Week 34

2 Kings 25:1, 2 Chronicles 36:13-16, Jeremiah 39:1, 52:4, 21:1-22:9, 32:1-44, and Ezekiel 24

It was in the ninth year of king Zedekiah’s reign that he rebelled against

Nebuchadnezzar, even though he had taken an oath before God to remain a

faithful servant. So, in the winter of that year (around December)

Nebuchadnezzar came up from Babylon and laid siege to Jerusalem, which

would last for almost 2 years before the city would fall, many people would have

died of disease and famine, and even more under the sword of

Nebuchadnezzar’s army. God speaks through both Jeremiah and Ezekiel in

advance of this destruction, telling everyone that the time of His judgement upon

Judah had come, because of all the abominations and sins of both Zedekiah, and

all the people.

In the midst of all this, the Lord gives Jeremiah instruction to buy a plot of

land, to record the deed, and to have that deed stored away in a waterproof jar,

so that in the future years, when his descendants return from Babylon, they will

have title to that land, and it will be a testimonial proof to the word of God when

they see everything happen exactly as God had spoken.

Jeremiah 30, 31, and 33

In chapter 30 the Lord speaks of the end times when Israel will experience

great tribulation, which is referred to in this section of scripture as the “Times of

Jacob’s Trouble”. Even though Israel will experience great trouble, the Lord will

protect a remnant, and utterly judge the enemies of Israel and God.

Chapter 31 speaks of a future new covenant, which the writer of Hebrews tells

us was fulfilled with the New Covenant of Christ’s blood, when the Lord writes

His laws upon the hearts of His people, and they will know Him.

In chapter 33 the Lord promises to restore from captivity the exiles, even

though He also ordained their captivity and slavery as punishment for their

infidelities against Him. Not only will they be restored in the near term (70 years),

but this message also speaks of a future restoration of Israel from the nations,

and a day when Jesus will reign as king on David’s throne in Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 25, 29:1-16, 30, and 31

The Lord prophesies judgement upon the peoples of Ammon, Moab, Edom,

and Philistia. The Lord also declares His judgement upon the nation of Egypt,

which was spoken through Ezekiel in the same timeframe that Nebuchadnezzar

was laying siege against Jerusalem. Egypt will be humbled, but not completely

destroyed, and the Egyptian captives will also be restored to their land, but they

will never again be a world power. Egypt, as well as their allied nations of north

Africa will all come under the punishing hand of Nebuchadnezzar, and Pharaoh

will be conquered and taken captive.

Ezekiel 26-28

In these three chapters the Lord speaks through the prophet against the city

of Tyre, and in this there are multiple fulfillments of God’s plans to judge them.

The city of Tyre was located on the Mediterranean coast north of Israel, in the

region now within Lebanon. The city of Tyre was the economic hub of the

Phoenician empire, which was sea-based, and the center of international trade

on the Mediterranean sea for the better part of 1,000 years.

As predicted in chapter 26, Nebuchadnezzar came and completely destroyed

the city of Tyre on the coast, after more than a decade of siege. However,

history tells us that before he destroyed the city, the vast majority of the

population had moved to an island about 1/2 mile off the coast, which was largely

considered to be impregnable.

In chapter 27 the focus shifts to Tyre in the “midst of the sea”, and it’s future

destruction, which was ultimately accomplished by Alexander the Great some

250 years after Nebuchadnezzar. Using the rock remains of the original city of

Tyre, Alexander built a causeway all the way out to the island, and then laid

siege and destroyed it.

In chapter 28 there is a prophetic shift from the “prince” of Tyre, to the “king”

of Tyre, which is clearly speaking of Lucifer as it’s true king, and providing a brief

view of his career in heaven before the fall (Ezekiel 28:12-15). Compare this

passage with Isaiah 14:12-15.

Jeremiah 37:3-39:10, 52:5-30, 2 Kings 25:2-21, and 2 Chronicles 36:17-21

These passages describe the final years of Zedekiah’s reign as king of Judah.

During this time Jeremiah continued to speak the word of the Lord, advising

Zedekiah to surrender to the Chaldeans and Nebuchadnezzar, saying that the

city would be saved, and things would go well if he did. Zedekiah refuses to do

so, and Jeremiah is imprisoned until Jerusalem is overrun and defeated. As

predicted by both Jeremiah and Isaiah, Zedekiah is captured, his sons are killed

before his eyes, he is then blinded, and carried away to Babylon in chains, where

he will die in prison. The chief priest, and all of his evil priests are gathered up

and executed, and all of the furnishings and treasures of the temple are taken

away to Babylon. Almost all of the survivors in Judah are taken as slaves to

Babylon, with only a few of the poorest people left as caretakers of the vineyards

and lands.

2 Kings 25:22, Jeremiah 39:11-40:6, and Lamentations 1-3

Just as the Lord had prophesied, Nebuchadnezzar came again and took

Zedekiah back to Babylon in chains, along with most of the people in the land.

They tore down the walls of Jerusalem and pillaged the temple of the Lord.

Jeremiah was treated very kindly by the commander of Nebuchadnezzar’s army,

and according to the king’s instruction was set free and given his own choice of

whether to go to Babylon as an honored guest, or remain in Israel. He chose to

remain in Israel. Besides Jeremiah, the Lord also sends word to an Ethiopian

eunich, who had been instrumental in saving Jeremiah’s life (Jeremiah 38:6-12),

telling him that he would be protected from the harsh treatment of the

Babylonians.

The book of Lamentations was written by Jeremiah in a sense of anguish

following the desolation of Jerusalem, where destruction abounded in every

direction, and the streets were empty of people. This book is why he is called the

weeping prophet.

Lamentations 4-5 and Obadiah

The book of Lamentations was largely written in the form of a Hebrew poem,

with the first four chapters written an an acrostic, with each stanza (or verse)

beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. This is seen in

chapters 1, 2, and 4, with twenty-two verses each, and the practice is repeated 3

times in chapter 3, with the first three verses starting with Aleph, etc…

We don’t know much about Obadiah, and there are different theories as to

when he wrote this small book. The main thrust of the book is a warning against

the Edomites (descendants of Esau), telling them not to rejoice over the

desolation of Judah and Jerusalem. God is telling them through the prophet that

Judah and Jerusalem will be restored in the future, and they will ultimately

possess the land of Esau. Because of this warning, this book is placed alongside

of Lamentations, where it seems to fit with the recent destruction of Jerusalem.