November 24, 2022

2 Kings 24  (HCSB)
Jehoiakim’s Rebellion and Death
24 During Jehoiakim’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked. Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years, and then he turned and rebelled against him. 2 The Lord sent Chaldean, Aramean, Moabite, and Ammonite raiders against Jehoiakim. He sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the Lord He had spoken through His servants the prophets. 3 Indeed, this happened to Judah at the Lord’s command to remove them from His sight. It was because of the sins of Manasseh, according to all he had done, 4 and also because of all the innocent blood he had shed. He had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the Lord would not forgive. 5 The rest of the events of Jehoiakim’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings. 6 Jehoiakim rested with his fathers, and his son Jehoiachin became king in his place. 7 Now the king of Egypt did not march out of his land again, for the king of Babylon took everything that belonged to the king of Egypt, from the Brook of Egypt to the Euphrates River.
Judah’s King Jehoiachin
8 Jehoiachin was 18 years old when he became king and reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Nehushta daughter of Elnathan, from Jerusalem. 9 He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight as his father had done.
Deportations to Babylon
10 At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched up to Jerusalem, and the city came under siege. 11 Then King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to the city while his servants were besieging it. 12 Jehoiachin king of Judah, along with his mother, his servants, his commanders, and his officials, surrendered to the king of Babylon. So the king of Babylon took him captive in the eighth year of his reign. 13 He also carried off from there all the treasures of the Lord’s temple and the treasures of the king’s palace, and he cut into pieces all the gold articles that Solomon king of Israel had made for the Lord’s sanctuary, just as God had predicted. 14 Then he deported all Jerusalem and all the commanders and all the fighting men, 10,000 captives, and all the craftsmen and metalsmiths. Except for the poorest people of the land, no one remained. 15 Nebuchadnezzar deported Jehoiachin to Babylon. Also, he took the king’s mother, the king’s wives, his officials, and the leading men of the land into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 16 The king of Babylon also brought captive into Babylon all 7,000 fighting men and 1,000 craftsmen and metalsmiths—all strong and fit for war. 17 Then the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah.
 Judah’s King Zedekiah
18 Zedekiah was 21 years old when he became king and reigned 11 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah, from Libnah. 19 Zedekiah did what was evil in the Lord’s sight just as Jehoiakim had done. 20 Because of the Lord’s anger, it came to the point in Jerusalem and Judah that He finally banished them from His presence. Then, Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

Jim Carper
Reading 2 Kings 24:3-4, I remembered Proverbs 13:22 – “A good man leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.” There’s an inescapable truth here – what we do, how we live, where we invest, where we give, how we handle what God gives us – this is building our personal legacy. A legacy that passes to future generations. Consider, in chapter 24, that we are now 2-3 generations removed from the worst king in Judah’s history (Manasseh). Look again at verses 24:3-4! Again, Galatians 6:7-8, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever we sow we will also reap.”  If Proverbs 13:22 teaches that a good man positively impacts future generations, the inverse is also true. Bottom line – our personal sins, selfishness, mistreatment of others, and deliberate disobedience don’t just affect us. Our influence goes out like ripples of water when we throw a rock in the pond. Take time to examine the legacy you’ve been building and what you are spiritually leaving future generations. What adjustments can you make? Every day is a new opportunity. Ask yourself – “What am I known for? How will I be remembered? Will my children’s children be benefactors of my God honoring life?” Whatever it is, don’t delay, take a step in the right direction.