2 Kings 25:8-30 - Violent times

25:8-26

The Babylonian commander then went to Jerusalem, he set fire to the temple, the royal palace and many houses. So every important building was burnt down. The walls were also broken down. Many people were carried off into exiles, leaving only the poorest behind. Various items from the temple were taken. Many priests were also taken into exile. They were then executed by the Babylonian king. Gedaliah tried to reassure the people, telling them to serve the Babylonians, and if they did do it would go well with them. However this led to Gedaliah being assassinated. The remaining people then fled to Egypt out of fear.

25:27-30

The next king of Babylon seemed to be less violent and he released Jehoiachin, who then lived quite well even eating at the king’s table. He was also given a regular allowance.

2 Kings 25:1-7 - Jerusalem besieged

25:1-7

Nebuchadnezzar marched against Jerusalem and besieged it. Conditions within the city would become progressively more and more terrible during this time. So much so that there would be no food. Even the army fled, apparently including the king. However, this provided no escape for the Babylonian army pursued them, especially the king. The king was captured and the army scattered. Zedekiah’s sons were killed before his own eyes, then they gouged out his eyes, these were brutal times.

2 Kings 24:10-20 - The endi is near

24:10-17

The siege of Jerusalem now begins. Israel did not put up a fight, Jehoiachin, his mother and his attendants all surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar. Jehoiachin was taken prisoner, while Nebuchadnezzar removed the gold articles from the temple, he also carried all the officers, skilled men and fighting men off to Babylon. Only the poorest people were left behind.Jehoiachin’s uncle was made king, and had his name changed to Zedkiah.

24:18-20

Zedekiah reigned for eleven years, he also did evil in the eyes of the Lord. In the end he rebelled against the king of Babylon, but to no avail.

2 Kings 24:1-9 - Babylon attacks

24:1-9

Babylon, under Nebuchadnezzar, now invades Judah,Jehoiakim was a puppet king, but he rebelled against Babylon. However, Babylon, with help from Aram, Moab and Ammon,attacked Judah. All this was in accordance with the word of the Lord, His judgement against JUdah for her persistent disobedience. This is the key message of 1 & 2 Kings. It was not just the idolatry, but also the “shedding of innocent blood”, this was at least partly a result of the idolatry. Jehoiakim died and was succeeded by his som Jehoiachin.:No help was available from Egypt. Jehoiachin reigned for a mere three months, “He did evil in the eyes of the Lord”.

2 Kings 23:21-30 - Celebrate the Passover

23:21-25

As well as the negative steps, Josiah did not neglect the positive. He reinstituted the celebration of the Passover. Despite being required by the Law, it seems that it had never actually taken place (23:22). It is like the atoning aspects of the cross being forgotten.

23:26-30

Despite Josiah’s devotion and commitment, the judgement on the land remained. King Josiah died, killed by the king of Egypt. (23:29).\we should beware the deep effects of sin. He was succeeded by his son ehoahaz.

2 Kings 22:1-20 - He read the Book of the Covenant

23:1-3

The word from the prophet was apparently bad news, but Josiah did not despair. Instead he went up to the temple of the Lord, gathered all the people of Jerusalem and the priests and prophets, and read the word of the Lord to them. He then renewed the covenant committing them to keeping the commands of God. Unlike most previous kings he directed the people towards the Lord, not to idols.

23:4-20

Josiah ordered the removal of everything associated with idol worship. He also dealt with the high places. Every vestige of idol worship was removed., Torpeth, where child sacrifice was carried out, was desecrated. Josiah was very thorough in what he did. He killed many of the priests. The effects of idolatry had spread into many areas of the land, and so determined steps were necessary. However, Josiah also displayed respect for the faithful prophets.

2 Kings 22:1-20 - Another good king

22:1-11

\we now get another rarity, Josiah was a king who did what “was right in the eyes of the Lord”.He was just like his father David. He reigned for thirty one years. In his eighteenth year he took steps to restart the work on the temple. Hilkiah told him that he had found the book of the Law. We might find it odd that they did not already have this, but things can easily be forgotten. In recent years our own society seems to have had great difficulty in knowing the difference between men and women! The king was informed of this finding, and the book was read to him. Josiah heard and understood realising how far they had strayed from God’s Law, and the ensuing consequences.

22:12-20

Josiah got the priests and officials to inquire of the Lord what needed to be done to put things right. It was a female prophet who pointed them in the right direction. She tells them that judgement is coming, and why it is coming. However, the Lord also respects Josiah and his piety, because of this  he will die in peace. He would not see the disaster.