M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

24 ^(A) During Jehoiakim's rule, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia^[a] invaded and took control of Judah. Jehoiakim obeyed Nebuchadnezzar for three years, but then he rebelled.

² At that time, the Lord started sending troops to rob and destroy towns in Judah. Some of these troops were from Babylonia, and others were from Syria, Moab, and Ammon. The Lord had sent his servants the prophets to warn Judah about this, ³ and now he was making it happen. The country of Judah was going to be wiped out, because Manasseh had sinned ⁴ and caused many innocent people to die. The Lord would not forgive this.

⁵ Everything else Jehoiakim did while he was king is written in The History of the Kings of Judah. ⁶ Jehoiakim died, and his son Jehoiachin became king.

⁷ King Nebuchadnezzar defeated King Neco of Egypt and took control of his land from the Egyptian Gorge all the way north to the Euphrates River. So Neco never invaded Judah again.^[b]

King Jehoiachin of Judah Is Taken to Babylon

(2 Chronicles 36.9,10)

⁸ Jehoiachin was 18 years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled only 3 months from Jerusalem. His mother Nehushta was the daughter of Elnathan from Jerusalem. ⁹ Jehoiachin disobeyed the Lord, just as his father Jehoiakim had done.

¹⁰ King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia sent troops to attack Jerusalem soon after Jehoiachin became king. ¹¹ During the attack, Nebuchadnezzar himself arrived at the city. ^12 (B) Jehoiachin immediately surrendered, together with his mother and his servants, as well as his army officers and officials. Then Nebuchadnezzar had Jehoiachin arrested. These things took place in the eighth year of Nebuchadnezzar's rule in Babylonia.^[c]

¹³ The Lord had warned^[d] that someday the treasures would be taken from the royal palace and from the temple, including the gold objects that Solomon had made for the temple. And that's exactly what Nebuchadnezzar ordered his soldiers to do. ¹⁴ He also led away as prisoners the Jerusalem officials, the military leaders, and the skilled workers—10,000 in all. Only the very poorest people were left in Judah.

^15 (C) Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin to Babylon, along with his mother, his wives, his officials, and the most important leaders of Judah. ¹⁶ He also led away 7,000 soldiers and 1,000 skilled workers, all of them trained for battle.

^17 (D) Then Nebuchadnezzar appointed Jehoiachin's uncle Mattaniah king of Judah and changed his name to Zedekiah.

King Zedekiah of Judah

(2 Chronicles 36.11-16; Jeremiah 52.1-3)

^18 (E) Zedekiah was 21 years old when he was appointed king of Judah, and he ruled from Jerusalem for 11 years. His mother Hamutal was the daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah. ¹⁹ Zedekiah disobeyed the Lord, just as Jehoiakim had done. ^20 (F) It was Zedekiah who finally rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar.

The people of Judah and Jerusalem had made the Lord so angry that he turned his back on them. That's why these horrible things were happening.

6 We must try to become mature and start thinking about more than just the basic things we were taught about Christ. We shouldn't need to keep talking about why we ought to turn from deeds that bring death and why we ought to have faith in God. ² And we shouldn't need to keep teaching about baptisms^[a] or about the laying on of hands^[b] or about people being raised from death and the future judgment. ³ Let's grow up, if God is willing.

^4-6 But what about people who turn away after they have already seen the light and have received the gift from heaven and have shared in the Holy Spirit? What about those who turn away after they have received the good message of God and the powers of the future world? There is no way to bring them back. What they are doing is the same as nailing the Son of God to a cross and insulting him in public!

⁷ A field is useful to farmers, if there is enough rain to make good crops grow. In fact, God will bless such a field. ^8 (A) But land that produces only thornbushes is worthless. It is likely to fall under God's curse, and in the end it will be set on fire.

⁹ My friends, we are talking this way. But we are sure that you are doing those really good things people do when they are being saved. ¹⁰ God is always fair. He will remember how you helped his people in the past and how you are still helping them. You belong to God, and he won't forget the love you have shown his people. ¹¹ We wish each of you would always be eager to show how strong and lasting your hope really is. ¹² Then you would never be lazy. You would be following the example of those who had faith and were patient until God kept his promise to them.

God's Promise Is Sure

¹³ No one is greater than God. So he made a promise in his own name when he said to Abraham, ^14 (B) “I, the Lord, will bless you with many descendants!” ¹⁵ Then after Abraham had been very patient, he was given what God had promised. ¹⁶ When anyone wants to settle an argument, they make a vow by using the name of someone or something greater than themselves. ¹⁷ So when God wanted to prove for certain his promise to his people could not be broken, he made a vow. ¹⁸ God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed.

We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us. ^19 (C) This hope is like a firm and steady anchor for our souls. In fact, hope reaches behind the curtain^[c] and into the most holy place. ^20 (D) Jesus has gone there ahead of us, and he is our high priest forever, just like Melchizedek.^[d]

The Lord Will Judge the Nations

3 At that time I, the Lord, will make Judah and Jerusalem prosperous again. ² Then in Judgment Valley^[a] I will bring together the nations that scattered my people Israel everywhere in the world, and I will bring charges against those nations. They divided up my land ³ and gambled to see who would get my people; they sold boys and girls to pay for prostitutes and wine.

^4 (A) You people of Tyre and Sidon^[b] and you Philistines, why are you doing this? Are you trying to get even with me? I'll strike back before you know what's happened. ⁵ You've taken my prized possessions, including my silver and gold, and carried them off to your temples.^{[c] 6} You have dragged the people of Judah and Jerusalem from their land and sold them to the Greeks.

⁷ But I'll make the people of Judah determined to come home, and what happened to them will happen to you. ⁸ I'll hand over your sons and daughters to the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans,^[d] who live far away. I, the Lord, have spoken!

Judgment in Judgment Valley

⁹ Say to the nations:

God Will Bless His People

(A psalm by David.)

A Prayer in Time of Danger