1 and 2 Chronicles, books #16 and #17

And we are marching on.  These books are pretty much a recap of 1 and 2 Kings with some genealogy included in them. 

Takeaways:

In the genealogy part, I always find it interesting when daughters are mentioned.  And I love it when there are little tidbits added, like 1 Chr 4:14, "it was called this because its people were craftsmen" or 1 Chr 7:20-24:

Ephraim

²⁰ The descendants of Ephraim:

Shuthelah, Bered his son,

Tahath his son, Eleadah his son,

Tahath his son, ²¹ Zabad his son

and Shuthelah his son.

Ezer and Elead were killed by the native-born men of Gath, when they went down to seize their livestock. ²² Their father Ephraim mourned for them many days, and his relatives came to comfort him. ²³ Then he made love to his wife again, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. He named him Beriah, because there had been misfortune in his family. ²⁴ His daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth Horon as well as Uzzen Sheerah.

In 2 Chr the temple is now built and it is time to dedicate it.  Chapter 7:2 says, "The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it." But lucky us, we have that same LORD living in us!  We don't have to wait to be consecrated or step away because of HIS greatness!

In 2 Chr 25 we get to the review of Amaziah king of Judah.  He was pretty good for awhile, but then got prideful.  He fought the Edomites and won, then brought their gods and idols back and began to worship them.  The anger of the Lord burned against Amaziah, and he sent a prophet to him, who said, “Why do you consult this people’s gods, which could not save their own people from your hand?” While he was still speaking, the king said to him, “Have we appointed you an adviser to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?”  Interesting note about this: Just this morning I had prayed to the LORD to help me see my eating (especially the bad habits part) like it really is.  Then this chapter is the very first one I read.  It was like He was saying to me, "Why do you go to sweets, etc to rescue you from your troubles, when you know it has never saved anyone?" And when someone does confront me about it (specifically my family) I usually get very defensive and respond similar to Amaziah.  Hhm.  What I had been "chewing on" in my subconscious is indeed the truth.  

Next up, Ezra!

Happy Reading!

O:)

Melissa