2 Kings 21; 2 Chronicles 33 – King Manasseh of Judah
When Hezekiah passed, his son Manasseh succeeded him as king of Judah when he was 12 years old and reigned for 55 years. Like so many other kings, he did evil in the eyes of the Lord. He rebuilt the high places for idol worship that his father had destroyed. He led the people into idolatry and sin. He sacrificed his own son, practiced sorcery and divination and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites. The people found themselves like the northern kingdom of Israel who rejected God. Because of this, God was angered and brought the Assyria army against him and took him prisoner.
2 Chronicles 33 tell us that in Manasseh’s destress he sought the favor of the Lord and he humbled himself and turned to God. God responded by listening to his pleas and brought him back to Jerusalem to rule his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God. He received God’s forgiveness and changed his life. He destroyed the foreign gods and altars and restored the Lord’s altars. He told the people to serve the Lord. But the people still continued sacrifices at the high places, but only to the Lord.
Principle: God forgives when we humbled ourselves and turn to Him.
After Manasseh’s death his son, Amon became king. He refused to follow his father’s example of repentance and he did evil in the eyes of the Lord. He worshipped idols and bowed before them. His officials plotted against him and assassinated him. Then the people killed all those who plotted against King Amon and made Josiah his son king.
2 Kings 22-23; 2 Chronicles 34-35 – King Josiah of Judah
Josiah’s heart for God brought reformation and restoration to Judah. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in the ways of David. He purged Judah and Jerusalem of high places where idols were worshipped. He restored the temple of the Lord. (2 Chronicles 34:1-8)
The book of the law of the Lord was recovered by Hilkiah the high priest. When the book was read, they were aware that they had sinned against God. When Josiah heard the words of the law, he was humbled because they had broken every commandment.
Josiah sent word to the prophetess, Huldah to inquire more of the Lord. She described the unrepentant Judah and the disaster awaiting the nation. Josiah destroyed anything and anyone who was against the Lord. He destroyed images of other gods, places of worship, the sacrificial altar to Baal and Asherah. He tore down buildings, temples, and anything that offended God. He got rid of the mediums and spiritists. After he had done all these things, He gave orders to celebrate the Passover. The Passover hadn’t been observed since the days of the judges.
Principle: God’s Word can convict our hearts.
The Lord was pleased with Josiah and all he had done, but not with the people of Judah. There was judgment awaiting Judah because of all Manasseh had done. He still decided to remove them from the land in the next few generations.
Josiah battled with the king Assyria and king of Egypt, Pharaoh Neco. Josiah was defeated in battle and was killed by Neco. Then Josiah’s son Jehoahaz was anointed king. Josiah’s reforms didn’t last long. Jehoahaz did evil in the sight of the Lord. He reigned only three months.
Neco dominated Judah. He put Jehoahaz in chains and imposed a levy on Judah. Neco made Jehoahaz’s brother Eliakim king and changed his name to Jehoiakim. Jehoahaz was taken to Egypt and there he died.
2 Kings 24; 2 Chronicles 35:1-14 – King Jehoiakim of Judah
Jehoiakim taxed the land according to the command of Pharaoh Neco. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord and didn’t follow the ways of Josiah. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded the land of Judah and Jehoiakim became his servant for three years. Jehoiakim rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. The Lord sent Babylonian, Aramean, Moabite and ammonite raiders against him to destroy Judah.
Then Jehoiakim’s son, Jehoiachin became king of Judah and reigned for three months. He also did evil in the eyes of the Lord. When Nebuchadnezzar laid siege on Jerusalem, Jehoiachin was taken prisoner along with his mother, wives, princes, servants, and other officials. The temple treasures and all the gold articles were removed from the royal palace. The prophecy against Jerusalem was taking form.
The Babylonian king appointed Mattaniah as king of Judah. His name was changed to Zedekiah. He was the uncle of Jehoiachin. He ruled for eleven years before he rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar.
Principle: When God’s promises of salvation are ignored, His promises of judgment will be fulfilled.
2 Kings 25; 2 Chronicles 36:15-23 – The Fall of Jerusalem
Zedekiah rebelled against Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar marched against Jerusalem and encamped outside the city. For two years there was no traffic going into and coming out of the city. Because of this, famine became severe. Finally, King Zedekiah of Judah was able to break through. Zedekiah fled at night with his guards, but he was captured and put in prison. The Babylonian army emptied and burned the city, destroying any major structures and buildings. They burned the house of the Lord, Solomon’s great temple.
Nebuchadnezzar appointed Gedaliah as governor of Judah. Then a royal family member named Ishmael killed Gedaliah which made everyone flee to Egypt in fear of the Chaldeans response. Chaldeans is another name for Babylonians. Most of the people were killed, but a captured remnant was taken to Babylon to serve as slaves for 70 years.
Jehoiachin as set free by the new rule of Babylon, Evil-Merodach. He was shown kindness by the new king and was provided for all his days.
Judah’s final four kings led the nation’s to its final fall. Jehoahaz did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Jehoiakim did evil in the eyes of the Lord and taxed the people to pay Neco what he had demanded. Jehoiachin did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Zedekiah did evil in the eyes of the Lord and didn’t humble himself before the prophet Jeremiah. He became stiff-necked and hardened his heart and wouldn’t turn to the Lord. He as well as the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful.
The Lord tried to reach the people by sending messengers to warn them. He brought consequences down on them for their sins. Then He took their kings away in captivity and gradually He took them, too. The people responded by mocking the messengers while they continued in sin and followed other gods.
We have learned God’s righteous ways in Jerusalem’s fall. He was patient and postponed judgment for hundreds of years giving them every chance to repent. His righteousness always prevails. He requires judgment of sin. We should worship God in times of grief, uncertainty, change, instability, joy or celebration. We have no hope without God. He created you and he knows what’s best for you. Only God is worthy of our worship.
Principle: God’s righteousness always prevails.
This week attribute of God is He is Righteous. Everything He is and does is right. He never lies. He is fair, just and faithful in all He does. He expects us to be righteous. God’s righteousness requires judgment of sin. We can’t be perfectly righteous, but He sees us as clothed with Christ’s righteousness. “The Lord is righteous in all His ways” – Psalm 145:17a
Next time we will continue our study of Kingdom Divided with Isaiah. Hope to see you here. – I encourage you to trust in Jesus.
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