Read 2 Kings 24:6-18, 2 Chronicles 36:8-16
 
2 Kings 24:13 As the LORD had said beforehand, Nebuchadnezzar carried away all the treasures from the LORD’s Temple and the royal palace. He stripped away all the gold objects that King Solomon of Israel had placed in the Temple.
 
THIS is Babylon’s second deportation of the Jews from Jerusalem and Judah. It was customary for conquering nations to allow their subject nations to maintain some local rule. Babylon had done that with Jehoiakim. After Jehoiakim died, Jehoiachin became king. For some reason Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin captive to Babylon. Then he set Zedekiah, another son of Josiah, on Jerusalem’s throne. Zedekiah would be there 11 years as a third vassal king, subject to Babylon. The wicked Zedekiah would suffer greatly at Babylon’s hand. One person also taken captive was Ezekiel. We’ll hear much from this man who becomes a powerful prophet to the Jews in Babylon. In the midst of darkness, a light will keep shining.
   We know the LORD had said these things would happen. Babylon fulfilled God’s judgment. And more specifically, God had said Babylon would remove Judah’s wealth. When King Hezekiah welcomed envoys from Babylon here’s what happened: Isaiah 39:2 Hezekiah was delighted with the Babylonian envoys and showed them everything in his treasure-houses – the silver, the gold, the spices, and the aromatic oils. He also took them to see his armory and showed them everything in his royal treasuries! There was nothing in his palace or kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them. 3 Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked him, “What did those men want? Where were they from?” Hezekiah replied, “They came from the distant land of Babylon.” 4 “What did they see in your palace?” asked Isaiah. “They saw everything,” Hezekiah replied. “I showed them everything I own, all my royal treasuries.” 5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Listen to this message from the LORD of Heaven’s Armies: 6 ‘The time is coming when everything in your palace – all the treasures stored up by your ancestors until now – will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left,’ says the LORD.
          When the Holy God speaks, he will do as he says. His words are not vain empty promises. His words are true for all time. Are you listening to his promises? Do you know what God has said? 

Read 2 Kings 24:1, Jeremiah 22:18-23, 48-49, 2 Chronicles 36:8
 
Jeremiah 22:21-23 “I warned you when you were prosperous, but you replied, ‘Don’t bother me.’ You have been that way since childhood. You simply will not obey me! 22 And now the wind will blow away your allies. All your friends will be taken away as captives. Surely then you will see your wickedness and be ashamed.”
 
IS Jehoiakim’s story the story of all unrepentant sinners? Recall how the wicked king cut and burned the scroll God had spoken to Jeremiah (Jer 36:23). Remember how he killed the prophet Uriah for prophesying disaster on Judah (Jer 26:22). Jeremiah then prophesied a tragic end for the wicked king: Jeremiah 22:18b “The people will not mourn for him, crying to one another, ‘Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!” His subjects will not mourn for him, crying, ‘Alas, our master is dead!  Alas, his splendor is gone!’”
   One may burn a scroll, but the fire of God’s judgment is unrelenting. The entire passages in this lesson refer to God’s final judgments on nations that have long rejected him, even as he had continually revealed his judgments against them. Remember Moab came from Lot. Edom came from Esau. And consider how all the nations had come from God first through Adam and Eve’s offspring and then through Noah and his sons. Yes, Israel was chosen for God’s specific blessings, but the LORD still revealed himself to all people through their human nature. Paul taught this in Romans 1:20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
   Yes, he warns us, but we cut his word from our hears and simply do not obey. The LORD had come to a point when he would judge all nations around Judah for their unbelief.
   This is another illustration of the final judgment on the world. One day the unbelieving kings and rulers will be destroyed. All people will see God’s wrath. His patience will be at an end. His redemption for his own will be at hand. 
 

Read Daniel 1-2
 
Daniel 1:6-7 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah. 7 The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names: Daniel was called Belteshazzar. Hananiah was called Shadrach. Mishael was called Meshach. Azariah was called Abednego.
 
THIS may seem an abrupt change from Jeremiah to move to Daniel. But this is Judah’s history. The Chronological Bible helps us understand Babylon twice entered Jerusalem to take some captive. The exile comes in two stages. Daniel and his friends were taken in the first exile while Jeremiah was still prophesying.
   Why the name change for the young Hebrews? Does it matter what names these men are called? Yes, it matters very much, especially to God. Here’s why. Note the “el” at the end of “Daniel” and “Mishael”. Then see the “ah” at the end of “Hananiah” and “Azariah”. In these Hebrew names, “el” means “God,” and “yah” or “ah” is a form of God’s name “Yahweh”. The names and meaning of Yahweh are defined in Psalms 50:1 The LORD, the Mighty One, is God, and he has spoken; he has summoned all humanity from where the sun rises to where it sets. The four men’s names represented “Mighty One”, “God” and “LORD”. He is the all-powerful, sovereign authority over all the earth. Each man’s full name described other traits of God: “Daniel” means “my judge is God”; “Hananiah” means “Yahweh is gracious”; “Mishael” is “Who is what God is?” (This is in reference to no one or no god is as the LORD God.) And “Azariah” means “Yahweh has helped.” Each time their names were spoken, these men would be reminded of God’s power, righteousness, judgment, help and salvation.
   In contrast, Babylon is a pagan culture. Such cultures always strive to erase God from our minds. The new names would direct the men’s minds not only away from God but toward evil. “Belteshazzar” means “May Bel protect his life”. Bel is another name for Marduk, the chief Babylonian god. Worship of this evil idol included child sacrifice – a common thread of unbelief throughout the centuries. “Shadrach” meant “the command of Aku”. Aku was a Sumerian moon god. In turn, “Meshach” meant “Who is what Aku is?” as if Aku is the most powerful of all – the direct attack on the LORD God. And “Abednego” meant “servant of Nebo”, another god of Babylon.
   Words and names do matter. They matter very much. What we say affects our mind to influence our beliefs. Especially, you see a name’s power here, don’t you? How one sees himself or herself is often defined with their name. In many circumstances, I hear people live under nicknames. And I wonder, “What’s wrong with their given name?” There is very little that honors your family and friends more than to speak their names. Also, how do you name God? Is he the “Big guy in the sky?” or is he “LORD God Almighty”? Is he “someone’s watching over me”? Or is he “Spirit, Protector, Guide”? Is Jesus a “good teacher”? Or do you add to that by saying “LORD Jesus Christ, Savior of my life”? When you speak of God, be as the faithful Hebrews. Use the Bible’s names that point to his glory, power, dominion, justice and salvation. Honor the LORD God with each word you speak – both to him and to his people.

Read Jeremiah 36, 45:1-4
 
Jeremiah 36:1-4 During the fourth year that Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king in Judah, the LORD gave this message to Jeremiah: 2 “Get a scroll, and write down all my messages against Israel, Judah, and the other nations. Begin with the first message back in the days of Josiah, and write down every message, right up to the present time. 3 Perhaps the people of Judah will repent when they hear again all the terrible things I have planned for them. Then I will be able to forgive their sins and wrongdoings.” 4 So Jeremiah sent for Baruch son of Neriah, and as Jeremiah dictated all the prophecies that the Lord had given him, Baruch wrote them on a scroll.
 
ONE basic foundation of Christianity is to believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God. What does that mean?
   Here is an excellent illustration: “Get a scroll and write.” God told Jeremiah. The Holy Spirit spoke to Jeremiah, and the obedient servant of God obeyed the command.
   This is God’s inspiration. It is not Jeremiah saying, “I feel moved to deliver a message to Judah.” Nor is it Jeremiah saying, “I have an idea. Let me share it with Jerusalem and King Jehoiakim.”
   “Inspiration” comes from Genesis 2:7 Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person. & Job 32:8 But there is a spirit within people, the breath of the Almighty within them, that makes them intelligent. God breathed into mankind. To inspire the Word is God breathing the Word into his prophets. Peter affirms this in 2 Peter 1:21 those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God. How did he know? The Spirit also breathed such life and knowledge into Peter. The prophets and apostles spoke and wrote through God’s inspiration. The Spirit breathed truth into their minds to know what to say and write.
   Yes, the Bible’s writers had differences in imagery, grammatical style and cultural references. This is because God did not make robots, but formed human minds to receive and relay his truth into a culture that would understand them.
   Does God still inspire his faithful today? Jesus promised there would be such connections: Luke 21:14 So don’t worry in advance about how to answer the charges against you, 15 for I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply or refute you!  Another is when God’s Word is preached to many and spoken in private: 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
   The Christian life is a life inspired by God. The Spirit has breathed new life into your heart as surely as he breathed into Adam’s lungs. Your call is to tell of God’s inspired Word, made alive in Jesus Christ, to a world who needs the breath of God.
 

Read Jeremiah 25, 35
 
Jeremiah 25:11b “Israel and her neighboring lands will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years. 12 Then, after the seventy years of captivity are over, I will punish the king of Babylon and his people for their sins,” says the LORD. “I will make the country of the Babylonians a wasteland forever.”
&
17 So I took the cup of anger from the LORD and made all the nations drink from it—every nation to which the LORD sent me.
 
YOU may be wondering why some of the higher numbered chapters of Jeremiah relate to events in Judah and Jeremiah’s life that come before the lower numbered chapters. Jeremiah did not compile his prophecies in chronological order but more by subject matter. However, Jeremiah gave markers of when each prophecy occurred during the various kings’ reigns and Babylon’s conquest.  
   We see more evidence of God’s sovereign authority here. All events continue under his watchful eye. The LORD Almighty specifies his timetable for the exile and then tells of Babylon’s destruction.
   In addition, he instructs Jeremiah to pass his cup of anger to all the nations. The LORD gave Jeremiah a vision of this cup filled with his wrath. God’s wrath would come upon these nations through Babylon’s conquest. Then the LORD would judge Babylon to destruction to end the exile and restore his chosen people to Jerusalem and Judah.
   Through this prophecy and then its fulfillment, we can see a view of the final judgment day proclaimed in Revelation 16:19 The great city of Babylon split into three sections, and the cities of many nations fell into heaps of rubble. So God remembered all of Babylon’s sins, and he made her drink the cup that was filled with the wine of his fierce wrath. This prophecy points to an end of all evil. The Babylon here is the empire of evil that reigns in the world. God’s wrath will come upon the world’s nations. As he rebuilt Jerusalem after the exile, he will build a new Jerusalem for his church to dwell with him forever.
   Pay attention to the prophecies of old. They point toward your eternal future.

Read Habakkuk
 
Habakkuk 3:2-5 I have heard all about you, LORD. I am filled with awe by your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by. And in your anger, remember your mercy. 3 I see God moving across the deserts from Edom, the Holy One coming from Mount Paran. His brilliant splendor fills the heavens, and the earth is filled with his praise. 4 His coming is as brilliant as the sunrise. Rays of light flash from his hands, where his awesome power is hidden. 5 Pestilence marches before him; plague follows close behind…19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. 
 
WHAT causes you to pray? Stop for a minute and consider your answer. What came to mind? I believe that many of us are “trained” to answer that question with things that we or loved ones need. “I pray for a good day. I pray for my wife’s health. I pray for a job.” When asked, “How can we pray for you today?” most people will answer with these types of needs and desires.
   Certainly it is appropriate to pray these petitions. But do you ever answer your reason for prayer with: “I want to ask God, ‘Why is there so much pain in the world? Also, I want to pray to exalt his glory. I want to praise God and celebrate his majesty. Let’s pray with a joyful heart for his promise of salvation.’”
   This wider prayer focus is essentially the scope of Habakkuk’s prophecy in chapters 1 & 2 and then his prayer in chapter 3. As we have seen in each prophet, Habakkuk is distressed over pervasive violence in Judah and the nations around them. He says in Habakkuk 1:4 The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted. He looked around at first and only saw the sins of God’s people. Then his message concluded with prayer for these reasons:

1. He praises God’s sovereign power.
2. He petitions God for help.
3. He petitions God to be merciful.
4. He praises God for his power to judge.
5. He petitions God to remove the pestilence and plague of sin from the world.
6. He praises God for bringing his power to earth.
7. He praises God for giving him a sure pathway of life. 

 
   Praising God for his power, petitioning God for his protection from evil and praying for deliverance from sin are good reasons to pray. Jesus pointed us to such prayers in Matthew 6:9-13 “Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.”
   These are some reasons to pray. What others come to mind?
 

Read Jeremiah 46 – 47:7
 
Jeremiah 46:27-28 “But do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel. For I will bring you home again from distant lands, and your children will return from their exile. Israel will return to a life of peace and quiet, and no one will terrorize them. 28 Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, for I am with you,” says the LORD. “I will completely destroy the nations to which I have exiled you, but I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you, but with justice; I cannot let you go unpunished.”
 
THESE two verses come amid Jeremiah’s prophecies to Egypt and Philistia (the Philistines) that God will conquer these two nations through Babylon’s power. This is ongoing evidence that God inflicts capital punishment on people who continually worship other gods. The Jews needed to know this. Some had seen Babylon’s threat against Judah and moved to Egypt and Philistia for protection. Fearfully they wondered, “Who will save us from Babylon?”
   But once again under the threat of a foreign nation’s invasion, God twice spoke his greater assurance: “But do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant.”
   How many times does Scripture record God saying through the Father and Son, “Fear not.” This wonderful assurance repeatedly comes from heaven to comfort, strengthen and empower God’s own to a steadfast faith. “Do not be afraid.” is the Father’s arms around his prodigal child Israel. “Fear not.” is Jesus’ commands to his disciples to understand the power of God is present with them.
   On the other hand, the term “my servant” may be offensive to some. Isn’t a servant really a slave? Yes, to be a servant can mean to be a slave. But this is much different than we understand “slave” today. In the Old Testament culture, a slave had a limited time of six years of service. A slave had rights and could even attain positions of authority. We have seen this in Joseph’s life. Sold as a slave to Egypt, Joseph became a leader in Potiphar’s household and then in the prison. He then became God’s servant preparing Egypt to be Israel’s womb. Jesus, too, spoke of being a servant to mankind. He even committed to the cross, serving the Father’s will. A servant is also defined as one who worships God. “Servant” can also refer to one who is generous and volunteers his work to help a master. Kingdom servanthood is a humble, committed partnership for the good of all. What joy to serve God!
   Still, God is clear. Israel would not escape the judgment prophecies spoken through the previous centuries. God’s justice demands he punishes Israel. They have sinned without repentance, and they must pay a price for the sin. This, too, is the inescapable truth for all mankind.
   Then God spoke another eternal truth for his own. He had a special redemptive plan for Israel then. There is no world power that can withstand God’s hand. Only under God’s benevolent salvation does Israel have a future. God’s people will return at the right time under God’s promise to worship – to serve – him.
   It is good to trust God, to know he is just, to believe his promises of restoration and to be his servant. Let’s pray that is our hearts’ desire. 

Read 2 Chronicles 35:20-25, Jeremiah 22:10-17, Jeremiah 26
 
Jeremiah 26:18-19 They said, “Remember when Micah of Moresheth prophesied during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah. He told the people of Judah, ‘This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Mount Zion will be plowed like an open field; Jerusalem will be reduced to ruins! A thicket will grow on the heights where the Temple now stands.’ 19 But did King Hezekiah and the people kill him for saying this? No, they turned from their sins and worshiped the LORD. They begged him for mercy. Then the LORD changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had pronounced against them. So we are about to do ourselves great harm.”
 
JEREMIAH’S life was on the line. The LORD God had given Jeremiah a specific message to deliver to Jerusalem: Jeremiah 26:2 “This is what the LORD says: Stand in the courtyard in front of the Temple of the LORD, and make an announcement to the people who have come there to worship from all over Judah. Give them my entire message; include every word.” I AM speaks a command to tell his every word. This sounds empowering, doesn’t it?
   But the history of Israel and now the church has revealed there are many people who object to hearing every word God speaks. Jesus certainly experienced the Jews’ selective hearing. And many people for 2000 years since the church began have objected to the complete counsel of God recorded in his Scripture and preached from his pulpit. The true prophet and preacher have often been at risk.
   Jeremiah, then, spoke the unpopular message of Judah’s impending destruction. He faced a jealous priesthood and false prophets who demanded his death! But then ruling elders remembered Micah’s prophecy to Judah during Hezekiah’s rule: Micah 3:12 Because of you, Mount Zion will be plowed like an open field; Jerusalem will be reduced to ruins! A thicket will grow on the heights where the Temple now stands. Then they remembered how Hezekiah led Judah to turn from their sins and worshiped the LORD. And they faithfully remembered how God relented. This is one of those moments when some in Judah displayed a living faith in God’s Word because they remembered! They knew who God is and what God had done. They also believed what God would do if Judah did not repent.
   We are blessed today to have the full counsel of God, the Holy Bible, available to consult each day. The Spirit uses this to teach us if we are paying attention. 
         
 

Read 2 Kings 22:3-8, 2 Chronicles 34-35
 
2 Chronicles 34:14-15 & 18b-19 While they were bringing out the money collected at the LORD’s Temple, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD that was written by Moses. 15 Hilkiah said to Shaphan the court secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the LORD’s Temple!” Then Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan…18b So Shaphan read it to the king. 19 When the king heard what was written in the Law, he tore his clothes in despair.
 
THE Temple was being remodeled. What do you think would have happened if there were no plans on how to do the work? What if each carpenter, stone mason and artist had his own ideas and did not coordinate his work with the others? The finished Temple’s interior would be a mix of each person’s desires. The work certainly would not glorify the LORD’s earthly dwelling.
   Isn’t this individualism the problem that had plagued Judah for decades and Israel for centuries? How could they know God’s rules, plans and purpose if they had no Book of the Law? Think about this. For generations the priests who had some desire to worship God had been doing their work without a plan. They had no blueprint of sacrifices, Feasts and festivals. They would have only a vague idea of the law’s commands for appropriate sacrifice and approach to God. Each would function in his own view of what needed to be done. And apparently some of God’s people had been coming to offer money and sacrifices to God. But they did not know the Word of the LORD! How could such individual worship glorify God?
   This illustrates what too often happens in the church. A pastor may read from a story book of some uninspiring topic that teaches nothing of God. (I’ve seen this happen. Have you?) There is no revelation of God’s plan from the pulpit. How is the church to know. Going to Jesus’ church and not hearing from Jesus would lead to a complacent, individual faith at best and no faith at worst. Could people possibly live a Christian life that way? Have you ever heard of such a thing? It’s as if you say, “I’m a Christian.” but you never read the word of God. How can one know what God says if God’s Word remains hidden?
   Note Josiah’s response to the Law’s discovery. He tore his clothes. He grieves in the discovery that God’s Law has been available, yet undiscovered in God’s House for about 200 years! In response, Josiah immediately enacted the law. Throughout Judah he removed the signs of evil worship from the land. The Law of God for a time became the law of the land. They celebrated Passover for the first time since Hezekiah had done so several decades earlier. For a brief, shining moment, God’s people rightly remembered the Sovereign LORD, who had called them to be his people.
   It’s interesting that the Temple’s physical remodeling led to new construction in many Jews’ hearts. Perhaps God had inspired Josiah to this task, so the Book of the Law of Moses would be revealed. God does that. He continually moves people and events to reveal himself. We need to pay attention and know what he is saying. Again and again he tells us, “This is what the LORD says.” (164 times in the Old Testament) and “I tell you the truth.” (68 times in the gospels.)
   What do you think? Is there some way God’s Word needs to reconstruct your life? Pray you hear from and listen to him. Your faithful response will glorify your LORD God.