This is the Bible Book Club, the book of Second Chronicles.

Welcome to the club.

Last episode in chapters 24 through 28 of Second Chronicles, the chronicler told the exiles the story of five kings who followed

the same pattern. Each led the nation of Judah into sin and received divine discipline. Each had the

opportunity to repent and lead the nation into a restoring relationship with God. But all five kings,

Joash, Amaziah, Uzziah, Jotham, and Ahaz failed.

King Ahaz is by far the worst, following not only the gods of Israel, but also those of Canaan.

He is so far gone that he even sacrifices his own sons.

The result for Judah is devastating.

Israel, their brother tribe, defeat them in a battle

and take men, women, and children into captivity. And then in a rare twist, it is Israel that responds

to a word from the Lord and actually releases the captives. The chronicler tells the exiles the story

of their past so they can have hope for

the future. And the story of Hezekiah is a ray of hope in a long line of unfaithful kings.

Hezekiah is passionate about worship and nothing is more important to our chronicler,

a priest we suspect, than instilling in the exiles a desire

to rebuild the temple and worship. Their exile was the ultimate divine discipline. The temple

is their only chance for relational restoration. Scene one, Hezekiah does write and restores

worship. Second Chronicles, Chapter 29, Hezekiah does right and restores worship.

Second Chronicles, chapter 29.

Hezekiah was 25 years old when he became king and he reigned in Jerusalem 29 years.

His mother's name was Abijah, daughter of Zechariah.

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