DBG - May 4 - II Kings 23-25

In this chapter Josiah leads Judah in a final time of revival before its destruction.

vs. 1-20 – After being exposed to the Law in the previous chapter, Josiah sets to work with a series of reform initiatives in the nation.  He has the Law read to the people who once again covenanted themselves to follow it.  The pagan corruption is cast out of the Temple and the country is swept clean of idolatry.  He even destroys Jeroboam’s altar at Bethel, fulfilling the prophecy of I Kings 13:2.

vs. 21-23 – II Chronicles 35 gives a fuller account of this celebration of the Passover. 

vs. 24-30 - Josiah’s reign was one of the high points of the kingdom of Judah. It is regrettable that such a great revival should come so late into the life of the kingdom. The accumulated sins were too great and the depravity of the people too deep, so that the only hope for true restoration was through the refining fires of judgment.  Sadly, it seems much of his reform work had made only superficial changes to the nation and did not bring about true repentance.  Josiah is killed trying to prevent the Egyptian army from marching to the relief of Assyria, who was losing ground to the rising power of Babylon.  Josiah is succeeded by his son Jehoahaz (“whom the Lord sustains”), who is also called Shallum (“retribution”).

vs. 31-35 – Jehoahaz has a brief reign of only three months.  Jehoahaz is deposed when Necho II returns to Egypt from his battle against the Babylonian forces. He is taken prisoner back to Egypt. Necho places the kingdom under a tribute of 100 talents of silver ($2,674,521) and 1 talent of gold ($2,148,062). He places Jehoahaz’s brother Eliakim (“raised up by God”) on the throne and changed his name to Jehoiakim (“whom Jehovah sets up”) was placed on the throne.

vs. 36-37 - Jehoiakim was yet another wicked king and his reign lasted for eleven years.

In this chapter Babylon beings to assert its power over Judah.

vs. 1-7 – Jehoiakim saw his kingdom conquered by Babylon and Nebuchadnezzar II. Nebuchadnezzar had taken much of Egypt’s territory since defeating them at the Battle of Carchemish in 605 B.C. Other regional powers seize the opportunity to also attack the weakened Judah. No details are given in Scripture concerning his death, but Josephus writes that the Babylonians attacked Jerusalem, killed the king, threw his body off the walls, and made his son Jehoichin (“whom Jehovah has appointed”) king.

vs. 8-9 – We have another instance where two ages are given for the beginning of a reign. In II Kings 24:8 Jehoiachin is said to be eighteen while in II Chronicles 36:9 he is said to be eight. This can easily be explained, like that supposed discrepancy in Ahaziah’s age, in that he began to rule as a crown prince at age eight but took the throne at age eighteen. His father’s reign of eleven years would support this since both could have been given their respective titles at the same time.

vs. 10-17 – Nebuchadnezzar returns to Jerusalem to besiege it. King Jehoiachin submits quickly. The royal house and the “best and brightest” of the land are taken to Babylon as captives. The Temple is spoiled of its remaining treasures. Nebuchadnezzar places Jehoiachin’s uncle Mattaniah (“gift of Jehovah”) on the throne but changes his name to Zedekiah (“justice of Jehovah”).

vs. 18-20 - Zedekiah proved to be yet another wicked king. It is through him that God facilitated the downfall of Judah and Jerusalem.

In this chapter Judah falls and the 70-year Babylonian Captivity begins.

vs. 1-21 – Zedekiah rebelled against Babylon according to Jeremiah 52:3.  Babylon responds by besieging Jerusalem for 18 months.  The city falls in 586 B.C. when its food runs out.  Zedekiah is captured near Jericho after attempting a desperate escape from the falling city. He is taken prison to Nebuchadnezzar’s campaign headquarters at Riblah (“fruitful”), a city north of Damascus. The last thing he sees is his sons executed before his eyes are put out. Jerusalem is systematically destroyed. The Temple is demolished. The palace and homes are burned. The walls are torn down. Anything of value is carried as spoils back to Babylon. Most of the people are taken captive to Babylon. Some of the poorest are left to keep the land because it was not resettled with another nation. Some officials are taken to Riblah and executed.

vs. 22-26 – The Babylonians made the area of Judah into province called Yehud. Gedaliah (“God is my greatness”) is appointed governor of the area under Chaldean authority. In a final act of defiance against Babylon, Ishmael (“whom God hears”) leads an attack that kills the Gedaliah and his Jewish and Chaldean staff. The remnant of the people fled to Egypt for fear of Babylon.

vs. 27-30 – We jump ahead to 561 B.C. as Nebuchadnezzar was followed by his son Evilmerodach (known to history as Amel-Marduk). At his ascension to the throne, he pardoned the imprisoned Jehoiachin and gave him a place in the royal court. It appears the Evilmerodach had been imprisoned himself at some point (possibly in a failed coup against his father), and it is supposed that he may have met Jehoiachin while they were prisoners together.

How could God allow His people to fall to Babylon?  How could He allow the Davidic line to cease ruling?  I think we must look at this differently than any other historical defeat.  It is not about victory or power.  It is about cleansing.  The sins of the Israelites had to be purged, and God did so with the Babylonian Captivity.  When they finally return they are a different people.  God largely breaks them from their proclivity towards worshipping idols moving forward.  We must likewise consider the sin in our own lives.  We do not need simple victory over it: we need cleansing from it.  Christ provides that for salvation, but sometimes in our lives God will still take drastic measures in our sanctification to break us from our faults. 

Our hymn today is “This New Built Bethel Now Is Done”.  It was written by John Winebrenner, but the fourth verse was borrowed from John Newton’s “Dear Shepherd of They People Hear”.  It reflects the themes of rededication seen in Josiah’s revival.

This new built Bethel now is done,
And here we've met today,
To dedicate this house to God,
To preach, to sing, to pray.

Here may the pray'r of faith prevail,
Here may the Gospel run;
And every true believer feel,
The bliss of heav'n begun.

May sinners here their sins renounce
And yield their all to God;
From sin and hell redemption find,
By faith in Jesus' blood.

Within these walls let holy peace,
And love and concord dwell;
Here give the troubled conscience ease,
The wounded spirit heal.

And when before thee we appear,
In our eternal home;
May growing numbers worship here,
And praise Thee in our room