Jerusalem falls
2 Kings 23:31 – Chapter 24
The story of the remaining four kings of Judah is a tragedy of unfaithfulness, defeat, foreign domination and finally exile to Babylon for all but the poorest of the poor in Jerusalem.
Judah is first caught in a tug-of-war between Egypt and Babylon, falling first to Egypt then to Babylon. When Egypt itself is defeated, Babylon rules all the way to the Nile.
Soldiers, officials and important people are taken into exile in Babylon, much the same way the Assyrians took the people of Israel.
Sunday meditation
Proverbs 25:4-5
Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel; remove wicked officials from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness.
Prayer focus
Lord, remind us that your people have suffered before and survived.
-Rev. Mark Fleming