Chapter Summary

Reign of Ahaz. War with Rekah. Intercession of Oded. Edomite and Philistine invasion.

Discussion Questions for 2 Chronicles, Chapter 28

1. What is the significance of Ahaz being compared to David? Why is Ahaz also compared with the King’s of Israel? From your knowledge of David's actions as king to that of the kings of Israel referred to here, what are some distinctions?
2. Ahaz’s idolatry was much more profound than other kings to this point in Judah. What does the text list as some of his idolatrous actions and what is your reaction to them? Sacrifice and idolatry still occur in our modern lifestyle. What are some examples where you have made unbiblical sacrifices to better your life or community standing, or overspent for unnecessary luxuries and avoided helping others in need to do so?
3. Why was idolatry so prevalent in the people surrounding Judah and in Judah as well? How is idolatry still in existence in your particular culture today? How does child sacrifice still exist in modern culture?
4. In verse 5, it tells us that the Lord gave Judah and King Ahaz into the hand of the King of Syria. How in this chapter and across the past several chapters do we see the consistent and unchanging nature of God in his actions?
5. What is the warning of the prophet Oded to the men of Israel? What issue has the Lord taken with Israel’s treatment of Judah and Jerusalem? Are there specifics that surprise you? What does this teach us about the equality of God's justice and how even in Judah's sinfulness? Does God display His grace toward them in specific ways? How?
6. The men of Ephraim who stopped the Israelites from returning with the captives of Judah were serving to rescue Israel from the judgment of God. How are their actions received by the other men of Israel? How do you interpret their treatment of the captives? What example is present among them to follow? What spiritual lesson from this physical display that should define our lives as followers of Christ?
7. In verses 16-21, how does Ahaz add insult to injury? Who does he ask for help? How does he seek to pay off the helper? Does his action teach us anything about the heart of man when we face trouble and uncertainty? What is Ahaz’s most apparent failure in these verses? In what ways have you dealt with panic and how are you seeking to give those feelings to the Lord?
8. What does Ahaz do to further compound his sin in verses 22-25? Have you experienced times when you strayed from the Lord and made decisions and choices that you would not have normally? What have these moments taught you about God's faithfulness even when you don't see an answer to your problems?
9. Why does Ahaz believe that the gods of the kings of Aram are helping them? How does this illustrate the depth of Ahaz’s pride that he does not believe God would use a pagan people to judge him? What sin do we see to avoid in this action of Ahaz? What are some steps you actively take to avoid sin and what are others you could take?
10. How thoroughly does Ahaz seek to spread idolatry in Jerusalem and Judah? How do his actions seek to effectively end the worship of God? In what ways is this also a concern for our current time? How can we actively seek to continue pointing people to the right worship of God?

Key Words/Phrase

Brought low, v. 19.

Characters

God, Ahaz, Syrian king, Tiglath-pileser, Zechri, Pekah, Oded.

Strong Verse(s)

8