And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.” - Mark 10:18
Well, this is it! After almost 8 months of study, this morning we will complete this year’s series on the “Divided Church: The Northern and Southern Kingdoms”. Today’s message is the 35th and final sermon in this collection. It is called “Zedekiah and the Fall of Judah”.
At the end of last week’s message, young King Jehoiachin surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar. The besieging Babylonians entered Jerusalem, looted the temple and palace, and carried away some 10,000 people, including Jehioachin and his family, into exile. Nebuchadnezzar appointed Zedekiah as his replacement, subject to Babylon of course.
I. BESIEGED AND DEFEATED (2 Kings 24:18-25:7; 2 Chronicles 36:11-17)
Zedekiah was 21 years old when he became king. He was Jehoiachin’s uncle, the son of Josiah and Hamutal, and brother of Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim. He reigned for 11 years in Jerusalem and did evil in the sight of the LORD. During these years he had several interactions with the prophet Jeremiah which are detailed in his book. Zedekiah served Nebuchadnezzar until the 9th year of his reign, but then rebelled against Babylon.
Nebuchadnezzar led his army back to Jerusalem and laid siege on the city again. After 2 years, the people inside Jerusalem were starving and desperate. When the Babylonians finally breached the city’s wall, Judah’s soldiers fled southward toward Arabah. They were scattered and in disarray. The Babylonians pursued them and captured Zedekiah on the plains of Jericho.
The Babylonians took Zedekiah to Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah and passed sentence on him. Then they made him watch as they killed all of his sons. Afterward they put his eyes out, bound him, and brought him to Babylon as a prisoner. Though Zedekiah’s children were viciously slain, the line of David was not severed but continued through the offspring of Jehoiachin.
II. BURNED AND PLUNDERED (2 Kings 25:8-17; 2 Chronicles 36:18-19)
A few weeks later, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the Babylonian guard, returned to Jerusalem with his men. They burned the temple, the palace, and all of the houses in the city. The Babylonian army also tore down the walls of Jerusalem. All of those left in the city, including those who had deserted to the Babylonians during the siege, were carried away into exile. The prophet Jeremiah was initially among this group, however he was released and returned to Jerusalem. Only the poorest were left to be vinedressers and plowmen.
The Babylonians broke the bronze pillars, stands, and sea into pieces and carried them away with them. They also took the bronze pots, shovels, snuffers, spoons, and other vessels that were used for temple service. They even took the firepans and basins, which were made of fine silver and gold. They plundered a great amount of bronze, consisting mostly of that from the 2 pillars and their grand, ornate capitals.
III. EXECUTED AND EXILED (2 Kings 25:18-21; 2 Chronicles 36:20-21)
Nebuzaradan arrested Seraiah, the chief priest, Zephaniah, the 2nd priest, and 3 of temple officials who were left behind in Jerusalem. He also seized an overseer of Judah’s remaining soldiers, 5 of the king’s advisers who were left in the city, a scribe who was trying to muster the people against Babylon, and 60 other men. He brought this group to Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah where they were executed. So, the southern kingdom of Judah fell in 586 B.C. and its people were led away into exile. This exile, which had already started almost 2 decades earlier, would last for a total of 70 years, as prophesied by Jeremiah. The fall of Jerusalem marked the end of the southern kingdom.
CONCLUSION
The final few verses of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles pertain to events that occurred after the Divided Kingdom Era had ended. For that reason, we will not cover them in this series. Hopefully we will address them along with several other related passages in a future study about the Babylonian Captivity. Until then, we’ll just leave them be…
Over the course of the past several months we have carefully examined the Biblical histories of Israel and Judah during the divided kingdom years. Along the way we have learned several timely lessons, been provided with many practical examples, seen God’s just and righteous character displayed, and made numerous personal applications. This morning, as we’ve now come to the end of this series, let’s take a final, overarching look at these 35 sermons and ask ourselves… What do they say about and how do they point us to Jesus?
As stated previously in this series, during the Divided Kingdom era there were 39 kings and 1 queen that ruled over either the Northern or Southern Kingdom. Of these, only 8 of them were described as good kings who “did right in the sight of the LORD” - all in Judah. But even these 8 were morally flawed in some way, as the Bible intentionally points out. Let’s do a quick review of them specifically:
Asa - near the end of his life he trusted in the Aramaeans to defeat Israel and in the physicians to heal his diseased feet, rather than trusting in God.
Jehoshaphat - throughout his life he repeatedly allied with wicked Ahab and his sons, and he allowed his own son to marry Ahab’s daughter. His moral compromise endangered Judah.
Joash - reigned righteously as long as his mentor Jehoiada was alive, but afterward turned to wicked advisors and began acting corruptly which led to his assassination.
Amaziah - achieved military success early in his reign, but became prideful and arrogant which led to his defeat, humiliation, and eventual assassination.
Uzziah - near the end of his life he became presumptuous and burned incense on the altar in the temple, became angry at the priests who confronted him, and was struck with leprosy.
Jotham - though he practiced righteousness and obedience personally, he did not purge Judah of its false worship or idolatry and did not lead them toward God.
Hezekiah - towards the end of his reign he foolishly and naively showed off his treasures to the Babylonians, was rebuked for his boasting, and was nonchalant about Judah’s future judgment.
Josiah - stubbornly relied on his own instincts and insisted on fighting against Pharaoh Neco rather than listening to God’s word. He was killed as a result.
All 8 of these “good” kings were imperfect and tainted by sin in some way. The truth is, no human king can ever lead in perfect, unblemished righteousness. The people of God need a better king - one who is completely pure, holy, just, and good. We need a king that is without sin, who is almighty, and who always does what is right. Is there such a king? If so, who is he?
His name is Jesus. He completes the line of David. He is the King of kings, who ever reigns. He is the divine Son of God who conquered sin and defeated death. He makes salvation available to all who trust in Him as Lord. He rules over creation in truth and righteousness. He is the King that all others point to (Daniel 7:13-14) and is the central focus of this entire series… and in fact of the entire Bible. Are you a citizen of His kingdom?
Well, this is it! After almost 8 months of study, this morning we will complete this year’s series on the “Divided Church: The Northern and Southern Kingdoms”. Today’s message is the 35th and final sermon in this collection. It is called “Zedekiah and the Fall of Judah”.
At the end of last week’s message, young King Jehoiachin surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar. The besieging Babylonians entered Jerusalem, looted the temple and palace, and carried away some 10,000 people, including Jehioachin and his family, into exile. Nebuchadnezzar appointed Zedekiah as his replacement, subject to Babylon of course.
I. BESIEGED AND DEFEATED (2 Kings 24:18-25:7; 2 Chronicles 36:11-17)
Zedekiah was 21 years old when he became king. He was Jehoiachin’s uncle, the son of Josiah and Hamutal, and brother of Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim. He reigned for 11 years in Jerusalem and did evil in the sight of the LORD. During these years he had several interactions with the prophet Jeremiah which are detailed in his book. Zedekiah served Nebuchadnezzar until the 9th year of his reign, but then rebelled against Babylon.
Nebuchadnezzar led his army back to Jerusalem and laid siege on the city again. After 2 years, the people inside Jerusalem were starving and desperate. When the Babylonians finally breached the city’s wall, Judah’s soldiers fled southward toward Arabah. They were scattered and in disarray. The Babylonians pursued them and captured Zedekiah on the plains of Jericho.
The Babylonians took Zedekiah to Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah and passed sentence on him. Then they made him watch as they killed all of his sons. Afterward they put his eyes out, bound him, and brought him to Babylon as a prisoner. Though Zedekiah’s children were viciously slain, the line of David was not severed but continued through the offspring of Jehoiachin.
II. BURNED AND PLUNDERED (2 Kings 25:8-17; 2 Chronicles 36:18-19)
A few weeks later, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the Babylonian guard, returned to Jerusalem with his men. They burned the temple, the palace, and all of the houses in the city. The Babylonian army also tore down the walls of Jerusalem. All of those left in the city, including those who had deserted to the Babylonians during the siege, were carried away into exile. The prophet Jeremiah was initially among this group, however he was released and returned to Jerusalem. Only the poorest were left to be vinedressers and plowmen.
The Babylonians broke the bronze pillars, stands, and sea into pieces and carried them away with them. They also took the bronze pots, shovels, snuffers, spoons, and other vessels that were used for temple service. They even took the firepans and basins, which were made of fine silver and gold. They plundered a great amount of bronze, consisting mostly of that from the 2 pillars and their grand, ornate capitals.
III. EXECUTED AND EXILED (2 Kings 25:18-21; 2 Chronicles 36:20-21)
Nebuzaradan arrested Seraiah, the chief priest, Zephaniah, the 2nd priest, and 3 of temple officials who were left behind in Jerusalem. He also seized an overseer of Judah’s remaining soldiers, 5 of the king’s advisers who were left in the city, a scribe who was trying to muster the people against Babylon, and 60 other men. He brought this group to Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah where they were executed. So, the southern kingdom of Judah fell in 586 B.C. and its people were led away into exile. This exile, which had already started almost 2 decades earlier, would last for a total of 70 years, as prophesied by Jeremiah. The fall of Jerusalem marked the end of the southern kingdom.
CONCLUSION
The final few verses of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles pertain to events that occurred after the Divided Kingdom Era had ended. For that reason, we will not cover them in this series. Hopefully we will address them along with several other related passages in a future study about the Babylonian Captivity. Until then, we’ll just leave them be…
Over the course of the past several months we have carefully examined the Biblical histories of Israel and Judah during the divided kingdom years. Along the way we have learned several timely lessons, been provided with many practical examples, seen God’s just and righteous character displayed, and made numerous personal applications. This morning, as we’ve now come to the end of this series, let’s take a final, overarching look at these 35 sermons and ask ourselves… What do they say about and how do they point us to Jesus?
As stated previously in this series, during the Divided Kingdom era there were 39 kings and 1 queen that ruled over either the Northern or Southern Kingdom. Of these, only 8 of them were described as good kings who “did right in the sight of the LORD” - all in Judah. But even these 8 were morally flawed in some way, as the Bible intentionally points out. Let’s do a quick review of them specifically:
Asa - near the end of his life he trusted in the Aramaeans to defeat Israel and in the physicians to heal his diseased feet, rather than trusting in God.
Jehoshaphat - throughout his life he repeatedly allied with wicked Ahab and his sons, and he allowed his own son to marry Ahab’s daughter. His moral compromise endangered Judah.
Joash - reigned righteously as long as his mentor Jehoiada was alive, but afterward turned to wicked advisors and began acting corruptly which led to his assassination.
Amaziah - achieved military success early in his reign, but became prideful and arrogant which led to his defeat, humiliation, and eventual assassination.
Uzziah - near the end of his life he became presumptuous and burned incense on the altar in the temple, became angry at the priests who confronted him, and was struck with leprosy.
Jotham - though he practiced righteousness and obedience personally, he did not purge Judah of its false worship or idolatry and did not lead them toward God.
Hezekiah - towards the end of his reign he foolishly and naively showed off his treasures to the Babylonians, was rebuked for his boasting, and was nonchalant about Judah’s future judgment.
Josiah - stubbornly relied on his own instincts and insisted on fighting against Pharaoh Neco rather than listening to God’s word. He was killed as a result.
All 8 of these “good” kings were imperfect and tainted by sin in some way. The truth is, no human king can ever lead in perfect, unblemished righteousness. The people of God need a better king - one who is completely pure, holy, just, and good. We need a king that is without sin, who is almighty, and who always does what is right. Is there such a king? If so, who is he?
His name is Jesus. He completes the line of David. He is the King of kings, who ever reigns. He is the divine Son of God who conquered sin and defeated death. He makes salvation available to all who trust in Him as Lord. He rules over creation in truth and righteousness. He is the King that all others point to (Daniel 7:13-14) and is the central focus of this entire series… and in fact of the entire Bible. Are you a citizen of His kingdom?