• Bible Studies, Chuck Smith

    Posted on August 16th, 2010

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    ,

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 36

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 36

    Let’s take a look at II Chronicles. We’re in chapter thirty-six, as we finish II Chronicles. Josiah was a good king. He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. During the years of his reign, the hand of God was again upon the nation of Judah, and they prospered. However, because of the awful abominations of Manasseh, God has pronounced the judgement that must come upon Judah. People had gone too far, under Manasseh, in their rebellion against the Lord. So through the prophetess Huldah, God declared that judgement would come. However, because of Josiah seeking the Lord, it would not come during his lifetime. But now, with the death of Josiah, the last of the good kings, we see that there is an immediate plunge of the nation, right down, and out.
    Now it is interesting to me, though Josiah was a good king, did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, there did sit upon the throne of Judah, three of Josiah’s sons. They were all bad! It is interesting that a good, godly man, could have three ungodly sons. Surely it does indicate to us that God has no grandchildren. That you cannot ride on your parent’s faith, and that it is incumbent upon us, as parents, to pass on to our children the knowledge and the understanding of God. A tremendous responsibility as a parent, to inculcate into the mind of my children, the things of the Lord. As long as I am alive, one of my great burdens and desires, is to bring to my grandchildren now, that same kind of trust in the Lord. I am thankful that all four of my children are walking with the Lord, are committed to Jesus Christ.

  • Bible Studies, Chuck Smith

    Posted on August 15th, 2010

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    ,

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 34-35

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 34-35

    Josiah did that which was right in the sight of Yahweh, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left (34:2). He was a good king, like Hezekiah, his great grandfather, he walked with the Lord, and instituted spiritual reforms in Judah. However, tragic to say, in spite of the fact that Josiah was one of the best kings of Judah, because of the actions of his father, his grandfather Manasseh, and the long period of history in which Manasseh reigned, and led the people in all of the abominable idolatries, under the reign of Manasseh, the die was really cast. So that God, to be just, had to judge Judah. They had gone beyond the point of return. Though Josiah was a good king, all he did by his good reign, was forestall the judgement of God that is impending and imminent. Again, as we look at the history of the nation of Judah, we realize that we are coming into this period of time in which Jeremiah was called to be a prophet. Jeremiah began his ministry as a prophet, during the reign of Josiah. Jeremiah continued to prophecy through the decline, and the death of the nation of Judah. He had the rather difficult task of being the prophet, to oversee, and to observe the death of the nation. To watch it plunge at the death of Josiah, right on down to the bottom, and out. No matter what he said, the judgement was determined. The people were determined to go on in their abdurant way, in opposition to God.

  • Bible Studies, Chuck Smith

    Posted on August 14th, 2010

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    ,

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 33

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 33

    Shall we turn now to II Chronicles, chapter thirty-three, as we continue our study through the Bible. In the previous chapter, verse twenty-four, we read where Hezekiah was sick to the death. He prayed unto the Lord, and spake unto Him, and the Lord gave him a sign. The prophet came to Hezekiah and said, “Set your house in order or you’re going to die and not live”. Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, began to cry out unto God, pray that the Lord would extend his life for a period of time. He didn’t feel that he was ready to die. So the Lord promised him an extra fifteen years. Gave him a miraculous sign to assure him of the promise of an extra fifteen years.
    But in the previous chapter, verse twenty-five, we read that after this, “Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit was done to him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem”. Leads to some interesting kinds of speculation. Because three years after the Lord extended the life of Hezekiah, three years later his wife bore a son, they named Manasseh. Manasseh was such a wicked, horrible ruler. Did evil in the eyes of the Lord, that you would very likely say, concerning Manasseh. It would’ve been much better for the nation, if that man had never been born.

  • Bible Studies, Chuck Smith

    Posted on August 12th, 2010

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    ,

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 31-32

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 31-32

    Let’s turn in our Bibles now, to I Chronicles, chapter thirty one, II Chronicles please. II Chronicles, thirty one. We’ll soon be out of Chronicles and I’ll quit making that mistake. After Hezekiah had opened again, the doors of the temple, had the place clean up, cleaned out, and reinstituted the worship within the temple, they decided to begin again, the observing of the Jewish feast. They were too late to observe the feast of the Passover. They didn’t have time to go through all of the ritual cleansing for it. According to a special provision in the Mosaic law, if they weren’t able to observe it in the first month, they could observe it in the second month.
    So they called for a special observance of the Passover, in the second month. The people were invited to come from the northern kingdom of Israel, because at this point, Israel had already been conquered by Assyria, and were more or less captive. They didn’t completely wipe them out as yet, but they were subjugated to the Assyrians already.
    So those that remained, were invited to come down. To turn again to the Lord. Some scoffed at the invitation, others came. It was a glorious movement of God among the people! There was tremendous spirit of revival. During the week of the Passover, that they were celebrating together, it was so glorious, so wonderful, they said, “Let’s go on for another week!”, and so in sort of a spontaneity, they continued the observance for the second week. That brings us to the beginning of chapter thirty one.

  • Bible Studies, Chuck Smith

    Posted on August 12th, 2010

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    ,

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 29-30

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 29-30

    David was called, “A man after God’s own heart”, and surely Hezekiah became the same. He used David as his model, and he did the right things before the Lord, even as David, and he sought to model the kingdom after the times of David. He sought to model the worship of the temple after that which David had set up. In fact, he had them singing David’s psalms again within the temple. He no doubt, a good student of history, read of David’s reign, and the blessing and the glory of Israel, during the time of the reign of David, and knew that the glory of the nation, was directly related to its relationship with God, as is always the case. A nations power and strength is really in the Lord. If a nation is seeking the Lord, and serving the Lord, they’re gonna be strong, they’re gonna be powerful, they’ll subdue their enemies. The nation forgets God, turns away from God, they’re gonna be preys in the hands of their enemies

  • Bible Studies, Chuck Smith

    Posted on August 11th, 2010

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    ,

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 26-28

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 26-28

    Let’s turn in our Bibles to II Chronicles, chapter twenty-six. Amaziah was the father of Uzziah. Amaziah began his reign well. God gave him victory over the Edomites, but then he did a extremely foolish thing. From the victory over the Edomites, he brought back some of the idols of their gods, and he began to worship them. So God delivered Amaziah unto the king of Israel, in the battle, as they faced off there at Bethshemesh. Joash the king of Israel, then came to Jerusalem, broke down part of the walls, took away hostages and treasure, and Amaziah was assassinated. So verse, or chapter twenty six. Then all of the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him the king in the place of his father Amaziah. And he built Eloth, [Which is the present day, Elat, that coastal city down in the area of the gulf. His father Amaziah, had conquered the Edomites, and so Uzziah takes advantage of the fact that, that territory had become part of Judah, and he built the city of Eloth, or he rebuilt it, and,] restored it to Judah, after that Amaziah had slept with his fathers. He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, he reigned for fifty two years [A very long reign. In fact, there’s only one king who had a longer reign than Uzziah, and that was Manasseh. “He reigned for fifty two years”,] in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah and she was from Jerusalem. He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, [I always sort of thrill with anticipation when I read that. I cringe when I read, “And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord”, because you know that, that’s gonna be followed by a down hill plunge. When it reads, “And he did that which was right”, you know that you’re going to have a successful reign. This is the way that all of the kings are evaluated.

  • Bible Studies, Chuck Smith

    Posted on August 9th, 2010

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    ,

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 24-25

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 24-25

    Shall we turn now in our Bibles to II Chronicles, chapter twenty-four, as we continue our trek through the word of God. The kingdom of Israel, the northern kingdom, has polluted the southern kingdom through an affinity that was made between Ahab and the Jehoshaphat. The daughter of Ahab married the son of Jehoshaphat and the nation experienced a real moral, spiritual decline. Ahaziah was killed in a action of Jehu, who became the king of the northern territory of Israel, and his queen mother, Athaliah began to reign. She was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, and now she is reigning in the southern kingdom of Judah.
    She put to death all of the princes, all of the heir apparents, or claimants to the throne with the exception of this one little fellow Joash, who was hid by his nurse there in the temple. He was raised in the temple by Jehoiada the priest, until he was seven years old. Then Jehoiada got the priests and the people together and said, “The throne really belongs to David by the decree of God. Here is a descendant of David”. And, they agreed to crown him as king, when he was seven years old.

  • Bible Studies, Chuck Smith

    Posted on August 9th, 2010

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    ,

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 21-23

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 21-23

    Shall we turn in our Bibles to II Chronicles, beginning with chapter twenty one this evening. Jehoshaphat you remember was a good king. The son of Amaziah, he had initiated even further spiritual reforms. He had sought the Lord for help and for strength during his reign. He had experienced the power of God, and the deliverance of God, from the enemies. The kingdom was strengthened, the kingdom was blessed under his reign. However, Jehoshaphat had a strange fascination to observe evil, and on several occasions would go to the northern kingdom. Befriended Ahab that horribly wicked king of Israel, and pledged himself to support Ahab. The prophet of God rebuked him for this alliance, and yet he persisted in it. At the death of Ahab, he continued this relationship with the northern kingdom through the equally wicked son of Ahab, Ahaziah. Again, the Lord spoke to Jehoshaphat and told him that the joint ventures would be broken. The Bible tells us not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers, and yet that is exactly what Jehosophat sought to do. So it was sort of a strange quirk of his personality. Though he was a good king, though he loved the Lord, and lead, led the people in the worship and service to God, still this drawing, inner drawing that he seemed to have towards evil. The desire to see it, as a observer, not to participate.

  • Bible Studies, Chuck Smith

    Posted on August 8th, 2010

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    ,

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 18-20

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 18-20

    Let’s turn now to II Chronicles, chapter eighteen. In the seventeenth chapter of II Chronicles we had the ascension of Jehoshaphat to the throne of Judah. The son of Asa, who had had a long, and prosperous reign. Jehoshaphat, a good king. Did that which was right in the Lord, in the eyes of the Lord, instituted further spiritual reforms. As the result, had a very strong, powerful, wealthy kingdom. He was prospered and blessed. So chapter eighteen declares now… Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and he joined affinity with Ahab (18:1). Here is a very strange passage of scripture. For Jehoshaphat was a good king, a righteous man. He did seek the Lord, and he did institute powerful spiritual reforms. Why he would join affinity with Ahab is a problem that you can’t really explain. For Ahab was perhaps, one of the most wicked kings who reigned in Israel. Ahab was the one who had married that wicked Jezebel, who had introduced the Baal worship, and made it the worship of Israel. He was about as foul, and wicked king as one could imagine. Ungodly, unrighteous, and yet here is king Jehoshaphat joining affinity.

  • Bible Studies, Chuck Smith

    Posted on August 7th, 2010

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    ,

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 16-17

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 16-17

    Let’s turn in our Bibles to II Chronicles, chapter sixteen. When king Asa began his reign in Judah, he initiated certain spiritual reforms, drawing the people back to God, and thus his reign was a period of national prosperity. But then, the nation was threatened by a massive invasion of people from the African states. An army of over one million men, armed with their chariots, invaded the land of Israel. Asa was out numbered two to one.
    So Asa sought the Lord, and he said, “Lord it is nothing for you to help, whether those that are weak, or those that are strong. Help us, O Lord, for in your name, we’re gonna go out to face this enemy. Lord, don’t let man prevail against you”. So, he committed himself fully to being on the Lord’s side. “Lord it’s in your name, we’re going out. Lord we’re trusting in you.” Asa went out, and the Lord gave to his troops tremendous victory. They routed the enemy and they were able to take much spoil from war. All of the supplies that had been brought to feed and to take care of the million man army were captured by Asa.

  • Bible Studies, Chuck Smith

    Posted on August 6th, 2010

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    ,

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 13-15

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 13-15

    And now you think to withstand the kingdom of Jehovah in the hand of the sons of David; and you are a great multitude, but you have with you your golden calves, which Jeroboam made for your gods. [You have not, and you have not, or,] And have you not cast out the priests of the lords the sons of Aaron, the Levites, and you have made priests after the manner of the nations of the other lands? so that whosoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them that are no gods (13:8-9).
    So as he is addressing them, he is showing actually how they’ve turned away from the true and the living God, from Jehovah. Now Jeroboam has set up these golden calves, and they did expel the priests out of the land of Israel. We remember under the reign of Rehoboam, we were there last week, where the priests from the northern area left their cities, the suburbs there, and they joined with Judah. But then, in the northern kingdom, the priesthood was just up for anybody. Anybody could be priest. Just bring an offering, and you could become a priest. Priests who were really no priests, but they were, I guess even enough, because the gods that they were priests of really weren’t gods anyhow, so what difference does it make? Priests that are no priests who are serving gods that are not gods. So, pretty even. “Have you not casts out the priests of Jehovah, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made the priests out of the manner of nations”, and so forth, “so that any man who comes to consecrate himself may be a priest of them that are no gods?”.

  • Bible Studies, Chuck Smith

    Posted on August 5th, 2010

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    ,

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 10-12

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 10-12

    Let’s turn in our Bibles now to II Chronicles, chapter ten. Solomon had reigned over Judah, or over Israel actually, the whole twelve tribes for forty years. “Solomon slept with his fathers, was buried in the city of David, and Rehoboam his son, reigned in his stead.” During the latter end of Solomon’s reign, there was a little dissension brewing, because of Solomon’s heavy taxation. You remember he built the temple, he built his palace, he built the city of Jerusalem, fortified the walls, and all of these took a lot of labor, a lot of money. Solomon had made slaves, in a sense, out of all of the strangers dwelling in the land. It took a lot of money to support this kind of a labor force, and the taxes were pretty heavy.
    There was a young man from Ephraim, the tribe of Ephraim, who was very popular and he was a man of valour, and Solomon saw in him a threat. So he fled from Solomon to Egypt. His name was Jeroboam. Now, at the death of Solomon, this dissension still existed, and it was probably because of this dissension, that Rehoboam went to the city of Shechem, which was more or less the major city, at that time of the tribe of Ephraim. It is today called, Nablus. It is an ancient city, existed at the time of Jacob, when he came into the land. He sojourned in the area of Shechem for a time, but…

  • Bible Studies, Chuck Smith

    Posted on August 4th, 2010

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    ,

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 7-9

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 7-9

    Solomon had built a little platform for this occasion of dedication, in order that he might be elevated a little bit so that he could talk to the thousands of people, who had assembled for this glorious occasion. He stood on this platform, and he addressed the people concerning the faithfulness of God, as they saw the word of God, before their eyes fulfilled in the magnificent temple that was there. For God had promised to David his father, that He would give him a son that would build Him a temple. And, here is the fulfillment of God’s promise. Then Solomon knelt on this little platform, lifted his hands towards heaven, and he prayed unto God, asking God to keep His eyes upon this place. To let this be the place where God’s people might meet with God. A place where when they came to pray, God would hear their prayers.
    Then he foresaw certain problems that might exist in the future, if the people should turn their backs on the Lord. If they turned away from the Lord, and the Lord began to bring judgements, “When they turn their face and begin to pray, then hear thou from thy throne in heaven, and answer their prayers”. He began to see these various things that could have happened. The famines that would come, as a result of God’s judgement. Or even, captivity in the enemies lands. “If they be carried away captive, and in that place of captivity, they turn their faces toward this place, and cry unto you, then hear thou from thy dwelling place in heaven, and answer their prayers.” So, he foresaw the possible calamities that might come upon the nation in the future, but always saying, “Lord if your people will turn and call upon you, then hear from heaven, answer their prayers”.

  • Bible Studies, Chuck Smith

    Posted on August 3rd, 2010

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    ,

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 4-6

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 4-6

    There was nothing in the ark, except the two tables which Moses had put therein at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt (5:10). So the only furnishing now, or I mean, the only objects within the ark of the covenant, was the two tables of stone. When Moses originally set the ark of the covenant in the tabernacle, he had placed there, and the ark, the ark of the covenant is reference really to the, the two tables of stone. Because therein is the covenant that God made with the children of Israel. The, He established, “If you keep these laws, then I will be your God, you’ll be my people”. So it was, the covenant that God made was on the two tables of stone. There were the ten commandments engraved by God. So thus the ten commandments being in this little box, it was called the ark of the covenant. But, when Moses first placed the ark of the covenant in the tabernacle, he also had placed in there a jar of manna, which was to remind them of God’s provision for them in their time of need. Then he also had placed Aaron’s rod.

  • Bible Studies, Chuck Smith

    Posted on August 2nd, 2010

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    ,

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 1-3

    Bible Study: 2 Chronicles 1-3

    Now, here was the time in Israel when the tabernacle, the place of sacrifice, was at Gibeon. About a two hour journey, north from Jerusalem. There that tabernacle that Moses had made in the wilderness, had been pitched. When the ark of the covenant was removed from the Holy of Holies, and taken into battle against the Philistines, captured by the Philistines, later returned to Israel. When David brought it back, he brought it to Jerusalem, where he made a special tent for it. He did not take it back to the tabernacle that was at Gibeon, but brought it instead to Jerusalem, where he had made a tent for it.
    So, the most sacred of all of the furnishings of the tabernacle, was at Jerusalem, the ark of the covenant, with the carved gold cherubims on the top, which was the mercy seat. The tabernacle though, the place of the offerings, the brass altar, the brazen altar, was still in Gibeon. So, the place to offer your sacrifices unto God was the central worship place, the offering of sacrifices, the priesthood, was in Gibeon. Though, the ark of the covenant at this time, was in Jerusalem.