2 Kings One ….(verses 1-18)

1. Verses  1-18    

a.       What do we know about Ahaziah, son of Ahab?     (verses 2,17c; 1 Kings 22:51-53)

He was an idolatrous king who worshipped Baal, and only had a short reign of two years. He was injured quite severely by falling from an upstairs window, and sent messengers to a heathen god to see if he would ever recover.

b.    How did God intervene in this situation?      (verses 3-4)

He sent His angel to tell Elijah to meet the messengers as they started off, and tell them that the king would die of his injuries.

c.   What did Elijah do after delivering this message?             (verse 9)

He went out of town to the top of a hill where he sat and waited to see what would happen.

d.   What did Ahaziah say when his servants returned so quickly, obviously not having had time to go to Ekron?     (verses 5-8)

He listened to their story and asked what the man who spoke to them looked like, and then identified him as Elijah. He then ordered a platoon of fifty men to go and arrest him.

e.     What DID Elijah look like?    (verse 8)

He looked rather a rough character, very hairy, and wearing a leather belt (or maybe it was a leather loin cloth)…..the king recognised this description as being Elijah.

f.     Who else looked like this? How else did he resemble Elijah?    (Matthew 3:4; 17:10-13)

John the Baptist came as God’s messenger to wake the people up, and he was the same sort of man as Elijah was. In fact, the Lord Jesus said he was a fulfilment of a prophecy that said Elijah would come again.

g.    What  happened when the captain of the fifty soldiers spoke to Elijah ?    (verses 9-10)

It seems he spoke rather sarcastically calling Elijah “You man of God” and told him to come down. Elijah replied “If I AM a man of God, let fire come from heaven and consume you up!”  This happened immediately and they were all obliterated.

h.    What did the king do next? With  what success?    (verses 11-12)

He sent a second lot of  fifty soldiers with the same result.

i.     What happened when the third platoon was sent?        (verses 13-15)

The captain was fearful for his life and that of his men, and he approached Elijah in a respectful and reverent manner, getting on his knees and asking that his life be spared.

j.     What did Elijah do then?    (verses 15-18)

God gave him the OK to go and give the king the message personally that he would not recover.

k.    What lesson can we learn from this story ?    (Galations 6:7-8)

That God is not to be trifled with, and judgement WILL fall in the end. People deride and mock God and His people today, but they will not get away with it. They despise God and His  people, but God sees and takes note of it all. We, even as Christians,  must learn to reverence God more and to obey His word or we will suffer loss in a time to come, and to respect other believers….we are told to LOVE one another, not to run them down!

l.    Who reigned after Ahaziah? Who was he?      (verse 17)

Jehoram, his brother,  reigned next as Ahaziah had no sons.

2 Kings Two ….(verses 1-25)

1.    Verses  1-11    

a. We have been seeing quite a bit of Elijah during the preceding chapters…where and how did Elisha  come into the picture?     (verse 1; 1 Kings 19:15-21)

After Elijah felt he was the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, God gave him a three fold commission ….to anoint  Hazael to be king of Syria, to anoint Jehu to be king over Israel and to anoint Elisha  to be prophet after him. Elisha was ploughing his field when Elijah came to him, so he wound up his operation and went with Elijah. God had provided a companion for Elijah in his distress.

b.    We have now come to the end of  Elijah’s time on earth…. God was going to take him in a most unusual way….what did Elijah say to Elisha  and what was his reply?      (verses 1-2)

“Stay here in Gilgal”, but Elisha refused to do this.

c.   What is another example of this sort of devotion?             (Ruth 1:16-18)

Ruth said the same thing to Naomi…  “don’t ask me to leave you….I will go with you all the way!”

d.   What was going to happen that everyone seemed to expect this day?  (verse 3)

Elijah was somehow going to be taken by the Lord.

e.     What was Elijah really doing to Elisha when he told him the three times to leave him? (verses 2, 4, 6)

He was testing his sincerity and devotion, and Elisha proved this each time by staying with him.

f.     Who followed them from Jericho to watch from a distance?     (verse 7)

Fifty prophets from there followed to see it happen

g.    What was the final barrier they had to pass ?   (verse 8)

The river Jordan which God  parted  when Elijah hit  the water with his cloak.

h.    What do we see so far with Elisha staying with Elijah? What is the lesson for us? (2 Timothy 2:1)

Elisha had made up his mind that nothing was going to stop him going all the way….each time a hindrance or temptation arose, he put it aside and carried on. When the final insurmountable problem came, the Lord over-ruled and stepped in to open the way. The lesson for us is to determine to be strong in the Lord and to do what we know He wants us to do, and what we can’t do, He will remove the barrier and open the way.

i.     Elisha had been with Elijah for a while now….what was his desire now that Elijah was about to leave him?             (verse 9)

He wanted a double portion of Elijah’s spirit.

j.    What was the condition that he would receive it? How can we apply that to ourselves?    (verse 10; 1 Corinthians 11:1; 16:13)

He had to be alert and watching to see Elijah go to receive this. We are to find someone who is a godly person (if not in person, then in a biography) and have them for a role model; but above all , we are to be watchful and steadfast in the things of the Lord.

k.    What gave Elisha his tremendous confidence in God ?     (verses 11-12)

The fact that he saw Elijah caught up by this heavenly chariot and horses of fire….it was something that he would never have forgotten, and he knew he could continue Elijah’s work with God’s help.

1. Verses  12-25    

a.  What did Elisha feel like now that Elijah was gone?     (verses 12-13)

He was awestruck by what he had seen, heard and felt (a whirlwind is not silent!) and tore his clothes as a sign of grief. Then he noticed Elijah’s cloak had fallen off, so he picked it up and kept it.

b.    How did God confirm he was to follow in Elijah’s footsteps?      (verse 14)

By parting the waters of Jordan for him too.

c.   What did the watching prophets now realise?             (verse 15)

That Elisha had taken over Elijah’s work.

d.   How much faith did they have in God’s removal of Elijah?   (verses 16-18)

Not much…they insisted on going to look for him!

e.     What was Elisha’s first job for the Lord? (verse 19)

Providing good water for the city.

f.     What is one of the first signs of new life in Christ ?    (John 4:14; 7:38; James 3:13)

Providing the water of Life for others….cleaning up our language and changing our topics of conversation. We have springs of living water within us and others should be able to see this by the change in our lives.

g.    Why do you think Elisha took offence at what the young people said to him ?     (verses 23-24)

Because it was mocking him for what he stood for …. it was far more than making fun of his baldness!

h.    We see the result…God backed him up for his stand……what are believers to do when they see or hear things that aren’t right?               ( Titus 2:15)

They are to speak out and rebuke the wrong, especially in Christian circles.

2 Kings Three ….(verses 1-27)

1.    Verses  1-27  

a.  Ahaziah son of Ahab, had reigned for two years and then died of injuries sustained in a fall….why did his brother Jehoram come to the throne?     (verse 1; 2 Kings 1:17c)

Because Ahaziah had had no sons.

b.    What good thing did Jehoram do, and what bad thing?      (verses 2-3)

He destroyed  the idol of Baal that his father and brother had worshipped (good) but  he continued to worship the golden calves that Jeroboam son of Nebat had set up (bad).

c.   What did God allow to happen as a result?             (verses 4-5)

Moab rebelled against Israel and refused to pay its taxes.

d.   What did Jehoram do as soon as he became king?    (verses 6-7)

He decided to go against Moab and sent to Jehoshaphat to see if he would support him in this.

e. What did Jehoshaphat say, and when had he said a similar thing before? (verses 7b, 1 Kings 22:4,7)

He said he would, and had said the same thing to Jehoram’s father Ahab a few years earlier.

f.     A third king was called in as another ally….who was he and what do we see here in the spiritual realm for us?      (verse 9)

The king of Edom was the third king….we see here a godly king (Jehoshaphat) allying himself with two idolatrous kings to go to war in a battle that waas nothing to do with him. It is like a Christian going into partners with two non –Christians in a situation that he has no need to be involved in….it spells big trouble and danger to one’s Christian stand.

g.    What was the first hint of trouble and what did Jehoshaphat want done? Had he done this before? What was Jehoram’s reaction ?      (verses 9-11)

The three armies ran out of water for themselves and horses, and felt they were doomed. Jehoram now blames the God he refused to believe in ir ask counsel of, for the situation while Jehoshaphat’s immediate reaction was to find a prophet of the Lord and ask what to do.

h.    Who did they go to and what was his reaction?        (verses 12-15)

They went to Elisha who told them that if it were not for Jehoshaphat’s presence, he wouldn’t bother with them!

i.     What did God tell Elisha to tell them to do? What would this do? (verses 16-17)

They were to dig the valley full of ditches immediately and they would be filled with water for drinking

j.    What was the odd thing about this water?    (verse 17a)

The water would come without wind or rain,  and it would come silently.

k.    What happened about the proposed battle ?          (verses 21-25)

The Moabites massed together towards the camp of Jehoram and in the brilliant red sunrise saw what looked like sheets of blood on the ground. They roared in for the spoil as they thought that Israel had been slaughtered, but instead they got bogged down and tripped up in the ditches and were totally unprepared to find Israel waiting for them. Israel destroyed them and their cities as the Lord had told them to.

l.    Who escaped and what did he do?        (verses 26-27)

The king of Moab then tried to fight the king of Edom, but found he couldn’t so he escaped to a nearby city and offered his eldest son there as a human sacrifice to appease his gods.

2.     Lessons to learn……….   

a.  What lessons can we get out of this chapter for ourselves today?    

2 Corinthians 6:14          To not go into partnership or agreement with non-Christians  unnecessarily

Psalm 63:1                    To do so will be to run out of water for our soul….we will become dry.

Psalm 50:15                  If we DO get into trouble, we can call on the Lord and He will lift us up.

Eph 6:11-18                  To stand firm and ready against the enemies that attack us, using the shield

of faith and the sword of the Spirit with prayer and God will fight the battle for us.

b.    What sort of enemies do we have to contend with today?     

Psalm 56:3                    Enemies of fear, worry and anxiety

Proverbs 10:5b; 13:4a   Enemies of laziness and apathy in the things of God.

1 John 2:15-17              Enemies of wrong ambitions and alliances.

Proverbs 8:13; 12:15     Enemies of impatience and wrong attitudes.

1 John 4:7; 5:3              Enemies of lack of love for the Lord and His people.

3 John 1:11                   Enemies of bad habits and things or ways that destroy our testimony.

3 John 1:9                     Enemies of wanting one’s own way and disobedience to God’s Word.

2 Kings Four ….(verses 1-37)

Read the whole of chapter four  through at one sitting…….what would be a suitable title for it?

God Meeting People’s Needs.

1.    Verses  1-7  

a. What was the first need and how was it met?     (verses 1, 7)

The widow needed money to pay for the debts left by her husband as the creditors were coming to take away her two sons as slaves. Elisha told her to borrow as many containers as she could find and then to pour out the little oil she had into them .

b.    What happened?      (verse 4)

The oil didn’t run out until the very last pot was full.

c.   How did this solve her problem?             (verse 7)

She was able to sell it to pay her debt and there was still enough left over to keep her and the family.

d.   What is a parallel story to this one?                       (1 Kings 17:13-16)

Elijah asking for a share of the little left to the widow…..she gave it and found she still had enough left for each meal until the famine was over.

e. What can we learn from Malachi 3:16?

If we give to God, He will bless us more than we can expect.

f.     What spiritual lessons can we learn from the story of the widow and the oil?           

i.   Her need was desperate….so is our need before a Holy God.

ii.   She went to the right person for help….we too, must go to the Giver of all good things and ask in faith.

iii.  She did everything Elisha told her….we must be obedient in doing what we know is right, and put wrongs right before God can bless us.

iv.  She kept pouring…she didn’t stop until all the containers were full….we are to expect God to give us the right thing  in abundance as we obey Him (even if it isn’t what we were asking for!)

v   The amount of oil met ALL her needs with enough left over for the future….God will meet our every need in abundance if we will only ASK!

2.    Verses  8-37  

a.       Whose need do we see in this section?     (verse 8)

Elisha had need of accommodation.

b.    Who supplied this need?      (verses 9-10)

A lady from Shunem where he often passed by…she shared what she had and then built him a sleepout.

c.   Elisha wished to repay her….what was her need?             (verses 12-13)

She didn’t feel she needed anything

d.   What deep need was Elisha  (through God) able to tell her would be  filled?               (verses 14-17)

That God would give her a son  in due course.

e. What happened to  this child?                      (verses 18-21)

He grew and was running around and then inexplicably died.

f.     What was this woman’s great need now?              (verse 28)

To have her child restored to her.

g.       What was Elisha’s need in verse 27?

To know what was wrong and what to do about it!

h.    The Lord met this need of Elisha’s….what need was he then able to meet?      (verses 32-36)

The mother’s need to have her son back alive again.

i.   What lesson can we see in all this for us?             (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

As the Lord meets our needs, so we in turn are able to meet others’ needs through our experiences and things we have learned.

j.   In Ephesians 2:4-8 we read of God’s riches that He pours out on His people’s needs….what are they?           

His mercy is unlimited, as is His love to us.

He has saved us from our sins and given us a place with Christ in heaven (we have this already!).

He has given us a future glorious hope of unlimited learning of His continuing riches and grace.

He has saved us by His grace, given to us freely as a gift.

3.    Verses  38-41   … We are still reading about people’s needs being met……..

a.       What was the need in verse 38 and how did Elisha meet it?    

There was a scarcity of food…Elisha mad e a big pot of stew for the visiting prophets.

b.    What did the helpful guy do and what were the results?      (verses 39- 40)

He went out and picked some unknown gourds and added them to the pot but they were poisoned and the food was ruined.

c.   What practical lesson can we get from this?           

Make sure when you try to meet a need that you know what you are doing! Use your head! Sometimes only a little knowledge can do more harm than good!!

d.   In what ways can we allow our “pot” to become poisoned? (Galations 5:15; 1Timothy 1:19; 6:9-10)

By backbiting and gossiping; by wandering off into false doctrines and ideas; by getting too busy making money….all these take away from the things of the Lord and our testimony for Him.

e. How was the need for “good” food met?      (verse 41)

Elisha threw in some good meal and the food was then fit to eat.

f.     How can a person ensure that what they are feeding their soul on is “good food”? (Philippians 4:8)      

By measuring what we hear, see and where we go  up against the Word of God….do our recreations, books, TV programmes, friends and music build us  up in our relationship with God and bring glory to Him?

g.     What sort of attitudes do no harm to one’s soul?     (Galatians 5:22-23)      

Love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self control all build one up and do only good.

4.    Verses  2-44  

a.  What was the need here? How many people were there?     (verses 42-43)

There were 100 people there and they needed food.

b.    Who supplied this need?  What food was it?    (verse  42)

He brought his first fruit offering of buns and corn to Elisha and gave it as to the Lord.

c.   What did Elisha’s servant think of this amount of food?             (verses 12-13)

He thought it wasn’t sufficient (it wasn’t either!) but Elisha said to dish it out because the Lord had said there would be enough.

d.   What did they do? What was the result?          (verses 43b-44)

They started handing out buns and the corn and it just kept coming….everyone had more than they needed with food left over.

e. What lessons can we get out of this incident?                     

Needs                           Every believer needs spiritual food.

Fulfilling them               There is food in abundance in the Scriptures

Hebrews 5:12-14            For those who are young or weak in the faith, the Scriptures seem

rather dry and unappealing so they don’t bother with reading them

much.

Continuing                    By starting to read it and then continuing in reading, the more interest

and  food for one’s soul one finds.

Abundance                   Those who will start and continue will find the abundance that is

contained in the Word of God and they will be totally satisfied.

f.     What is another similar story with the same results?              (John 6:5-13)

When Jesus fed the 5000 people with only two fish and five buns and had plenty over.

g.    What does Job 23:12b tell us?

He felt the need of God’s Word more than his physical food.

2 Kings Five….(verses 1-27)

1.    Verses  1-27 …We find a man who has a desperate personal need in this chapter…

a.  Who is this story about and what was his problem? What was his need?  (verse 1)

It is about Naaman, the captain of the army of Syria….one of the greatest men in the country, BUT he was a leper….he needed to be healed.

b.    In what ways can leprosy be likened to sin?     

1 Corinthians 5:12          A person with leprosy had no hope….it was terminal.

2 Corinthians 7:1                       He was unclean and had to be separate from others.

Isaiah 59:2; Romans 6:23           Leprosy is a sentence of death…death means separation

It starts small, but spreads and causes mutilation.

c.   What did this little girl know? What did she do with her knowledge?        (verses 3-4)   

She knew about Elisha and the miracles he had done, and passed this knowledge onto her mistress.

d.   What lesson is there in this for us?                   (Matthew 21:16)

We may not know much, but we can pass on what we DO know, and it is up to others as to what they do about it.

e. What did Naaman do with this information?             (verses 5-7)

He acted on it immediately, but went to the wrong person!

f.     If a person is sincerely seeking life’s answers today, what guarantee is there that he will find them? (Matthew 7:7-8)      

Jesus Christ said that if a person is seeking, he will find, if he knocks it will be opened to him, and if he asks God,  he will find….it may not be immediately, but there is no sincere seeker who will not find the answers eventually.

g.     Naaman was directed to the right person in the end….what was his first reaction to Elisha’s information? What got in the way of his healing? How can we relate this to a person’s spiritual healing?      (verses 9-12)      

Naaman was highly indignant that the prophet treated him, such an important person,  so casually! His pride got in the way, and today someone might feel that salvation is too simple, that he needs to do some great deed of goodness or penance to cleanse his sin, so his pride comes between him and God.

h.   What made Naaman reconsider his position?      (verse 13)

His servants calmed him down and told him to do this simple thing in the river of Jordan seven times.

i.    What did Naaman find when he obeyed the prophet’s command? What do we find when we obey God’s commands?   (verse  14; 1 John 1:7, 9)

Naaman found that he was completely cleansed and when we obey God and confess our sins before Him, he completely cleanses us and forgives it. There is no need of great deeds for this cleansing…..God has done it all and we only need to accept it thankfully!

j.   What effect did this physical cleansing have on Naaman?             (verses 15-19)

It made him turn to the Lord, making him spiritually healed as well as being physically healed.

j.   What is the rest of the story?     (verses 20-27)

Elisha refused to take the gift that Naaman offered him (he had no need of it) but his servant Gehazi was covetous and ran after Naaman with a concocted story of fictitious visitors needing money and clothes. He took what Naaman gave him and hid it before going back to his job. When Elisha asked him where he had been, he lied and said “Nowhere!” As a punishment, he became leprous just as Naaman had been, and was never healed of it.

k. What lessons can we learn from this story?   (Numbers 32:23; 1 Timothy 6:6-10; Hebrews 13:5)

To be content with what we have….to not yearn after what others have or can do. We all have what we need in the Lord more than any amount of physical attainments or wealth can give. Our Lord’s presence with us meets all our needs! Another obvious lesson is not to tell lies! Be sure your sin will find you out!!

2 Kings Six….(verses 1-33)

1.    Verses  1-7  

a.       What is this story about? What was the prophets’ need?     (verses 1-7)

The prophets felt they needed a bigger house so they went off to the forest by the river with Elisha for a working bee to cut down the timber. One man’s axe-head flew off into the river and he was greatly upset because it was a borrowed axe. He needed it back and showed Elisha where it had sunk,so Elisha threw a stick in over the spot and the axe head miraculously came to the surface so he could retrieve it.

b.    What sort of lessons can we get out of this story?      (Colossians  3:17)

The obvious one is to not use a borrowed  axe near a river! But this story shows God’s care for His people in even mundane every-day life. It shows that we should commit our daily jobs to the Lord and to turn to Him in the daily frustrations that come our way.

2.    Verses  8-23  

a.       What do we see the king of Syria doing to Israel?     (verse 8)

He kept making war against Israel….annoying little sorties into Israel’s territory.

b.    What does this remind us of in our own life?      (Ephesians  6:11))

How our enemy Satan keeps bringing temptation before us and never leaves us alone.

c.   How was Israel protected from this?        (verses 9-10)   

God told Elisha to warn the king ahead of time of his plans, and thus Syria was foiled every time.

d.   What lesson is there in this for us?                   (1 Peter 5:8)

That God will give us the strength to stand for right if we look to Him.

e. When the Syrians realised what Elisha was doing, what did they do?                      (verses 12-14)

They sent their army to catch and arrest him.

f.     What did the servant see the next morning? What did Elisha see?         (verses 15-17)      

The servant could only see the great army surrounding the city that was come to take them, but Elisha could see the hosts of the Lord around him.

g.     What does this remind us of?                (Psalm 34:7; Philippians 4_6-7)      

Those who don’t rely on  the Lord in prayer and His Word, will only see the difficulties around them while those who are in touch with the Lord will see beyond that and rely on God to help them through and will have His peace. We are also able to rest in the fact that God’s angel is around us.

h.   What did Elisha do next when they came to get him?      (verses 18-23)

He prayed they would become blind and then he led them right into the city of their enemy in their blinded state and told the king to treat them kindly and feed them all. As a result, they were so blown away by this kindness that when they went away (seeing and satisfied) they didn’t attack Israel again for a while.

i.    What principle do we see in this?     (Matthew 5:43-45; Romans 12:20-21)

To love our enemies and do them good, not evil….this heaps the proverbial coals of fire on their heads!

3.    Verses  24-33  

a.   What sad state of affairs had the people of Israel come to in this story?  (verse 24)

Famine had come on the city of Samaria due to the seige of Benhadad  and food had run out. The people were driven to eating donkeys and the dung of doves.

b.    What depths did the women in this story sink to?     (verses 28-29)

To becoming cannibals in the eating of their own babies!

c.   Who did the king blame for these troubles?      (verses 30-31)   

He blamed Elisha for it directly, and God indirectly.

d.   What do we often hear people say today?                  

They say they don’t believe in God because  how can a God of love allow little children to suffer!

e. What does this sort of attitude prove that the speaker is?                 (Psalm 14:1)

Nothing but a fool! Someone who is only judging half the story!

f.     What was the spiritual condition of the king and his people during these times?     (2 Kings 3:1-3)      

It was during the times of Ahab and his son Jehoram who were both wicked and idol worshipping kings who never gave God a thought!

g.  Yet we see God still intervening in their affairs…..what does this prove about God?  (Psalm 145:8)      

That He is a patient and long suffering God, full of compassion and mercy.

2 Kings Seven….(verses 1-20)

1.    Verses  1-20

The city was still under siege and desperate  for  food  ….the king was blaming Elisha for their situation and had sent officers  to him to arrest him and execute him. The king was following up to see that this was done.  God however, had  other ideas……………..

a.    What was God’s message to the king?     (verse 1)

There would be an abundance of food within twenty-four hours!

b.    How did the  king’s official take this statement?      (verse 2a)

Very mockingly….he didn’t believe a word of it and was very sarcastic to Elisha.

c.   What did Elisha say in reply?        (verse 2b)   

You will see it happen, but won’t have a chance to eat any of it!

d.   Where were the four lepers living? Why?     (verse 3)

They were living out side the city gates and begging there as they were classed as unclean and contagious.

e. What conclusion did the four men come to?     (verses 3-4)

We’re going to die of starvation if we just sit here doing nothing….let’s go and see what scraps we can find in the enemy camp!

f.     What happened when they went there?    (verse 5)      

They found the camp deserted with signs of a hurried flight. They had a good feed and took other things that they wanted hiding them for later and then realised that they should go and tell someone in the city that there was plenty of food there for the taking.

g.     Why was the enemy camp deserted like that?     (verses 6-7)      

In the twilight, they had heard the noise of a great army of horsemen coming and had fled for their lives….God had sent this noise and assumption.

h.   What was the scene and feelings of these men as they went to the enemy camp?                           

One of trepidation as they approached and then one of amazement as they saw the deserted tents and prepared food waiting for the evening meal!

i.    What do verses 9-10 tell us?                           

How the lepers went and told the porter of the city the news.

j.       What did the king of Israel do when he heard the news?    (verses 11-15)

He thought it was some sort of trap, and sent horsemen to check it out….they found signs of flight all the way to the  river Jordan, things that the soldiers had thrown away in the course of running in fear.

k.    How did Elisha’s prophecy come true?     (verses 17-20)

The same official who had mocked him was given the job of guarding the gate where the food was being sold, and the people were so ravenous that they stampeded and trod him to death. He saw the food in abundance but was unable to eat it himself, just as Elisha had said!

l.   What lessons can we see in this story?                   

i.   Christians with the Good News of Jesus Christ, passing it on to others so they too can partake in this. Just as there was more than enough for the people then, so there is today in spiritual things if only people will accept it.

ii. Those who disbelieve God and mock His Word and His people will suffer for all of eternity, while those who act on His Word will gain untold wealth and satisfaction.

2 Kings Eight….(verses 1-29)

1.    Verses  1-6

a.       What did Elisha tell the woman whose son he had restored to life?     (verses 1-2)

That there was going to be a famine for seven years, and to go to another country while it was on.

b.    What did she want when she came back at the end of that time?      (verse 3)

She wanted her house and land back.

c.   How did this happen?        (verses 4-6)   

By going to the king just as Gehazi was telling him about all the miracles that Elisha had done…. “here’s the boy who Elisha  raised from the dead!”   The king was so impressed that he saw to it that she got her house and land back.

d.   What principle do we see in action here?                   (Matthew 7:7)

Asking, seeking and knocking. She did what she could do and God did the rest. If she had just sat at home moaning about her lost assets, she would never have got them back!

2.    Verses  7-15

a.   Who sent to Elisha in this section? Why?     (verses 7-9)

Benhadad, king of Syria was sick and he sent Hazael to Elisha to ask if he would recover.

b.    What was Elisha’s reply? What did he do then? Why?      (verses 10-13)

He told him he would get better and then stared fixedly at Hazael before bursting into tears. God had just shown him how cruelly Hazael would treat the people when he became king.

c.   What happened when he got back to Benhadad?        (verses 14-15)   

Hazael smothered him while he was recovering from his sickness and then took the throne.

3.    Verses  16-29

a.  What had Jehoshaphat king of Judah said to Ahab king of Israel?     (2 Chronicles 21:1, 5-6)

He had entered into an unequal alliance with him which God had expressly forbidden, saying that he and his people were one with Ahab.

b.    What sort of king was Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat? Why was he like this?      (verses 17-18)

He was an idolatrous king because his wife was part heathen…she was the daughter of Jezebel, Ahab’s wicked wife (who was still actually reigning as Queen Mother)

c.   What principle do we see in action here?        (Deuteronomy 7:3-4)   

In making this alliance with Ahab, Jehoshaphat hadn’t kept himself separate from the heathen king and as a aresult his son married into Ahab’s family and became like them. His wife’s name was Athaliah and she was a wicked woman like her mother Jezebel.

At this time, there were two Jehorams reigning ….Jehoram  king of Israel, and Jehoram king of Judah. Both their names were often spelt as Joram, so it is very confusing…….

d.   How long did Jehoram king of Judah  reign for?      (verse 17)

For eight years.

e. Why do you think that his reign was so short?    (2 Chronicles 21:13-15)

Because of his wicked ways and idolatry.

f.     Why did God not cut him off altogether?         (verse 19)      

Because of His promises to David….that he would always have descendants on the throne of Judah.

g.     What sort of king was his son Ahaziah? Why?     (verses 26-27)      

He was a wicked idolatrous man too, as he too had married into Ahab’s family. He allied hiself to his cousin, king of Israel and were both the same.

h.   What other name was Ahaziah known by?    (2 Chronicles 21:17)

Sometimes called Jehoahaz.

i.    How was the scene being set to fulfil Elijah’s prophecy concerning Ahab’s descendants?  (verse 29; 2 Chronicles 22:7-10)                          

Ahaziah had gone to visit his cousin King Joram of Israel in Jezreel, and both were together with their mutual grandmother Jezebel who was still alive and living there too.

j.       What was this prophecy?     (1 Kings 21:21)

That none of Ahab’s descendants would remain and that Jezebel would be eaten by dogs by the wall of Jezreel.

4.    Daniel 4:25b, 35; Romans 13:1

a.       What can we see in this chapter that we have just gone through about God’s purposes?     

That although the various kings thought they were just following through with natural events or the thoughts of their minds, they were actually just being pawns in the plan of God….God has ALL things under control regardless of how chaotic things might appear to be!

2 Kings Nine….(verses 1-37)

1.    Verses  1-16

a.    Who comes on the scene now?     (verse 5)

Jehu was one of a group of men who were dissatisfied with the way things were going and they were all gathered together discussing the situation.

b.    Who went to see him? Why?      (verses 1-4)

Elisha sent one of the prophets with a box of oil and told him to take Jehu aside and annoint him as king over Israel.

c.   What were Elisha’s instructions to his servant that he was to tell Jehu?        (verses 6-10)   

God said he was to execute all Ahab’s descendants as well as Jezebel.  The messenger was to deliver this message and then leave quickly.

d. The prophet did this….what were the impressions of the other men in the room?         (verse 11)

That the messenger was a mad man!

e.    How did they react to Jehu’s account of the interview?      (verses 12-13)

They supported him wholeheartedly and pronounced him the new king publicly immediately.

f.   Where did Jehu and his men head for?        (verses 14-16)   

Jezreel, where both the kings were.

2.    Verses  17-37

a.  How was Jehu travelling as he approached Jezreel?     (verses 16, 20)

He was driving his chariot as fast as he could make it go….furiously, it says!!

b.    Did the king know he was coming? What did he do?      (verses 17-21)

Yes, the watchman saw them coming in the distance and sent to the king that it looked like Jehu’s driving. So the king sent out a horseman to meet him, but he didn’t return, so both kings went out to meet them.

c.   What reply did they get for their pains? How was God’s prophecy concerning Ahab’s descendants beginning to be fulfilled?        (1 Kings 21:17-28)   

They were both killed by Jehu….the king of Israel was thrown out of his chariot onto the same piece of ground that Ahab had stolen from Naboth. The king of Judah was taken back to Jerusalem and buried there. Two of Ahab’s descendants were now destroyed.

d.   How was it further fulfilled when Jehu reached Jezreel?                   (verse3 30-37)

Jezebel heard they were coming. So she dressed up with all her make-up on and looked out her window at them arriving. Jehu saw her at the window and called out to throw her down, so two of her attendants did this, and he drove right over the top of her. Afterwards he sent back to have her buried and found that the scavenging dogs had eaten all of her except for her skull, feet and hands.

e. What does this remind us of?                       (Psalm 73:3-19)

That even though things go on and on with evil men getting worse and worse and speaking publicly against God, yet their day of judgement is surely coming. God never forgets what He has said, and time means nothing to Him….His Word ALWAYS comes to pass!!

2 Kings Ten….(verses 1-36)

1.    Verses  1-17

a.  What did Jehu tell the officials in Jezreel and Samaria?     (verses 1-3)

Find the best of Ahab’s descendants and make him the new king  of Israel and then fight for him.

b.    They knew that this would be instant war….what was their reply to this?      (verses 4-5)

No, we won’t make any king but will do whatever you tell us instead.

c.   What did Jehu tell them to do to prove this?        (verse 6)   

OK, then bring the heads of Ahab’s seventy descendants to me by tomorrow to prove this!

d. They did this….what did he then say to them?         (verses 7-10)

I have killed the king (one person) but look how many you have killed! Truly the Lord’s word to Elijah concerning Ahab’s line is coming to pass!

e.    Who else did Jehu execute in Jezreel?      (verse 11)

All Ahab’s officers, courtiers, best friends and priests.

f.   Why did God require this tremendous purging?        (1 Kings 21:25-26)   

Because Ahab was SO wicked with his idolatrous practices and allowed Jezebel her Baal worship through the whole land.

g. Jehu then continued on to the city of Samaria…who did he meet on the way? Where were they heading?        (verses 12-13)

He met forty-two men (relatives of Ahaziah of Judah) who were on their way down to visit their cousins in Jezreel.

h.    Why did Jehu kill them?      (2 Kings 8:26-27)

Because they too, were descendants of Ahab (through  marriage) and under the same curse of God.

i.   What did he do when he got to Samaria?        (verse 14-17)   

He destroyed every single relative of Ahab.

2.    Verses  18-37

a.       How did Jehu find all the Baal worshippers?     (verses 18-21)

He pretended he was going to follow Baal and called a great gathering of all Baal’s followers to come to it.

b.    What did he do when they were all together?      (verses 23-25)

He had his men at the back of the crowd and told them to make sure none of them escaped.

c.   What do verses 26-28 tell us?         

That Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.

d.     Jehu did what the Lord wanted on the one hand, but what did he then go ahead and do? Why?    (verse 29)

Jehu began to support the same sins that Jeroboam so of Nebat did….worship the idols at both ends of the country and sacrifice to them. His heart was not towards the Lord, and these other gods took the True God’s place.

e. What Biblical truth is illustrated in this?   (Matthew 12:43-45)

That man’s heart never remains empty….if God doesn’t fill it, Satan will see to it that something else does….whether it is pleasure (sport, socialising, parties) or financial (business, investing, gambling) or evil friends getting into mischief or simply binge drinking etc.

f.    What do we have to be careful of as believers?      (Hebrews 3:12)

To NOT depart from the Living God, but to keep believing Him.

g.   What message did God give Jehu as a result?          (verse 30)

Your sons and grandsons will only remain to the fourth generation, and then your line will be cut off.

h.  How did Jehu respond to that edict of God’s?     (verse 31)

Jehu didn’t take a scrap of notice of what God told him!

i. What did Jehu then find was beginning to happen?    (verses 32-33)

The enemies started to nibble at his borders and to harass him.

j. How can we relate this to people (Christian and non-Christian) who leave God out of their lives?

Enemies of fear, worry and complaints start to creep in and there is no peace or satisfaction and no hope for the future.

2 Kings Eleven….(verses 1-21)

1.    Verses  1-21

a.  Who was Athaliah?     (verses 1; 2 Kings 8:26)

She was the mother of King Ahaziah of Judah, the wife of King Jehoram of Judah, and the daughter of Jezebel and Ahab, and therefore the grand-daughter of Omri king of Israel….all these were wicked and idolatrous heathen  people.

b.    What did she do now her son Ahaziah was dead? Why?      (verse 1b)

She immediately ordered all the other sons of Ahaziah to be executed so she could be the undisputed ruler over Judah.

c.   One escaped….who was he and how did it come about?        (verses 2-3)   

Joash was only a baby, and his aunt (Ahaziah’s sister)  was married to Jehoiada the high priest and she hid him and his nurse from Athaliah.

d. Who was Joash’s mother?         (2 Chronicles 24:1)

She was a girl of Beersheba, and nothing to do with Ahab’s family.

e. When and how did Jehoiada the priest show Joash to the army?         (verses 4-12)

When Joash reached the age of seven, Jehoiada called together all the captains of the army and brought Joash out to them. He then organised them all to be ready to defent the little bly from Athaliah’s anger, and armed them with King David’s weapons which had been stored in the temple and then prounced Joash as the rightful king.

f.   What did Athaliah do?        (verses 13-16)   

She could hear all the trumpets blowing in the temple so she went there to see what was going on, and the army arrested her and took her away for execution.

g. What does verse 17 tell us?       

That Jehoiada renewed the covenant between the Lord, the people and the king.

h.    What was the next thing to be done?      (verse 18)

They totally destroyed the idol of Baal and killed all his priests.

i.   What principles in the life of a believer do we see in this incident?        (Colossians 3:8-11)   

There must be a conscious decision to follow the Lord.

There must be repentance and putting away of all wrong things.

Then, and only then, can Jesus Christ rule as king in that person’s life.

j.   What does verse 20 tell us happened then? What is the proof that a person has done these things? (Colossians 3:15)

The land had peace from war, and a believer will experience the peace of the Lord in his heart when all wrong is put away.

2 Kings Twelve…..(verses 1-3)

1.    Verses  1-3

a.  What sort of king was Joash  (also known as Jehoash)?     (verses 2-3)

He followed his uncle’s instructions and followed the Lord while he was alive, but went his own way after the death of Jehoiada.

b.    Jehoash followed the Lord, but what did he NOT do?      (verse 3)

He didn’t take away the high places….people still offered sacrifices there.

c.   What were these “high places” originally used for?           

They were set up by the heathen nations for idol worship and sacrifice.

d. What had God told Israel to do with these high places?         (Deuteronomy 12:1-4)

He had told them to totally destroy them, and to leave absolutely nothing of them.

e. What did the people actually do with these “high places”?         (verse 3)

They didn’t totally destroy the  places but used them to saxcrifice to the Lord (compromise!) until the temple was built.

f.   What is the principle for the believer in this?        (verses 13-16)   

That everything connected with “idols” in a person’s life must be totally cut off….anything that takes the place of God in one’s life, otherwise the temptation to go back to it is always there. A believer CANNOT have a foot in both camps and grow in the things of the Lord. It has to be either the Lord or the world!

2 Kings Twelve…..(verses 4-21)

1.    Verses  4-16

a.       Who was king of Israel when Joash came to the throne?     (verse 1; 13:1)

Jehu and then his son Jehoahaz.

b.    What was Joash’s desire? What did he do about it?      (verses 2-6)

To see the temple repaired and restored….he organised the priests to do it with the temple taxes but they didn’t get around to it.

c.   What did Jehoiada the priest do about it?          (verses 7-9)

He put a special money chest at the door of the temple so the money all went into that for the temple fund.

d.   What happened then?   (verses 10-15)

When it was full the money was taken out and counted and then given to the tradesmen to do the repairs….the work was then done properly.

e. How had the temple got into such a sad state of disrepair?    (2 Chronicles 24:7)

The Levites and priests had allowed the sicked sons of Athaliah to come in and pilfer the money and take the accessories away to serve Baal.

f.    What lesson can we learn from this in our daily life for the Lord?   (John 15:1-8. verse 6 especially)

If we allow ourselves to get slack in any way at all with bad habits or laziness in reading the Bible, or have bad attitudes like resentment, unforgiveness and grudges,  our lives will fall into disrepair for the Lord. We must confess our sins and have our life cleansed,  and then organise our time around the things of the Lord, not allowing the things of the world to creep in and take over.

g.   How are some ways that the world can creep in without us noticing?         

Too much TV of the wrong sort; too much wrong sort of music; too much time spent in recreation activities with non-Christians; too much time being busy instead of taking quiet time to spend with the Lord; too much wrong reading in secular magazines etc.

2.    Verses  17-21

a.       What happened between verses 16 and 17?     (2 Chronicles 24:15-22)

Jehoiada died at the grand old age of 130 and then the princes of Judah came to Joash and told him they were going back to their idol worship, and he didn’t stop them. The new high priest (Jehoiada’s son)  stood up to them and spoke out against them and the king ordered him to be stoned to death!

b.    What did God think of this?      (2 Chronicles 24:22-24)

God punished them by allowing the enemy to come in and defeat them.

c.   How did king Joash die?          (2 Chronicles 24:22-25)

Joash never  recovered from the wounds he got in battle and his servants finished him off.

d.   What parallel can we see in this for believers?  (John 15:6; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15)

If we allow ourselves to get slack (as in g. above) then we will become defeated Christians and our testimony before others will be nil. Our so-called friends will finish us off in our walk before the Lord,  and the world which we are dabbling in will take away all the things that were once precious to us and we will be left with nothing in our hand for the Lord.

2 Kings Thirteen…..(verses 1-25)

1.    Verses  1-9

a. What was the spiritual condition of the king and people of Israel at this time?        (verses 2,6)

They were doing evil in the sight of the Lord and were still worshipping the idols that Jeroboam son of Nebat had set up after Solomon’s reign.

b.    What sort of view did God take of this?      (verse 3)

He was angry with the nation and allowed Syria to hassle and harass them continually.

c.   What did this drive the king to do?          (verses 4-5)

It drove him to seek the Lord, and God listened to him..

d.   Why did God take notice of him?           (verse 23)

Because it is God’s nature to be gracious to those who turn to Him, and because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob…..He was not willing that they be wiped out altogether.

e. Did this change the hearts of the people to follow the Lord?      (verse 6)

No, it didn’t. They still worshipped their idols and left God out.

f.    What happened to the people as a result of this battle?     (verse 7)

They lost most of their army and nearly all their horses and chariots.

2.    Verses  10-25

a.       Make a line of the kings of Israel since the time of Ahab……

Ahab, Ahaziah, Jehu,  Jehoahaz, and now Joash.

b.    Who was the next king and what was he like?      (verses 10-11)

Jehoash, grandson of Jehu became king and was as wicked as his predecessors.

c.   What well known character died during his reign?          (verse  14)

Elisha the prophet.

d.   What prophecy did he make to the king  before he died?   (verses 15-19)

He told Joash to hit the ground several times and he did it three times. Elisha told him he should have done it more…..now he would defeat Syria only three times.

e. How does verse 23 relate to people today?   (Romans 5:8)

Just as the Lord was gracious to His unbelieving and wicked people of long ago, so He is still gracious to people today. He sent His only beloved Son to die for us long before we were born. God made provision for us even then, when we were born under God’s curse.

f.     Why is God so patient with people and their arrogance?                  (2 Peter 3:9)

Because He doesn’t want anyone to perish in their sins, but wants everyone everywhere to repent of their sins,  and be saved from them, and turn to Him.

2 Kings Fourteen…..(verses 1-29)

1.    Verses  1-7

a.       What do we find out about Amaziah in the first three verses of this chapter and in verse 2 of 2 Chronicles 25?        (verses 2,6)

His father was Joash, king of Judah. His mother came from Jerusalem (not a heathen ) He was 25 years old when he began to eign and he was king for 29 years. He was a good king, but didn’t follow the Lord like David his ancestor.

b.    What was the difference between Amaziah and David ?        (verse 3; 2 Chronicles 25:2; Psalm 119:10, 145)

Amaziah did the right things outwardly, but his heart wasn’t whooly for the Lord, whereas David loved the Lord with ALL his heart, and sang praises continually, exalting the Lord as His God.

c.   What mistake did Amaziah make that his father had made before him?   (verse 4)

He did not remove the high places which were originally the worshipping places to idols…..they remained and people were still sacrificing at them (even if it was to the Lord)

d.   What did Amaziah do as soon as his kingdom was established?                   (verse 5)

He got rid of the men who killed his father.

e. What lesson can we take from these things for ourselves?  (Mark 12:33; Colossians 3:1-10) 

It is not enough to just DO what is right, our hearts must be right with God….we must be whole hearted in following the Lord. We must get rid of everything that hinders our growth in the Christian life and do away with all associations that hinder and drag one down.

f We read in verse 7 that Amaziah won a battle against Edom…..what were the circumstances of this?           (2 Chronicles 25:5-16)

He had an army of 300,000 trained men and then went and hired another 100,000 from the king of Israel, paying 100 talents of silver for their hire. A prophet came and told him to send the extras back as God was not with Israel and wouldn’t fight for him if he kept them. He sent them back and God gave him the victory.

g    What mistake did Amaziah make in preparing for this battle?      (2 Chronicles 25:6)

Calling for help from an ungodly king instead of relying totally on God.

h   What does this teach us?          (1 John 2:15-16)

To not ally ourselves with , or depend on, the world without the Lord or we will pay the consequences.

i   How did the Israeli soldiers react to being sent back home? (2 Chronicles 25:10, 13)

They were very angry and had their own mini battle against some of the towns of Judah.

j What was the biggest mistake of all that Amaziah made?   (2 Chronicles 25:14)

When he came back from his victory over Edom,  he brought the idols and set them up to be his gods!

k     What does this teach us to beware of in our Christian life?  (2 Corinthians 10:11-12)

That if we have the victory over some bad habit or sin, or see someone else who has committed some sin, that we don’t fall into the same trap again or do something even worse. If we think we are strong, then we are likely to fall and fall hard!!

2    Verses  8-29

a.   The request that Amaziah made to see Jehoash, king of Israel seemed to mean only one thing…..what was it?        (verses 8-12)

It seemed to be a declaration of war and Jehoash told him to stay at home and mind his own business…. he was getting too big for his boots!

b.    Amaziah was too pig-headed to listen….what does 2 Chronicles 25:30 tell us ?     

He refused to seek God’s face about this battle and God used it to teach him a lesson….without God, without victory!

c.   Why did God allow this defeat to Judah?          (2 Chronicles 25:20b)

Because Amaziah had turned away from God and was following heathen idols.

d.   What was the greatest  thing that Amaziah lost in this battle?    (verse14)

The treasures in God’s house…..all  the gold and silver vessels were taken away.

e. What does all this teach us?  What do believers lose when they drift back into the world?            

If a believer dives into situations without being clear about God’s directions, there will be some hard lessons to learn! There will be no victory in  Christian living, and just as Amaziah lost all the valuables out of the God’s house, so the believer loses the treasures of God’s peace and joy in his life.

f.   What was the end of Amaziah?          (verse 17-20)

He lived another fifteen years and his own people destroyed him in the end….we do not read that he ever turned back to the Lord.

g.   What are some ways a person can be destroyed by their own bad habits?                  

Smoking often brings cancer or emphysema; drinking in excess can destroy by causing an accident or completely controlling the alcoholic; over commitment to business or pleasure can often destroy family life/marriage.

h.    Who was the next king of Judah?   verse 21)

Amaziah’s son Azariah (mostly called Uzziah) was made king at the age of 16.

i.    Who was the king of Israel when Azariah became king?      (verse 23)

Jeroboam, son of Joash, great grandson  of Jehu.

j.   What sort of king was he?    (verse 24)

He was an evil man who continued to turn his back on the Lord and worship idols.

k.  Who was the prophet who spoke to him at this time?    (verse 25b)

It was the famous Jonah who the Lord had to teach some hard lessons!

l. In spite of Israel’s continued rejection of God, did the Lord wash His hands of them?  (verse 26)

No! they were afflicted bitterly but not wiped out….Jeroboam managed to keep the kingdom together.

m.     Who was the next king of Israel?     (verse 29)

Zechariah, son of Jeroboam.

3.    Chapter 15:8-12

a.    We will carry on and finish Zechariah’s history…..how long was he king for? What sort of king was he?              (verses 8-9)

Six months only….he was another idol worshipping king.

b.    What happened to him?      (verse 10)

He was killed by a man called Shallum in front of all the people.

c.   What had God said to Jehu all those years earlier?          (2 Kings 10:30-31)

Because you are continuing in the sins of idol worship, your descendants will only continue as kings for four generations.

d.   What relation was Jehu to Zechariah? Follow Jehu’s family line down…..   (2 Kings 10:35; 13:9, 13; 14:29; 15:10-12)

Jehu was his great,great, grandfather…..God’s Word was fulfilled perfectly.  From Jehu there was Jehoahaz, Joash (Jehoash), Jeroboam and Zechariah.

e. What principle of Scripture has been and still is in force,  that we see in all these stories?  (Galatians  6:7-8)

Whatever one sows in life, one will reap! If we sow to ourselves and never give God a thought, we will end up in destruction, while if we sow to the things of God we will  reap joy and peace in this life and a place with God for ever and ever!

2 Kings Fifteen…..(verses 1-38)

1.    Verses  1-7

a   How old was Uzziah (Azariah) when he became king? How long did he reign?        (verses 1-2)

He was sixteen and he reigned for fifty-two years, so he was 68 when he died.

b.    What was his testimony before God ?      (verse 3)

He did the right things outwardly like his father but it is not said he that he was like his ancestor David.

c.   What did he leave in place which should have been removed?          (verse 4)

He did nothing about the high places….the people still used them.

d.   What was the danger in leaving them there? What can we learn from this?       (Matthew 5:29-30)

The temptation and means to use them for the wrong purpose was always there. We are to remove EVERYTHING out of our life that can be a snare to us…..if we can’t control our TV switch then we should remove it altogether….if we can’t help reading sleaze, then we should buy magazines that contain it!!

e. What physical disaster occurred while Uzziah was king?        (Zechariah 14:5)      

There was a great earthquake that is only mentioned in passing.

f.   Who were some of the prophets who were around in the time of Uzziah?          (Isaiah 6:1; Hosea 1:1; Amos 1:1)

Isaiah, Amos and  Hosea.

g.    How did Uzziah start off spiritually?  (2 Chronicles 26:5-7)

He followed the Lord in the days of Zechariah the priest.

h.    What did God do for Uzziah while he followed Him?      (2 Chronicles 26:5)

God made him to prosper in all that he did….he was victorious in battle, he was famous among other nations, he built up a great army and fortified Jerusalem  and became very strong.

i.   What was Uzziah’s downfall?          (2 Chronicles 26:16-18)

PRIDE! He stepped out of line and broke God’s order by going into the temple and offering incense which was only for the priests to do.

j  What was his attitude when the priest remonstrated with him?  (2 Chronicles 26:19)

He became very angry and God struck him immediately with leprosy.

k.     It seems a tough punishment, but what does it show us?      (Psalm 99:9)

The holiness of God cannot be violated….that is why God cannot tolerate sin in any shape or form. It took the death of God’s Son to pay sin’s penalty and each person has to accept this gift for themselves.

l. What is the lesson in this for us today?      (2 Corinthians 10:11-12; 1 Peter 5-6)

To remain humble before God, because Satan is just waiting for an opportunity to trip us up in pride….to remember to not step out of line with God’s Word if we want God’s blessing.

2.   verses 8-38

a.    Meantime, what was happening in the kingdom of Israel?             (verses 8-9)

Zachariah had taken the throne on the death of his father but after a reign of only six months there was a coup and he was killed by Shallum who then reigned for only one month. Menahem rose up and assassinated him and was king for ten years before his captain Pekah killed him and took the throne. All this happened during the reign of Uzziah.

b.    We see that Jotham of Judah began to reign as regent BEFORE his father Uzziah died, so their reigns overlapped. Uzziah lost his job as king because of his disobedience which brought God’s judgement in giving him leprosy. What do we as believers have to be careful of? (Colossians 4:17; James 4:17)

That we do no more and no less than that which God requires of us. Uzziah did more than he should have, and Archippus was told to make sure he did what he was meant to….to refuse either of these is sin. If we overstep the mark in either active disobedience or in being slack, it brings sin into our lives and destroys our usefulness in God’s work.

c.    What sort of king was Jotham?                 (verses 34-36)

Jotham seems to have been rather a bland sort of character….he followed the Lord like his father had done, but didn’t get rid of the high places leaving the people to continue to sacrifice there.

d.    What comment is made concerning the spiritual state of  Judah?  (2 Chronicles 27:2c)

They did corruptly….in other words they were still into idolatry.

e.   What does 2 Chronicles 27:6 tell us about Jotham?         

That he became mighty because he followed the Lord.

f.   What can describe the kingdom of Judah during Jotham’s reign?

It was peaceful and prosperous.

g. Did the Lord overlook the people’s sins?            (verse 37)

Not really… Syria and Israel both began to nibble at their borders.

h. What state of mind does a believer have who is following the Lord wholeheartedly? (Philippians 4:7)

God’s peace fills their hearts as they take their troubles to Him and are thankful for the answers.

2 Kings Sixteen…..(verses 1-20)

Read this chapter and also 2 Chronicles 28 right through before doing this study.

1.    Verses  1-20

a. We will take an overview of the life of Ahaz rather than try to identify all the happenings….what sort of king did Ahaz prove to be? What was his father Jotham like?        (verses 1-2; 2 Kings 15:34)

Ahaz didn’t follow the Lord at all….he followed the ways of Israel into idolatry. Jotham had been a true follower of the Lord.

b.    What low depths did Ahaz sink to?      (verse 3)

He went as low as to sacrifice his own son to a heathen idol.

c.   What do you notice about the two kings in verses 5,7?         

They were two different kingdoms….one was Syria, and the other was Assyria.

d.   Who did Ahaz ally himself with and for help from?       (verse 7)

The king of Assyria.

e. What drove him to do this?     (2 Chronicles 28:6-8)      

Israel had come against Judah and had slaughtered 120,000 of them and taken another 200,000  captive

f.   Were the people of Israel all bad? What did some of then do?     (verses 8-9; Chronicles 28:19-21)

The prophet Oded remonstrated with them for their treatment of Judah and some of the heads rose up and saw that the captives were fed and clothed decently and then set free to return home.

g.    What other people were harassing the borders of Judah? (2 Chronicles 28:17-18)

The Edomites and Philistines took many of the nearest cities of Judah.

h.    How much good did this new ally of Assyria do Ahaz?   (verses 8-9; 2 Chronicles 28:19-21)

None really…..he ended up stripping the House of God to give to Assyria.

i.   What did Ahaz see in Assyria that took his fancy? What did he do about it?    (verses 10-16)

He saw an altar of distinctive design and sent the pattern back to have one like it made and put in the temple….he moved the other altars around to make room for it thus making God’s order in disarray.

j.  What else did Ahaz interfere with?     (verses 17-18)

He took the laver basin (used for the priests washing) from off the stand of 12 brass oxen which Solomon had made and put it down on a base of stones instead.

k.     What does 2 Chronicles 28:22-24 tell us he did next?                 

He never turned to the Lord, but depended on the idols of Assyria….this was the ruin on the kingdom of Judah. The final downward step was when he closed the doors of the house of God altogether.

2.    How can we relate these sad stories to a church or an individual believer?                            

verses 3-4  If a person is not following the Lord wholeheartedly, other things will creep into his life….a person’s life is never a vacuum. These things will take God’s place and nibble away at a person’s joy and peace.

Verse 7        A person will come to depend on the world for advice and friendship rather than seek godly companionship.

Verses 10-11     A person or church will pattern their behaviour or programmes on that of the world, and will make space and time  in their lives for these things.

Verse 17    When the laver of brass was taken off its base of brass oxen (brass speaking of God’s judgement) it is like a church stopping to preach the Gospel of God’s judgement and the need for salvation. The laver being put on the ground is like the need for a person’s cleansing by the Word being put aside and neglected.

2 Chronicles 28:19-23   A person or church in this condition does not depend on the Lord for help, but runs all over the place seeking secular help.

2 Chronicles 28:24-25   Ahaz finally closed the doors of the temple…..it was in disarray and nearly ruined. We see the doors of churches being closed today because the people’s needs are not being met there with the ministers not preaching God’s Word, but only their own sermons.

A person in this condition ceases to worship God….everything else has crowded God out and they often become a bitter and twisted old  person…..the sort that say they tried it and it didn’t work!

2 Kings Seventeen…..(verses 1-41)

1.    Verses  1-41

We now turn our attention back to the kings of Israel…..as it turns out, the last king of Israel.

a.  Who was this king and what was he like?        (verses 1-2;  15:30)

His name was Hoshea and he had conspired against Pekah  killed him and taken the throne. He was a heathen man like the kings before him, but not quite so wicked.

b.    What did he do to keep peace with the king of Assyria?      (verses 3-4)

He allowed his land to taxed heavily to give fee to the king each year until he got tired of doing this and secretly went to the king of Egypt for help, refusing to pay his taxes to the king of Assyria. As a result, Hoshea was arrested and put in prison.

c.   What was the result of this?          (verse 5)

It did him no good….it only caused Assyria to besiege the city for three years, and then to eventually carry the people all away as captives to Assyria.

d.   What was the root cause of this state of affairs?       (verses 7-18)

The people of God had turned their backs on Him, His message and His prophets, and had turned to idol worship, even to making human sacrifices. They rejected God’s ways and commands totally which Moses had given them and so the curse of God fell on them and on the land.

e. Why do you think these things were recorded and included in the Bible as we have it today?             (1 Corinthians 10:11-12)      

Not because it is a story or even because it is history, but so we can see how God worked with his people down through the years, and the results of their disobedience to His Word. These are an example to us to NOT do the same things, so that we may know that God’s judgement falls on those who disobey Him.

f.  There were no people left in the land….what did the king of Assyria do about it?   (verse 24)

He took people from his own country and settled them in the land which became known as Samaria.

g.    What happened to them there? Why?      (verses 25-26)

God sent wild animals and lions among them which killed quite a few….it was to show that He was still in control because these new people brought their own heathen idols with them.

h.   What was their thinking in the midst of this dilemma?          (verse 27)

They thought that if they got a priest back from among the captives and learned about the God of the land of Israel, that this would keep them safe!

i.   What happened? What was the end result?       (verses 28-41)

They got a priest back and he taught them about God, but he never preached about being righteous or the need to follow the Lord wholeheartedly (probably because he wasn’t himself!). The end result was that the new priesthood was taken from the worst sort of people and the population paid God lip-homage while they continued worship their own gods and idols!

j. What was the basic cause of these people behaving like this?          (verses 35-40)      

They didn’t really want to know God at all or what pleased Him. The end result was total confusion!

k.   How can we see the same things  around us today?     (Romans 1:28-32)

People who leave God out of their lives fill it with pleasure, sport or  business  and develop their own code of morality (saying  “I  think” thus making their thoughts the criteria or else “No-one is telling ME what to do!”  Yet at funerals or times of crises they pay lip service to God  without any change of heart or repentance.

l.    The Samaritans became a despised people by the Jews because their beliefs and the fact they weren’t of pure Jewish blood…..does this mean that God wiped them out completely?  (John 4:39-42; Acts 8:6-8, 25; 9:31)

No, our Lord Jesus walked through their land and gave them the message of hope and forgiveness which they received, and the Gospel was preached there later with many believing and churches springing up.

2 Kings Eighteen…..(verses 1-12)

1.    Verses  1-12

a.  We are going back to the kings of Judah….who was king now and what sort of person was he?        (verses 1-3)

His name was Hezekiah and he became king on the death of his father Ahaz….he followed the Lord with a perfect heart like his ancestor David.

b.    Which other kings followed the Lord like this?      (1 Kings 15:11; 22:2; 2 Chronicles 17:3 )

Asa, Jehoshaphat, and Josiah.

c.   How are other godly kings described?          (2 Kings 14:3; 15:3, 34))

Each of these kings are described as doing what their father had done, not what David had done.

d.   What did God say about David?   What did David say himself?    (1 Samuel 13:14; Psalm 9:1)

God said that he was a man after God’s own heart…. David said he gave thanks to God with his WHOLE heart.

e. Who was king in Israel when Hezekiah came to the throne?    (verse 1)      

Hoshea was king.

f.   What did Hezekiah do that none  of the previous kings did ?     (verse 4a)

He got into action and removed all the high places where idol worship was carried on.

g.    What “good” thing did he also get rid of? Why?  (verse 4b)

He got rid of (completely broke up) the brass serpent that Moses had made that had lasted all these hundreds of years because the people were worshipping it instead of God.

h. What does this tell each one of us?           

That we have to analyse all our actions and habits and get rid of even “good”  ones that take too much of our time and thoughts.

i.   What was the result of his trust and following of the Lord ?     (verses 5-7)

The Lord was with him and made him prosper, and win the battles he had with the enemies.

j.    In what ways do believers prosper when they spend time with the Lord?       (3 John 1:2)

Not necessarily physically or financially, but certainly spiritually…..they become overcomers in the battles of life, they know the Lord better and they experience the peace of God.

2.       2 Chronicles 29:1-36

a.  Where did Hezekiah start in his cleansing process?        (verses 3-6)

He set his mind to follow the Lord and then he carried on to cleanse the house of the Lord and establish worship again there.

b.    How does this apply to us  today?      (Psalm 37:4; Romans 12:1-2; 1 John 1:9 )

We are to PRESENT  ourselves to the Lord first and then we will  DELIGHT in him and his Word, allowing him to TRANSFORM our minds by not following the world and its ways. We do this by CONFESSING our sins to him and He will cleanse and forgive.

c.   The house of the Lord was cleansed….what do we see that Hezekiah did next?

Verse 20                       He got up early and went to the place of cleansing and worship.

Verse 24                       The priests offered the atonement offering for cleansing.

Verses 25-27     The priests and people sang praises to God and worshipped Him.

Verse 30                       Everyone who did this was filled with joy and gladness.

d. The people of Judah had made themselves right with God….what followed next?     (verses 5-9)

They spread the word out to Israel next door and sent off invitations all over the country to come and worship at Jerusalem.

e. What was the result of this?    (verses 10-11)      

Many just scoffed at the invitation, but some of the tribes came.

2 Kings Eighteen…..(verses 13-19:37)

1.    2 Chronicles 30:16-27

a.  What did Hezekiah do for the people who came?        (verses 18-19)

Hezekiah prayed to the Lord for pardon for those who did the right thing in the wrong was and the Lord granted his request…..he also saw that the people were taught what to do correctly and all the people who participated, rejoiced and praised God for his goodness to them.

b.    How did God regard this?      (verse 20 )

He heard the people’s prayer and praise and accepted it.

c.   What can we learn from this?          (Romans 8:26; Ephesians 1:7)

That God is gracious and will hear all those whose hearts are towards Him….even our prayers are made to be acceptable to Him…. but we must do our best to learn the right way to do things before we can grow in the things of the Lord.

d.   What does 2 Chronicles 31 show us that followed next?   

The people cleaned out the land of all the idols and places of idol worship and then they gave back to the Lord what He had given them.

e. What was the result of this?    (31: 18, 21)      

The people consecrated themselves to the Lord and Hezekiah prospered in his kingdom.

f.   What happens when we clean our lives up and start giving back God the praise that is due to His Name ?     (Psalm 29:1-2, 11; Colossians 1:17-19)

He gives us joy and peace in our soul, and we prosper in His knowledge

2.    2 Kings 19………..

Hezekiah had been king for six years when Assyria came against the kingdom of Israel and besieged Samaria for three years eventually capturing it. This was when the people were taken captive to Assyria and their king imprisoned. After the king of Assyria had got that sorted out, he next came to harass Judah and Hezekiah…..

a.  What did Hezekiah do when the enemy started to harass him?   (2 Kings 18:13-16)

He tried to placate them by paying heavy taxes and also gave them all the treasures of the House of God.

b.  What did Hezekiah do when the enemy came against him later? What was his reasoning? (2 Chronicles 32:1-7)

He blocked up all the water sources around the outside of the city so the enemy armies couldn’t survive. His attitude was, “Why supply them with water?” He also prepared his own army.

c.     What did the enemy do to try to demoralise the people?          (2 Kings 18:28)

He spoke out loudly in the Jewish language to all the people on the wall within earshot saying that their God could not deliver them from such a great king as Sennacherib of Assyria.

d.   What did Hezekiah and Isaiah the prophet do?        (verses 5-7)

Hezekiah put on sack clothes and went into the Temple in dire distress and also sent a message to Isaiah telling him what was happening. Isaiah sent back telling him that God said He would fight for him, and to stop worrying.

e. What was the result of this?    (19:8-34)      

The enemy retreated, but then the king of Assyria made a second attempt to wipe Judah off the face of the earth, and this time Hezekiah took the letter into the temple and spread it out before the Lord. God gave a message back that He would fight this battle for them.

f.   How did this come to pass ?     (verses 35-37)

God sent an angel that night that struck down all the leaders and captains and all the best men in the army….185,000 were lying dead in the field the next morning. After Sennacherib has returned to his own land, his two sons killed him as he was in the temple of his idol.

g.    What effect did this have on Hezekiah ?  (2 Chronicles 32:21-23)

He was left in peace for a while and all the surrounding nations honoured him.

h. What mistake did Hezekiah make when the king of Assyria first come against him? (2 Kings 18:14-16)         

He didn’t stand up against him but tried to appease him with compromise and gifts.

i.   How are believers to react to the enemies of their souls in temptations and attacks ?     (Ephesians 6:11, 16; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9)

We are to resist the devil, to stand firm in what we believe and to use God’s armour of faith, prayer and the Word of God, then Satan will flee from us each time we do this.

2 Kings Twenty…..(verses 1-21)

1.    Verses 1-21

a.  The Lord had just given Hezekiah a tremendous victory and deliverance….what happened to him next?        (verse 1)

Hezekiah developed an incurable disease which was terminal, and Isaiah came to tell him.

b.    What do we often see happen in our lives?     

After some great experience, a severe  problem arises.

c.   What did Hezekiah do in his extremity? What are we to do?          (verses 2- 3)

Hezekiah prayed and wept before the Lord asking desprately for healing. We are not to worry but to take all our problems to the Lord WITH thanksgiving for the answer whatever it may be.

d.   What are we to be very careful of in making our requests to God?    (Psalm 106:15)

We are not to DEMAND because we don’t always know what is best for us or those around us….sometimes God will give us what we ask for and the result will be a lean soul.

e. The Lord granted Hezekiah his request, and told Isaiah to tell him he would be healed…Hezekiah then asked for a sign from God….what was it? What are the implications of this sign? (verses 9-11)      

Hezekiah asked that time would be put backwards as his sign….this means that either the earth stopped spinning or the sun itself moved backwards….both mind boggling concepts, especially when the healing itself should have been enough of a sign!

f.   What does this show us about God ?     (Psalm 37:3)

It shows us God’s mighty power, His hearing ear to His people and His graciousness in granting Hezekiah’s request.

g.  God had given Hezekiah what he asked for, but what mistakes did he make in the next fifteen years that God gave him?   (verses 12-13; 21:2; 2 Chronicles 32:25)

He became proud and vain and showed off to the enemy. He wasn’t thankful to the Lord for his healing.  He had his youngest son and didn’t train him up in the way of the Lord (he became one of the wickedest kings of Judah).

h.  What were some of the good things that Hezekiah did in those fifteen years? (2 Chronicles 32:25)

He increased in trade and commerce and he made a special underground watercourse into the city of Jerusalem  which still has remains showing today.

i. What else are we shown about God’s dealings with Hezekiah ?   (2 Chronicles 32:26)

When Hezekiah humbled himself before the Lord he was forgiven and God’s wrath with-held from him. God prospered him in all his commercial ventures.

j.   What do 2 Chronicles 32:31 and Deuteronomy 8:2 tell us?   Did Hezekiah pass the test?

That sometimes God allows certain circumstances in our lives to test us and prove whether we will really follow Him or not. Hezekiah failed his test by showing off to the heathen visitors.

k. How can we relate to these things and how can we avoid making the same mistakes?  (Isaiah 42:8; 1 Corinthians 10:12; Hebrews 3:12; James 4:7-10; 1 Peter 5:5b-9)      

We should keep ourselves humble before God at all times, recognising that all we have and are has come from God in the first place…..God resists and deals with all those who are proud. We are to be careful that we follow the Lord at ALL times and not wander off from Him. We are to remember to give God the glory that is due to His name…..He will not share it with anything else in our lives. Let us each one try to pass the tests that God allows in our lives.

l.   How did Hezekiah show himself up in verse 19 ?    

He was only thinking of himself, never mind what was going to come on the nation when he was gone!

m.    Who was the prophet in Hezekiah’s time ?  (verse 20)

The same Isaiah that wrote the Book of Isaiah in the Bible.

2 Kings Twenty-one…..(verses 1-26)

1.    Verses 1-18

a.  How old was Manasseh when he began to reign? Was he born before or after Hezekiah got sick?        (verse 1)

Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign…..he was born three years after Hezekiah’s illness.

b.    What sort of king was he? What sort of things did he do?      (verses 3-9)

He was the most evil king that Judah had ever had. He not only worshipped idols and rebuilt all the high places that had been cut down, but he sacrificed his own son and resorted to all sorts of black magic and spiritism. He even put an idol in God’s temple and worshipped the sun, moon and stars as the heathen did.

c.   What was the attitude of Manasseh and his people?          (2 Chronicles 33:10)

They were stubborn and rebellious before the Lord and would NOT listen to the prophets.

d.   What does 2 Chronicles 33:11-13 tell us that the other account completely misses out?  

That Manasseh was taken captive to Babylon and while he was there he repented before the Lord in humility and cried out to Him….somehow he was released and allowed back to Jerusalem.

e. What did Manasseh do when he got back?      (2 Chronicles 33: 14-16)      

He built a wall and fortifications around the west side of the city, armed all his cities and cleansed the house of the Lord of all the idols as well as the whole land and cities. He reinstated and repaired the altar of the Lord and the sacrifices to God, and appointed men of God to be his counsellors as well as confessing his sin to God.

f.   How can we relate this to a person coming  to the Lord after an exceedingly sinful life?    (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Colossians 3:17-24)

A person will clean up his act and show by his manner of life that it is a genuine repentance. He will rebuild that which was torn down in his life….things like prayer and Bible study and gathering with other Christians. He will have new desires, a new language, new friends and a new song in his heart.

g.  What do we see about the length of Manasseh’s reign?     (verse 1)

If you check all the other king’s reigns, you will see that he was the longest reigning king of all the kings of  Israel and Judah…. He reigned for 55 years.

2.    Verses 19-26

a.  What sort of king was Amon?        (verses 20-21)

He reverted back to the idol worship of Manasseh’s early years….. his father’s change of heart had no effect on him at all.

b.    What was the keystone for the change in Manasseh’s life? Did Amon ever do that?  (2 Chronicles 33: 21-23)

Manasseh humbled himself before God, and Amon never did that.

c.   What is it that God requires of every single human being?          (Micah 6:8)

To walk humbly with Him as well as to do that which is good. Most “good” people today, do everything right, BUT will not humble themselves to walk with God and obey him. They think their way is good enough, never mind what God says!!

d.   What does verse 22 tell us about Amon?  

He left God out of his life and turned his back on Him.

e. How did he end up? How old was he when he died?              (verse 19)      

His servants rose up against him and killed him….he was assassinated at the age of 24.

f.   In spite of Manasseh turning back to the Lord, did that wipe out all the wickedness he had done? What were some of the consequences?           (2 Kings 24:3-4)

Manasseh had been SO wicked that his sin in the land still had to be punished….the consequences were a wicked son after him and God’s anger still requiring justice for all the human sacrifices that had been done….. this continued for many years down the track.

g.     What does that tell us for today?           (Galatians 6:7-8)

It tells us that even when a person comes to the Lord, often the consequences of their former life will come back to haunt them….e.g. broken marriage, children out of wedlock and perhaps adopted out, bad health due to smoking and/or drinking, financial problems needing to be put right, apologies to be made etc.

2 Kings Twenty-two…..(verses 1-20)

1.    Verses 1-20

a.  How is Josiah’s “goodness” described?        (verse 2)

He did what was right in the eyes of God and followed the ways of David his ancestor, never deviating.

b.    How did David follow the Lord?      (Psalm 119:9-11)

David followed the Lord with his whole heart….he listened to God’s Word anmd filled his heart and mind with it, praying that he would never leave it.

c.   How old was King Josiah when he dedicated himself to following the Lord?  (2 Chronicles 34:3a)

He was sixteen years old.

d.   What did he start doing when he was twenty?   (2 Chronicles 34:3b-7)

He started to clean up the land, and got rid of all signs of idol worship by breaking the idols and flattening the groves and high places, as well as destroying the priests of idolatry.

e. What was his next project? How old was he then?     (2 Chronicles 34:8)      

When he was 26,  he set to work to have the temple repaired and  the Levitical priesthood reinstated.

f.   How did the people react to this?           (verses 4-7; 2 Chronicles 34-8-13)

They co-operated enthusiastically and gave generously of their money and their time to have this done.

g.  What did Hilkaiah the priest discover during the course of doing this repair work? What happened? (verses 8-10)

Hilkaiah found the book of the law that Moses had given to the people and which had been in the temple all these years unread….. he gave it to the king to hear what it said.

h.  What did Josiah discover? What did he do?  (verses 11-14)

He discovered that there were curses from God on all who did not follow His ways and on those who worshipped idols…..Josiah realised that his people were under God’s curse and he sent the priests to the prophetess to see how bad it really was.

i.    What was the Lord’s message to Josiah?           (verses 15-20)

The words of the book were true, and there was God’s great anger on the land because of the idolatry of his father and grandfather. But because he had humbled himself before the Lord, God had heard him and the curses would not come in his time.

j   What is the pattern here for us to follow?          (1 Corinthians 11:31-32)

To judge ourselves (not the next person) and take stock of where we are at before the Lord, then clean up our act, read God’s word and determine to follow it wholeheartedly.

k   What was the contrast between what Josiah did to the idols and what Manasseh did when he turned to the Lord?   (2 Chronicles 33:15-17; 34:4-7)

Manasseh removed the idols and threw them out, but didn’t totally destroy them….Josiah not only broke them up, but he ground them to powder so there was no chance of bringing them back!

l.     What does that tell us to do?                          

To not just leave the old ways behind, but cut ALL ties with them. People in the jungle who bury their idols and charms  never grow spiritually until they totally destroy them with no chance of ever getting them back!

2 Kings Twenty-three…..(verses 1-37)

1.    Verses 1-28

a.  Josiah had cleansed the land, repaired the temple and heard God’s word….what did he do next?        (verses 1-2; 2 Chronicles 34:29-33)

He called all the people together and read the words of the book of the law out to them….he wasted no time having the people taught the right way.

b.    How did the people respond?  Why?      (2 Chronicles 34:33b)

They obeyed God’s word and followed the king’s example….. they needed to be taught what was right  and have a good leader.

c.   How does this parallel God’s people today?          (1 Corinthians 11:1; Hebrews 10:23-25)

They need to find a church that bases its teaching on the Word of God with strong, godly leaders.

d.  Josiah had cleansed the land….what was the next thing that he did?     (verse 21)

To re-uinstate temple worship and the keeping of the Passover and the sacrifices.

e.    What is said of this passover?       (verse 22)

None of the other kings had ever kept a Passover like this one! Samuel was the last one to have held a Passover like this one.

f.   What does all this teach us?         

That it is no use cleaning up our act and then sitting back without following it up by finding a church group to have fellowship and worship with.

g. Josiah had this wonderful testimony but what do verses 26-27 tell us?    (Remember that Manasseh had turned to the Lord at the end of his life)

God’s anger was still over the land of Judah because He knew the people’s hearts and what the next lot of kings would be like…..the evil that Manasseh had started was still lurking in the background.

2.    Verses 29-37

a.  Who was the king of Egypt going off to fight with?        (verse 29a; 2 Chronicles 35:20)

He was heading off to fight with the city of Carchemish by the River Euphrates.

b.    What did Josiah do?  What did the king of Egypt tell him?    (2 Chronicles 35:21)

Josiah intercepted him to stop him going and Necho virtually told him to mind his own business and go back home, but Josiah didn’t listen.

c.   How did Josiah’s end come?          (2 Chronicles 35:22-24)

He persisted in going against the king of Egypt, and in spite of his disguise, he was shot by an archer. He was taken dying back to Jerusalem and buried there.

d.   What lesson is there in this for us?   

To not meddle in the politics of the world….to not interfere unless we are certain it is of the Lord. Otherwise our testimony could be shot down and destroyed by the world and its media.

e.  Who was the next king? What sort of reign did he have?        (verses 31-32)

Jehoahaz was the next king, but he reverted back to Amon’s evil ways, and only lasted 3 months.

f.    Who became virtual king of Judah at this time?             (verse 33)

Pharaohnecho, king of Egypt ran the country and heavily taxed it, making Jehoahz’s brother Eliakim (who he called Jehoiakim) the king.

g.   What had happened to Jehoahaz?          (verses 33-34)

He was taken captive to Egypt and died there.

h.   What is the parallel in this for us today?  

A person who never repents, remains in their sin and the world (Egypt) has them in its grip. They are heavily taxed by being victim of bad habits and bad thoughts and attitudes and will eventually die this way. Satan rules their life.

i. What does Romans 6:23 teach us?                     

That the wages of sin is death and there is no hope in this condition, but that God offers the gift of eternal life if man will only accept it.

j.   How long did Jehoiakim reign for? What was his reign like?     (verses 35-37)

He reigned for eleven years, and was heavily taxed to Necho the whole time of his reign. He was  also a wicked king who didn’t follow the ways of the Lord.

2 Kings Twenty-four…..(verses 1-20)

1.    Verses 1-20

a.   What sort of king was Jehoiakim? Who was his father and what sort of example had he had in him?        (2 Kings 23:34, 37)

He was also the son of Josiah, the most godly king Judah ever had and yet he (Jehoiakim) remained evil in his ways.

b.    What does this tell us about our parent’s faith?     

That our parents’ faith cannot do for us….each person must turn to the Lord for themselves.

c.   Who took over Jehoiakim’s kingdom? What happened?          (verse 1)

Nebuchadnezzar, an even stronger power than Egypt, took over Jehoiakim….this lasted for three years, then Jehoiakim rebelled the tried to break free.

d.   Did he succeed in throwing off Nebuchadnezzar’s bondage?   (verse 2)

No, and then other nations came in and hassled him.

e. What was the main cause for these punishments?          (verse 3)         

It went back to his grandfather Manasseh’s wicked ways and all the innocent blood that he shed in human sacrifices to idols.

f.   What does this show us for today about people trying to reform in their own strength?           (Romans 7:14-18; 8:7-8)

A person who has never turned to the Lord may never  break bad habits….other worse habits will come into his life and take over. Even reformed alcoholics will often have to suffer the consequences of earlier bad habits in the way of ruined health and regrets of bad behaviour while under the influence.

g.   God’s anger remained over the land because of Mansseh’s sin and Jehoiakim’s in carrying it on….what does John 3:36 teach us about God’s anger on mankind?          

That it stays on all those who refuse to believe on and follow Jesus Christ.

h.   What happened to Jehoiakim?           (2 Chronicles 36:6)

He reigned for eleven years altogether in Jerusalem ….he rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar for the last three of them, and in the end Nebuchadnezzar got sick of him not paying his taxes and came and took him away captive to Babylon where he eventually died.

i.   What can we assume from 1 Kings 24:1 and Daniel 1:1-6?  What sort of characters were the three young lads mentioned?        

It seems that Daniel and his three companions were of the royal family and were taken captive in the first wave of captivity….they were possibly Josiah’s descendants who were standing firm for the Lord in contrast with the others who weren’t.

j.  Who was the next king? What do we know about him? (verses 8-12; Jeremiah 22:24;Jeremiah 24:1)

Jehoiachin was known by other names…Jeconiah and Coniah. He was one of Josiah’s grandsons who followed the evil ways of his father. He only reigned for three months and then he, his mother and wives went out and surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar and were taken captive to Babylon in the second wave of captivity along with all the  rest of the population of Judah.

k. What was the end of Jehoiachin’s story?  What was prophesied of his life? (2 Kings25:27-30; Jeremiah 22:24-30)

Jeremiah prophesied that Jehoiachin would be taken to a strange land with no prospect of ever returning and die there, along with his family. None of his descendants would ever reign as king again in the land of Israel. But we are told that after 37 years of captivity, the current  king of Babylon took him out of prison and gave him a place at his table for the rest of his life.

l.   What state did Nebuchadnezzar leave the land in at this time?       (verses 13-16)  

The land was left desolate with all the craftsmen and educated people taken out of it; the temple was completely wrecked with all the gold and precious things  from it  taken off to Babylon.

m.  Who was the next king? How long did he reign?        (verse 18; 2 Chronicles 36:11-12)

Zedekiah, also a son of Josiah and the brother of Jehoiakim, was made the next king, and he reigned for eleven years. He was another evil king who had thought or time for God at all.

n.    How did Zedekiah react to being subject to Nebuchadnezzar? (2 Chronicles 36:13a)

He rebelled against paying his taxes after a while.

o.   What was Zedekiah’s attitude to God during this time?  (2 Chronicles 36:13b-16)

He refused to listen to God’s messengers, mocking them and misusing them, and totally hardened his heart against God altogether

p.   What are we told in  2 Chronicles 36:16 about the situation?    (Genesis 6:3a)

God’s anger reached the point of no return….. He can reach the time of not striving with stubborn man any longer.

2 Kings Twenty-five…..(verses 1-30)

1.    Verses 1-30

a.   How long was Jerusalem besieged for?  By whom?      (verses 1-2)

Nebuchadnezzar held the city under siege for two years, eight months.

b.   What finally brought the people of Jerusalem to surrender?      (verses 3-5)

They were totally starving and demoralised, then on top of that the army fled by way of the plain and the enemy overtook them.

c.   Zedekiah went secretly to Jeremiah to ask what to do …what did Jeremiah tell him?           (Jeremiah 38:14-27)

Jeremiah said to go out and surrender to Nebuchadnezzar and to NOT go to Egypt.

d.   So what happened to Zedekiah?   (verses 6-7)

He was taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar, and watched his sons be beheaded and then had his eyes       bored out to become totally blind.

e. What happened to the temple?        (verses 8-10)         

It was completely sacked with all the gold, silver and brass stripped from off it, and then set fire to along with all the official’s houses and palaces.

f.   Why did God allow this to happen?           (2 Chronicles 36:16-17)

Because the people had turned their backs on Him completely in rebellion.

g.   What was the attitude of the people at that time? (2 Chronicles 36: 14-16; Jeremiah 44:11-27)

It was blatant idol and sun worship….the women seemed to lead in this, but the men went along with them at the same time.

h.  What happened to Jeremiah when the people were taken captive with Zedekiah?  (Jeremiah 39:11-12

He was taken off to Babylon with them.

i.    Who did Nebuchadnezzar appoint to govern the land with those who were left?     (verses22-34; Jeremiah 39:14)

Gedeliah was taken to Babylon with everyone else and Nebuchadnezzar appointed him from there to go back as governor of Judah and take Jeremiah back with him.

j.    What did God tell Jeremiah to tell the people?            (Jeremiah 42:7-17)

Don’t be afraid of the  king of Babylon, serve him and you’ll be OK; whatever you do, DON’T go to Egypt for safety because you won’t find it there, but will die instead.

k.   What was the end of Gedeliah’s story?  What did the people do then (Jeremiah too)? (verses 24-26)

Gedeliah was assassinated, and the people went off to Egypt contrary to God’s message, and took Jeremiah with them.

l.    What happened in Egypt? What about Jeremiah?      (Jeremiah 44:1, 11-14, 27-30)

It was exactly as God said….. Nebuchadnezzar over-ran Egypt and most of the Jews were killed with just a few (including Jeremiah) able to go back to Jerusalem.

m.  What did God tell the people of Israel to do while they were in captivity? How long was the land of Judah going to remain desolate for? Why was this?     (2 Chronicles 36:21; Jeremiah 29:4-14)

God told them to settle down, build houses and grow gardens and crops and multiply because it would be seventy years before anyone would return to Israel. This came upon them because they had not kept the Sabbath day for years, so the seventy years of desolation would make up for this missed time.

n.    What do we see about the time of captivity for Israel? How can we apply this to ourselves?            (Jeremiah 30:11; 46:28: Hebrews 12:5-11)

It was a time of punishment and correction for the people that they would learn to obey God after this. In the same way God corrects His people today to show His love for them that they might learn the lessons He wants to teach them.

o. We have already seen what happened to Jehoiachin after 37 years in Babylon….how can we apply that to ourselves today?        (verses 27-30; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 5:10;  Colossians 1:21-22)

Jehoiachin was an enemy of the king of Babylon, and  didn’t deserve any favours, neither do we deserve any favours from the King of Kings, God. We were enemies of Christ.  Jehoiachin was given all he needed until the day he died, and we too are given all the spiritual  resources we need from God for all eternity….it is just a matter of us accepting it as a gift and using it to the fullest! Jehoiachin’s prison clothes were taken from him and he was given clean new clothes….in the same way, our old filthy rags of self righteousness are taken away and we are clothed in Christ’s righteousness for ever!