19 May

Bible In 365 Days                                                                      

2 Chronicles 32-34

2 Chronicles 32

One is almost inevitably halted by the opening statement of the chapter. "After these things, and this faithfulness, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, came." It would seem to be a strange answer of God to the faithfulness of His child, that a strong foe should at this moment invade the kingdom; and yet how often the experience of the people of God is of this nature. Happy was Hezekiah in that in the presence of the peril his heart did not fail. He took immediate action to embarrass the foe by stopping the supply of water, strengthening the fortifications, mobilizing his army, and, finally, by assuring the people, "There is a Greater with us than with him."

This attitude of faith was answered by Sennacherib with terrible insults, terrible because they were direct blasphemies against the name of God. At these utterances, more terrible to bear than the fighting without the gates, the king sought refuge in prayer in fellowship with the prophet Isaiah. The answer was quick and final- rout of the enemy and salvation of the people.

The chronicler then briefly relates the story of Hezekiah's illness, and of that failure which characterized his last days. The story is more fully told elsewhere. Notwithstanding the lapses of the latter days, the reign was most remarkable, especially when it is remembered how fearful was the condition into which the nation had come at this time.

2 Chronicles 33

Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, seems to have set himself to the most willful and persistent restoration of every form of abomination. All the things specifically forbidden were set up in the places sacred to the name of Jehovah; and with appalling thoroughness he undid all that his father had done. The strong hand of God was stretched out against him, and with the Assyrian as the scourge the king was carried away in irons, broken and defeated. In his distress the stubborn will seems to have been bent, and he cried to God for help. Manasseh's repentance was evidently the chief subject in the mind of the chronicler, and while his sins are painted faithfully and revealed in all their hideousness, all becomes but background which flings into relief Manasseh's genuine penitence and the ready and gracious response of God.

There is a solemn warning in the history of Amon, who, on coming to the throne, followed the earlier example of his father, and was so utterly corrupt that his own servants conspired against him and slew him. While repentance of personal sin brings ready forgiveness, the influence of the sin is terribly likely to abide.

2 Chronicles 34

The story of Josiah's reign is full of brightness. The conditions around were very terrible, but in this boy king, especially as he developed to manhood, testimony to the government of God was unmistakable. Ascending to the throne when eight years old, at the age of sixteen he began to seek after God. Four years later he set himself to the actual work of reformation, and there is terrific force in the story of his methods. There was no pity in his heart for the evil things about him, and with the strongest hand, so far as he was able, he swept out the abominations.

At the age of twenty-six he set himself to repair the house of God, during which a remarkable thing happened. While the Temple was being cleansed the book of the Law was discovered. It is impossible to tell whether Hilkiah had known of it, but the story would certainly lead us to suppose that Josiah was quite ignorant of it. When by comparison with its ideals he learned the facts concerning his people, Josiah gathered them together, and publicly made a covenant with God and insisted that the people should abide by it.