David opened this Psalm praising God for His magnificence. God’s name is to be praised in all the earth, and God’s glory exceeds the heavens. After observing and meditating on the beauty of creation, David expressed amazement that a God so powerful cared about him. God not only cares for humans but gives them an exalted place in the creation. Human beings are given glory and honor and are just slightly inferior to the heavenly beings that live with God.

In Psalm 7, David was once against being pursued by enemies. He invited God’s judgement on himself and those oppressing him. He believed his motives were pure and that God would vindicate him against his corrupt adversaries. David wrote, “My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart” (7:10).

In the sixth Psalm, David calls out to the Lord to withdraw His discipline from him. David’s enemies were a continual thorn in his side. David’s soul was greatly troubled, and he cried so much he soaked his bed with tears. In the last 3 verses of the psalm, David expresses his confidence that God will help him and put his enemies to shame.

David begins Psalm 5 asking God to hear his prayer. His prayer is a groaning to the Lord for the wicked to be judged and the righteous to be blessed. He writes about God’s intolerance towards wickedness. How God hates evildoers, boasters, liars, and men who are bloodthirsty. He asks God to punish the wicked, bringing the consequences of the guilt on them.

In Psalm 4, David brings his distress to the Lord and asks God to hear his prayer. It seems there were men who were lying about and slandering David, trying to take away the glory he deserved as king and cover him in shame. David expressed his confidence that God would not let these men succeed, saying, “the Lord hears when I call to him.”

In Psalm 3, David wrote about his experience being surrounded by enemies. His enemies mocked the idea that his God would save him, but David had confidence in the Lord. He wrote about how he cried out to God and God heard him. “Salavation belongs to the Lord” (3:8).

Psalm 2 describes how the rulers of earthly nations oppose God’s Anointed, God’s chosen king, but God’s chosen king cannot be defeated. He reigns in superiority to all other kings. His allies find refuge in him. His enemies will find their ruin in him. Psalm 2 is quoted several times in the New Testament including in Peter’s speech in Acts 4:24-28.

A man will be blessed if he refuses to take advise from wicked people, refuses to frequent the places sinners frequent, and refuses to keep company with scoffers (those who mock God and other men). Having avoided those things, a man will be blessed if he meditates on the laws of God. If he fills his mind with God’s teachings day and night. “His delight is in the law of the Lord” (1:2).

2 Chronicles 36 is a parallel chapter to 2 Kings 25. It describes the decline of Judah as a nation leading up to their 70-year captivity in Babylon. God was so mad at His rebellious people, He allowed Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to destroy Jerusalem, the Temple, and to exile the people of Judah. But the end of the chapter leaves a glimmer of hope. Around 539 B.C., Babylon was conquered, and the king of Persia, Cyrus the Great, allowed the Jews to return to their homeland and begin the process of rebuilding.

In 2 Chronicles 35, Josiah and the people of God observe the Passover Feast in Jerusalem. The end of the chapter documents the death of Josiah during a battle between Judah and Pharaoh Neco of Egypt.

In 2 Chronicles 34, Josiah’s men find the Book of the Law during a restoration of the Temple in Jerusalem. The words of the books strike fear into the people of Judah because they realize they haven’t been following God’s instructions. God warns the nation they will be punished for the neglect of His laws, but He delays the punishment until after the death of godly king Josiah.

In 2 Chronicles 33, Manasseh takes the throne of Judah. He was an exceptionally evil king, which led God to punish him by allowing the army of Assyria to take him prisoner. Astonishingly, while in his captivity, Manasseh repented, God forgave him, and God let him return to Jerusalem. Manasseh’s story is an incredible example of God’s grace and forgiveness.

In 2 Chronicles 32, Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, set his eye on conquering Jerusalem. He sent servants to Jerusalem to mock their military, their king (Hezekiah), and their God. God was angry with the Assyrians for their pride, and He sent an angel which killed 185,000 of their men. Sennacherib returned to his land in shame. The end of the chapter briefly summarizes Hezekiah’s reign and documents his death.

After celebrating the Passover Feast in chapter 30, 2 Chronicles 31 documents how Hezekiah organized the priests and Levites who were to serve at the Temple in Jerusalem. He also reinstituted the tithe, which was a collection of money and possessions from the people that had been commanded by God in His law. These tithes/contributions were used to support the priests as they worked at the Temple.

In 2 Chronicles 30, King Hezekiah of Judah invited all the people of Israel and Judah to come to Jerusalem and celebrate the Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread. The feasts had been neglected for many years during the reigns of wicked kings. The people gathered in Jerusalem for a great celebration. They were so happy, they extended the typical 7-day feast to 14 days.

In 2 Chronicles 29, Hezekiah takes the throne of Judah and immediately begins reforming the nation, starting with Jerusalem and the Temple. After his father locked the Temple doors to serve idols, Hezekiah reopened them, renovated the Lord’s house, and reinstated the worship of the true God.

Ahaz led the nation of Judah into idolatry and ruin. He closed the Temple and replaced the worship of the true God with the worship of idols. Due to his wickedness, God allowed the Assyrians, Edomites, Philistines, and Syrians to oppress Judah. Ahaz ruled as king of Judah for 16 years. In his relatively short reign, he managed to spread sin far and wide throughout the borders of the southern kingdom.   

The short chapter of 2 Chronicles 27 records the reign of King Jotham in Judah. He was a righteous king who loved the Lord, and the Lord blessed him for his faithfulness. Jotham subjected the Ammonites and required them to pay a substantial yearly tribute. Jotham reigned 16 years in Judah.

2 Chronicles 26 documents the reign of Uzziah as king in Judah. God blessed Uzziah when he initially took the throne. Judah subjected their enemies and enjoyed prosperity. But Uzziah grew proud as his strength increased. This pride culminated in him entering the Temple of the Lord, which all but the priests were forbidden from doing. God punished Uzziah’s pride by afflicting him with leprosy.

In 2 Chronicles 25, Amaziah takes the throne of Judah after Joash’s death. God gives Amaziah a military victory against the Edomites, but Amaziah betrays the Lord by trading Him in for the God’s of the Edomites. As punishment for abandoning Him, God allowed the Israelite army to defeat Amaziah and plunder Jerusalem. Several years later, Amaziah was later assassinated.