THE FALL OF JUDAH AND JERUSALEM

PROCLAMATION

“At that time the officers of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon advanced on Jerusalem and laid siege to it, and Nebuchadnezzar himself came up to the city while his officers were besieging it.  Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his attendants, his nobles, and his officials all surrendered to him.”  2 Kings 24:10-12 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

After Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt put Josiah king of Judah in chains, took him to Egypt, and made Eliakim son Josiah the king, Necho changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. (2 Kings 23:33-37)  While he was king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded the land and he made Jehoiakim his servant.  After three years he rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar and The Lord sent Ammonite, Aramean, Babylonian and Moabite raiders against him to destroy Judah. (2 Kings 24:1-4)  Jehoiakim died and his son Jehoiachin succeeded him as king of Judah. (2 Kings 24:6)  Jehoiachin also did evil in the eyes of The Lord just as his father before him had done. (2 Kings 24:9)  Nebuchadnezzar attacked and sieged Jerusalem and took Jehoiachin, his family, and all of his officers as prisoners.  Then he took all of the gold and treasures from the temple and the palace.  He also took all of officers, fighting men, skilled workers and artisans of Jerusalem with him into exile. (2 Kings 24:12-16)  Nebuchadnezzar made Jehoiachin’s uncle Mattaniah king of Judah and changed his name to Zedekiah. (2 Kings 24:17)

APPLICATION

There is a price to pay for disobeying The Lord God, for doing evil in His sight, especially the shedding of innocent blood as Manasseh king of Judah had done. (2 Kings 24:3-4)  This is true even today.  Believers are saved but we will pay a price for our sins even though we will not lose our salvation.  Suffering will draw some closer to The Lord God, but it will harden the heart of others.  A good spanking will change the behavior of some of us while others will die before they will change.  Salvation changes us and the indwelling of The Holy Spirit of God changes our behavior and our thoughts.  We fall down but we get up.  We still commit sins, but we do not enjoy them like we used to, and we feel guilty afterwards.  We are saved by the grace of God and that grace will make us want to be more like Christ.  We have the power to grow spiritually because of His grace, but we also have free will and we must choose to follow His call, to study His Word, to fellowship with the saints, and to use our time, talent, and treasure for His benefit and glory.