2 Chronicles 29:8
Therefore, the wrath of the LORD has fallen upon Judah and Jerusalem, and He has made them an object of terror, horror, and mockery, as you can see with your own eyes.
Therefore
This word connects the current state of affairs to previous actions or conditions. In the context of 2 Chronicles 29, it refers to the unfaithfulness and idolatry of the people of Judah and their leaders. The Hebrew word used here is "עַל־כֵּן" (al-ken), which signifies a conclusion or result. It reminds us that actions have consequences, a theme prevalent throughout the Bible, emphasizing the importance of obedience to God's commandments.

the wrath of the LORD
The "wrath" (Hebrew: "קֶצֶף" - qetseph) of the LORD is a righteous and just response to sin and rebellion. It is not a capricious anger but a holy reaction to the violation of His covenant. In the conservative Christian perspective, God's wrath is a necessary aspect of His holiness and justice, underscoring the seriousness of sin and the need for repentance and atonement.

was upon Judah and Jerusalem
Judah and Jerusalem were the heart of the Israelite nation, representing both the political and spiritual centers. The phrase indicates that the consequences of sin were not limited to individuals but affected the entire community. Historically, this period was marked by the decline of the southern kingdom due to idolatry and neglect of the temple, leading to divine judgment.

and He has made them an object of terror, horror, and scorn
This phrase describes the result of God's wrath. The Hebrew words "זַעֲוָה" (za'avah - terror), "שַׁמָּה" (shammah - horror), and "שְׁרֵקָה" (shreqah - scorn) paint a vivid picture of the nation's disgrace. These terms reflect the shame and fear that come upon a people when they are abandoned by God due to their unfaithfulness. It serves as a warning to remain faithful to God to avoid such a fate.

as you can see with your own eyes
This phrase emphasizes the tangible and visible nature of God's judgment. The people of Judah could witness the devastation and humiliation firsthand. It serves as a powerful reminder that God's words and warnings are not empty; they manifest in reality. This visibility of consequences is meant to lead to repentance and a return to covenant faithfulness.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Hezekiah
The king of Judah who initiated religious reforms to restore proper worship in the temple and turn the nation back to God.

2. Judah and Jerusalem
The southern kingdom and its capital, which were under God's judgment due to the people's unfaithfulness and idolatry.

3. The Wrath of the LORD
Represents God's righteous anger and judgment against sin and disobedience, manifesting in the calamities that befell Judah and Jerusalem.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Disobedience
God's wrath is a response to persistent sin and rebellion. Just as Judah and Jerusalem faced consequences, we must be aware of the spiritual and practical repercussions of turning away from God.

The Call to Repentance
Hezekiah's reforms highlight the importance of repentance and returning to God. We are called to examine our lives and remove anything that hinders our relationship with Him.

The Visibility of God's Judgment
The phrase "as you can see with your own eyes" emphasizes the tangible nature of God's judgment. It serves as a reminder that our actions have visible consequences, both in our lives and in the world around us.

The Role of Leadership in Spiritual Renewal
Hezekiah's leadership was crucial in leading the nation back to God. This underscores the responsibility of leaders, both in the church and in families, to guide others in faithfulness and obedience.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the context of 2 Chronicles 29:8 help us understand the nature of God's wrath and its purpose?

2. In what ways can we see the consequences of disobedience to God in our own lives or communities today?

3. How can we apply Hezekiah's example of leadership and reform in our personal spiritual lives or within our church communities?

4. What steps can we take to ensure that we are not objects of "terror, horror, and scorn" due to our actions, as mentioned in this verse?

5. How do the themes of judgment and repentance in 2 Chronicles 29:8 connect with the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Deuteronomy 28
This chapter outlines the blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, providing a backdrop for understanding why God's wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem.

Isaiah 1
The prophet Isaiah speaks against the sins of Judah and Jerusalem, echoing the themes of judgment and the need for repentance.

Romans 1
Paul discusses the wrath of God revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness, drawing a parallel to the consequences of turning away from God.
The Results of SinningH. Clay Trumbull.2 Chronicles 29:8
Co-Operation NeededH. Clay Trumbull.2 Chronicles 29:1-11
Hezekiah, the Good KingSunday School Times2 Chronicles 29:1-11
Hezekiah's Action, the Result of Previous BroodingA. Maclaren, D.D.2 Chronicles 29:1-11
Hezekiah's ReformationT. S. Barbour.2 Chronicles 29:1-11
Hezekiah's ReformationT. Manton, D.D.2 Chronicles 29:1-11
Starting Well2 Chronicles 29:1-11
Taking the Right Stand At FirstA. Maclaren, D. D.2 Chronicles 29:1-11
The Height of OpportunityW. Clarkson 2 Chronicles 29:1-11
The Purification of the TempleT. Whitelaw 2 Chronicles 29:3-19
People
Aaron, Abdi, Abijah, Ahaz, Amasai, Asaph, Azariah, David, Elizaphan, Esther, Gad, Gershonites, Heman, Hezekiah, Jeduthun, Jehalelel, Jehiel, Jeiel, Jeuel, Joah, Joel, Kish, Kohathites, Levites, Mahath, Mattaniah, Merari, Merarites, Nathan, Shemaiah, Shimei, Shimri, Uzziel, Zechariah, Zimmah
Places
Holy Place, Jerusalem, Kidron
Topics
Astonishment, Cause, Delivered, Desolation, Dread, Fallen, Fear, Forth, Fro, Giveth, Hissing, Horror, Jerusalem, Judah, Object, Scorn, Seeing, Shame, Terror, Tossed, Trembling, Trouble, Vexation, Wherefore, Wonder, Wrath
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Chronicles 29:3-36

     7390   Levites

2 Chronicles 29:6-9

     6195   impenitence, results
     8705   apostasy, in OT

2 Chronicles 29:6-10

     6628   conversion, God's demand

2 Chronicles 29:7-8

     7386   incense

Library
A Godly Reformation
'Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. 2. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. 3. He in the first year of his reign, in the first mouth, opened the doors of the house of the Lord, and repaired them. 4. And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Sacrifice Renewed
'Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed all the house of the Lord, and the altar of burnt-offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the shew-bread table, with all the vessels thereof. 19. Moreover, all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his transgression, have we prepared and sanctified, and, behold, they are before the altar of the Lord. 20. Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Twenty-Fourth Day. Holiness and Cleansing.
Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.'--2 Cor. vii. 1. That holiness is more than cleansing, and must be preceded by it, is taught us in more than one passage of the New Testament. 'Christ loved the Church, and gave Himself up for it, that He might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word.' 'If a man cleanse himself from these, he shall be a vessel
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

Chronicles
The comparative indifference with which Chronicles is regarded in modern times by all but professional scholars seems to have been shared by the ancient Jewish church. Though written by the same hand as wrote Ezra-Nehemiah, and forming, together with these books, a continuous history of Judah, it is placed after them in the Hebrew Bible, of which it forms the concluding book; and this no doubt points to the fact that it attained canonical distinction later than they. Nor is this unnatural. The book
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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