2 Chronicles 15
Lutheran reading notes
In 2 Chronicles chapter 15, the account continues the story of the kings of Judah and temple-centered worship. Lutheran interpretation frequently highlights how these events reveal both human sinfulness and God’s faithful promises. The chapter demonstrates the tension between human failure and God’s ongoing grace working through history.
1
And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded:
2 Chronicles 15:1 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD {is} with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you. {to meet...: Heb. before Asa}
2 Chronicles 15:2 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3
Now for a long season Israel {hath been} without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.
2 Chronicles 15:3 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.
2 Chronicles 15:4 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
And in those times {there was} no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations {were} upon all the inhabitants of the countries.
2 Chronicles 15:5 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for God did vex them with all adversity. {destroyed: Heb. beaten in pieces}
2 Chronicles 15:6 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.
2 Chronicles 15:7 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD, that {was} before the porch of the LORD. {abominable...: Heb. abominations}
2 Chronicles 15:8 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God {was} with him.
2 Chronicles 15:9 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.
2 Chronicles 15:10 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11
And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil {which} they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep. {the same...: Heb. in that day}
2 Chronicles 15:11 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12
And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;
2 Chronicles 15:12 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13
That whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.
2 Chronicles 15:13 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
And they sware unto the LORD with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.
2 Chronicles 15:14 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15
And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round about.
2 Chronicles 15:15 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
16
And also {concerning} Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from {being} queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped {it}, and burnt {it} at the brook Kidron. {mother: that is, grandmother} {idol: Heb. horror}
2 Chronicles 15:16 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
17
But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
2 Chronicles 15:17 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
18
And he brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels.
2 Chronicles 15:18 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
19
And there was no {more} war unto the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa.
2 Chronicles 15:19 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.