A hope-filled end to a sad Story

Read 2 Chronicles 36.

Judah experienced a rapid succession of kings and three take-overs.  First Neco, king of Egypt came up from the south and brought Judah under his control.  He even dethroned King Jehoahaz and took him back to Egypt as a prisoner.

Next, Nebuchadnezzar, King of the Babylonian Empire, came down from the north and forcefully took control of Judah in 605 B.C.  Most of those who were not killed were taken captive back to Babylon.  Among the captives were Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  Two more times the Babylonians came until the land of Judah was totally conquered in 586 B.C.

Then, the Medes and the Persians conquered Babylonia.  In one of the most astounding passages displaying God’s sovereignty, He stirred the heart of the pagan King Cyrus to release the Jews to go back home.  Even more, he charged them to rebuild the Temple and he would pay for it!

What was God doing?

1.      He was responding to the evil and blatant disregard for Him and His word.

Each of these kings that followed Josiah not only ignored the LORD and His claims upon them, but they involved themselves in every evil practice.  They willfully refused to acknowledge that it was the LORD who gave them life and opportunity.  This was His land.  They were His people.  They were only allowed to be there as a result of His blessing.

2.      In His love, mercy, and patience with them, He faithfully sent messenger after

messenger to call them back to God.  “The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place” (v.15).  But instead of listening and embracing what God had made clear to them, they rejected the word of God and even mocked it.

3.       He was fulfilling His word with or without them.

In their ignorance of the Scriptures, and/or rebellion against God’s commands they had not rested the land every 7 years as God commanded.  These skipped Sabbath years now totaled 70 that the nation owed God.  Jeremiah, one of those messengers from the LORD, made this clear to them well in advance (Jeremiah 25:11-12).

Insights for all of us:

1.      It is better to listen to God and humbly respond than to suffer the consequences of

disobedience.

2.      It is better to give God what rightfully belongs to Him than for Him to have to

 take it from us.

3.      It is better to live for the LORD and experience the blessings He desires to bestow

 upon us.