WEEKEND RECHARGE!

May 23, 2026 

Monday, May 18—2 Chron. 24 Joash
Tuesday, May 19—2 Chron. 26 Uzziah
Wednesday, May 20—2 Chron. 29–32 Hezekiah
Thursday, May 21—2 Chron. 34–36 Josiah
Friday, May 22—1 Kings 17–18 Elijah

FOLLOWING THE OVERVIEW IS A LIST OF THE KINGS OF JUDAH AND A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EACH RULER. 

DAILY DEVOTION OVERVIEW | May 25–29

2 CHRONICLES 24: JOASH: PLEASING GOD OR PEOPLE

Godly Influence Can Shape a Life — But It Cannot Save a Heart (2 Chron. 24:1–19)

●      Joash benefited greatly from the spiritual leadership of Jehoiada.

●      External obedience can hide an untransformed heart.

●      Spiritual mentors are gifts from God, but they cannot believe for us.

 People-Pleasing Leads Us Away from Faithfulness to God (2 Chron. 24:20–27)

●      After Jehoiada's death, Joash listened to influential voices instead of God's Word.

●      The desire for approval can slowly erode spiritual conviction.

●      Rejecting godly correction hardens the heart and leads to compromise.

Genuine Faith Must Become Personal and Enduring (Prov. 27:19)

●      The true condition of the heart is revealed over time through our choices.

●      Borrowed faith rarely survives once those we are relying on are gone.

●      Parents and disciplers must aim for transformed hearts, not merely outward behavior. 

2 CHRONICLES 26: UZZIAH: POWER AND PRIDE

Uzziah's Power (2 Chron. 26:1–15)

●      Uzziah prospered because he intentionally sought the Lord.

●      Godly counsel helped shape Uzziah's early leadership decisions.

●      Spiritual success is always tied to dependence upon God.

Uzziah's Pride (2 Chron. 26:16–18)

●      Uzziah's accomplishments caused him to become self-reliant and proud.

●      Pride grows when we begin believing our success is self-made.

●      Great gifting and achievement do not remove our need for accountability.

Uzziah's Punishment (2 Chron. 26:19–23)

●      Uzziah crossed spiritual boundaries and was struck with leprosy.

●      Unchecked pride ultimately isolates us from God and others.

●      Uzziah was a leper, isolated until the day he died. 

2 CHRONICLES 29–32: HEZEKIAH: LIVING BEYOND OUR LIFETIME

Spiritual Renewal Begins When We Return Wholeheartedly to God (2 Chron. 29:1–11; 31:21)

●      Hezekiah reopened and purified the temple after seasons of spiritual neglect.

●      He called the people to recommit themselves to worship and obedience.

●      He pursued God with his whole heart and led the nation toward spiritual renewal.

Faith-filled Leadership Trusts God in the Face of Overwhelming Opposition (2 Chron. 32:1–8; 20–22)

●      Hezekiah prepared wisely and responsibly for the coming attack.

●      He encouraged the people to rely on God rather than fear the enemy.

●      He and Isaiah responded to the crisis through prayer and dependence on the Lord.

How We Live Today Shapes the Legacy We Leave Tomorrow (2 Kgs. 20:12–19)

●      Pride caused Hezekiah to lose sight of future generations.

●      His desire for personal peace blinded him to coming consequences.

●      Our choices today impact the spiritual condition of those who follow us. 

2 CHRONICLES 34–36: JOSIAH: SPIRITUAL REVIVAL

Spiritual Revival Begins with a Heart that Seeks God (2 Chron. 34:1–3; 2 Kgs. 22:2)

●      Josiah pursued the Lord even though he was surrounded by ungodly influences.

●      Spiritual renewal often begins with one person who is serious about following God.

●      A seeking heart chooses obedience without turning "to the right or to the left."

Spiritual Revival Grows Through the Authority of God's Word (2 Chron. 34:14–21; 29–33)

●      God's Word exposes sin and awakens conviction.

●      True humility responds to Scripture with repentance and action.

●      Revival spreads when God's people hear, believe, and obey his Word.

Spiritual Revival Produces Worship and Lasting Influence (2 Chron. 35:1–19)

●      Josiah restored worship by leading the people to celebrate Passover.

●      God's Word sustains believers during difficult and painful seasons.

●      Hard times often deepen our dependence upon the promises of Scripture

1 KINGS 17–18: ELIJAH: FIRE FROM HEAVEN

Elijah Was a Courageous Voice in Spiritually Dark Times (1 Kgs. 16:30–33; 17:1; 18:1–2; 17–19)

●      Elijah boldly confronted wicked Ahab and the people following Baal.

●      God often works through faithful individuals who are willing to stand alone.

●      Spiritual compromise always leads people farther away from the Lord.

God Calls His People to Wholehearted Commitment (1 Kgs 18:20–24)

●      Elijah challenged the people to stop wavering between two opinions.

●      God does not call his people to limp between two different opinions.

●      Every generation must decide whether it will fully follow the Lord.

God Demonstrates His Power and Glory Through Faithful Obedience (1 Kgs. 18:30–39)

●      The fire from heaven proved that the Lord alone is the true God.

●      Elijah trusted God completely.

●      Elijah had full confidence that God would deliver. 

THE KINGS OF THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM

There were 19 kings who led the northern kingdom (Israel) before the country fell to the Assyrians in 722 BC. The fall is documented in 2 Kings 17:6-23. The northern kings did not follow God and led Israel astray. 

Below is a list of the kings who led the southern kingdom (Judah) after Solomon. 

REHOBOAM (12 years: 931-913 BC) 1 Kgs.  11:43-12:24; 14:21-31; 2 Chron. 9:31-12:16
Solomon's son. Set up altars to pagan gods. Shishak, the king of Egypt, raided the temple. Died of natural causes. 

ABIJAH (3 years: 913-911 BC) 1 Kgs. 14:31-15:8; 2 Chron. 12:16-14:1
"And he walked in all the sins that his father did before him, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father. Nevertheless, for David's sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, setting up his son after him, and establishing Jerusalem, because David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kgs.15:3-5). He died of natural causes. 

ASA (41 years: 911-870 BC) 1 Kgs. 15:8-24; 2 Chron. 14:1-16:14
Removed cult prostitutes and destroyed pagan altars. Mostly followed the Lord during his days. He died of a foot disease seeking only physicians, not the Lord, for healing. 

JEHOSHAPHAT (25 years: 873-848 BC) 1 Kgs. 22:1-50; 2 Chron. 17:1-21:1
"He walked in all the way of Asa his father. He did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. Yet the high places were not taken away, and the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places.  Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel" (1 Kgs 22:43-44). He died of natural causes. 

JEHORAM (JORAM) (8 years: 848-841 BC) 2 Kgs. 8:16-24; 2 Chron. 21:1-20
"And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord" (2 Kgs. 8:18). He died a painful death. 

AHAZIAH (1 year: 841 BC) 2 Kgs. 8:24-29; 9:14-29; 2 Chron. 22:1-9
"He also walked in the way of the house of Ahab and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done" (2 Kgs. 8:27). His mother was Athaliah, Jehoram's wife. Israel's king Jehu killed both Jehoram and Ahaziah. 

QUEEN ATHALIAH (6 years: 841-835 BC) 2 Kgs. 11:1-20; 2 Chron. 22:10-23:21
Athaliah did evil in God's eyes. When her son, Ahaziah, was killed she appointed herself as queen. She killed Ahaziah's family except for Joash who was hidden by Jehoshabeath. When Jehoshabeath's husband, Jehoiada, installed Joash as king, Athaliah was killed by her own army. 

JOASH (40 years: 835-796 BC) 2 Kgs. 11:1-12:21; 2 Chron. 22:10-24:27
Was raised by Jehoshabeath and mentored by her husband Jehoiada the priest. During Jehoiada's life Joash followed God. But after Jehoiada died he ignored the prophets and did evil. His own officials assassinated him. 

AMAZIAH (29 years: 796-767 BC) 2 Kgs. 12:21; 14:1-20; 2 Chron. 24:27-25:28
"And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not like David his father. He did all things as Joash his father had done. But the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places" (2 Kgs. 14:3-4). Killed by his officials. 

UZZIAH (52 years: 767-739 BC) 2 Kgs. 14:21-22; 15:1-7; 2 Chron. 26:1-23
For most of his life Uzziah followed in the ways of God. As long as he obeyed God he prospered. But in the end pride got the best of him and after he entered the temple and attempted to do the work reserved only for priests, God struck him with leprosy and he was alienated from the people. He installed his son as a co-regent. 

JOTHAM (16 years: 751-730 BC) 2 Kgs. 16:1-20; 2 Chron. 28:27-32:20
Co-reigned with his father for six years. "And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord according to all that his father Uzziah had done, except he did not enter the temple of the Lord" (2 Chron. 27:2). Died of natural causes. 

AHAZ (16 years: 730-715 BC) 2 Kgs. 16:1-20; 2 Chron. 27:9-28:27
"And he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father David had done, but he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel. He even made metal images for the Baals, and he made offerings in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom and burned his sons as an offering, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel. And he sacrificed and made offerings on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree (2 Chron. 28:1-4). Died of natural causes. 

HEZEKIAH (29 years: 715-686 BC) 2 Kgs. 18:1-20:21; 2 Chron. 28:27-32:20
Unlike his father Ahaz, Hezekiah did right in the eyes of the Lord. He cleansed the temple and restored temple worship. He reinstituted Passover and invited those in Israel who had not been taken captive by the Assyrians. He destroyed pagan altars. When the Assyrian king, Sennacherib, invaded Judah, Hezekiah and Isaiah prayed for God's deliverance. God sent an angel to deal with the Assyrians. Hezekiah was struck with a terminal illness but God graciously gave him fifteen additional years. Unfortunately, his pride during that time led him to show the Babylonians his military weapons and treasures. God granted him peace during his lifetime but the consequences of Hezekiah's pride was Judah's ultimate downfall. Hezekiah died after the fifteen promised years. 

MANNASSEH (55 years: 686-642 BC) 2 Kgs. 21:1-18; 2 Chron. 32:33-33:20
Mannasseh was Judah's longest serving king. Unfortunately, he did not follow the Lord. He "did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel. For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had broken down, and he erected altars to the Baals, and made Asheroth, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them" (2 Chron. 33:2-3). He was overthrown and taken captive by the Assyrians. Only then did he humble himself and repent "and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God" (2 Chron, 33:13). 

AMON (2 years: 642-640 BC) 2 Kgs. 21:18-26; 2 Chron. 33:20-25
Amon "did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done. Amon sacrificed to all the images that Manasseh his father had made, and served them.  And he did not humble himself before the Lord, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself, but this Amon incurred guilt more and more. And his servants conspired against him and put him to death in his house" (2 Chron. 33:22-24). 

JOSIAH (31 years: 640-609 BC) 2 Kgs. 21:26-23:30; 2 Chron. 33:25-35:27
Josiah followed God and sought to restore the temple that had fallen into disrepair. During the restoration process, the Book of the Law was found. Josiah read God's Word and initiated a spiritual revival in Judah. He also celebrated Passover according to the instruction of the Law. He was a strong king who served the Lord. He was killed in battle by the Egyptian king, Neco. 

JEHOAHAZ (SHALLUM) (3 months: 609 BC) 2 Kgs. 23:30-34; 2 Chron. 36:1-4
Put in chains by the Egyptian king, Neco. Died in Egypt.

JEHOIAKIM (ELIAKIM) (11 years: 609-598 BC) 2 Kgs. 23:34-24:6; 2 Chron. 36:4-8
Jehoiakim did "what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God. Against him came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and bound him in chains to take him to Babylon" (2 Chron. 36:5-6). Jehoiakim died in Babylon. 

JEHOIACHIN (JECONIAH) (3 months: 597 BC) 2 Kgs. 24:6-16; 25:27-30; 2 Chron. 36:8-10
Jehoiachin did evil in the sight of the Lord. He was captured by Nebuchadnezzar with 10,000 others and taken to Babylon where he died. 

ZEDEKIAH (MATTANIAH) (11 years: 597-586 BC) 2 Kgs. 24:17-25:7; 2 Chron. 36:10-13
Zedekiah was installed by Nebuchadnezzar as a puppet king. Zedekiah "did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the Lord" (2 Chron. 36:12). He eventually rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. After an eighteen-month siege of Jerusalem, the Babylonians breached the wall, destroyed the city, burned the temple to the ground, and took most of the survivors back to Babylon.