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.