Brave Hearts Ministry

II Chronicles

Memory Verse:

“God is good: his love lasts forever.” 5:13

 

Key Facts

 

Author: Unknown

Why written: This books tells what God thought of the kings of Israel and Judah.

Key lesson: God rescues godly leaders who depend on him for help.

Important people: Solomon, Ahab, Jehoshaphat, Joash, Hezekiah and Josiah

When: between 970 and 586B.C.

Location: the kingdoms of Israel and Judah

 

 

Lesson #1: Dedication of the Temple. II Chronicles 7:1-5, 11-14

 

     “When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.  The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it.  When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, ‘He is good; his love endures forever.’

 

     Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord.  And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 head of cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats.  So the king and all the people dedicated the temple of God.

 

     When Solomon had finished the temple of the Lord and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the Lord and in his own palace, the Lord appeared to him at night and said:

 

     ‘I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices.  When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.’”

 

    

1.              What came down from heaven after Solomon got done praying? (vs 1 – fire).

2.              What did the fire do? (vs1 – consumed the offering)

3.              What did all of the people of Israel do after the fire came down? (vs 3 – they bowed down and worshipped)

4.              What did the people say? (vs3 – he is good; for his mercy endureth forever)

5.              How is God good to you?

6.              Read verse 14.  Break it down with the girls.  What does “humble” mean? What does “seek my face” mean? What does “turn from your wicked ways” mean?  What are some examples of “wicked ways” in today’s world?

7.              What will happen if you are humble and seek his face? (vs14 God will hear you, forgive you, and heal the land)

 

Summary – God is all about forgiveness.  We need to walk humbly and seek God in everything we do.

 

 

Lesson #2: Solomon’s life comes to an end. II Chronicles 9:25-31

 

     “Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots, and 12,000a horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem.  He ruled over all the kings from the River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt.   The kind made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills.  Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from all other countries.

 

     As for the other events of Solomon’s reign, from beginning to end, are they not written in the records of Nathan the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat?  Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel 40 years.  Then he rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David his father.  And Rehoboam his son succeeded him as king.”

 

1.              Kind Solomon was greater in two areas than all the other kings.  What were they? (vs. 22 – riches and wisdom)

2.              Where did God get his wisdom? (vs. 23 – God put it there)

3.              Do you think that God can give you wisdom? How can wisdom help you get through your problems? (give some examples)

4.              How many horses did King Solomon have? (12,000) King Solomon collected horses.  What do people with lots of money tend to collect today?

5.              If God blesses you with money, what do you need to be careful of? (Being a good steward of his resources – tithing to the church and giving back to God what he has given to you).

6.              Solomon was known everywhere as the wisest person that ever lived.  Who can you learn from that is wise?

 

Summary: Because Solomon walked in God’s ways, God blessed him with wisdom and riches.  Not everyone is blessed with the riches that Solomon was – but God takes care of our needs and blesses us in many ways.  Being a Christian does not mean that you will have lots of money.  Sometimes God knows that money can get in the way of dependence on him.  It is better to have less and keep our hearts dependent on God.

 

Lesson #3 – King Rehoboam abandons the Lord. II Chronicles 12:1-7

 

History: After Solomon died, the kingdom of Israel divided into two separate kingdoms.  Solomon’s son Rehoboam ruled the southern kingdom, which was called Judah.  The northern kingdom, Israel, made Jeroboam king.  Jeroboam was related to David and Solomon.  At first King Rehoboam was loyal to the Lord.  But then he turned away from God once he became strong.

 

     “After Rehoboam’s position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the Lord.  Because they had been unfaithful to the Lord, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem in the fifth year of King Rehoboam.  With 1,200 chariots and 60,000 horsemen and the innumerable troops of Libyans, Sukkites and Cushites that came with him from Egypt, he captures the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.

 

     Then the prophet Shemaiah came to Rehoboam and to the leaders of Judah who had assembled in Jerusalem for fear of Shishak, and he said to them, ‘This is what the Lords says, ‘You have abandoned me; therefore, I now abandon you to Shishak.’

 

     The Leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, ‘The Lord is just.’

 

     When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, this word of the Lord came to Shemaiah: ‘Since they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will soon give them deliverance.  My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak.’”

 

1.              Why do you think King Rehoboam abandoned the Lord?

2.              Why do you think that people today walk away from the Lord?

3.              What happened to King Rehoboam because of his unfaithfulness? (vs. 2 King of Egypt attacked Jerusalem and King Rehoboam)

4.              Who came to talk to King Rehoboam? (vs. 5 the prophet Shemaiah).  Why did he come to talk to King Rehoboam? (to deliver God’s message)

5.              Then what did the leaders of Israel and King Rehoboam decide to do? (vs. 6 humbled themselves and asked forgiveness)  What was God’s response to them? (vs. 7 God did not destroy them but delivered the people).

6.              What does this story teach you about God’s reaction to sin? About asking forgiveness?

 

Summary – Turning your back on God will have consequences.  In fact, all of your actions have consequences.  However, God is waiting to welcome you back into his arms when you ask.  God’s forgiveness is bigger than our sins.

 

Lesson #4 – There is no hiding place. II Chronicles 18:28-34

 

History: King Ahab was the king of Israel.  He was a confident man, as well as a wicked one.  He decided to attack Ramoth Gilead even though God’s prophet Micaiah told him he would be killed.  But King Ahab went ahead anyway, thinking that if he disguised himself, he could keep anyone from killing him.

 

     “So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat King of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead.  The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, ‘I will enter the battle in disguise, but you wear your royal robes.’  So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

 

     Now the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders, ‘Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.’  When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they thought, ‘This is the king of Israel.’  So they turned to attack him, but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him.  God drew them away from him, for when the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they stopped pursuing him.

 

     But someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armor.  The king told the chariot driver, ‘Wheel around and get me out of the fighting.  I’ve been wounded.’  All day long the battle raged, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening.  Then at sunset he died.”

 

1.              Do you think anyone can hide from God?  Why or why not?

2.              Why would someone want to hide from God? (help the kids with some examples: done something wrong, ashamed, afraid)

3.              Instead of hiding something from God, what should we do? (admit the problem, ask forgiveness, and accept his forgiveness)

4.              Is there anything that you need to ask forgiveness for today?

 

Summary: Remember that God sees everything you do and knows the deepest part of your heart.  He knows your thoughts and words even before you say them.  It is O.K. to tell him how you really feel – when you’re hurt, angry, afraid, worried.  Tell him everything, and then pray for his help.  He is waiting to give it to you.

 

 

Lesson #5 – Age does not matter. II Chronicles 24:1-5

 

     “Joash was 7 years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem 40 years.  His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba.  Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years of Jehoiada the priest.  Jehoiada chose two wives fro him, and he had sons and daughters.

 

     Some time later Joash decided to restore the temple of the Lord.  He called together the priests ad Levites and said to them, ‘Go to the towns of Judah and collect the money due annually from all Israel, to repair the temple of your God.  Do it now.’  But the Levites did not act at once.”

 

1.              Can you imagine how hard it would be for someone so young to make the correct decisions and lead a nation?  How would you like to be the president of the United States at your age?

2.              God provided Joash with wise counselors and advisors.  Do you believe that God will provide what you need in your life?

3.              Do you believe that God can use little children for his purpose?

4.              What do you think your purpose is for your life? (You might get some interesting answers here.  Let the kids know that serving God with their life is their purpose).

5.              Tell the kids what the purpose is for your life (a little testimony time – it goes a long way).  Talk about how you use the talents that God has given you for his purpose.  Provide some examples.

 

Summary – God called a seven year old to become a king.  God used David as a young boy to kill Goliath.  God can use you also.  Look for opportunities to show kindness and to be a servant to neighbors, friends, family members, teachers and anyone else you come across.

 

 

 

 

*The scriptures used for this study were taken from the “Young Women of Faith Bible New International Version” published in 2001 by the Zondervan Corporation.

Posted 5/09