2Chronicles 25-27; Psalms 77 - Prayer Tents

Amaziah Rules in Judah

25Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Jehoaddin from Jerusalem.H558H6242H2568H8141H1121H4427H4427H6242H8672H8141H3389H517H8034H3086H3389 2Amaziah did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight, but not wholeheartedly.H6213H3477H5869H3068H8003H3824 3When Amaziah was well established as king, he executed the officials who had assassinated his father.H4467H2388H2026H5650H5221H4428H1 4However, he did not kill the children of the assassins, for he obeyed the command of the LORD as written by Moses in the Book of the Law: "Parents must not be put to death for the sins of their children, nor children for the sins of their parents. Those deserving to die must be put to death for their own crimes."H4191H1121H3789H8451H5612H4872H3068H6680H559H1H4191H1121H1121H4191H1H376H4191H2399 5Then Amaziah organized the army, assigning generals and captains for all Judah and Benjamin. He took a census and found that he had an army of 300,000 select troops, twenty years old and older, all trained in the use of spear and shield.H558H6908H3063H6908H5975H8269H505H8269H3967H1004H1H3063H1144H6485H6242H8141H1121H4605H4672H7969H3967H505H977H3318H6635H270H7420H6793 6He also paid about 7,500 pounds of silver to hire 100,000 experienced fighting men from Israel.H7936H3967H505H1368H2428H3478H3967H3603H3701 7But a man of God came to him and said, "Your Majesty, do not hire troops from Israel, for the LORD is not with Israel. He will not help those people of Ephraim!H935H376H430H559H4428H6635H3478H935H3068H3478H1121H669 8If you let them go with your troops into battle, you will be defeated by the enemy no matter how well you fight. God will overthrow you, for he has the power to help you or to trip you up."H935H6213H2388H4421H430H3782H6440H341H430H3426H3581H5826H3782 9Amaziah asked the man of God, "But what about all that silver I paid to hire the army of Israel?" The man of God replied, "The LORD is able to give you much more than this!"H558H559H376H430H6213H3967H3603H5414H1416H3478H376H430H559H3068H3426H5414H7235 10So Amaziah discharged the hired troops and sent them back to Ephraim. This made them very angry with Judah, and they returned home in a great rage.H558H914H1416H935H669H3212H4725H3212H639H3966H2734H3063H7725H4725H2750H639 11Then Amaziah summoned his courage and led his army to the Valley of Salt, where they killed 10,000 Edomite troops from Seir.H558H2388H5090H5971H3212H1516H4417H5221H1121H8165H6235H505 12They captured another 10,000 and took them to the top of a cliff and threw them off, dashing them to pieces on the rocks below.H6235H505H2416H1121H3063H7617H935H7218H5553H7993H7218H5553H1234 13Meanwhile, the hired troops that Amaziah had sent home raided several of the towns of Judah between Samaria and Beth-horon. They killed 3,000 people and carried off great quantities of plunder.H1121H1416H558H7725H3212H4421H6584H5892H3063H8111H1032H5221H7969H505H962H7227H961 14When King Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought with him idols taken from the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down in front of them, and offered sacrifices to them!H310H558H935H5221H130H935H430H1121H8165H5975H430H7812H6440H6999 15This made the LORD very angry, and he sent a prophet to ask, "Why do you turn to gods who could not even save their own people from you?"H639H3068H2734H558H7971H5030H559H1875H430H5971H5337H5971H3027 16But the king interrupted him and said, "Since when have I made you the king's counselor? Be quiet now before I have you killed!" So the prophet stopped with this warning: "I know that God has determined to destroy you because you have done this and have refused to accept my counsel."H1696H559H5414H4428H3289H2308H5221H5030H2308H559H3045H430H3289H7843H6213H8085H6098 17After consulting with his advisers, King Amaziah of Judah sent this challenge to Israel's king Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz and grandson of Jehu: "Come and meet me in battle!"H558H4428H3063H3289H7971H3101H1121H3059H1121H3058H4428H3478H559H3212H7200H6440 18But King Jehoash of Israel replied to King Amaziah of Judah with this story: "Out in the Lebanon mountains, a thistle sent a message to a mighty cedar tree: 'Give your daughter in marriage to my son.' But just then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and stepped on the thistle, crushing it!H3101H4428H3478H7971H558H4428H3063H559H2336H3844H7971H730H3844H559H5414H1323H1121H802H5674H7704H2416H3844H7429H2336 19"You are saying, 'I have defeated Edom,' and you are very proud of it. But my advice is to stay at home. Why stir up trouble that will only bring disaster on you and the people of Judah?"H559H5221H123H3820H5375H3513H3427H1004H1624H7451H5307H3063 20But Amaziah refused to listen, for God was determined to destroy him for turning to the gods of Edom.H558H8085H430H5414H3027H1875H430H123 21So King Jehoash of Israel mobilized his army against King Amaziah of Judah. The two armies drew up their battle lines at Beth-shemesh in Judah.H3101H4428H3478H5927H7200H6440H558H4428H3063H1053H3063 22Judah was routed by the army of Israel, and its army scattered and fled for home.H3063H5062H6440H3478H5127H376H168 23King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah's king, Amaziah son of Joash and grandson of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. Then he brought him to Jerusalem, where he demolished 600 feet of Jerusalem's wall, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate.H3101H4428H3478H8610H558H4428H3063H1121H3101H1121H3059H1053H935H3389H6555H2346H3389H8179H669H6437H8179H702H3967H520 24He carried off all the gold and silver and all the articles from the Temple of God that had been in the care of Obed-edom. He also seized the treasures of the royal palace, along with hostages, and then returned to Samaria.H2091H3701H3627H4672H1004H430H5654H214H4428H1004H1121H8594H7725H8111 25King Amaziah of Judah lived on for fifteen years after the death of King Jehoash of Israel.H558H1121H3101H4428H3063H2421H310H4194H3101H1121H3059H4428H3478H2568H6240H8141 26The rest of the events in Amaziah's reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.H3499H1697H558H7223H314H3789H5612H4428H3063H3478 27After Amaziah turned away from the LORD, there was a conspiracy against his life in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But his enemies sent assassins after him, and they killed him there.H6256H558H5493H310H3068H7194H7195H3389H5127H3923H7971H3923H310H4191 28They brought his body back on a horse, and he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David.H5375H5483H6912H1H5892H3063

Uzziah Rules in Judah

26All the people of Judah had crowned Amaziah's sixteen-year-old son, Uzziah, as king in place of his father.H5971H3063H3947H5818H8337H6240H8141H1121H4427H1H558 2After his father's death, Uzziah rebuilt the town of Elath and restored it to Judah.H1129H359H7725H3063H310H4428H7901H1 3Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother was Jecoliah from Jerusalem.H8337H6240H8141H1121H5818H4427H4427H2572H8147H8141H3389H517H8034H3203H3389 4He did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight, just as his father, Amaziah, had done.H6213H3477H5869H3068H1H558H6213 5Uzziah sought God during the days of Zechariah, who taught him to fear God. And as long as the king sought guidance from the LORD, God gave him success.H1875H430H3117H2148H995H7200H430H3117H1875H3068H430H6743 6Uzziah declared war on the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. Then he built new towns in the Ashdod area and in other parts of Philistia.H3318H3898H6430H6555H2346H1661H2346H2996H2346H795H1129H5892H795H6430 7God helped him in his wars against the Philistines, his battles with the Arabs of Gur, and his wars with the Meunites.H430H5826H6430H6163H3427H1485H4586 8The Meunites paid annual tribute to him, and his fame spread even to Egypt, for he had become very powerful.H5984H5414H4503H5818H8034H3212H935H4714H2388H4605 9Uzziah built fortified towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the angle in the wall.H5818H1129H4026H3389H6438H8179H1516H8179H4740H2388 10He also constructed forts in the wilderness and dug many water cisterns, because he kept great herds of livestock in the foothills of Judah and on the plains. He was also a man who loved the soil. He had many workers who cared for his farms and vineyards, both on the hillsides and in the fertile valleys.H1129H4026H4057H2672H7227H953H7227H4735H8219H4334H406H3755H2022H3760H157H127 11Uzziah had an army of well-trained warriors, ready to march into battle, unit by unit. This army had been mustered and organized by Jeiel, the secretary of the army, and his assistant, Maaseiah. They were under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king's officials.H5818H2428H4421H6213H3318H6635H1416H4557H6486H3027H3273H5608H4641H7860H3027H2608H4428H8269 12These regiments of mighty warriors were commanded by 2,600 clan leaders.H4557H7218H1H1368H2428H505H8337H3967 13The army consisted of 307,500 men, all elite troops. They were prepared to assist the king against any enemy.H3027H2428H6635H7969H3967H505H7651H505H2568H3967H6213H4421H2428H3581H5826H4428H341 14Uzziah provided the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and sling stones.H5818H3559H6635H4043H7420H3553H8302H7198H7050H68 15And he built structures on the walls of Jerusalem, designed by experts to protect those who shot arrows and hurled large stones from the towers and the corners of the wall. His fame spread far and wide, for the LORD gave him marvelous help, and he became very powerful.H6213H3389H2810H4284H2803H4026H6438H3384H2671H1419H68H8034H3318H7350H6381H5826H3588H2388

Uzziah’s Sin and Punishment

16But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the LORD his God by entering the sanctuary of the LORD's Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar.H2393H3820H1361H7843H4603H3068H430H935H1964H3068H6999H4196H7004 17Azariah the high priest went in after him with eighty other priests of the LORD, all brave men.H5838H3548H935H310H8084H3548H3068H2428H1121 18They confronted King Uzziah and said, "It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD. That is the work of the priests alone, the descendants of Aaron who are set apart for this work. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have sinned. The LORD God will not honor you for this!"H5975H5818H4428H559H5818H6999H3068H3548H1121H175H6942H6999H3318H4720H4603H3519H3068H430 19Uzziah, who was holding an incense burner, became furious. But as he was standing there raging at the priests before the incense altar in the LORD's Temple, leprosy suddenly broke out on his forehead.H5818H2196H4730H3027H6999H2196H3548H6883H2224H4696H6440H3548H1004H3068H7004H4196 20When Azariah the high priest and all the other priests saw the leprosy, they rushed him out. And the king himself was eager to get out because the LORD had struck him.H5838H7218H3548H3548H6437H6879H4696H926H1765H3318H3068H5060 21So King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in isolation in a separate house, for he was excluded from the Temple of the LORD. His son Jotham was put in charge of the royal palace, and he governed the people of the land.H5818H4428H6879H3117H4194H3427H2669H2669H1004H6879H1504H1004H3068H3147H1121H4428H1004H8199H5971H776 22The rest of the events of Uzziah's reign, from beginning to end, are recorded by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.H3499H1697H5818H7223H314H3470H5030H1121H531H3789 23When Uzziah died, he was buried with his ancestors; his grave was in a nearby burial field belonging to the kings, for the people said, "He had leprosy." And his son Jotham became the next king.H5818H7901H1H6912H1H7704H6900H4428H559H6879H3147H1121H4427

Jotham Rules in Judah

27Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.H3147H6242H2568H8141H1121H4427H4427H8337H6240H8141H3389H517H8034H3388H1323H6659 2Jotham did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight. He did everything his father, Uzziah, had done, except that Jotham did not sin by entering the Temple of the LORD. But the people continued in their corrupt ways.H6213H3477H5869H3068H1H5818H6213H935H1964H3068H5971H7843 3Jotham rebuilt the upper gate of the Temple of the LORD. He also did extensive rebuilding on the wall at the hill of Ophel.H1129H5945H8179H1004H3068H2346H6077H1129H7230 4He built towns in the hill country of Judah and constructed fortresses and towers in the wooded areas.H1129H5892H2022H3063H2793H1129H1003H4026 5Jotham went to war against the Ammonites and conquered them. Over the next three years he received from them an annual tribute of 7,500 pounds of silver, 50,000 bushels of wheat, and 50,000 bushels of barley.H3898H4428H5984H2388H1121H5983H5414H8141H3967H3603H3701H6235H505H3734H2406H6235H505H8184H1121H5983H7725H2063H8145H8141H7992 6King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the LORD his God.H3147H2388H3559H1870H6440H3068H430 7The rest of the events of Jotham's reign, including all his wars and other activities, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.H3499H1697H3147H4421H1870H3789H5612H4428H3478H3063 8He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years.H2568H6242H8141H1121H4427H4427H8337H6240H8141H3389 9When Jotham died, he was buried in the City of David. And his son Ahaz became the next king.H3147H7901H1H6912H5892H1732H271H1121H4427

77[For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of Asaph.] I cry out to God; yes, I shout. Oh, that God would listen to me!H5329H3038H4210H623H6817H430H6963H430H6963H238 2When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted.H3117H6869H1875H136H3027H5064H3915H6313H5315H3985H5162 3I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help. InterludeH2142H430H1993H7878H7307H5848H5542 4You don’t let me sleep. I am too distressed even to pray!H270H5869H8109H6470H1696 5I think of the good old days, long since ended,H2803H3117H6924H8141H5769 6when my nights were filled with joyful songs. I search my soul and ponder the difference now.H2142H5058H3915H7878H3824H7307H2664 7Has the Lord rejected me forever? Will he never again be kind to me?H136H2186H5769H3254H7521 8Is his unfailing love gone forever? Have his promises permanently failed?H2617H656H5331H562H1584H1755H1755 9Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he slammed the door on his compassion? InterludeH410H7911H2589H639H7092H7356H5542 10And I said, “This is my fate; the Most High has turned his hand against me.”H559H2470H8141H3225H5945 11But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.H2142H2142H4611H3050H2142H6382H6924 12They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.H1897H6467H7878H5949 13O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you?H1870H430H6944H1419H410H430 14You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations.H410H6213H6382H3045H5797H5971 15By your strong arm, you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. InterludeH2220H1350H5971H1121H3290H3130H5542 16When the Red Sea saw you, O God, its waters looked and trembled! The sea quaked to its very depths.H4325H7200H430H4325H7200H2342H8415H7264 17The clouds poured down rain; the thunder rumbled in the sky. Your arrows of lightning flashed.H5645H2229H4325H7834H5414H6963H2687H1980 18Your thunder roared from the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world! The earth trembled and shook.H6963H7482H1534H1300H215H8398H776H7264H7493 19Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters—a pathway no one knew was there!H1870H3220H7635H7227H4325H6119H3045 20You led your people along that road like a flock of sheep, with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds.H5148H5971H6629H3027H4872H175