2 Chronicles 31 & 32: Our God To Help Us
Verse of the Day: (32:8) With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. 

1. Heart (31:1-21)
And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered. (31:21)

God’s richest blessings can only come from our complete obedience to Him. God blessed Judah as King Hezekiah led them in spiritual revival and reformation as they removed their false idols, sanctified themselves, offered their sacrifices, firstfruits and tithes, and worshipped God in truth and spirit with all their hearts. Indeed, whatsoever we do, let us do it heartily for God, as only He deserves our praise and worship. (Colossians 3:23-25)
  
2. Help (32:1-23)
And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven. (32:20)

God does not promise us sky always blue, as there will be storms in our lives. King Sennacherib of Assyria and his mighty army came and besieged Judah, just when everything went well in Hezekiah’s reign. However, Hezekiah was well prepared as he commanded his captains and soldiers to dry up all wells, repair and build the walls, make weapons and shields, and rally them to be strong and courageous as God was with them to help them prevail against their enemies. Sennacherib then sent his representatives to intimidate and demoralise Judah by telling them that the mighty Assyrians had never once lost a battle, and that they should surrender to them to avoid bloodshed. Hezekiah and Prophet Isaiah then prayed and cried to God. God immediately sent His angel to destroy the Assyrian captains and their warriors, and thus saved Judah. Sennacherib then retreated to the house of his god, and was tragically murdered by his own sons. Indeed, let us pray to our God, as only He alone shall help us in all our needs. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

3. Humility (32:24-33)
Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah. (32:26)

At his old age, Hezekiah was dying from his illness, and God healed him when he prayed. However, he soon became proud, and God’s wrath was upon him. He then humbled himself, and once again, God’s blessings were upon him. Indeed, God shall bless us, as we humble ourselves before Him, and serve Him with all our hearts. (Matthew 23:1-12)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You always help me when I pray and call upon You.

2 Chronicles 29 & 30: It Is In Mine Heart
Verse of the Day: (29:10) Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us.

1. Heart (29:1-29)
And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel; for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel. (29:24)

Hezekiah succeeded Ahaz, his father, as the King of Judah, and he was a good king. He commanded the priests and the Levites to sanctify themselves before they repaired God’s house, and worship only the God of Israel. He had his heart to make a covenant with God so that Israel shall escape His fierce wrath. He then gathered the people, and commanded the priests to offer 7 bullocks, 7 rams, 7 lambs and 7 he goats on God’s altar for the burnt and sin offerings by shedding the blood of the sacrifices as an atonement of the sins of all Israel. Indeed, this was the prophecy of the coming of Jesus, the Son of God, to die on the cross, and shed His blood, as the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world. (Hebrews 9)   

2. Head (29:30-36)
Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped. (29:30)

When God forgave the sins of Israel, they rejoiced and thanked Him bowing their heads in submission and humility for all that God had done for them. The people then willingly and joyfully offered 70 bullocks, 100 rams and 200 lambs for a burnt offering, and also consecrated 600 oxen and 3,000 sheep until the priests had to call in the Levites to help them with the flaying of these generous offerings. Indeed, our greatest joy is when we bow our heads and hearts, and receive Jesus as our Saviour. This was what Jesus did when He bowed his head to His Father, and proclaimed, “It is finished!” He gave His life for the world, that whoever believes in Him shall have eternal life with Him. (John 19:30)

3. Heal (30:1-27)
And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people. (30:20)

Hezekiah invited the people from the northern kingdom, who were now under the Assyrians after their defeat to them, to God’s house at Jerusalem to observe the Passover, which was an important event reminding them of how God saved them during the time of their bondage in Egypt. (Exodus 12) He then instituted the Passover on the second month so that those who were not sanctified could have the chance to repent of their sins. (Numbers 9:9-14) He loved and obeyed God in his heart, and God answered his prayer by healing them and forgiving their sins as they turned to Him in repentance. (1 John 1:9-10)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You have put in my heart to truly love You and others.

2 Chronicles 27 & 28: The Fierce Wrath Of The LORD
Verse of the Day: (28:11) Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you. 

1. Ways (27:1-9)
So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God. (27:6)

Jotham succeeded Uzziah, his father, as the King of Judah, and he was a good king as he loved God and his people and built cities for them, as well as castles and towers to protect them from their enemies. Though he prepared his ways before God and led his people to victory over their enemies, yet his people still rebelled against God. Indeed, let us continue to live for God, our Saviour and Judge, even though many may reject Him, as one day we shall give an account of ourselves and our works to Him. (Romans 14:1-12)

2. Walk (28:1-5)
For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim. (28:2)

Ahaz succeeded Jotham, his father, as the King of Judah, and unlike his father, he was an evil king who sinned against God by worshipping idols like all the nineteen bad kings of Israel. He even burnt his own children as sacrifices to the idols. God then judged him and Judah, by sending the Syrians and Israel, their own brothers, to attack them. Many of them were killed, and those who survived were brought to Damascus as their slaves. Indeed, let us flee from the darkness of sins, and walk in the light of God. (1 John 1:5-7)

3. Wrath (28:6-27)
And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the LORD already, ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel. (28:13)

God’s fierce wrath was upon the people of Israel, because they had killed many of their own brothers, the people of Judah and Jerusalem, and took the rest of them to Samaria as their slaves. However, Ahaz also grievously sinned against God as he worshipped the gods of Damascus, and even asked the kings of Assyria, instead of the Almighty God, to help him from the invasion of all his enemies, the likes of Syria, Israel, the Edomites and the Philistines. Subsequently, God severely humbled and punished Ahaz and the people of Judah by allowing all their enemies to defeat and destroy them. At the same time, the Assyrians also invaded and defeated Israel. They killed many of the people of Israel, and completely destroyed the kingdom of Israel, with Hoshea as their last king. (2 Kings 17) It was a sad day for God’s people of both Judah and Israel. Indeed, let us avoid God’s wrath by doing what is right before Him, as we shall reap what we sow. (Galatians 6:7-10)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to flee from Your fierce wrath by submitting to You.

2 Chronicles 25 & 26: Be Strong For The Battle
Verse of the Day: (25:8) But if thou wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down.

1. Strong (25:1-16)
Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them. (25:14)

Amaziah who succeeded Joash, his father, as the King of Judah, after the latter was killed by his servants, was a good king. He then ordered the killing of his father’s murderers, but spared their children, because he obeyed God’s laws that every man shall be responsible for his own sins. (Deuteronomy 24:16) Subsequently, Amaziah sinned against God, as after a victory over the Edomites, he took their idols and worship them. While there was no king who was good among the 19 kings of Israel, there were 8 among the 20 kings of Judah who were good, but they still strayed from God. However, God still commended them as good, because of His love, grace and mercy, as well as their faith in Him. Indeed, by God’s grace, we are saved through our faith in Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4-10) 

2. Son (25:17-28)
And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle. (25:18)

King Joash of Israel illustrated a parable to Amaziah, by portraying the latter as a tiny thistle, who had the audacity to order him, whom he portrayed himself as the big cedar, to have his daughter married to Amaziah’s son. God then allowed Joash to humble and defeat Amaziah as the latter had become proud. Subsequently, God judged and punished Amaziah by allowing his own people to conspire and killed him. Indeed, let us humble ourselves before God knowing that we are truly nothing without Him. (James 4:6-10) 

3. Sanctuary (26:1-23)
And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God. (26:18)

Uzziah succeeded his father, Amaziah, as the King of Judah, after the latter’s death. Though he was a good king, yet he became proud, and broke God’s law by entering the sanctuary to burn incense which only the priests would perform. God then inflicted him with leprosy until his death. Indeed, let us be humble and flee from pride. (1 John 2:15-17) 

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be strong yet humble before You amid my life battle.