2 Chronicles
Children and teenagers weren’t allowed to fight in a war. But they were allowed to be kings. Young men had to be at least 20 years old before they could be soldiers. (Read Numbers 1:3.)
Josiah became king when he was 8 years old. Jehoahaz, Uzziah, Manasseh and Jehoiakim were all very young when they became kings.
1:10
Why did Solomon ask for wisdom? Solomon wanted to rule well. He knew he needed wisdom to do that. The Lord was glad that he wanted wisdom. Because he chose well, God gave Solomon wealth and honour also. Solomon’s wisdom and wealth were known far and wide. People came from far away to see him.
6:2, 12–21
At last the temple was built. Solomon dedicated the temple to the Lord. Solomon knew it was important for the people to follow God with all their hearts. As long as they did that the Lord would show the people his love.
Read verse 14. Solomon asked the Lord to hear the people’s prayers. Read verse 21. Afterwards the people always believed that the Lord heard them when they prayed at the temple.
7:1–3, 10
The glory of the Lord filled the temple when Solomon finished praying. How do you think the people felt when that happened? How do you think they felt when they realized the presence of the Lord was with them? Read verses 3 and 10 for the answers.
Hearty wonders if you know that God is with us now. God cares for us and loves us just as he did the people of Israel. How does that make you feel? So you can praise God with the same words the Israelites used!
7:12–16
The temple was very important. The priests offered sacrifices at the temple. The people gathered at the temple when they asked for forgiveness for their sins. They also went to the temple to ask the Lord to help them. The Lord said that he would listen to prayers offered in the temple.
Inny wonders if you have a special place where you go to talk to the Lord. Do you know you can pray to the Lord anywhere and at any time?
7:15–16
The glory of the Lord was behind the curtain in the Most Holy Room. That curtain separated the Most Holy Room from the rest of the temple. Only the high priest could enter that room. And he did that only once a year. No one else was allowed into the presence of the Lord.
When Jesus died on the cross, that curtain in the temple was torn into two pieces. And the glory of the Lord was revealed to the people. (Read Matthew 27:51.)
So we know that God’s presence isn’t in the Most Holy Room anymore. God’s presence is with anyone who believes in him.
12:5–9
What happened to the gold that Solomon put in the temple in Jerusalem? Read verse 9. Inny wondered why the Lord allowed this to happen. Read verses 5–8 to find the reason. Inny wants you to remember this. Even when you are sorry for doing wrong, you may still have to face the consequences.
But remember the Lord is always with you!
17:1, 6, 20:1–17 (Inny)
Inny reads that King Jehoshaphat served the Lord and that the Lord blessed him.
When the Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites went to war against Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat was afraid. His enemies had sent a huge army against him. What did he do? Read chapter 20:1 and 12. He took his problem to the Lord. He asked the Lord to help them.
You can do that too! You can always ask the Lord to guide and help you.
20:3
The Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites went to war against Jehoshaphat. When this happened, King Jehoshaphat told the people of Judah to fast. When people fast, they go without eating for a certain amount of time. The people wanted to show the Lord that they were in great trouble. They wanted the Lord to see that they needed him to lead them. So they fasted. They stopped eating for one whole day. All day the people prayed and asked the Lord to guide and help them. Today people still fast and pray. They do this when they ask the Lord to guide and help them.
22:10–12
Queen Athaliah was an evil woman. She wanted to kill the royal family of Judah. She wanted to get rid of all the members of David’s family.
However, the Lord made sure that she didn’t succeed. He had promised David that a person from his family line would always be king.
Talky wants you to get your group together. Talk about the clever way Joash was saved. Talk about the different ways in which the Lord cares for you and protects you.
24:2, 14, 17–18
Joash became king when he was 7 years old. Jehoiada, the priest, helped him and gave him good advice. As long as Jehoiada lived, Joash served the Lord. But when Jehoiada died, Joash began to worship false gods.
Inny wants you to think about the adults who talk to you about life. Who tells you about the Lord and what he has done for you? Who teaches you the difference between right and wrong? Who tells you how to live a life that shows respect for the Lord?
Thank the Lord for these people. And listen to their teaching and advice.
29:1–3 (Inny)
Inny reads that King Hezekiah served the Lord. He did something very important just after becoming king. He opened the doors of the temple. Hezekiah asked the Levites to purify the temple. Then they brought sacrifices and thank offerings to the Lord’s temple again. Hezekiah also knew what was most important. It was to serve the Lord and obey him.
Think about the things that are important in your life. Make a list of the most important things. Where does serving the Lord fit in your list?
29:20–30
King Hezekiah knew that having a right relationship with God was most important. But to have that relationship with God, the king and the people had to confess their sins. So as soon as the temple was repaired, the priests brought sin offerings to the Lord. They were offered for the king and the people. Jesus gave his life to be our offering. Because of what Jesus did, God forgives our sins when we confess our sins to him.
