Reading
SAA Notes
2 Kings ends with Jehoiachin released from prison, living out his life as a political captive. As the last anointed King, he was regarded as God’s Christ and heir of David. He it is who is listed in Matthew’s genealogy, not his uncles nor his father. 2 Kings ends with this slight ray of hope – that God has not finished with David’s line!
SJA Notes
* Lord God, turn and be gracious to us, as is Your way with those who love Your Name.
“So Judah was taken into exile out of its land.”
Here is a sadness. A very low point for God’s people.
Taken out of the land promised to Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob.
The glory of the Lord having departed, all the treasures taken, the earthly temple of our Lord God burned down to the ground!
And yet.
God’s word to the prophets at this same time was clear.
We read in Jeremiah 29,
“For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place.”
And more,
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
How blessed we are then that our God has plans for us, for our good – That He has given to us a future and a hope.
A hope that is the holy city of new Jerusalem that John points us to in Revelation, the heavens and the earth made new, where God will dwell with us and we will be His people.
No more crying, no more pain, sorrow and loss gone forever!
No more night, no need for a torch or even the sun in the sky, because our Lord God will be our light! (Revelation 21-22)
Hallelujah, what a future we have, what a hope in Jesus!
* Gracious God,
Thank You for this passage telling us of the exile, Judah taken out of the promised land on earth.
Lord please remind us of how seriously You take our worship, our religion – Lord may we be people who worship in truth, who practice true heart religion.
Please forgive us today Lord God for our sin.
Amen.