2 Chronicles 33:1–6. Manasseh systematically dismantles his father’s godly legacy by rebuilding pagan altars, practicing sorcery, and sacrificing his own children. The apple fell “very far” from the proverbial tree. Some of Manasseh’s sins were among the most heinous the nation had ever seen.

2 Chronicles 33:7–9. By placing a carved image directly inside the Temple, Manasseh leads the nation into a spiritual decline so severe that Judah becomes more wicked than the pagan nations God had previously destroyed.

2 Chronicles 33:10–13. After Manasseh ignores God’s warnings, he is captured by the Assyrians as punishment and taken to Babylon in shackles. In his lowest moment, something amazing happens. Manasseh humbles himself and prays to Yahweh, asking Him to forgive him—the most unforgivable sinner.

2 Chronicles 33:14–17. Yahweh shows mercy upon Manasseh and even restores him to the throne in Judah. A complete reversal of the judgment upon him. Manasseh proves the genuineness of his changed heart upon returning to Judah by fortifying Jerusalem and aggressively purging the city of the idols he once set up and worshiped.

2 Chronicles 33:18–20. Manasseh is one of Judah’s greatest villains who turned into one of the greatest testimonies of God’s forgiveness and mercy.

The kings of Judah were part of the genealogical line that ultimately led to Jesus the Messiah. Knowing that the promised Messiah would destroy him, the devil repeatedly sought to corrupt or eliminate that line. The lives of Uzziah and his forefathers show a consistent pattern: when they stood with God, blessing and prosperity followed; but when they turned away and embraced pagan worship, God’s favor departed and calamity came upon them.

Romans 15:4 …perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

2 Chronicles 26:1 Uzziah was 16 when he began to reign as King.

2 Chronicles 25:1-14, 27 Amaziah, his father, started good, turned to idolatry, then was assassinated.

2 Chronicles 24:2, 18, 25 Joash, his grandfather, started good, turned to idolatry, then was assassinated.

2 Chronicles 22:10 Athaliah, his great grandmother, killed all the royal family. She too was assassinated. Athaliah’s mother was Jezebel.

2 Chronicles 26:3 Uzziah, also known as Azariah, began his reign at 16 and reigned for 52 years.

1. Jehoram was king of Judah and married Athaliah. 2. Ahaziah was the son of Jehoram and Athaliah, and he reigned one year. 3. Athaliah seized the throne and ruled as queen for about six years. 4. Joash was hidden and restored to the throne by the priests. 5. Amaziah then succeeded Joash as king. 6. Uzziah (Azariah) was the son of Amaziah and took the throne after him.

These people are part of the genealogical line of Jesus! Why such turmoil?

Genesis 3:15; 22:18; 2 Samuel 7:12-13; Ephesians 6:12; 1 Corinthians 2:8

2 Chronicles 26:3-23 pride was his demise, not idolatry but like his forefathers he did not persevere.

1 Corinthians 15:58; Ephesians 6:13-14; Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:9-12

Romans 15:4 …perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Rev. Vince uses the Bible version NASB-95

Joash is a lesser known king with an important lesson for us today. Under the mentorship of the priest Jehoiada, Joash accomplished great things. But after Jehoiada’s death, Joash was quickly led astray. Joash’s life serves as a warning about the limits of spiritual mentorship. While mentorship is good, it cannot replace one’s own personal relationship with God.

2 Chronicles 22:10-12 – When the wicked Queen Athaliah (daughter of Jezebel) massacred children of the royal household, God worked through Princess Jehosheba to save the life of a baby boy named Joash.

2 Chronicles 23:1-15 – Joash was hidden in the Temple for 6 years. Under the leadership of Priest Jehoiada, Athaliah was overthrown and Joash became king.

Deuteronomy 17:18-20 – Jehoiada gave Joash the Law of God. God instructed kings to make a copy of the Law, stay humble, and diligently study.

2 Chronicles 23:16-24:14 – Under Jehoiada’s mentorship, Joash repaired the Temple, removed idols, and did building projects.

2 Chronicles 24:15-26 – After Jehoiada died, Joash was led astray and brought back idolatry. When God sent the prophet Zechariah to warn Joash, Joash killed him in the Temple. God removed his hand of protection over Judah, allowing invaders to pillage the land.

Joash failed to study God’s Law for himself, relying instead on a mentor. Joash’s heart for God was motivated by a desire to please another man. He went through the motions of godliness when his mentor was watching.

1 Timothy 4:6-16 – Paul mentored Timothy. Mentorship is good, but cannot replace a personal relationship with God.

Do you go to church out of love for God, or are you going to make somebody else happy?

Do you study the Bible, or take your pastor’s word for it?

Do you have your own prayer life, or do you rely on the mentorship of someone who does? The post Forgotten Kings: Joash first appeared on Living Hope.

King Jehoshaphat was a spiritual leader who compromised his allegiances with the world, causing destruction and peril. Nevertheless, Jehoshaphat learned his lesson, and the next time he faced an enemy, he sought Yahweh and trusted in God’s deliverance, rather than his own strength.

2 Chronicles 17:1-11

Jehoshaphat walked in the ways of his father David and led a spiritual renewal in Judah, sending out teachers to instruct the people in God’s law, resulting in God’s favor and peace with the surrounding nations.

2 Chronicles 18:1-27

Jehoshaphat does not listen to the prophet Micaiah but relies on his political alliance with Ahab and goes into battle at Ramoth-Gilead anyway.

Despite a warning from the prophet Micaiah, Jehoshaphat maintains an “unholy alliance” with King Ahab of Israel and enters a disastrous battle at Ramoth-Gilead, nearly losing his life.

2 Chronicles 19:1-3

Returning home, Jehoshaphat is sternly rebuked by Jehu the Seer for aiding the wicked Ahab. However, God acknowledges Jehoshaphat’s sincere heart and his successful efforts to remove pagan idols from the land and lead the nation in obedience and worship.

2 Chronicles 20:1-21

Facing a massive coalition of enemies, Jehoshaphat leads Judah in fasting and prayer about what to do. The choir is positioned before the army to sing praises, trusting God’s promise that the battle belongs to Him, not them.

This message begins with the story of King Asa (2 Chronicles 14–16; 1 Kings 15:9–24), a king who started well by seeking the Lord, tearing down idols, and leading Judah back to God. When faced with overwhelming opposition, Asa cried out to the Lord in humble dependence, and God delivered him (2 Chronicles 14:11). Yet later in life, Asa relied on political alliances instead of prayer and rejected God’s correction, showing how easily trust can drift over time (2 Chronicles 16:7–9).

Old Testament narratives are meant to shape our relationship with God. These stories are not merely lists of rules, but living examples meant to teach us how to walk with God relationally, learning from faithfulness and failure alike (1 Corinthians 10:11).

This story speaks of revival, both biblically and historically. True revival begins when God’s people return to Him through prayer, preaching, repentance, and obedient action (2 Chronicles 15:1–7; Acts 2:37–42). Revival is not emotional hype, but a renewed submission to God that produces lasting fruit.

We are also called to stand in the gap for truth, rejecting pagan or unbiblical practices that quietly enter our thinking and living (Romans 12:1–2). Our struggle is not against people, but against spiritual forces, as we bear witness to God in our families, workplaces, and communities (Ephesians 6:12).

Finally, the life of Asa reminds us that finishing well matters. Faith must be sustained over a lifetime, not just trusting God at the beginning (Hebrews 3:14).

Jehu was God’s weapon of judgment upon Ahab and Jezebel. He carried out his mission with intensity and zeal. Although God has not called the church to violence, we should, nevertheless, imitate Jehu’s zeal in our mission to love.

1 Kings 16:30-33 Ahab did more to provoke God to anger than all the kings of Israel who came before him. He introduced and sponsored the worship of Canaanite gods, including Baal and Asherah. His wife, Jezebel of Sidon, was a religious zealot who relentlessly persecuted the prophets of Yahweh, including Elijah (1 Kgs. 19:2).

1 Kings 21:5-7 When righteous Naboth refused to sell his vineyard to Ahab, Jezebel took matters into her own hands. After she had Naboth executed, Ahab took possession of his neighbor’s plot.

1 Kings 19:15-17; 21:19-29 God ordained that Jehu become king instead of Ahab. This Jehu would be God’s weapon of vengeance upon Ahab’s house.

2 Kings 9:4-13 After a young prophet anointed the military commander, Jehu, king, his officers immediately supported his bid for the throne.

2 Kings 9:30-31 Jehu first confronted and the reigning king Joram, Ahab’s son. Then he came for Jezebel. Next, he arranged for the death of all Ahab’s seventy sons.

2 Kings 10:18-19 Last of all, Jehu killed as many worshipers of Baal as he could and turned the temple into a latrine.

John 3:16-17 Jesus is the true and better Jehu. However, God did not send him to condemn the world, but to save it.

Revelation 19:11-16 Nevertheless, when Jesus comes again, he will come in judgment, making Jehu’s zeal look small in comparison.

Pastor Sean uses the Bible version NRSVUE

Deuteronomy 17 God anticipated that Israel would ask for a king, and He did not forbid it. Instead, He gave specific instructions for those He would appoint. The most important requirement was that the king write a personal copy of the Law and use it as a guide for his life and rule. God also placed specific limitations on the king: he was not to multiply wives, horses, chariots, or silver and gold. These restrictions were intended to keep the king dependent on God rather than on worldly power or wealth. Ultimately, God was to remain Israel’s true King, and any human ruler was to serve in partnership with Him, not as a replacement.

1 Samuel 8:5-7 Israel says: “Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.” – wrong motive.

1 Kings 10:22-24 The first three kings; Saul, David, and Solomon all reigned for 40 years. Saul failed to remain faithful, David was the best having God central, Solomon starts good ended terrible. v.23 So King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.

1 Kings 11:1-13 Solomon worshiped false gods influenced by his pagan wives. God told him He would split the kingdom.

1 Kings 12:1-33 Rehoboam was king over Judah and Benjamin and Jeroboam over the 10 northern tribes.

Proverbs 16:18; 11:2; 29:23 Pride comes before a fall.

Proverbs 11:14; 12:15; 15:22; 24:6 Wise counsel.

Rev. Vince uses the Bible version NASB-95

Matthew 3:1-6, 13-17; John 3:22-30; 4:1-3 John the Baptist was called by God to initiate a renewal movement within Israel, featuring repentance through baptism in water. Even though he had no sin, Jesus came to John to “fulfill all righteousness.” Jesus also baptized many, acting through his disciples.

Luke 3:15-17; John 15:26; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4, 32-33 John’s prophecy about Jesus was that he would baptize people with the holy spirit. Jesus reiterated this promise at the last supper and shortly before his ascension. On the day of Pentecost, Jesus poured out the spirit on those who believed.

Acts 2:37-41; 8:12-13, 36-38; 9:18 (22:16); 10:44-48; 16:14-15, 33; 18:8; 19:1-7; 1 Cor 1:13-17 Baptizing new converts in water was standard operating procedure in the early church. Baptism in water went hand in hand with receiving the holy spirit as demonstrated by Peter’s instruction on the day of Pentecost to (1) repent, (2) be baptized, and they would (3) receive the spirit.

Romans 6:1-4; Colossians 2:12 Baptism is a symbolic ceremony that affords people a physical experience to identify with Christ’s death and resurrection. They symbolically experience burial and resurrection. Although baptism is not necessary for salvation, it is a helpful opportunity for the repentant to make a public profession of faith and commitment.

Sean Finnegan uses the Bible version NRSVUE