This is the last chapter of 2 Chronicles, and it marks the 300th lesson posted to the blog since its inception in the first week of January 2021. Wow…God you are amazing! Most of this chapter is a recount of 2 Kings 23:31-37 and 2 Kings 24. It highlights the evil acts committed by the kings of Judah which led to God’s anger and the fall of Jerusalem. Here’s the chapter in its entirety:
“Then the people of the land took Josiah’s son Jehoahaz and made him the next king in Jerusalem. Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, but he reigned only three months. Then he was deposed by Neco, the king of Egypt, who demanded a tribute from Judah of 7,500 pounds of silver and 75 pounds of gold. The king of Egypt appointed Eliakim, the brother of Jehoahaz, as the next king of Judah and Jerusalem, and he changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. Then Neco took Jehoahaz to Egypt as a prisoner.
Jehoiakim Rules in Judah
Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. But he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God. Then King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and captured it, and he bound Jehoiakim in chains and led him away to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar also took some of the treasures from the Temple of the Lord, and he placed them in his palace in Babylon. (Wow!) The rest of the events of Jehoiakim’s reign, including all the evil things he did and everything found against him, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. Then his son Jehoiachin became the next king.
Jehoiachin Rules in Judah
Johoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, but he reigned in Jerusalem only three months and ten days. Jehoiachin did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. In the spring of the following year, Jehoiachin was summoned to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. Many treasures from the Temple of the Lord were taken to Babylon at that time. And Nebuchadnezzar appointed Jehoiachin’s uncle, Zedekiah, to be the next king in Judah and Jerusalem.
Zedekiah Rules in Judah
Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God, and he refused to humble himself in the presence of the prophet Jeremiah, who spoke for the Lord. He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, even though he had taken an oath of loyalty in God’s name. Zedekiah was a hard and stubborn man, refusing to turn to the Lord, the God of Israel.
All the leaders of the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful. They followed the pagan practices of the surrounding nations, desecrating the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem.
The Lord, the God of their ancestors, repeatedly sent his prophets to warn them, for he had compassion on his people and his Temple. But the people mocked these messengers of God and despised their words. They scoffed at the prophets until the Lord’s anger could no longer be restrained and there was no remedy. (Wow…favor turns to punishment in our disobedience.)
The Fall of Jerusalem
So the Lord brought the king of Babylon against them. The Babylonians killed Judah’s young men, even chasing after them into the Temple. They had no pity on the people, killing both young and old, men and women, healthy and sick. God handed them all over to Nebuchadnezzar. (Wow...Is God working for you or against you, based upon your commitment to Him?) The king also took home to Babylon all the utensils, large and small, used in the Temple of God, and the treasures from both the Lord’s Temple and the royal palace. He also took with him all the royal princes. Then his army set fire to the Temple of God, broke down the walls of Jerusalem, burned all the palaces, and completely destroyed everything of value. The few who survived were taken away to Babylon, and they became servants to the king and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power. So the message of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah was fulfilled. The land finally enjoyed its Sabbath rest, lying desolate for seventy years, just as the prophet had said. (Wow! God’s people completely uprooted from the land He had given them and made into servants because of their evil and disobedient ways.)
Cyrus Allows the Exiles to Return
In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord fulfilled Jeremiah’s prophecy by stirring the heart of Cyrus to put his proclamation into writing and to send it throughout his kingdom:
“This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem in the land of Judah. All of you who are the Lord’s people may return to Israel for this task. May the Lord your God be with you!”
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Thank you for allowing us to complete another book of your wonderful Word! Help us commit our whole heart to you, obeying you and trusting you completely with our lives, so you will always work for us instead of against us. We love you!
May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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