The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in mercy. He is gracious, but will never overlook sin. Jerusalem, its king and the rebellious priests were finally held to account. Plenty of lessons here for the contemporary church.
2 Kings 25: Fall and Captivity of Judah
1 And in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem and laid siege to it. And they built siege works all around it.
2 So the city was besieged till the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.
3 On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land.
4 Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, by the king's garden, though the Chaldeans were around the city. And they went in the direction of the Arabah.
5 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho, and all his army was scattered from him.
6 Then they captured the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, and they passed sentence on him.
7 They slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him in chains and took him to Babylon.
8 In the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month---that was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon---Nebuzaradan, the captain of the bodyguard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.
9 And he burned the house of the LORD and the king's house and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down.
10 And all the army of the Chaldeans, who were with the captain of the guard, broke down the walls around Jerusalem.
11 And the rest of the people who were left in the city and the deserters who had deserted to the king of Babylon, together with the rest of the multitude, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried into exile.
12 But the captain of the guard left some of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and ploughmen.
13 And the pillars of bronze that were in the house of the LORD, and the stands and the bronze sea that were in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans broke in pieces and carried the bronze to Babylon.
14 And they took away the pots and the shovels and the snuffers and the dishes for incense and all the vessels of bronze used in the temple service,
15 the fire pans also and the bowls. What was of gold the captain of the guard took away as gold, and what was of silver, as silver.
16 As for the two pillars, the one sea, and the stands that Solomon had made for the house of the LORD, the bronze of all these vessels was beyond weight.
17 The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and on it was a capital of bronze. The height of the capital was three cubits. A latticework and pomegranates, all of bronze, were all around the capital. And the second pillar had the same, with the latticework.
18 And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest and Zephaniah the second priest and the three keepers of the threshold,
19 and from the city he took an officer who had been in command of the men of war, and five men of the king's council who were found in the city, and the secretary of the commander of the army who mustered the people of the land, and sixty men of the people of the land who were found in the city.
20 And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.
21 And the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was taken into exile out of its land.
Gedaliah Made Governor of Judah
22 And over the people who remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, he appointed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, governor.
23 Now when all the captains and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah governor, they came with their men to Gedaliah at Mizpah, namely, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of the Maacathite.
24 And Gedaliah swore to them and their men, saying, "Do not be afraid because of the Chaldean officials. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you."
25 But in the seventh month, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, of the royal family, came with ten men and struck down Gedaliah and put him to death along with the Jews and the Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah.
26 Then all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the forces arose and went to Egypt, for they were afraid of the Chaldeans.
Jehoiachin Released from Prison
27 And in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, graciously freed Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison.
28 And he spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat above the seats of the kings who were with him in Babylon.
29 So Jehoiachin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life he dined regularly at the king's table,
30 and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, according to his daily needs, as long as he lived.
Things to think about…
1. The king of Babylon finally comes and surrounds Jerusalem just as the Lord said he would, 2 Kings 25:1. The rebellious king Zedekiah is under siege for 2 years. Happens between the years of 588-586BC. He brings his people to the point of starvation, then deserts them by trying to escape. Leaders who remain in sin and who do not share the mind and heart of the Lord with their people are under more strict judgement. Look what happens to the king, the priests and his army counsellors because they were not faithful with the Lord’s message, 2Kings 25:18-21. Both 2Kings and 2Chronicles tells us that the king of Babylon had the king of Judah’s sons slaughtered and then had his eyes were plucked out at Riblah. Imagine this as your last living memory. Such was the punishment of the leaders of Jerusalem for their rebellion. They were warned time and again by the prophets, especially by the prophet Jeremiah who lived through the whole sordid affair in Jerusalem.
2. How sad it is when people are so hardened in their sin that even when they are in famine and all around them is in ruins, they continue in their rebellion. Gedaliah was appointed as the Judean governor by the king of Babylon. Relatives of Zedekiah rather than humbling themselves to the Lord’s will, end up murdering him, 2Kings 25:25. They show their true colours and flee to Egypt. Those who continue to rebel against the Lord’s will are fearful by character and only embrace more judgement in this life and the next. The king of Babylon eventually comes against Egypt. Let’s continue to make sure our hearts are honouring Christ and that we do not run away from godly accountability.
3. Look what happens when we submit ourselves to the Lord’s will. Jehoiachin, the previous king of Jerusalem who was taken to Babylon in 597BC. Even though he is described as one who “did evil in the eyes of the Lord” still had enough sense to listen to good counsel and surrendered. He submitted to the Lord’s will in this instance and did not resist. He is now eating at the kings table in Babylon! He knew peace and blessing the rest of his days. This is what our Saviour wants for us, it’s only pride that stops this from occurring. Remember the Lord pulls down a proud spirit but will exalt the humble. Which are you?
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Sermon title was “and the 6 arrows” - from 2 Kings 13:14-25
1. Elisha had performed many miracles and unlike his mentor Elijah he was not going to leave earth without dying. He would die of disease. Do you think much about growing old and the day of your death? How have you prepared?
2. Elisha asks Joash to strike the ground with arrows. Joash strikes the ground 3 times. Elisha said he should have struck the ground 5 or 6 times to finally deal with Syria as an enemy. Our greatest enemy is sin and has been struck down by the blood of Jesus on the cross. But how do we attempt to save ourselves with our own self-righteous arrows? Andrew used the description of eating 2% dog poo in children’s biscuits. Only a little bit of bad influence in something that is generally good. How can we do the same even as Christians?
3. People often look at attending church and Christianity as being things that are done rather than as a result of a state of grace before God? Discuss how you tell others about grace in Christ.
Prayer Points
1. Wisdom in dealing with Qld government restrictions that legislate isolation. Pray church is a place of freedom hope and attendance for all
2. Growth in our kids and youth ministries
3. Pray for testimonies that people will be giving every second week. Please consider when you would like to do yours when the pastor asks you to share yours.
4. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof.
5. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Lord’s blessing over Andrew Otte’s message on Sunday.
2. Worship team and technical team. Thankyou Rod, Zac, Molly, Riley, Rin, Tim.
3. More visitors and spirit of joy on Sunday.
Announcements
1. Members meeting 28th Nov after the service.
2. Country Carols, monster trucks, fire works – Sat 18th Dec. Feel free to park at CBC if required.
3. Kids@church back. Please check your rosters
4. Recharge Youth – back on Friday 6:30pm at church all high schoolers.
5. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
