Sun.’s Devo - The Fall of Judah

Read: 2 Chronicles 35:1-36:23; 1 Corinthians 1:1-17; Psalm 27:1-6; Proverbs 20:20-21 Josiah announced that all Israel would be celebrating the Passover together in Jerusalem. He had the Ark moved to the Temple to stay there permanently and told the priests and Levites to prepare for the Passover. Josiah provided 30,000 lambs to be sacrifices along with 3,000 cattle. The priests and Levites also offered a vast amount of animals to be sacrificed. They carried out the Passover as was written by Moses. Never since the time of Samuel had there been such a Passover. *** King Neco from Egypt let his battle to attack Carchemish on the Euphrates River and Josiah marched his army out to fight him. Neco sent a message saying he was not attacking Israel but just passing by it. He had no quarrel with Israel. But Josiah attacked him anyway and was killed in battle. All Israel mourned his death. *** The people made Josiah’s son, Jehoahaz the next king. Three months later, Neco came and took him prisoner to Egypt and put his brother Eliakim as the next king of Judah. He changed his name to Jehoiakim. *** Jehoiakim reigned 11 years and was an evil king. King Nebuchadnezzar came and took him in chains to Babylon along with treasures from the Temple. Jehoiakim’s son Jehoiachin became the next king. *** Jehoiachin only reigned for three months and ten days before he was taken to Babylon along with more of the treasures from the Temple. Nebuchadnezzar installed Jehoiachin’s uncle, Zedikiah as king. He reigned 11 years and was very hard and stubborn. He refused to turn to the Lord even though God sent Jeremiah to speak to him. *** The people and the priests became more and more unfaithful also and God sent his prophets to warn them over and over but they refused to listen. God turned them over to Nebuchadnezzar who took them to Babylon along with more of the treasures from the Temple and the palace. His army burned down the Temple, tore down the walls and burned the palace of the king and destroyed anything of value. *** Just as Jeremiah had prophesied, the land lay desolate for 70 years while the land enjoyed the Sabbaths it had been denied. *** After the 70 years, Cyrus came to the throne in Persia. He decreed that a Temple for God be built in Jerusalem and he allowed anyone who wanted to return and help, could go with his blessings. *** Paul wrote to the church in Corinth commending them for the gifts God had given them. God would keep them strong to the end because they had partnered with Jesus. He appealed to them to live in unity and not be divided by different personalities. Jesus isn’t divided, he is one and he wants us to be one also. *** Lord, as we go to our churches may our hearts be to worship You and not our pastors. May your anoint our pastors to give the words from You and may we walk out your purposes this week.