M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

King Nebuchadnezzar Comes to Judah

24 In the time of Jehoiakim, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to the country of Judah. Jehoiakim served Nebuchadnezzar for three years. Then Jehoiakim turned against Nebuchadnezzar and broke away from his rule. ² The Lord sent groups of Babylonians, Arameans, Moabites, and Ammonites to fight against Jehoiakim. He sent them to destroy Judah. This happened just as the Lord had said. He used his servants the prophets to say those things.

³ The Lord commanded this to happen to Judah. In this way he would remove them from his sight. He did this because of all the sins that Manasseh committed. ⁴ He did this because Manasseh killed many innocent people and filled Jerusalem with their blood. The Lord would not forgive these sins.

⁵ The other things that Jehoiakim did are written in the book, The History of the Kings of Judah. ⁶ Jehoiakim died and was buried with his ancestors. His son Jehoiachin became the new king after him.

⁷ The king of Babylon captured all the land between the Brook of Egypt and the Euphrates River. This land was previously controlled by Egypt. So the king of Egypt did not leave Egypt anymore.

Nebuchadnezzar Captures Jerusalem

⁸ Jehoiachin was 18 years old when he began to rule. He ruled three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Nehushta daughter of Elnathan from Jerusalem. ⁹ Jehoiachin did what the Lord said was wrong. He did all the same things that his father had done.

¹⁰ At that time the officers of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and surrounded it. ¹¹ Then King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to the city. ¹² King Jehoiachin of Judah went out to meet the king of Babylon. His mother, his officers, leaders, and officials also went with him. Then the king of Babylon captured Jehoiachin. This was during the eighth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s rule.

¹³ Nebuchadnezzar took from Jerusalem all the treasures in the Lord’s Temple and all the treasures in the king’s palace. He cut up all the golden dishes that King Solomon of Israel had put in the Lord’s Temple. This happened just as the Lord had said.

¹⁴ Nebuchadnezzar captured all the people of Jerusalem, including the leaders and other wealthy people. He took 10,000 people and made them prisoners. He took all the skilled workers and craftsmen. No one was left, except the poorest of the common people. ¹⁵ Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin to Babylon as a prisoner. He also took the king’s mother, his wives, officers, and the leading men of the land. He took them from Jerusalem to Babylon as prisoners. ¹⁶ There were 7000 soldiers. Nebuchadnezzar took all the soldiers and 1000 of the skilled workers and craftsmen. All these men were trained soldiers, ready for war. The king of Babylon took them to Babylon as prisoners.

King Zedekiah

¹⁷ The king of Babylon made Mattaniah the new king. Mattaniah was Jehoiachin’s uncle. He changed his name to Zedekiah. ¹⁸ Zedekiah was 21 years old when he began to rule. He ruled 11 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah. ¹⁹ Zedekiah did what the Lord said was wrong. He did all the same things that Jehoiakim did. ²⁰ The Lord became so angry with Jerusalem and Judah that he threw them away.

Nebuchadnezzar Ends Zedekiah’s Rule

Zedekiah rebelled and refused to obey the king of Babylon.

6 So we should be finished with the beginning lessons about Christ. We should not have to keep going back to where we started. We began our new life by turning away from the evil we did in the past and by believing in God. That’s when we were taught about baptisms,^[a] laying hands on people,^[b] the resurrection of those who have died, and the final judgment. Now we need to go forward to more mature teaching. ³ And that’s what we will do if God allows.

^4-6 After people have left the way of Christ, can you make them change their lives again? I am talking about people who once learned the truth, received God’s gift, and shared in the Holy Spirit. They were blessed to hear God’s good message and see the great power of his new world. But then they left it all behind, and it is not possible to make them change again. That’s because those who leave Christ are nailing him to the cross again, shaming him before everyone.

⁷ Some people are like land that gets plenty of rain and produces a good crop for those who farm it. That kind of land has God’s blessing. ⁸ But other people are like land that grows only thorns and weeds. It is worthless and in danger of being cursed by God. It will be destroyed by fire.

⁹ Dear friends, I am not saying this because I think it is happening to you. We really expect that you will do better—that you will do the good things that will result in your salvation. ¹⁰ God is fair, and he will remember all the work you have done. He will remember that you showed your love to him by helping his people and that you continue to help them. ¹¹ We want each of you to be willing and eager to show your love like that the rest of your life. Then you will be sure to get what you hope for. ¹² We don’t want you to be lazy. We want you to be like those who, because of their faith and patience, will get what God has promised.

¹³ God made a promise to Abraham. And there is no one greater than God, so he made the promise with an oath in his own name—an oath that he would do what he promised. ¹⁴ He said, “I will surely bless you. I will give you many descendants.”^{[c] 15} Abraham waited patiently for this to happen, and later he received what God promised.

¹⁶ People always use the name of someone greater than themselves to make a promise with an oath. The oath proves that what they say is true, and there is no more arguing about it. ¹⁷ God wanted to prove that his promise was true. He wanted to prove this to those who would get what he promised. He wanted them to understand clearly that his purposes never change. So God said something would happen, and he proved what he said by adding an oath. ¹⁸ These two things cannot change: God cannot lie when he says something, and he cannot lie when he makes an oath.

So these two things are a great help to us who have come to God for safety. They encourage us to hold on to the hope that is ours. ¹⁹ This hope is like an anchor for us. It is strong and sure and keeps us safe. It goes behind the curtain.^{[d] 20} Jesus has already entered there and opened the way for us. He has become the high priest forever, just like Melchizedek.

Judah’s Enemies Will Be Punished

3 “Yes, at that time I will bring back the people of Judah and Jerusalem from captivity. ² I will also gather all the nations together. I will bring all these nations down into Jehoshaphat Valley.^[a] There I will judge them. Those nations scattered my people, Israel. They forced them to live in other nations, so I will punish those nations. They divided up my land. ³ They threw lots for my people. They sold boys to buy a prostitute, and they sold girls to buy wine to drink.

⁴ “Tyre! Sidon! All of you areas of Philistia! You are not important to me!^[b] Are you punishing me for something I did? You might think that you are punishing me, but I will soon punish you. ⁵ You took my silver and gold. You took my precious treasures and put them in your temples.^[c]

⁶ “You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks. That way you could take them far from their land. ⁷ You sent my people to that faraway place, but I will bring them back. And I will punish you for what you did. ⁸ I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Judah. Then they will sell them to the faraway Sabeans.^[d]” This is what the Lord said.

Prepare for War

A New Life for Judah Promised

A praise song of David.