh, Ephraim and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins around them, he tore down the altars and the Asherah poles and crushed the idols to powder and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout Israel.

    34:8 In the 18th year of Josiah’s reign, to purify the land and the temple, he repaired the temple of the LORD.

    34:21 Responded to the book of the law that was discover in the temple by seeking the LORD.

    34:27 Through the prophetess Huldah, God told Josiah because he humbled himself before God and tore his robes and wept in God’s presence, God have heard him, his eyes will not see all the disaster God was going to bring to Judah.

    34:31 Led the people in renewing the covenant with the LORD, which is to follow the LORD and keep His commands with all his heart and all his soul. He had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge themselves to it.

    2 Kings 23:4 burn idol in Kidron Valley

    2 Kings 23:5 did away with the pagan priests appointed by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the towns of Judah and on those around Jerusalem – those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations and to all the starry hosts.

    2 Kings 23:7 tore down the quarters of the male shrine prostitues, which were in the temple of the LORD and where women did weaving for Asherah

    2 Kings 23:8 broke down the shrines at city gates

    2 Kings 23:10 desecrated Topheth, which was in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, so no one could use it to sacrifice his son or daughter in the fire to Molech.

    2 Kings 23:11 moved from the entrance to the temple of the LORD the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun.

    2 Kings 23:12 burned the chariots dedicated to the sun.

    2 Kings 23:12-15 He pulled down the altars the kings of Judah had erected on the roof near the upper room of Ahaz, and the altars Manasseh had built in the two courts of the temple of the LORD. He removed them from there, smashed them to pieces and threw the rubble into the Kidron Valley.The king also desecrated the high places that were east of Jerusalem on the south of the Hill of Corruption—the ones Solomon king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the vile goddess of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the vile god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the people of Ammon.Josiah smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles and covered the sites with human bones.Even the altar at Bethel, the high place made by Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin—even that altar and high place he demolished. He burned the high place and ground it to powder, and burned the Asherah pole also

    2 Kings 23:20 moved and defiled all the shrines at the high places that the kings of Israel had built in the towns of Samaria that had provoked the LORD to anger.

    2 Kings 23:21 slaughtered all the priests of those high places on the altars and burned human bones on them.

    34:33 removed all the detestable idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites, and He had all who were present in Israel serve the LORD. As long as he loved, they did not fail to follow the LORD.

    35: 18 The passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings had ever celebrated such a Passover.

    2 Kings 23:24 got rid of the mediums and spiritists, the household gods, the idols and all the other detestable things seen in Judah

    2 Kings 23:25 Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as the did – with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.

    35:21 Neco King of Egypt attacked Assyrians but Josiah decided to get involve in the battle and he was killed.

    Jehoahaz (23+3m, 3rd son of Josiah)

    Prophets: Jeremiah

     

    The first king of Judah to die in exile

    36:3 Neco king of Egypt dethroned him

    Jehoiakim (25+11, 2nd son of Josiah)

    Prophets: Jeremiah, Daniel, Urijah

    1st stage of exile.

    36:5 did evil in the eyes of the LORD 

    36:6 Nebuchadnezzar attacked and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon

    36:8 the detestable things he did…

    Jehoiachin (18+3m, son of Jehoiakim)

    Prophets: Jeremiah, Ezekiel

     

    2nd stage of exile.

    36:9 did evil in the eyes of the LORD

    36:10 Benuchadnezzar brought him to Babylon

    Zedekiah (21+11, 4th son of Josiah)

    Prophets: Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel

     

    3rd stage of exile.

    36:12 did evil in the eyes of the LORD and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet

    36:13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him take an oath in God’s name. He became stiff-necked and hardened his heart and would not turn of the LORD.

    36:12 All the leaders of the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful, following all the detestable practices of the nations and defiling the temple of the LORD.