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Why Read the Bible
In 2 Chronicles 32 to 34, Josiah gives us a powerful example of how hearing God’s Word can change everything from your personal relationship with God to your entire future. That’s why we read the Bible out loud on the Bible Book Club podcast, so you can simply listen and experience the power of God’s Word in your life.
When a Story Demands Retelling
The first story in our readings today is about the Assyrian King Sennacherib’s attack on Judah. This story was actually told two other times in the Old Testament. We covered it in 2 Kings 18-20, and we will discuss it again in Isaiah 36-37.
Why would three different authors feel the story is important enough to retell? Because it underscores God’s faithfulness. It is proof the people can trust God to protect them.
If you’ve been following along with us as we go through the books of 1st and 2nd Chronicles, then you know the author’s sole purpose is to encourage the returned exiles by telling them stories from their past to give them hope for the future. With that motive in mind, he once again is going to change the focus of the story a bit from how it was first told.
At the time of this story, Israel has already fallen to Assyria. So Judah is at serious risk, and both Assyria and Judah are well aware Judah does not stand a chance.
It’s the perfect opportunity for God to prove a point. That’s why the words save, deliver, and rescue appear a combination of eight times in this one chapter.
There is only One who can save Judah. The question is, will Judah and King Hezekiah trust Him to do so?
In 2 Chronicles and Isaiah, the answer is yes, but 2 Kings 18:14 adds a little snafu on Hezekiah’s part. He attempts to bribe King Sennacherib to leave them alone by using silver he took from the temple. It doesn’t work. And our Chronicler chooses to skip this whole story of the king’s lapse in faith.
When the Enemy Knows Your Playbook: 2 Chronicles 32
In 2 Chronicles 32:1-8, King Sennacherib of Assyria captures all the fortified cities of Judah. The Bible doesn’t tell us how many, but in Sennacherib’s own royal accounts he claims to have captured 46 walled cities.
The invasion is extensive. Judah has all but fallen. The king attempts to defend Jerusalem by cutting off the water supply, building reinforcements, and encouraging the people to be strong because God will fight for them.
Sennacherib sends officers to Jerusalem in 2 Chronicles 32:9-19 with a carefully scripted message to scare the people into surrender without a fight. He even goes so far as to ridicule God by saying He can not deliver, save, or rescue them.
Somebody has clearly done their homework, because somehow Sennacherib knows exactly what Hezekiah would have said about God saving them. He uses this knowledge in an attempt to undermine the people’s confidence in both Hezekiah and God.
It’s Good to Have a Prophet in Your Corner
King Hezekiah does not fall into fear. He has the word of the Lord near at hand from the mouth of a powerful prophet named Isaiah, and he calls him in for spiritual support.
Isaiah is one of the five major prophets and the most prolific of all. He has a bold fearlessness that stems from his deep reverence for God’s authority and is backed by a strong spiritual connection. As a result, he has many visions and revelations from God we will read much more about.
It’s important to note here that Hezekiah did not rely on his own strength. He called on Isaiah for spiritual support and turned to God in prayer for deliverance. Those prayers are recorded in 2 Kings 19:14-19.
And God delivered Jerusalem from the hands of their enemy in 2 Chronicles 32:20-23. We get a lot more detail about the 185,000 Assyrians who lost their lives battling with the angel in 2 Kings 19. Hear more about that in Season 12, Episode 12.
Reflection Point
When we’re in a crisis where do we turn? Certainly the Word of God is always available, but do we have the right advisors? People who hold us accountable who can be bold and fearless when we are weak? People to pray with us?
An Engineering Marvel
In 2 Chronicles 32:24-26, the author glosses over a great story documented in 2 Kings 20 about Hezekiah’s request for 15 more years of life. The Chronicler wants the people to stay focused on this king who, like David, knew how to repent of his sin.
We need to remember that too. No sin is so great that God won’t forgive, but we must repent.
In 2 Chronicles 32:27-33, it’s clear Hezekiah has many great accomplishments including an ingenious water tunnel called the Siloam Tunnel. It connected the Gihon Spring to the Pool of Siloam and is considered one of the greatest engineering feats of the period.
This tunnel was discovered in 1880, and you can still walk through it today. It is 1,750 feet long and runs beneath the City of David.
Hezekiah is blessed with great wealth and dies an honored king. His son Manasseh succeeds him.
When Sin Reaches Its Breaking Point: Chapter 33
In 2 Chronicles 33:1-9 Manasseh is leading the people astray. He is the worst king ever, and they are committing more evil than the Canaanites who were in the land before them.
How did this happen? How could the good king Hezekiah father the worst king ever?
Manasseh’s list of evil makes the case for Judah’s coming exile. It was for this very sort of excessive evil that God took the land away from the Canaanites and gave it to Israel.
In Genesis 15:16 God told Abraham his descendants would come back to this land when the Canaanites sin reached its full measure.
God gives ample time for repentance, but there is a point when sin reaches its full measure. God knew that time was coming for the Canaanites. When it did, the land was given to the Israelites.
Now the Israelites’ sin is reaching its full measure. The Northern Kingdom has already been exiled. Judah is on the way.
None of this devastation under the next few kings should be a surprise. The people have totally disregarded the covenant. And yet still God offers opportunities for Judah to turn.
The Ultimate Comeback Story
In 2 Chronicles 33:10-13, Manasseh experiences divine discipline and goes from king to slave. Then he remembers the God of his father and is rescued.
What a classic example of how divine discipline can bring relational restoration. It’s a miracle and because of it Manasseh knows the Lord is God.
Have you ever had a moment like that? When you knew for sure God was indeed the Lord?
Our Bible Book Club podcast host Susan has. She shares about it in the podcast episode that goes along with these chapter.
Manasseh and Susan had miracle rescues, but not everyone has the same experience. Perhaps your salvation was not so dramatic.
Whatever your story, add to it by constantly being on the lookout for God’s hand in your life. Make note of His every move and add those notes to the pile. That pile will be the foundation you may one day need to stand on when tests and trials come.
In 2 Chronicles 33:14-20, the way Manasseh acts should be an encouragement to everyone, not just the exiles to whom the Chronicler is writing. Repentance makes it all right again.
Fortunately for Manasseh he has the most time to make good on all that bad. At 55 years on the throne, he is the longest-reigning king.
In 2 Chronicles 33:21-25, Amon takes the throne in Manasseh’s place and does evil as his father had in the beginning. Unfortunately for Amon, he doesn’t get 55 years. He only gets two.
His son Josiah, the last good king of Judah, succeeds him.
Was Josiah a Good King?
In 2 Chronicles 34:1-2 we hear Josiah did not turn aside to the right or to the left. This echoes what has been commanded a few times along the way.
- In Deuteronomy 28:14 Moses warns them not to turn aside from any of the commands he gives them.
- Joshua reiterates the message in Joshua 1 and Joshua 23.
- 2 Kings 22 mentions it in reference to Josiah too.
- Solomon warns about it in Proverbs 4:26.
In the Bible, Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon, and Josiah all have stories that warn us about the importance of focus on God. Josiah takes it to heart and does not turn toward idolatry, pride, greed, or pleasure. He gives careful thought to his path.
When Renovation Leads to Revelation
In 2 Chronicles 34:3-13, Josiah purges the land of idols. He also purifies the Temple and supplies the resources to renovate it.
Because of the renovations, Judah gets a much-needed Word in 2 Chronicles 34:14-18 when they find the Book of the Law of the Lord that had been given through Moses.
Shaphan takes the book to the king and reads it to him. All the king has to do is listen. This is a great Biblical example of the faith that can come from listening to the Word of God.
We all need to hear the Word of God for ourselves. Like the king, all we have to do is listen.
On the Bible Book Club podcast, Heather is our Shaphan. She reads every book of the Bible to us and, like the king, all we have to do is listen.
Then we can take what we hear and lead others as Josiah did. Everyone is a leader…in our families, homes, neighborhoods, community groups, or at work. Everyone has influence somewhere with someone.
Be bold like Josiah. Have no fear. Use your influence to change the lives around you.
Wake-Up Call from the Book of the Law
Shaphan would have read Deuteronomy 11:13-17 to the king from the scrolls of the Book of the Law. In 2 Chronicles 34:19-21 we see Josiah’s reaction.
He is overcome with horror realizing for decades they have been breaking the covenant. King Josiah has sinned against God. Judah has sinned against God. The kings and people before him have sinned against God.
When was the last time a king even tried to enforce the law, let alone study it for himself?
- Jehoshaphat enforced the law of the Lord in 2 Chronicles 17.
- Hezekiah kept the Law, so we can assume he read it in 2 Kings 18.
So that means in well over 300 years, since Judah separated from Israel, only three kings, counting Josiah, for sure followed the Book of the Law.
The Promised Land came with a contingency. Obey and love the Lord or lose God’s Promised Land. Judah has failed to read the book and follow God as dictated.
Josiah now knows they have disobeyed, and he is horrified. It is a life-changing moment for him. With the Book of the Law as a map, he makes a hard right onto the road to righteousness.
God’s Verdict Is Final
In 2 Chronicles 34:22 their first step is to speak to a prophet. Apparently the closest one is actually a prophetess, Huldah. She lives in the new quarter.
Huldah is one of only a handful of prophetesses in the Bible. The others are:
- Miriam, Moses’ sister
- Deborah, the judge in the book of Judges
- Hannah had a prophetic prayer in 1 Samuel
- Anna in Luke 2
- Philip’s daughters in Acts 21
Huldah does not mince words in 2 Chronicles 34:23-28. The Lord has spoken judgement. Disaster is coming for Judah, because they have forsaken God.
However, since Josiah’s heart is responsive and humble, he will be buried in peace.
Josiah could have thrown in the towel. Instead, in 2 Chronicles 34:29-33, he perseveres in faith leading the people in a right relationship with God.
It is the right thing to do, but it has no impact in preventing what happens next. The books of Chronicles will come to a quick end in our next chapters.
🎧 Ready to dive deeper? Listen to episodes of the Bible Book Club Podcast here.
