WINNERS AND LOSERS (THE BOOK OF 2 CHRONICLES—PART 2)

By Frank Eiklor and Cecilia Contreras

LESSON 52 Part 2

INTODUCTION

Learn from the tragic mistakes and sins of others and you will not want to repeat them. Learn what blessings and favor the Lord placed on those who loved and obeyed Him and you will want to join their company.

The book of 2 Chronicles is filled with examples of winners and losers. We will now study the final half of this book.

2 CHRONICLES

THE PRICE OF DISOBEDIENCE

16:2, 3, 7-13   Example—Good King Asa paid dearly for disobedience.

17:3-11  Example—Jehoshaphat’s obedience brought God’s companionship.

18:1-4, 28  Example—Jehoshaphat said “we will be with you”—before checking with the Lord; and still went after God said “No” (see also 19:1, 2).

18:7, 12, 13, 27   Example—Micaiah’s single eye of obedience at any price.

18:15-26  Example—Ahab wanted to hear truth—but not obey it.

20:1-32  Example—Jehoshaphat’s total reliance on God—but (vv 35-37) disobedience still cost him.

A ROTTEN APPLE

21:4-6, 11, 16-20  Example—One rotten apple (Jehoram) ruined the bushel.

22:2-4, 10-12  Example—The power of an evil mother to ruin a son.

23:1-3, 11-17 Example—Jehoiada a minister of bold courage in an era of compromise and sin.

24:2, 17-25  Joash—a classic example of ingratitude.

25:2 Example—Amaziah is an example of a divided heart (vv 6-10, 14-16, 19, 20, 27).

UZZIAH’S PRIDE

26:4-8, 15-21  Example—Uzziah is taken by pride.

27:2, 6  Jotham—example of wisdom (followed his father’s good example but rejected his sin of pride).

28:1-6, 16-25  Example—Ahaz’ hateful impudence against God.

28:8-13 Example—One man of God’s (Oded) awesome courage facing down a vengeful army and serving as a role model to four other good men.

28:12-15  Example—Four men act out the compassion of God to defeated brethren.

GOD’S LAW OF LOVE

30:18-20  Hezekiah—an example of understanding the spirit of the law of love over the letter of the law.

32:6-8  Hezekiah—an example of courageous trust—but also an example of the cost of pride (vv 24, 25).

32:9-21 Example—Sennacherib refused to learn the lesson of Genesis 12:3 (to bless the Jews).

33:1-10  Manesseh—Example of provocation and obstinacy—and humble repentance (vv 11-13, 16).

34:1-5, 15, 19, 27, 28  Josiah—an example of a tender heart that still paid the ultimate price for meddling in another’s affairs without checking with God (35:20-24).

36:4, 5, 9-16  Jehoiakim, Jehoiakin, Zedekiah—examples of stupidity in choosing evil and learning the hard way that God will not be mocked.