IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

A Succession of Evil Kings

Date: Dec. 28, 2020

Passage

2 Chronicles 36:1-14

Judah’s Decline

36:1 The people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah and made him king in his father’s place in Jerusalem. 2 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. 3 Then the king of Egypt deposed him in Jerusalem and laid on the land a tribute of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. 4 And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. But Neco took Jehoahaz his brother and carried him to Egypt.

5 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God. 6 Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and bound him in chains to take him to Babylon. 7 Nebuchadnezzar also carried part of the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon and put them in his palace in Babylon. 8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and the abominations that he did, and what was found against him, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. And Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.

9 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. 10 In the spring of the year King Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babylon, with the precious vessels of the house of the LORD, and made his brother Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem.

11 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. 12 He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the LORD. 13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. He stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel. 14 All the officers of the priests and the people likewise were exceedingly unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations. And they polluted the house of the LORD that he had made holy in Jerusalem.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 36:12

He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the LORD.

1. Three kings spiral downward (1-10)

After his father King Josiah died in battle, his son Jehoahaz reigned for three months before being dethroned by the king of Egypt. The following two kings Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin do evil in God's eyes and are taken in shackles to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar, along with the valuable items in the temple.

2. Zedekiah did not humble himself (11-14)

The Chronicler notes that the last king Zedekiah did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke the word of the Lord. When he didn't listen to Jeremiah, he had no shepherd and no word of God to guide him. He rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, became stiff-necked, hardened his heart, and would not return to the Lord. Furthermore, the leaders, priests and people became more unfaithful, returning to idol worship and defiling the temple.

Prayer: Lord, please help our nation to humble ourselves, listen to your word, and return to you.

One Word: Be humble and listen to God's word.

Daily Bread

Remember Who God is

Psalm 77:1-20

Key Verse: 77:11

I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.

Read More

Intro Daily