2 Kings 24 | Judah Carried Away

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Transcript

Charlie Mitchell 0:01

You're listening to the Dope Daily Audio Bible, and I'm your guy, Pastor Charlie Mitchell. And today, we're looking at II Kings chapter twenty-four. Let's roll. During Jehoiakim's reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked. Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years, and then he turned and rebelled against him. the Lord sent Chaldean, Aramaean, Moabite, and Ammonite raiders against Jehoiakim. He sent them against Judah to destroy it. According to the word of the Lord, he had spoken through his servants the prophets. Indeed, this happened to Judah at the Lord's command to remove them from his presence. It was because of the sins of Manasseh, according to all he had done, and also because of all the innocent blood he had shed. He had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the Lord was not willing to forgive. The rest of the events of Jehoiakim's reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the historical record of Judah's kings. Jehoiakim rested with his ancestors, and his son Jehoiachin became king in his place. Now the king of Egypt did not march out of his land again, for the king of Babylon took everything that had belonged to the king of Egypt from the brook of Egypt to the Euphrates River. Jehoiakim was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Nehushta, daughter of Elnathan. She was from Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the Lord's sight, just as his father had done. At that time, the servant of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon marched up to Jerusalem, and the city came under siege. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to the city while his servants were besieging it. King Jehoiachin of Judah, along with his mother, his servants, his commanders, and his officials, surrendered to the king of Babylon. So the king of Babylon took him captive in the eighth year of his reign. he also carried off from there all the treasures of the Lord's temple and the treasures of the king's palace, and he cut into pieces all the gold articles that King Solomon of Israel had made for the Lord's sanctuary, just as the Lord had predicted. He deported all Jerusalem, and all the commanders, and all the best soldiers, 10,000 captives, including all the craftsmen and metalsmiths. Except for the poorest people of the land, no one remained. Nebuchadnezzar deported Jehoiachin to Babylon. he took the king's mother, the king's wives, his officials, and the leading men of the land into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. the king of Babylon brought captive into Babylon all 7,000 of the best soldiers and 1,000 craftsmen and metalsmiths, all strong and fit for war. and the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's uncle, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah. Zedekiah was 21 years old when he became king, and he reigned 11 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal, daughter of Jeremiah. She was from Libnah. Zedekiah did what was evil in the Lord's sight, just as Jehoiakim had done. Because of the Lord's anger, It came to the point in Jerusalem and Judah that he finally banished them from his presence. Then Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, I pray that we're reminded that You are faithful even when we're not. We are unsteady, but You remain steadfast. When we wander, You continue to call us back to Yourself every single time. And in this chapter, we see a glimpse of the consequences of years of rebellion. What had been ignored for generations could no longer be avoided. It's sobering to be reminded that our choices matter, and that turning away from You always leads to great loss. So Lord, I pray that You would help us to learn from these lessons. Keep us from hardening our hearts to Your voice. Don't let us mistake Your patience for Your approval. Instead, give us the hearts that respond quickly to Your correction and gladly receive Your grace. Lord, thank You that even in seasons of discipline, Your desire is always restoration and not destruction. When we face the consequences of our choices, help us to turn back to You and not away from You. And when life feels uncertain, remind us that our hope is not in our circumstances, our leaders, or in earthly kingdoms. Our hope is ultimately found in You. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.