2 Kings 24-25 and 2 Chronicles 36

Jerusalem’s final days.

It is mentioned only in passing in 2 Kings 25:3.  No food left in Jerusalem.  The battle against Jerusalem took over two years.  Before the walls were breached, the people remained in the city.  Surrounded by the Babylonian army, Jeremiah proclaims that Jerusalem will fall.  For his efforts he is imprisoned.  The false prophets are claiming that God will allow them to escape.  It is during these two years, that Jeremiah and Zedekiah have private conversations in which Jeremiah encourages surrender.  At some point, the people finally knew that God was right and the false prophets were wrong, but by then it was too late.  As the food supply dwindles, Zedekiah stubbornly refused to surrender.  He tried to escape and was captured and tortured.  Stubbornness and pride lead us to a refusal to listen.  Let us open our ears and hearts to the word of God.  God is always right.  Let’s make sure that our pride doesn’t separate us from God.