2 CHRONICLES 36

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Final Kings of Judah; The Destruction of the Temple; The Fall of Jerusalem

(Transcript not available - coming soon)


BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. The last kings of Judah are a lesson in God's patience.

  2. The last days of Judah are a lesson in God's judgment.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Always remember that the heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord.

QUESTIONS

  1. Briefly describe the last four kings of Judah.

  2. What was the response of the people to the patience of God?

  3. Give one reason for the 70 year captivity in Babylon as mentioned in verse 21.

  4. Review the three invasions of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian army.

  5. What Scripture reminds us that the heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord?

ANSWERS

  1. After King Josiah's untimely death, his son Jehoahaz was made king for 3 months before Pharaoh Neco took him as a captive to Egypt. He was replaced with his brother Eliakim, whose name was changed to Jehoiakim. Jehoiakim reigned for 11 years until he rebelled and was taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar. His son Jehoiachin was put on the throne for only 3 months before Nebuchadnezzar replaced him with the puppet king Zedekiah (the third son of Josiah).

  2. "They mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets" (verse 16).

  3. Under the Law, Israel was to let the land rest every seventh year. They were not to sow or reap that year. God would care for them with plenty of leftovers from the previous harvest. But over the years Israel had disobeyed the Lord in this matter and therefore the Lord said that the land would enjoy its Sabbaths while the Jews were in captivity in Babylon away from the land. See Leviticus 26:33-35 and Jeremiah 25:11

  4. -In 605 BC, Nebuchadnezzar took Daniel and other promising young men to Babylon as captives along with some of the Temple treasures. -In 597 BC, Nebuchadnezzar made his second invasion of Judah and took the King Jehoiachin and a considerable number of captive to Babylon including the prophet Ezekiel and more Temple treasures. -The third invasion of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar came in 588 BC and the siege lasted for almost 2 years. Jerusalem fell in 586 BC and the city was burned. The people were either killed or taken as captives to Babylon. The beautiful Temple of the Lord was robbed of its remaining treasures and destroyed.

  5. Proverbs 21:1

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. The Lord showed incredible longsuffering and patience during the last years of the nation of Judah. Yet they waited until it was too late to respond with repentance. Recall a time God showed great patience to you. What do you think caused you to respond?

  2. God must judge His people when they sin - just as a good father must judge the rebellion and disobedience of his children. What are your thoughts about God's judgment?

CHALLENGE

  1. God moved Cyrus the pagan king of Persia to grant permission to the Jews to return to their homeland after 70 years of captivity to rebuild their Temple. The next time you despair about those in authority over you, remember that God has ultimate control.

KEY VERSES

  • "And the LORD God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. 16 But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy." 2 Chronicles 36:15-16

  • "...to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths." 2 Chronicles 36:21

2 Chronicles, Old Testament, TalksRon Reid2 Chronicles 36