MAY 31, 2026 – DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM

READ: 2 Kin. 25:1–30: … Nebuchadnezzar … and all his army … besieged the city … famine … they captured the king … slaughtered … burned the house of the LORD … over the people who remained … he appointed Gedaliah … Ishmael … struck down Gedaliah … they went to Egypt … Jehoiachin … was shown favor … all the days of his life …

The LORD has been longsuffering during the centuries of  apostasy from His people. But He also remains righteous. Without repentance He does not hold the guilty innocent.  After the ten-tribe kingdom has been carried away by the Assyrians, now the punishment of Deut 32 comes upon Judah.

Nebuchadnezzar responds to the rebellion of Zedekiah and again goes to Jerusalem. The city is no longer protected by the LORD but falls, after a siege of two years, into the hands of the Babylonians. Many have already died from famine.

When Zedekiah attempts to flee, he is severely punished: his sons are slaughtered before his eyes, and he himself is made blind. After that, all Jerusalem is burned, beginning with the house of the LORD. Everything of the temple is destroyed; valuable objects are taken away. The people were not worthy of it! Also a warning for us!

The commander Nebuzaradan leaves some behind to care for the land (v.12) and appoints Gedaliah over them. Gedaliah reassures them: if they serve the king of Babylon, they need not fear. Then a revolt arises in which Gedaliah is murdered (Jer. 40–41). The conspirators flee with the remaining people to Egypt.

Jehoiachin, after 37 years in Babylon, is shown favor. He is treated well at the king’s court. From his descendants, through Shealtiel and his grandson Zerubbabel, the Messiah will be born (Matt. 1:11ff.).

Despite all the unfaithfulness, indeed ungodliness, of the forefathers, God remains faithful to His promise. However small God’s people may become, the final victory belongs to Him and to those who are His.

What is our comfort from this chapter?

Singing: Ps. 108:2,4