2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 36: Judah falls and hope comes

Begin in prayer

Before we read the last chapter of 2 Chronicles, a sad one with a bright end, let us pray. Ask God to teach us to heed His warnings, and to lead us to Jesus, who brings sinners home.

For Yahweh says, “After seventy years are accomplished for Babylon, I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.

Jeremiah 29:10

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You warn with compassion and keep Your word, and lead us to Jesus, who brings sinners home. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

After Josiah, the people make Jehoahaz king, but Egypt removes him and puts his brother Jehoiakim on the throne. Jehoiakim does evil, and Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon carries some vessels of the LORD's house to Babylon. Jehoiachin does evil and is taken to Babylon, and Zedekiah becomes king, does evil and will not humble himself before Jeremiah. The chiefs of the priests and the people trespass and pollute the LORD's house. The LORD sends messengers again and again, because He has compassion, but they mock them until there is no remedy. The Chaldeans burn God's house and carry the people to Babylon. In the first year of Cyrus, the LORD stirs up his spirit to let them go up.

As you read 2 Chronicles 36, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD had compassion on His people, and stirred up Cyrus to let them go home, as He had said.

This chapter ends the book with a sad fall and a hopeful word about the LORD. Four kings followed Josiah in a few years, and Egypt and Babylon took them away (verses 1 to 10). Zedekiah did evil, and he would not humble himself before Jeremiah, who spoke from the LORD's mouth (verse 12). The text says the LORD sent His messengers again and again, “because he had compassion on his people” (verse 15). So the warnings came from compassion, and the people mocked them “until there was no remedy” (verse 16). Then the Chaldeans burned God's house and carried the people to Babylon, and the land lay desolate for seventy years (verses 19 to 21). Yet the same LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia in his first year (verse 22). Verse 23 gives Cyrus's own words, that the LORD, the God of heaven, had commanded him to build a house in Jerusalem. The LORD's compassion, His justice and His kept word are all in this one chapter, and the book ends with the way home open.

How does 2 Chronicles 36 show us that the LORD had compassion on His people, and stirred up Cyrus to let them go home, as He had said?

The LORD sent messengers again and again, because He had compassion.

Zedekiah did evil and did not humble himself before Jeremiah, who spoke from the LORD's mouth (verse 12). The chiefs of the priests and the people polluted the LORD's house (verse 14). The LORD sent messengers, rising up early and sending, because He had compassion on His people and His dwelling place (verse 15). They mocked the messengers, until there was no remedy (verse 16).

Jerusalem and God's house were burned, and the people were taken away.

The LORD brought on them the king of the Chaldeans (verse 17). All the vessels of God's house were taken to Babylon (verse 18). They burned God's house, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and carried the people to Babylon (verses 19 and 20). This fulfilled the LORD's word by Jeremiah, that the land would keep Sabbath for seventy years (verse 21).

The LORD stirred up Cyrus, and the people could go home.

In Cyrus's first year, the LORD stirred up his spirit, so that His word by Jeremiah might be accomplished (verse 22). Cyrus said the LORD, the God of heaven, had commanded him to build Him a house in Jerusalem (verse 23). He said that whoever was among God's people could go up (verse 23). The book ends with the way home open.

Jesus brings sinners home to God.

Peter says Christ suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring sinners to God (1 Peter 3 verse 18). Jesus said He came to proclaim release to the captives (Luke 4 verse 18). Cyrus sent the people home to Jerusalem, and Jesus brings sinners home to God.

Memorise

Whoever there is among you of all his people, Yahweh his God be with him, and let him go up.

2 Chronicles 36:23

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I hear God's warnings, and have I come to Jesus, who brings sinners home?

Again and again God sent His messengers, “because he had compassion on his people,” but they scoffed “until there was no remedy.” After the prophets, God sent His own Son. Jesus said He came to proclaim release to the captives (Luke 4 verse 18).

The exile showed what sin earns. Yet when there was no remedy, God kept His word and stirred up Cyrus to let the people go home. At the cross Jesus died for His people, and His death was enough for them all. He did it to bring them to God (1 Peter 3 verse 18). Then He rose alive.

So come to Him. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Everyone who trusts Him will be forgiven and brought home to God.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD sent His messengers with compassion, and that He brought His people home as He had said. Parents, verses 17 to 19 tell of killing and burning, so please tell them gently, and verse 23 is Cyrus speaking. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He warns with compassion and keeps His word, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Yahweh, you have been favorable to your land. You have restored the fortunes of Jacob.

Psalm 85:1

Father, thank You for the compassion that sent Your messengers, and that brought Your people home as You had said. Thank You for Jesus, who brings sinners to You. Please lead each of us to repent and trust Him. Amen.