THE KING’S BUSINESS
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This all was a literal fulfillment of many prophecies (Ezek. 12:15, 16; 22:15; Jer. 20:4; Lev. 26:33: Deut. 4 :27; 2 Kings 20:18). The number of people deported is given in Jer. 25:28-30. They were car ried into captivity because of their lack of knowledge consequent upon their not study ing and heeding God’s word (Isa. 5:3). This uprooting of the people was not final, nor was the later uprooting final. There is to he another siege of Jerusalem when their Lord will personally appear to deliver them (Zech. 12:7, 8 ; 14 :2-4, 14-16). This later siege will terminate so differently from the one here recorded because of the dependence of the people upon and conse quent help of Jehovah. All this awful defeat resulted from Zedekiah’s fear of man and lack of trust in God (cf. Prov. 29:25). Judah had long wandered from God, but in His longsuffering patieftce He had .delayed the day of doom (cf. 2 Peter 3:9; Ecc. 8:11): God’s judgments are often delayed, but they are none the less sure because so long delayed (2 Peter 3 :10), and are all the more terrific when they do come. While God in His longsuffering delays His judgments, men are despising his mercy and storing up wrath against the day of wrath (Rom. 2:4, 5). During all those days of the delay of His judg ment God had been pleading with His peo ple to repent (2 Chron. 36:14-16). Prophets had been multiplied in those last days, Jere miah, Ezekiel, Isaiah, ’and Micah. Was Jerusalem strongly situated? 2 Sam. 5 : 6 , 7. Had Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem before? 24:11. What famous men had he at' that time removed to Babylon? Dan. 1:3-6. How long did this siege continue? vs. 1 , 2 . Why did it take so long? Lam. 4:12.
burnt he with fire. And all the army of the Chaldees {Chaldeans), that were with the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round about. Now {And) the rest {residue) of the people that were left in the city, and those that fell away to the king of Babylon, with the rem nant {and the residue) of the multitude, did Nebuzaraden the captain of the guard carry away (add, captive). But the cap tain of the guard left the poor {poorest) of the land to be vine dressers and husband men." The temple of God, “the house of Jehovah” was burned with fire; but that was not all, the royal palaces and the houses of the people were burned and the walls o f .the city broken down. All this, however, was not done at once (Jer. 52:12- 16). The intervening month was spent in awful cruelties upon the women and princes (Lam. 5:11, 12). This was all in accord ance with God’s warnings and prophecies (Isa. 64:10, 11; Jer. 7:14; 17:27; 21:10; 26:9; 32:10, 11; 32:29; 34:2, 22 ; 37:10; 38:18; Micah 3:T2; Amos 2:4, 5). If ever^a people had abundant warnings of coming doom and consequent opportunity for repentance, it was the people of Jerusalem. The desolation of the house of the Lord had first been predicted at the very time of its dedication (1 Kings 9:8, 9). The city was burned because its inhabitants turned a deaf ear to God’s word (Jer. 17:7; 2 Chron. 36:15-19). The mass of the people still remaining were carried away to Babylon. (1 ) Jerusalem Besieged, vs. 1-3. Who was the last king of Judah? 2 Chron. 36:11. What had he done to anger Nebuchad- pezzar? 2 Kings 24:20. What greater King had he angered? When do we first meet with Babylon (Babel)? Gen. 10:10. Where do we first meet with Jerusalem (Salem)? Gen. 14:18.
LESSON OUTLINE
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