SOURCE FOR QUESTIONS
2 Chronicles 10:1 through 20:37

‍KEY VERSE FOR MEMORIZATION
“Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.” (2 Chronicles 20:17)

BACKGROUND

After covering the reigns of David and Solomon in previous chapters of 1 and 2 Chronicles, today’s text begins when Israel divided into two nations: the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Chapter 10 to the end of 2 Chronicles is the history of the kings of Judah. There is a pattern evident throughout these chapters: when the king followed God, the people did as well, resulting in national peace. When the king turned from God, the people also often rebelled, and suffered the consequences. 

After Solomon’s death in 930 B.C., his son Rehoboam ascended to the throne. The new ruler solicited advice from Solomon’s counselors as well as his own peers, but he did not seek God for help. When he took the recommendation of his contemporaries, the ten northern tribes declared their independence, leaving only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin under Rehoboam’s control. To strengthen Judah, Rehoboam fortified fifteen cities to the west and south of Jerusalem. However, he did evil and allowed the people of Judah to worship idols, “because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord” (2 Chronicles 12:14). 

Abijah followed Rehoboam on Judah’s throne, and reigned three years. Although Abijah was not righteous, God worked for Judah during this time because the people continued to worship and honor Him. Chapter 13 describes a battle that took place between the armies of Abijah and those of Jeroboam, ruler of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Through God’s power, Judah won even though they were greatly outnumbered by Israel. 

The next king of Judah, Asa, ruled over the nation for forty-one years; his reign is summarized in chapters 14 through 16. Asa did right before God at the beginning of his reign and there was peace and prosperity in the land for ten years. Chapter 15 records that in the fifteenth year of his reign, Asa was warned by the prophet Azariah to continue seeking God. His first recorded act after this warning was to “put away the abominable idols” throughout the land (15:8). Then he gathered all the people of Judah together, and they were joined by some from the northern tribes who wanted to be part of a committed return to God. The people renewed their covenant with God, pledging to seek Him with all their hearts. Sadly, after God had given Asa great victories, he stopped trusting the Lord, became resistant to God, and suffered from disease. 

Chapters 17 through 20 record the reign of Jehoshaphat, who succeeded his father Asa. Because he sought God and followed the Lord’s commandments, God established the kingdom in his hand, and “he had riches and honour in abundance” (2 Chronicles 17:5). God brought mighty deliverances when Jehoshaphat looked to the Lord for help. However, later in his life he made an unwise military alliance with the wicked King Ahab of Israel, and this led to Judah’s involvement in a conflict with Syria in which Ahab was killed. Jehoshaphat’s life was spared and he returned safely to Jerusalem, but he was rebuked by Jehu the prophet for his alliance with Ahab. The final chapter of today’s text relates the invasion of Judah by the combined forces of the Moabites, Ammonites, and other allies, Jehoshaphat’s prayer, and the subsequent deliverance of Judah and defeat of her enemies. 

Today, God is still willing to “show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him” (2 Chronicles 16:9). We can learn from the example of the kings of Judah how important it is to avail ourselves of that promise.

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QUESTIONS

1. When Rehoboam was made king, the people of Israel (led by Jeroboam) requested that the “heavy yoke” put upon them by Solomon be reduced. What did Rehoboam’s two groups of counselors suggest his response should be? Whose advice did he follow? 2 Chronicles 10:6-11
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2. As the Northern Kingdom of Israel plunged into idolatry, some of the Levites and other true worshippers of God migrated to Judah. These people “set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel” (2 Chronicles 11:16). What does it mean to set our hearts to seek God and what will be some of the evidences?
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3. Chapter 12 records that at the beginning of King Rehoboam’s reign, he seemed to listen to God’s prophet and to obey. However, when he was stronger and the kingdom appeared to be going well, he forsook God. As a result, God allowed the king of Egypt and his allies to capture many of Judah’s fortified cities, and then come toward Jerusalem. When the prophet told Rehoboam and the princes this invasion was because they had forsaken God, what was their reaction? 2 Chronicles 12:6
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4. Abijah, Rehoboam’s son, had war with the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Israel had turned away from God and served idols. In contrast, Judah had maintained the worship and sacrifices as commanded by God. What was Abijah’s warning to Jeroboam and Israel? (See 2 Chronicles 13:12.) Given the relative size of the opposing armies, how can the outcome of the battle be an encouragement to us today?
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5. The forty-one-year rule of Asa is covered in 2 Chronicles chapters 14-16. His beginning was good. During the first part of his reign, he commanded the people of Judah to seek God, and the Lord gave them rest from their enemies for ten years. According to 2 Chronicles 14:7, Asa recognized this as an opportunity to build defenses against potential future attacks. What spiritual lesson can we learn from this?
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6. The end of 2 Chronicles 14 tells how God gave Asa and Judah victory over the Ethiopians who came against Judah with far larger forces. In Chapter 15, God sent a prophet to warn Asa of the necessity to continue to lean on God. In response, Asa instituted reforms. He put away the idols in Judah, removed anything related to the practice of idolatry, and restored the altar of the Lord. Then he gathered the people of Judah, as well as some from the Northern Kingdom who wanted to truly serve God, and they entered into a covenant to serve God with all their hearts. What was the result? 2 Chronicles 15:15 and 19
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7. In chapter 16 we read that despite the victory God gave Asa and Judah over the Ethiopians and their allies, when Israel began to fortify a border city, Asa hired the armies of Syria to help instead of relying on God. In response, God sent Hanani the seer to rebuke Asa. According to verse 10, what was Asa’s reaction? What can we learn from this exchange?
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8. When Jehoshaphat became king, he purposed to serve God. We read in 2 Chronicles 17:7-9 that one of the programs he instituted was to educate the people regarding God’s Law. Teaching God’s Word is vital today as well. What are some ways people can be taught the truths of the Bible?
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9. Chapter 20 of 2 Chronicles describes the miraculous deliverance God gave Judah when a great number of enemy forces invaded. Jehoshaphat responded to the threat of invasion in three ways: he feared, he set himself to seek God, and he called the nation to pray and fast. His prayer in verses 6-12 ends with these words, “O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.” What was God’s response through the prophet, Jahaziel, and what strategy did Judah use? 2 Chronicles 20:14-17, 21
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CONCLUSION

The same God who worked for the people of Judah wants to work for us today. May we seek to obey His instructions and trust Him with all our hearts. As we do, He will be glorified in us, He will be with us as we face spiritual battles, and we can expect Him to be mindful of every detail of our lives.