DBG - May 26 - II Chronicles 34-36

In this chapter we see the rise and good works of king Josiah.

vs. 1-2 – This parallels II Kings 22:1-2, 23:25. Josiah is the last good king over Judah.

vs. 3-7 - In the 8th year of his reign, he turned to the Lord. In the 12th year he began a campaign against idolatry. This campaign appears to have been ongoing.

vs. 8-13 – This parallels II Kings 22:3-7. More details and names are included in this account of the repair of the Temple.

vs. 14-19 – This parallels II Kings 22:8-11.  The accounts of the rediscovery of the Law are nearly identical

vs. 20-28 – This parallels II Kings 22:12-20. The accounts of Hilkiah’s message are nearly identical.

vs. 29-33 - This parallels II Kings 23:1-3.  We see Josiah’s reforms and note that vs. 33 is basically a summary of II Kings 23:4-20.

In this chapter the last good king of Judah is killed in battle.

vs. 1-19 - This parallels II Kings 23:21-27.  What is covered in 3 verses in II Kings is here covered in 19.  It is interesting that in vs. 3 it speaks of the Ark being put back in the Temple. Some think it was removed by a pagan king to put in an idol instead. Others say it had only been temporarily removed for the repair of the building. This is the last mention of it by name  it in the Old Testament. Tremendous effort was put into celebrating the Passover. So much so that vs. 18 speaks of it in the most glowing of terms. From the hearts of the people to the sacrifices made to the liberality of the rulers, this was one of the highest days in the history of the Jewish people.

vs. 20-24 - This parallels II Kings 23:28-30.  Necho, king of Egypt, warned Josiah to not take part in the battle against the remnants of the Assyrian army. Josiah disguises himself, enters the battle, and is killed.

vs. 25-27 - The book of lamentations mentioned in vs. 25 is not the same as Lamentations in our Bible. It is a lost collection of poems and was not ever part of the Scripture.  The “to this day” in vs. 25 likely means the time of Ezra and the writing of this book.

In this chapter the final days of the Kingdom of Judah are covered and a brief glimpse into the future return from captivity is given.

vs. 1-4 – This parallels II Kings 23:31-35. Jehoahaz reigns three months until the Egyptians replace him and put a tribute on the land.

vs. 5-8 – This parallels II Kings 23:36-24:7. Jehoiakim reigned eleven years, did not follow the Lord, and was taken captive by the Babylonians

vs. 9-10 – This parallels II Kings 24:8-12.  Jehoiachin reigns for three months and ten days before being taken captive to Babylon. More details are given on his capture in II Kings.

vs. 11-16 - This parallels II Kings 24:18-20.  Zedekiah’s reign of eleven years ended in the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon. He rebelled against the Babylonians. More importantly he and the people rebelled against God.

vs. 17-21 - This parallels II Kings 25:1-25.  Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians in 586 B.C.  We are reminded in vs. 21 that the length of the captivity was tied to the failure to keep the sabbatical years.  For more information on this, see Leviticus 25:1-7,18-22; Deuteronomy 15; Jeremiah 25:9, 29:10; Daniel 9:2.  We can attempt to determine how long the Israel had not kept the sabbatical years. We can work backwards from 586 B.C. to determine the starting point. If only sabbatical years are counted (that is Jubilee years are not included as sabbatical years) and assuming no sabbatical years were observed at all, we would need 490 years times to miss 70 sabbaticals. Moving backwards 490 years from 586 B.C., we get to 1076 B.C. which is in the reign of Saul. If we assume that sabbatical years and Jubilee years are both counted (and it does not appear to work that way), then we would need 440 years. That would be in 1026 B.C. at about the time of Absalom’s revolt against David. Therefore, it seems most likely that the 70 missed sabbatical years took place during the kingdom period.

vs. 22-23 - This parallels Ezra 1:1-4.  The final entry in the Chronicles is the record of a proclamation by Cyrus, king of Persia that the Temple be rebuilt in Jerusalem. The Jews begin to trickle back into their homeland. We can close the Captivity Period when this decree was fulfilled when the Second Temple was built and dedicated in 516 B.C.

It is noted in 34:3 that Josiah turned his heart toward the Lord while he was young.  It made a tremendous difference in his life.  Not everyone is so fortunate to have that opportunity, but it highlights the advantage of seeking the Lord as soon as we are able.  If that is 6 years old, that is great.  If it is 86 years old, that is great, too.  Give the Lord as much time as you can.  You will not regret it.

Our hymn today reflects that blessing of seeking the Lord early as Josiah did.  “Savior, While My Heart Is Tender” was written by John Burton in 1850.

Savior, while my heart is tender,
I would yield that heart to Thee;
All my powers to Thee surrender,
Thine and only Thine to be.

Take me now, Lord Jesus, take me;
Let my youthful heart be Thine;
Thy devoted servant make me;
Fill my soul with love divine.

Send me, Lord, where Thou wilt send me,
Only do Thou guide my way;
May Thy grace through life attend me,
Gladly then shall I obey.

Let me do Thy will or bear it;
I would know no will but Thine;
Shouldst Thou take my life or spare it,
I that life to Thee resign.

May this solemn consecration
Never once forgotten be;
Let it know no revocation,
Registered and confirmed by Thee.

Thine I am, O Lord, for ever
To Thy service set apart;
Suffer me to leave Thee never,
Seal Thine image on my heart.