December 6, 2025

Hezekiah was a good king. He began his reign at 25 and followed in the footsteps of David, doing what was right in the eyes of God. He didn't procrastinate; he immediately got to work to bring Judah and Jerusalem back into compliance with the Law of Moses and reopen the temple for service. He called in all the priests and Levites and began having the temple cleaned, putting the tools back in place. After sixteen days of cleaning and preparation, they started making offerings and sacrifices for the people's sins. As they began burning the offerings, the singers began singing, and the musicians started playing. It must have been glorious, because they had wasted years worshipping dead gods, and now they were back in obedience to God's commands, worshipping the One True God who could help them overcome all the evil being done against them. 

Hezekiah's obedience is a lesson for us as we get carried away in sin; we must return to Jesus, ask for forgiveness, praise God, rejoice, and sing to him with a full heart of delight. Jesus was the only worthy sacrifice, and thankfully, he covered all of our impurities and welcomes us back when we stray. 

And also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings, and the drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of the house of the LORD was set in order. And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was donesuddenly. 2 Chronicles 29:35-36

December 5, 2025

Jotham ruled the kingdom of Judah with respect and was one of the few kings who did right in the eyes of the LORD throughout his reign. He overcame the shortcomings of his father, Uzziah. Not much is said about him other than that he was respected by the people and the Ammonites who had taken over Judah during the time of Jehoshaphat; he made them pay taxes to him. He was also known for building and repairing the temple gate. He began his reign at the age of 25, reigned for 16 years, and died. His son Ahaz took over the kingdom. 

If you find yourself feeling like you’re insignificant, take this to heart: it’s better not to be famous than to be infamous for your sins. Live your life in a few good verses rather than chapters that describe your moral decay, as with many of the kings and characters in the Bible.

So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God. 2 Chronicles 27:6

December 4, 2025

After Uzziah, also known as Azariah, took over the reins of leadership from his father at the age of 16, he increased the wealth of Judah and was very successful in war. During his time in office, cunning men invented engines that could shoot arrows and rocks. He also took back Eloth, a port on the Red Sea, and built towers in the desert to protect the country people. He was a good king until he became arrogant and thought he could burn incense in the temple. He resisted the priest who tried to stop him from going in, but they probably didn't want to lay hands on him because he was the king. For his pride, God gave him leprosy on his forehead, and he had to spend the rest of his life sequestered away from people. His son, Jotham, handled the business of the king's house until Uzziah died; then he was made king. 

Uzziah prospered, which can only be done if God wants you to. Your commitment to God is a stepping stone to prosperity; He can either make you or break you; prosperity is a gift. When we take God seriously and make Him the center of our lives, we can expect rewards.

I know many of you already seek God daily. However, for those who are sporadic with their time, you should begin thinking about committing to daily prayer and Bible study. I'm not a prosperity gospel kind of person, but I do know from experience that God blesses those who commit to Him. If you're struggling, it might behoove you to consider spending more time with the LORD. 

And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper. 2 Chronicles 26:5

December 3, 2025

Amaziah, the son of Joash, who was born when Joash was only 15, began to reign over Judah when he was 25 years old. He started well, but turned away from God. As soon as he came to rule, he killed the servants who had killed his father. He began by gathering an army of men, but found that he didn’t have enough; remember, we always have enough when we trust in God. As a result of feeling he didn’t have an adequate army, he paid 100,000 talents to men from Israel to help. A prophet warned him that it wasn’t a good idea to hire men from Israel because of their idolatry, but he was worried about losing the talents. The prophet assured him that God could repay what he had lost, which happened with interest when his son came into power. Amaziah killed a bunch of Edomites and then began worshipping their gods. A prophet came to him, reminding him that those gods didn’t help the Edomites, so why should he think they would help him. Why don’t we recognize the obvious? Then Amaziah decided to challenge Joash, the king of Israel (remember there were two Joash: one was his father, the other the king of Israel; they reigned at about the same time, to add to the confusion). Joash, king of Israel, made fun of his challenge, basically calling him weak. Joash captured Amaziah and took him to see him conquer and take all the fine things from the house of God and the king’s house. He fled to Lachish, but the people of Jerusalem conspired against him and killed him there. They brought his body back to be buried with the past kings. 

We must learn to trust God and not turn away from Him. Amaziah’s heart wasn’t into God, and it showed in his actions. Keep God first and foremost in everything you do. If you keep Him first, He will help you pursue the desires of your heart, which in turn will help Him unfold His plan for your life.

Now after the time that Amaziah did turn away from following the LORD they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there. 2 Chronicles 25:27

December 2, 2025

The boy king, Joash, did good for the duration of Jehoiada’s life and ruled for forty years. He even had the heart to make repairs to the temple, using the idea of collecting funds by setting a chest at the temple gate. He collected so much that it had to be emptied, and it filled up again. The people were very generous, so Joash was able to hire carpenters and masons to make repairs and purchase brass and iron. Jehoiada lived to the age of 130; that means he was 90 years old when Joash became king and had lived during Solomon’s time. Jehoiada kept Joash in check while he lived, but as soon as he died, Joash was influenced by the princes of Judah who wanted to restore the groves and idols. God sent prophets to them to try to bring them back. Then Zechariah, Jehoiada’s son, the priest, stood before the people trying to convince them to come back to the LORD, but they conspired against him, and Joash had him stoned. Not long after that, Joash was executed by his servants for killing Zechariah. 

We can see from this story how important it is to surround yourself with godly, Christ-following people. The enemy is eager to pounce when we leave ourselves open to his wiles and follow the influence of those whom he overtakes. Joash did well for his entire life; then, he succumbed to the enemy, and his life ended on a sour note. The people wouldn’t even bury him with the other kings. Your friends matter, so stay the course and keep your eyes on Jesus because the enemy is waiting for you to mess up and ruin your good name.

 And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings. 2 Chronicles 24:25

December 1, 2025

Athaliah had ruled over Judah for six years, and the people had had enough. Jehoiada the priest and his wife, Princess Jehoshabeath, saved Joash, who was only one year old when Athaliah killed all the royals who could have taken over the throne. However, she missed one. Now that Joash is seven, Jehoiada begins arranging for him to take over the throne and become king. He brought in the priest and prepared the temple. I found it interesting that the priest had weapons; I never think of priests as manly men, but my image was quite invalid; these men were ready to protect the king and guard the temple and the king’s home. When they crowned young Joash, the people began singing joyfully with trumpets sounding. Athaliah heard the commotion and came to see what was going on. She tore her clothes and cried “treason, treason!” but the priests had been given orders not to kill her in the temple, so they laid hands on her and took her out to the horse gate and slew her there. Then they took Joash to the king’s house, surrounded by guards, and set him on the throne. After that, they began eliminating all Baal worship, and the people started following God. There was now peace in the land. 

God will make a way for reformation and bring the people back to Himself; it takes time, and for the people to rise and say they’ve had enough of evil and defend themselves against tyrants. It’s not an easy task; we, here in the United States, understand this process, as we’ve lived under an evil government and are finally starting to reform ourselves. It’s a slow but sure process. It won’t be perfect until Jesus rids all the nations of evil. 

And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the LORD'S people. 2 Chronicles 23:16

November 30, 2025

One of King Jehoram’s sons was preserved in the lineage of David because of God’s covenant with him. Ahaziah was made king, but his mother, Athaliah, ruled the kingdom. He reigned for only one year. He was the grandson of Ahab and Jezebel through his mother, Athaliah, and was as evil as they were. He got together with Jehoram, son of Ahab, to fight against the Syrians; Jehoram was wounded and went back to Jezreel to heal. Ahaziah went to visit him in Jezreel. It was to his destruction to see Jehoram, because the two of them got together to go against Jehu, whom God anointed to destroy the house of Ahab. Jehu killed them all, including the nephews of Ahaziah, and went looking for Ahaziah, found him in Samaria, and killed him too. When Athaliah found out her son was dead, she set out to kill all those in the royal lineage so she could take over the throne. What she didn’t know was that her grandson was saved by Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, and was hidden away for six years. God honored His commitment to keep a son of David on the throne. Athaliah reigned over Judah. 

The names can become confusing because there is more than one Jehoram mentioned in 2 Chronicles 22, and they were both kings. King Jehoram, son of Ahab, ruled over the northern kingdom of Israel, and King Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, ruled over Judah before he died, and Ahaziah was made king. Trying to keep this information on paper is one thing, but keeping it straight in my head is another. That’s why I’m explaining it. 

Evil has its place in this world, and it is to sort out the good from the bad, but it doesn’t win. Keep that in mind when you see evil going on around you. God wins; it’s no competition. The devil is not his equal, but was created by God for a purpose. 

And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, that ministered to Ahaziah, he slew them. 2 Chronicles 22:8