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May 11, 2010 2Chronicles 24:15-ch 28

Jehoiada the priest, died at the ripe old age of 130. Because of all the good things he did for Judah, he was buried with the kings.

After Jehoiada died, there was no one to keep Joash on the straight and narrow and he went the way of the wicked. None of the prophets God sent could get through to them that they needed to change. Even Zechariah the son of Jehoiada tried, but they stoned him. Joash killed the son of the man who saved his life when he was little. Joash was severely wounded when the Aramites invaded Jerusalem. Then the remaining leaders conspired and killed him in his bed because they were angry that he killed Zechariah. He was not buried with honors. His son, Amaziah succeeded him as king.

Amaziah was sort of half baked in his walk with God. He killed the people who had killed his father. He got the army together and hired mercenaries from Israel. After a man of God told him that the Israelite soldiers were a bad idea he let them go. This story is pretty much the same as in 2Kings chapter 14 when Judah was defeated by Israel. Amaziah was captured and killed years later. His body was brought home on a horse and was buried.

Uzziah or Azariah became king next. He restored Jerusalem, fought and won battles and sought the Lord. Pride became his undoing. He decided to burn incense in the temple and when the priests warned him against it he had a temper tantrum right there in the temple. Suddenly he became aware that everyone was looking at him differently. The Lord had inflicted him with leprosy. He had to hide himself and was excluded from the temple and company. His son Jotham ruled in his stead.

When Uzziah died Jotham became king. He walked with God and was rewarded for it. He became a powerful ruler. He was succeeded by Ahaz.

Ahaz did not follow the commandments of God and worshiped idols. God handed him over to whomever attacked Judah. Even though Israel defeated Judah and took plunder, some clearer headed leaders advised them not to and they listened. Ahaz was so desperate that he even tried to bargain with the king of Assyria and give him some things from the temple, but it didn't work. He closed the temple and set up little altars everywhere. He provoked God to anger. Later he died and was buried without honors and his son, Hezekiah became king.

Tomorrow read 2Chronicles 29-31

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