2nd Kings 24 PROPHECIES FULFILLED After the revival and positive changes made during the reign of Josiah, and after his death, things rapidly deteriorated in Judah. One of his sons, Jehoiakim, had only a brief evil reign and was taken captive to Egypt. The next son, Jehoiakim was also an evil ruler and served as a puppet king under the authority of Nebuchadnezzar. When he rebelled against the ruler of Babylon, it wasn't long until he died. The prophecies against Judah and the kings of Judah were being fulfilled. Apparently Jehoiakim was personally evil as well as being an evil leader. He was taken "bound in fetters" to Babylon where he died and was "buried with the burial of an ass."
God's justice is righteous in every way. Many people have the idea that God will overlook sin. They say, "After all, He is a God of mercy!" implying that He will never judge the guilty. However, mercy had been extended to those of Judah for hundreds of years, and grace had been shown in the fact of God sending prophets to warn the people against evil and to teach them the way back to God. There is a day of reckoning when the evil practices of people have gone so far for so long that it must be stopped. The effects of sin are felt by those who follow. Generations following often do the same evil practices of those before them and go even farther.
Jehoiachin, Josiah's grandson, was the king for only three months when the prophecy regarding the captivity of Judah was fulfilled. The Babylonian army laid siege against Jerusalem. Nebuchadnezzar came himself and Jehoiachin, his family, his servants, the nobility of the nation and all the leadership surrendered. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah would have been teenagers then and among those taken captive to Babylon. All the trained leaders, craftsmen and whose who would have been a threat to Babylonian rule were taken captive and their skills and leadership qualities were used in Babylon.
the Assyrians had scattered captives throughout their empire and moved foreigners in to tend to the captured territory so that area would be subservient to the new ruler. The Babylonians used a different tactic. They took all of those who were skilled, had leadership qualities because of their training and family connections, and moved them to the cities of Babylon to strengthen the empire and weaken the captive areas. Those who tended the land and were poor were left at their homes to work and rule the land, which elevated them to positions of authority which before were denied the .in that way they would change their loyalty from the Israeli king to the Babylonian king.
By permitting those taken captive to live together, work together and become part of the Babylonian society, the Jews were able to retain their identity. Some of them remained faithful to the Lord and years later some were able to return to Israel and rebuild Jerusalem, the temple and the city walls under the leadership of Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah.
Teaching our children and grandchildren the word of God when they are young is very important. We never know where they will go or what their work will be, but if we have been diligent in impressing on them the value of the word of God, they will not totally forget the standards of righteousness. Some may willfully reject what they have been taught, but instilled in their consciences and minds are the unchangeable truths of God. Our prayer for them is when they have had their fill of evil, they will realize the truth of what they were taught and return to the word of God for the light they need. When they have tried and tested that which we forbade when they were under our authority, they will hopefully realize what God says can be relied on. That which is sinful does not bring satisfaction. The "pleasures of sin" are only for a season.
When Jehoiachin was in Babylon another of Josiah's sons, Mattaniah, was designated by Nebuchadnezzar to be the king of those left in Judah. His name was changed to Zedekiah to remind him and those he led that he was in subjection to Nebuchadnezzar. He had not learned anything about repentance nor accepting responsibility for our own sin, and consequently continued the evil practices of those before him that led to captivity. Many prophecies were fulfilled when the Jews were taken captive and put in bondage to the world- powers.
Weakness of character leads to moral weakness. Moral weakness leads to spiritual weakness. Spiritual weakness leads to captivity by the world. the attractions of sin seem to be real. The habits that bind are things like alcohol, drugs, entertainments and anything that captivates the minds of those who ignore the word of God. We do not make prophetic utterances and predictions based on our own opinions, but we can warn people, including our own families that "Thus saith the Lord" can be counted on to be unchangeable facts. The wise person, even if they have experienced failure or a fall, can return to the Lord and He will have mercy.
Those ancient kings seemed to ignore the word of God, the godly people who lived before them and the prophets who warned them. When that mind-set is in place, divine justice sets in and "pay-day" comes. Zedekiah had not learned from his father, Josiah, nor had he learned from his failures of his brothers nor his nephew who ruled before him. He even apparently thought he was in control and succumbed to the enticements of those who were against being governed by Babylon. Even though he had sworn allegiance to Nebuchadnezzar, he took matters into his own hands to seek independence from Babylon.
One's word should be able to be counted on, even by those who do not know the Lord. To say one thing and do another has always been challenged by those who expect us to honor our word. There are occasions in family life when without thinking about consequence, we make unreasonable and dogmatic statements. When we are wrong, we need to admit we are wrong. To defend one's independent actions when they are not right is foolish. Every person is under some authority and it is important that we make the foundation of our life and commitment, our obedience to God and His word as the first and foremost authority over us.
The laws of the land may be changed and the social mores of society are usually adapted to a time, place and culture. We can only submit to those when they are consistent with the word of God under whose authority we live. Our family, the family of God and society in general have a right to expect us to live under biblical authority and the fact that what God says (prophesies) is right and can be counted on.
2Kings 24:15. “And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king’s mother, and the king’s wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those he carried into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.”
INTO CAPTIVITY. The past finally caught up with the present – The Lord would not pardon the shedding of innocent blood. There is no more recourse for the unrepentant – They still insisted on doing evil in the sight of the Lord.
The forces of darkness have serious power – When faint light by men is deliberately extinguished. That same darkness continues to grow darker than ever – And righteous judgment ignores the cries of the anguished.
The unalterable principle of sowing and reaping – Is carried out in all the seasons of life. When the will of God, people no longer are keeping – That moral darkness becomes that of deepest night.
The warnings we receive from the lives of the ancients –
We do well to heed and act on them now. Their lives were lived in rebellion so blatant – Is an example to us lest our obedience is slow.
Grace was extended for hundreds of years – But when truth is forsaken then it will end. When God’s means of judgment finally appears – The full cup of His divine wrath He soon will send.
It seems in our day it is the same – We have been blessed but have taken blessings for granted. In our world today we have despised God’s name – And our judgment like those in the past, on God’s calendar is slated.
“I am a citizen, O God, of a nation that has in reality forsaken Thee. We have our churches and our gatherings but we are catering to the wishes of people rather than to Thy will and Word. I intercede on behalf of a rebellious people, and pray Thou wilt guide me to souls that still are willing to listen to Thee. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”