5-31-2004
Read II Chronicles 34 - 36
In Today's Reading:
Josiah's reign; Book of the Law found; fall of Jerusalem; captivity of Judah; decree of Cyrus to rebuild the Temple
One of the highest honors ever attributed to a king was given to Josiah, when it was recorded: He did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined (turned aside) neither to the right hand, nor to the left. . . . and he read in their ears all the words of the Book of the Covenant that was found in the House of the LORD (II Chronicles 34:2,30).
But the last four kings of Judah - Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah - were all evil, and led the nation in a descending course to its disastrous end morally, politically, and spiritually. During his reign of 11 years (36:11), Zedekiah (Mattaniah) (II Kings 24:17-18), the youngest son of Josiah, did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD (II Chronicles 36:12), and rebelled against Babylon's domination because he thought he had the support of Egypt. This time, the Lord left the Israelites to their ruin. Nebuchadnezzar showed no mercy and surrounded Jerusalem until there was no bread for the people of the land (II Kings 25:3). The horrors of the starving defenders of Jerusalem are recorded in Lamentations 2:19; 4:3-10 and Ezekiel 5:10.
Nebuchadnezzar's soldiers eventually broke through the north wall and mercilessly butchered both young and old. Then they burned the House of God, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and burned all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly (valuable) vessels thereof (II Chronicles 36:17-19; II Kings 25:4-11; Jeremiah 52:5-23).
Most of those who had escaped the massacre were driven off as slaves to become exiles in a foreign land (II Chronicles 36:20-21).
Because of His great love for Israel and His covenants with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David, the Lord made a precious promise to the Jewish people that is fast approaching fulfillment. They will soon recognize Jesus of Nazareth as their Messiah. Blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is My Covenant (Agreement) to them, when I shall take away their sins (Romans 11:25-27).
Christ Revealed:
Through the messengers of God who were rejected by His people (II Chronicles 36:15-16; compare Isaiah 53:3; Mark 9:12). Jesus came to His own, and His own received Him not (John 1:11; see also Matthew 21:42; Mark 8:31,12:10; Luke 9:22,17:25,20:17).
Word Studies:
35:8 small cattle = lambs for Passover; 35:13 sod = boiled; 36:3 put him down = deposed him; condemned = taxed; demanded tribute; 36:10 brother = uncle; 36:15 rising up betimes = early every morning, again and again.
Pray For:
The International Shortwave Radio Broadcast sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. John A. Hash · Staff: Ilene Wallace · Government Officials: Del. Madeleine Bordallo (Guam), Rep Steve Horn (CA), and Rep. Duncan Hunter (CA) · Country: Comoros (563,000) in the Mozambique Channel of the Indian Ocean · Major languages: Shaafi Islam (Swahili dialect) and Malagasy · Limited religious freedom · 99.7% Muslim; .2% Roman Catholic/Protestant
Prayer Suggestion: Pray in faith and the Lord will answer (Mark 11:24).
Prayer Suggestion: Pray in faith and the Lord will answer (Mark 11:24).
Optional Reading: II Corinthians 2
Memory Verse for the Week: John 11:25