Chapter 17 of The Story January 25, 2015

The Kingdom’s Fall

2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, Jeremiah, Lamentations, and Ezekiel

 
Rebellious to the end, God’s people receive the consequences for not returning to Him. Even in His wrath, God sends words of hope and restoration.

Because of their continued rebellion, God’s people faced His judgment and were carried off into captivity. For us, there are times we live without a sense of accountability or judgment. It seems as if there are no real consequences for our actions. However, this certainly is not the case. God’s Word is clear about His justice. (See Revelation 20:11-15). How can we be sure our name is written in this Book of Life? (See John 3:16-17)

God’s justice demands punishment and His love extends hope. Even as God’s judgment is carried out, His prophets bring words of restoration. Even after He punishes His people, God reaches out to them and promises to restore them. He is still pursuing them for a relationship. God pursues you and me with the same passion and determination. He wants an ongoing, personal, intimate relationship with us. (See Psalm 25:1-7; 30:1-5)



Be certain that continued rebellion results in punishment. But be comforted in knowing that God’s hand continues to reach out.

Chapter 17

Why were the Jews exiled?

Manasseh: Pages 231–234

Manasseh was 12 years' old when he became king. Manasseh led people so astray that they did more evil than the Canaanites had done before them. Yet he repented at the end of his life.

Even though Manasseh personally repented at the end of his long reign, the moral and spiritual damage under his leadership had corrupted the nation. The rich and powerful oppressed the poor and weak. The people had become murderers, thieves, adulterers, and perjurers who regularly worshiped other gods.

Manasseh’s grandson Josiah was 8 years' old when he began to reign as king and he tried to reverse the wrongs his family had done. His reforms affected many, including the towns of the northern tribes. But the changes proved to be only outward for most people. After Josiah died, the people quickly left God and returned to their old ways. Things got so bad that some asked why God allowed this evildoing to go on so long. Meanwhile, during Josiah’s reign, the Babylonians had broken free from Assyria’s rule. Not long after, Babylon conquered Assyria. The Assyrian Empire was over—the Neo-Babylonian Empire quickly expanded.

Ezekiel: Pages 234–237

Ezekiel had spent 30 years preparing for the priesthood, and he was finally at the age in which he could serve. Then life suddenly changed. Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had put Judah under his empire’s control eight years earlier, while allowing it to remain a nation. He’d taken royalty, military, and craftsmen as captives to Babylon. One of the exiles, Daniel, was now well known for his righteousness and ability to interpret dreams.

Then Judah’s king rebelled against Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar returned to Judah, replaced the king, and took more captives, including Ezekiel. Ezekiel’s profession was useless in his new country. But God gave him a new purpose: proclaiming God’s words as a prophet.

Jeremiah: Pages 237–240

More than any other prophet, Jeremiah recorded his feelings, shortcomings, and personal conversations with God, giving us an intimate look into what it was like to be a prophet during difficult times.

Jeremiah began prophesying shortly after the godly King Josiah began his reforms. Through Jeremiah God told the people that they needed to change their ways if they wanted to stay in the land. They were breaking God’s laws and then going to the temple with sacrifices, thinking that kept them safe from God’s punishment. That, God said, was treating the temple as if it were a robbers’ den—a place to go to escape consequences so they could continue their wrongdoing. They were trusting lies.

Josiah listened to God’s prophets and responded well to them. It was a good way for Jeremiah to begin his ministry and gain confidence and courage.

The End Comes: Pages 241–245

Josiah’s reforms died with him. The people had outwardly conformed, but their hearts were unchanged. Many people didn’t like the true prophets’ unpopular messages and listened only to false prophets who told them what they wanted to hear: that they would have peace. They persecuted and even killed prophets to shut them up. God had promised Jeremiah that no one would kill him. Even so, Jeremiah was mocked, cursed, threatened, beaten, put in stocks, imprisoned, thrown into a dungeon, and dropped into a muddy cistern where he was left to die.

After the people rejected the prophets’ call, Ezekiel saw another amazing vision. This time he saw the glory of the Lord depart from the temple.

Judah’s last king, Zedekiah, was young, weak, and uncertain. His officials had told him Jeremiah deserved death because he was “not seeking the good of these people but their ruin.” Zedekiah asked Jeremiah for advice, but didn’t follow it because he feared his officials, even though Jeremiah assured him that God promised to protect him—if he would just obey.

Jeremiah stayed in Jerusalem to help the few who remained. Despite having been mocked and persecuted, Jeremiah loved God’s people and wrote Lamentations to help them grieve.

Jeremiah knew what it was like to suffer. He shared what he had learned with those he sought to comfort.

Hope: Pages 245–247

After Jerusalem fell, God comforted the people through Ezekiel and Jeremiah.

God punished the Israelites to purify them, not to destroy them. After the second deportation—the one that included Ezekiel—Jeremiah wrote a letter to encourage the exiles. He told them they would be exiled 70 years and then would return. He gave them this assurance from God: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” 

The prophets would introduce to the people the hope and assurance of a New Covenant.

Timeline: The Kingdoms’ Fall (655–570 BC)

The New Covenant

New Covenant - 'Jesus said, "I will put my law in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people'" (Jeremiah 31:31, 33). Jesus Christ came to fulfill the law of Moses (Matthew 5:17) and create a new covenant between God and His people. The old covenant was written in stone, but the new covenant is written on our hearts, made possible only by faith in Christ, who shed His own blood to atone for the sins of the world. Luke 22:20 says, "After supper, [Jesus] took another cup of wine and said, 'This wine is the token of God's new covenant to save you – an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you.'"

If there is one thing to remember it is this: It is not the law that has changed, but our relationship to the law.

AS YOU READ CHAPTER 17

Journal your answers to these questions as you read through the chapter this week. You may wish to read one day and journal the next, or spread the questions over the whole week.

1. Where did Manasseh set up his altars and Asherah poles? According to 1 Cor. 6:19-20, where is the temple of God now? What are the implications for you personally?

2. What does Manasseh’s redemption tell you about God? What does Manasseh’s redemption tell you about how God responds to people?

3. Look up 2 Chronicles 33:14-20, 23. What was Manasseh’s response to the grace of God? What do you think led Manasseh to change his ways? Have you ever been misguided in your actions and had to turn around (repent), or change your ways?

4. God told Ezekiel, “You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious,” (p. 236). Have you ever been fearful to speak the truth, but felt compelled to do so? Did you follow through? What were the results?

5. After the fall of Jerusalem, Jeremiah grieved for his beloved city (p. 243-245). What did Jeremiah believe was God’s saving plan for humans in the midst of all of the devastation? What can you glean from seeing Jeremiah’s lament and praise all mixed together in the midst of troubling circumstances?

6. List the specific promises that God says he will do for Israel (p. 246). According to the text, what is the result of God’s Spirit “in you”? How does it affect your life to have the Spirit in you?

Our Lesson:

Chapter 17: The Kingdom’s Fall

As we look at this lesson this morning I want you to think about why Israel fell and what God did through His Upper/Lower story to continue His redemptive plan.


Think for a moment of all the things that have become obsolete over the years.

• Outhouses were replaced with indoor plumbing. Vinyl records, 8-track tapes, and cassette tapes have become obsolete with the CD and now the MP3 player.
• Some of us remember a time in our lives that did NOT include personal computers, ipad or tablet.
• We were functional and comfortable in our past way of life that included using telephones, the postal service, and Liquid Paper. We were unaware of any need that was yet unmet.
• Now, we feel frustrated, trapped, and panicked when our computer crashes or our email server goes down. With the new, we are now acutely aware of our need when it goes unmet.

Do any of us long to return to the old and obsolete? Never! Why not? Because the new is infinitely better than the old.



Timeline: The Kingdoms’ Fall (655–570 BC)


Manasseh & Josiah

Manasseh led people so astray that they did more evil than the Canaanites had done before them. Yet he repented at the end of his life.

1. How did God first try to reach Manasseh (2 Chronicles 33:10)? The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention.

2. How did God next try to reach Manasseh (33:11)? So the Lord brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon.

3. What two things did Manasseh then do (33:12)?

In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors.

4. How did God respond to Manasseh (33:13)? And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.

Ever had a time that you had to increase your discipline with a child that refused to listen. Does this look a little like what God was doing with Manasseh? What does God’s willingness to forgive Manasseh tell you about God’s willingness to forgive you?



Even though Manasseh personally repented at the end of his long reign, the moral and spiritual damage under his leadership had corrupted the nation. The rich and powerful oppressed the poor and weak. The people had become murderers, thieves, adulterers, and perjurers who regularly worshiped other gods.


Manasseh’s grandson Josiah tried to reverse the wrongs his family had done. His reforms affected many, including the towns of the northern tribes. But the changes proved to be only outward for most people. After Josiah died, the people quickly left God and returned to their old ways. Things got so bad that some asked why God allowed this evildoing to go on so long. Meanwhile, during Josiah’s reign, the Babylonians had broken free from Assyria’s rule. Not long after, Babylon conquered Assyria. The Assyrian Empire was over—the Neo-Babylonian Empire quickly expanded.


In the passage we just looked at (2 Chronicles 33:10–13), how was Manasseh’s life symbolic of what happened to Judah? 

Rebellious to the end, God’s people receive the consequences for not returning to Him. God warned them of the consequences. But they did not respond to His warnings. Before you judge Israel too harshly, think about this:



Why don’t we heed the warnings in our life? Why do we continue down paths of rebellion, even when we know the consequences?



Look at what Moses told them before he died:

Deuteronomy 31:24-29

24 After Moses finished writing in a book the words of this law from beginning to end, 25 he gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord: 26 “Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God. There it will remain as a witness against you. 27 For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you have been rebellious against the Lord while I am still alive and with you, how much more will you rebel after I die! 28 Assemble before me all the elders of your tribes and all your officials, so that I can speak these words in their hearing and call the heavens and the earth to testify against them. 29 For I know that after my death you are sure to become utterly corrupt and to turn from the way I have commanded you. In days to come, disaster will fall on you because you will do evil in the sight of the Lord and arouse his anger by what your hands have made.”



Why did the kingdom fall or why were the Jews exiled - Because of their continued rebellion.

God’s justice demands punishment and His love extends hope.

This is what we see in the story today. Even after God punishes His people, He reaches out to them and promises to restore them. He is still pursuing them for a relationship. We can be certain that continued rebellion results in punishment. But be comforted in knowing that God’s hand continues to reach out.





From Sinai to Babylon, the history of Israel’s and Judah’s relationship with the LORD was largely one of collapse of covenant relationship.

• After failing miserably, the curses of the Law (Deuteronomy 28 and 30) were all complete. The people were shattered and scattered among the nations, just as God had said would happen through Moses, David, Solomon, and the prophets.
• Now in the pit of despair, God revealed another chapter in His epoch narrative. He would provide a New Covenant with better promises. With God, there is always hope! In our failure, God offers a future.

Christians are vaguely familiar with the New Covenant concept because of our practice of the Lord’s Supper. However, many are unaware that it was promised in the Old Testament.



The heart of the New Covenant is the forgiveness of sins and the new heart – pardon the pun. We should not confuse the familiar with the common when it comes to forgiveness of sins. This promise is radical! For the Israelites who offered so many animal sacrifices to cover sin, the forgiveness of sin was huge! Furthermore, the sin problem was (and still is) a heart problem. Instead of the Law being external, the Lord would internalize it so that His word in the heart would prevent sin and cultivate obedience. It would become a part of the nature of God’s people—instinctive. Under the Law, God’s people nearly always chose to turn away from Him. Under the New Covenant, the Spirit in us prompts us to turn to the Lord.



Israel was unaware of her own need for a New Covenant. But the three sieges against Judah and Jerusalem that led to Judah’s captivity in Babylon proved to the faithful remnant that life under the Old Covenant was not working. Judah had no way of imagining God’s answer for her problem. He would make the Old Covenant obsolete by replacing it with a new one.

I. The Function of the Covenant of the Law

A. What was the function or purpose of the Law?

The law served as a way that God’s people could demonstrate their allegiance and express their love for the LORD. Obedience was always associated with turning to the LORD. It was not so much a way to enter into a relationship with the LORD, but rather a means to express and maintain one’s already established relationship with the LORD.



The Law had three important functions:

1. Regulatory —the Law taught Israel to be a holy nation, separate from the pagan nations, and to respond to the LORD and to one another according to a holy standard.

2. Revelatory —the Law revealed the nature and character of a holy God and reveals sin.

3. Preparatory —the Law prepared for the coming of Christ by its sacrifices and festivals; demonstrated the need for a Savior.



B. Was the Law ever a means of salvation?

• The Law was NEVER a means of salvation—salvation has ALWAYS been by grace through faith.

II. The Failure to Keep the Covenant of the Law

A. When did Israel first begin to fail at keeping the Law?

Israel had begun to break the Law while Moses was on the mountain for forty days receiving the Ten Commandments. They were drawn to return to the gods of Egypt and built for themselves a golden calf. Her history, as we have seen through The Story, is fraught with her continued failure to remain in covenant obedience to the Law. Israel had a few bright spots to be sure, but the overall trend of the nation was to turn away from the Covenant of the Law and turn away from the LORD.



B. How did God show patience and mercy with Israel over her history?

The Lord’s patience and mercy—sometimes severe mercy—compelled Him to send warnings to Israel to return to a covenant relationship with Him. He revealed Himself through the oppression of other nations and through deliverance from those very oppressors (as in the times of the Judges), through prophets (such as Elijah, Amos, Hosea, and Isaiah), and through events like Elijah’s three-year drought and his showdown with the prophets of Baal. Yet it was not enough to keep Israel obedient to the “Old Covenant”—the Covenant of the Law.



C. Think about the advantages that Israel had:

They had had every possible advantage to become holy and to live up to their high calling as a nation. They had been redeemed; they had seen and experienced the miracles and acts of the LORD; they had His written word; they had the Covenant of the Law. Yet the sin nature reigned mightier than all these other things put together.



If Israel was hopeless to ever be holy or righteous with all these advantages, then what hope was there for anyone?



If the Covenant of the Law wasn’t enough, what would it take?



Something more was needed…

• Yes, the old requirement about the priesthood was set aside because it was weak and useless. For the law made nothing perfect… Hebrews 7:18-19
• If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it. Hebrews 8:7

III. The Future Hope of a New Covenant

A. What is the Upper/Lower Story dynamic going on here?

The Upper Story of the LORD’s great plan of redemption is always one of hope and life. At the lowest point in Israel’s “Lower Story” life, God revealed His great love for His people through the promise of a New Covenant in the future. Judah was experiencing the discipline of the LORD for their failure to live by the Old Covenant when God promised a future covenant that would be everlasting. Judah only seeing her “Lower Story” circumstances needed to be shown that God’s “Upper Story” was not over!

Who would reveal the New Covenant to the people? The prophets.



B. In Jerusalem, God revealed the coming New Covenant through Jeremiah.

(Jeremiah 31:31-34). How would it be different than the Old covenant made at Sinai? He would:

a. Put His law in them, write it on their hearts

b. Be their God, and they would be His people

c. No need for teaching because they will know the LORD

d. Forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more

C. In Babylon, God revealed the New Covenant through Ezekiel.

(Ezekiel 36:24-28). Though “covenant” is not used in these verses, it is used in 34:25 and 37:26. Notice the similarities in the promises. The LORD said He would:

a. Gather Israel from the nations and return them to their Land

b. Cleanse them from their filth

c. Remove the heart of stone and give a heart of flesh

d. Put His Spirit in them to cause them to walk obediently



Why does God sometimes let things fall so far before a word of hope?

IV. The Foundation of the New Covenant

A. What would be the foundation of the New Covenant? – Jesus!

B. Who would inaugurate this promise of a New Covenant about 600 years later?

After the promise of a New Covenant to Jeremiah and Ezekiel, Jesus inaugurated the New Covenant on the night He was betrayed. Three of the four gospels record it (Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:17-20).

a. Luke 22:17-20. And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood” (Luke 22:20).

b. This was not new news to the disciples! They knew their scriptures. They knew of the failure of Israel to live by the Law and the hope promised in the New Covenant through Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Notice that not one of the twelve disciples ever asks what Jesus meant by a “new covenant.” They required no further explanation.

C. Paul described the difference between the old and the new when he wrote to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 3):

 

 

 

C. The author of Hebrews describes the New Covenant as a better covenant and quotes from Jeremiah (Hebrews 8:6-13).

But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises. For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people and said:“The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.




V. Applications and Implications

1. When Israel was hopeless, God provided hope. Even in my darkest, most hopeless moments, God is still there and His plan of redemption for me remains steadfast.

2. God’s sovereignty is amazing! Only God can fulfill plans that span centuries.

3. What God did for Israel and what He does for me are for His name’s sake, not ours.

4. God showed His justice when He punished Israel for her sin; He shows His grace and faithfulness with the New Covenant promises.

5. God still shows His justice in the New Covenant by providing a substitute whose blood was shed; Jesus paid my penalty, which displays the grace of God.

6. As a participant in the New Covenant, I have the indwelling Holy Spirit to help me maintain a right relationship with the LORD first and with others second.

7. As a recipient of the New Covenant, I have a new heart. I am freed from the old heart of my past.

8. I am forgiven! The New Covenant has a provision for sin. Sins under the Old Covenant resulted in curses (Deuteronomy 28). The LORD no longer remembers my sins—past, present or future!

9. The New Covenant is not dependent upon what I do as the Old Covenant was. It is dependent upon what God did in Jesus Christ. I do not have to “work” to be righteous.

PRAYER

God, when Israel and Judah were destroyed, the people thought all was lost, but instead You entered their emptiness to discipline them and bring them back to You. Enter the adversity of my life, oh Lord, that I may not be lost, but instead drawn straight into Your own heart. Your love for Your children, and even me, a sinner, is simply amazing. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.

See you on Sunday!


In His Love,


David & Susan