The Fall of Jerusalem

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

The Fall of Jerusalem

Date: Dec. 29, 2020

Passage

2 Chronicles 36:15-23 (ESV)

15 The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. 16 But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD rose against his people, until there was no remedy.

17 Therefore he brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or aged. He gave them all into his hand. 18 And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king and of his princes, all these he brought to Babylon. 19 And they burned the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem and burned all its palaces with fire and destroyed all its precious vessels. 20 He took into exile in Babylon those who had escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and to his sons until the establishment of the kingdom of Persia, 21 to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. All the days that it lay desolate it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.

22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: 23 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the LORD his God be with him. Let him go up.’”

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 36:16

But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD rose against his people, until there was no remedy.

1. God's judgment on Jerusalem (15-20)

The Chronicler comments that God mercifully sends his messengers again and again to lead his people back to him. But they humiliate his servants and hate his words, until finally God's judgment is inevitable. God's people have become thoroughly corrupted. So, God allows the Babylonians to wield his judgment. They kill most of them and take the remnant as POWs. The temple is burned and her articles carried off. Jerusalem is completely destroyed.

2. The prophecy of Jeremiah fulfilled (21-23)

The Chronicler depicts the exile as a good thing. The land finally has its sabbath rests for 70 years (21). Also, the prophecy of Jeremiah that the exile would last 70 years is fulfilled. God raises up the Persian King Xerxes who blesses them to return and rebuild the temple (23). God's judgment is his hope to revive his people's spirit.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your discipline which is your hope. Please revive us spiritually.

One Word: God's discipline is his hope to revive us.

David’s Victories

1 Chronicles 18:1-17

Key Verse: 18:6b,13b

Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.

Today's Question

For what do we pray in the third request?

See answer and references