2 Kings 21 – 25
As we close out 2nd Kings the nation of Israel has gone from greatness to being overrun by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. This once great nation had fallen from God’s protection and grace and only a few were allowed to remain as subjects of the king. Starting the demise, verse 21:12 has King Manasseh dealing with idols and being punished for that practice:
therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Jerusalem and Judah such disaster that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle.
This caught my eyes because of the ears tingling when one hears of this disaster. I still have a tough time understanding how a nation so touched by God’s hand could drift away so easily. We all tend to get wrapped up in our lives and what is going on that often we miss what God is doing for us. But why does it take such a huge kick in the pants for us to back on track? We do then to forget an unseen God and often take Him for granted.
Chapter 22 and 23 bring hope to the Jewish people that maybe all can be restored. King Josiah rebuilds the temple and in the process finds the Book of the Law, which had apparently been lost for quite some time. Verse 22:13 has Josiah remembering their history and attempts to make amends with God:
“Go, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”
Interesting God’s response in verse 30 is comforting in a way by saying; “your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place.” Josiah repentance has only delayed the enviable and will postpone it until after he dies. I assume this would have continued if his heirs had continued in the ways “pleasing to the Lord.” But alas the Josiah’s son, Jehoahaz, only lasted 3 months and “did what as evil in the sight of the Lord.” It’s amazing what a short rule can do to a nation’s direction.
Some claim the current occupant in the White House is doing just that, while many claim he is doing a great job. Obviously since he won reelection the majority believe this. I saw the same thing with Reagan, he was very polarizing. The people who agreed loved him and the people who opposed though he was the end of this nation. The only concern I have is something Jamie Fox, a comedian, said while talking about President Obama. He called him “our lord and savior”!
Sorry but that crossed the line and caused some great concern when applying it to prophecy. Guess we can only pray and see, since it’s out of our hands from this point forward.
The book has a curious ending. King Jehoiachin was in prison for 37 years and finally he was released from exile. Verse 25:29 shows and interesting twist to the story:
So Jehoiachin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life he dined regularly at the king’s table,
Interestingly he went from exile to guest in a quick change of heart! Hopefully God will show us the same change of heart!