Refusal in the Land
One Year Bible (Aug. 4)
2 Chronicles 35:1-36:23
REFUSAL in the LAND
‘You can not help someone who does not want to listen to advice.” --Benjamin Franklin
Did you know that a famous prairie lawyer and former one-term congressman stunned the country in 1860 by prevailing over three rivals? Do you know the name of this man who won the Republican nomination and then became president?
His name is Abraham Lincoln. What you may not know is that there is a book written about him called, “Team of Rivals”. (Doris Goodwin)
This book points out something that most would never know about him today. He appointed all three prominent rivals as the heads of his cabinet! In our culture today, most rivals are nasty opponents, but Abraham Lincoln had learned the wisdom of listening and valuing advice and opinions… even when perhaps it was not what he wanted to hear.
As we look at three different kings in our passage today, we see that ALL have a point in time in their leadership where they are just NOT LISTENING!
Today’s passage marks the final day in the book of “The Chronicler” before we move on to the book of Ezra. Remember that this book was written from the viewpoint to remind the people of HOW and WHY they got into EXILE in the first place. It is also to record their names and help them start again after EXILE as they begin their return. The writer knows that they need to recall their PAST to move into their FUTURE. Today’s passage is their final reminder…
The train is quickly headed into the station and the final whistle is about to BLOW…
This cycle of REPENTANCE, REVIVAL, RENEWAL, and then…REPEATED REFUSAL to OBEY is headed for its final destination… CAPTIVITY IN BABYLON!
How many times have we seen a godly king with counsel from a prophet, tear down all the idols and call the people to repentance?
Yet, within the very next generation, they have “BUILT BACK BETTER”?
The issue lies with this one single question, “Who is the BUILDER?”
So, let’s take a close look at the final kings on this “Whirlwind Tour”...
The final four kings of the nation of Judah were BAD, BAD, BAD, BAD… (In that order)
Is there a common thread running behind their “EVIL FABRIC”?
Zedekiah was the final king to reign before Judah was delivered into captivity. Let’s look at what is said about him, “But Zedekiah did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and he refused to humble himself when the prophet Jeremiah spoke to him directly from the LORD. He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, even though he had taken an oath of loyalty in God’s name. Zedekiah was a hard and stubborn man, refusing to turn to the LORD.” (36:12)
Yes, besides the words, “He did evil in the sight of the LORD his God.” we see words such as “refused to humble himself, didn’t listen to the prophet, rebelled, hard and stubborn”.
Next, let’s look at what is said about ALL the leaders of the priests and people. They “became more and more unfaithful. They followed all the pagan practices of the surrounding nations, desecrating the Temple of the Lord…” (36:14)
There is something else that we are told about ALL of the kings and their ancestors, “The LORD, the God of their ancestors, repeatedly sent his prophets to warn them, for he had compassion on his people and his Temple. But the people MOCKED THESE MESSENGERS of God and DESPISED their words. They SCOFFED at the PROPHETS until the LORD’S anger could no longer be restrained and nothing could be done.” (36:15-16)
Here is the short, but not-so-sweet summary, they did not listen and they’re not listening now!
Remember Manasseh? He was led away with a ring in his nose into captivity. He was as EVIL as they came, and yet he prayed to the Lord and the Lord saved him.
Did Manasseh's son or the next six generations remember the lessons they had heard?
Out of the last SEVEN kings, there was ONLY ONE KING, named Josiah who was FAITHFUL!
Josiah was a faithful king who spent his life serving God. Yet, the last act of his life is described like this, “But Josiah refused to listen to Neco, to whom God had indeed spoken…” (35:22)
Why, oh why did even King Josiah not listen, and why do you think we are not listening now?
Due to “The Refusal in the Land” we see the end of the kingdom of Judah …
“So, the LORD brought the king of Babylon against them.” (36:16)
