July 20-26: 2 Chronicles 14-20; 26- 30

Written By Center for Latter-day Saint Arts

2 Chronicles 14-20; 26- 30

Christian Bolt (Swiss, born 1972)

Grosse Büste (2019)

Painted oak, 101 x 43 x 33 cm

Collection of the artist

Used with permission of the artist

The chapters in this week's study describe several kings of Judah and their spiritual leadership, highlighting both faithfulness and failure. Asa seeks God and leads Judah in reform, and God gives him victory over a vast Ethiopian army. Later, Jehoshaphat encourages the nation to trust God, and when a large coalition attacks Judah, the people pray and God miraculously defeats the enemy. Uzziah becomes powerful and successful but grows proud and unlawfully enters the temple to burn incense, resulting in God striking him with leprosy. Hezekiah restores temple worship, cleanses the temple, and invites the people of Judah and Israel to celebrate the Passover again after years of neglect.

Christian Bolt's work, Grosse Büste, has a mysterious presence. His figure is powerful and vulnerable, realistic and abstracted. Looking at the finished work provides insight in the markmaking that went into its creation. In similar ways, a major theme in these chapters is that seeking God brings guidance, strength, and blessing, while pride and disobedience bring consequences. The stories emphasize the importance of trust in God during times of crisis. Leaders like Hezekiah remind the people to return to worship and covenant faithfulness. Finally, these chapters show that success can be dangerous if it leads to pride, as seen in Uzziah’s downfall.

Gospel Questions

1. What habits help people continue seeking God even during times of success?

2. How can a community recover after neglecting important values or traditions?

3. What role does prayer play in your worship? What role does communal prayer play?

For Children and Youth

Hi. Some kings trusted God and helped the people worship Him. God helped them win battles and live well. But when a king became proud or forgot God, problems came.

1. Is there a time you have struggled because it was hard to have faith?

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July 27-August 2: Ezra 1; 3-7; Nehemiah 2; 4-6; 8
July 27-August 2: Ezra 1; 3-7; Nehemiah 2; 4-6; 8

The Persian king, Cyrus the Great, issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple of God. The returning people rebuild the altar and lay the foundation of the temple. Although the project faces opposition from surrounding groups. Ezra, a teacher of God’s Law, travels to Jerusalem with authority from the Persian king to help restore proper worship and obedience to God’s commands.

July 20-26: 2 Chronicles 14-20; 26- 30
July 20-26: 2 Chronicles 14-20; 26- 30

The chapters in this week's study describe several kings of Judah and their spiritual leadership, highlighting both faithfulness and failure. Asa seeks God and leads Judah in reform, and God gives him victory over a vast Ethiopian army. Later, Jehoshaphat encourages the nation to trust God, and when a large coalition attacks Judah, the people pray and God miraculously defeats the enemy.

July 13-19: 2 Kings 16-25
July 13-19: 2 Kings 16-25

Both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah decline and fall. King Ahaz of Judah adopts pagan practices and seeks help from Assyria instead of trusting God. Israel is conquered by the Assyrians and its people are exiled because of persistent idolatry. Later, King Hezekiah brings spiritual reform and trusts God during the Assyrian threat, but his son Manasseh reverses these reforms with wickedness, deepening Judah’s guilt.

July 6-12: 2 Kings 2-7
July 6-12: 2 Kings 2-7

The prophet Elijah is taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, and his mantle falls to Elisha, confirming him as Elijah’s successor through miraculous signs like parting the Jordan River. Elisha performs several miracles, including purifying poisoned water, multiplying a widow’s oil to pay her debts, and raising a Shunammite woman’s son from the dead. Naaman is healed of leprosy after humbling himself to wash in the Jordan River, while Elisha’s servant Gehazi is struck with leprosy for his greed. Elisha also causes an iron axe head to float and repeatedly warns the king of Israel about enemy movements, demonstrating God’s power over both nature and nations.

Center for Latter-day Saint Arts
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July 27-August 2: Ezra 1; 3-7; Nehemiah 2; 4-6; 8
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July 13-19: 2 Kings 16-25