2 Kings 25
-Zedekiah’s rebellion (2 Kings 24:20) caused Nebuchadnezzar,
king of Babylon, to come and lay siege on Jerusalem in the ninth year of
Zedekiah’s reign. This lasted until his eleventh year, when the famine in the
city became so severe that there was no food left. Then, the city was broken
into, and all the men of war with the king fled by night east toward the
Arabah. They were captured however in the plain near the Jordan River/Dead Sea
area near Jericho. They brought the king and his sons to the king of Babylon,
who was north in Riblah. It was here that Zedekiah saw his last sight on earth
as his sons were slaughtered before his eyes, and then his eyes were put out.
He was taken prisoner with bronze fetters and brought to Babylon (2 Kings
25:1-7).
-The rest of the chapter details how Nebuchadnezzar sent his
captain of the guard, Nebuzaradan, to Jerusalem in order to burn the Temple,
the king’s house, and all the great houses in Jerusalem. They broke down the
walls around the city, and the remainders of the people there were carried away
into exile. Only some of the poorest of the land were left to be vinedressers
and plowmen. The valuables of the Temple were carried away as plunder along
with the priests, Temple officials, and government officials who remained
there. These people were also brought to Riblah, as Zedekiah was, and there
they were struck down and put to death. So Judah was decisively carried away
into exile from its land (2 Kings 25:8-21).
-Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, was
appointed by the king of Babylon to be the new governor of the territory. He
advised compliance with the captors and to not be afraid of them and to serve
them for the well being of the populace. However, there was one last attempt to
reestablish the royal line, because the people of Judah knew and believed in
the promises of God to the Davidic line as forever reigning on the throne.
Ishmael, along with ten men, came and struck down Gedaliah and the Chaldeans
who were with him at Mizpah. At this point, in shear fear and trepidation they
fled to Egypt (2 Kings 25:22-26).
-The book ends with a glimmer of hope and grace as a new
king, Evil-merodach, comes on the throne of Babylon in the thirty-seventh year
of exile of Jehoiachin, king of Judah, and releases him from prison.
Evil-merodach spoke kindly to Jehoiachin and set his position higher above the
thrones of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. He changed his prison
clothes and had his meals in the king’s presence regularly all the days of his
life. He was even given an allowance by the Babylonian king each day for the rest
of his life.
-*Application* God was still with His chosen people even in
their time of punishment and exile in Babylon. He would bring them back as prophesied.
The Old Testament books of Ezra and Nehemiah chronicle the return to the land and
the rebuilding process, even though the Jews were still under Gentile authority.
This basically remained the case until 1948, when they were declared once again
a sovereign nation by the United Nations. In the midst of all that, the Davidic
line King, Jesus Christ, appeared in the fullness of time (Galatians 4:4-5) to be
the Redeeming Suffering Servant in His first incarnation. It is foretold that He
will return and set up His everlasting Kingdom here on earth, back in Jerusalem,
at some future point in time (Zechariah 14:3-9, Revelation 20-22). Anticipate that
glorious day. His Kingdom is here now in part as His body of believers (the church),
but it will have a future glory that will be unsurpassed as the rightful, righteous,
and eternal King of Israel! The King of kings is coming! Be alert and be ready (Matthew
24:42-44; 25:13, Mark 13:35-37, Luke 12:40, 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 1 Peter 5:8)!
Verse to Memorize: 2
Kings 25:7
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