Study 3

Text: 2 Chron. 36:5-8; 2 Kings 24; Daniel 1

Dear Young People

DID YOU TAKE TIME TO READ THE WORD OF GOD?
We will be taking up the Book of Daniel shortly. We need to know the historical context as to how Daniel and others ended up in Babylon! 2 Kings 24, and 2 Chron. 36 provide a brief but important background for us.

Take time to check up every reference. It is part of the training of our hearts to become good students of the Bible.

CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
God allows us to make up our own minds and to choose whether we want to follow His ways, or whether we want to reject His ways. It is important to remember another truth. Whatever we choose, we must be prepared to face the consequences of our choice!

Jehoiakim was appointed king by Pharaoh Necho, in place of his brother Jehoahaz who was brought to live in Egypt as a prisoner. Israel had to pay heavy tribute to Egypt, and he had to tax the country very heavily to pay the tribute fixed by Pharaoh Necho (2 Kings 23:35).

We read this comment about the reign of Johoiakim. "And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his fathers had done" (2 Kings 23:37). For quite a while now, the kings of Judah had done many evil deeds. They did not choose well. They chose evil instead.
We read the following comment as Judah was overwhelmed by their enemies.

"And the Lord sent against him raiding bands of Chaldeans, bands of Syrians, bands of Moabites, and bands of the people of Ammon. He sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the Lord which He had spoken by His servants the prophets. Surely at the command of the Lord this came upon Judah, to remove them from His sight because of the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he had done, and also because of the innocent blood that he had shed; for he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, which the Lord would not pardon" (2 Kings 24:2-4).

The kings of Judah had chosen wrongly. They had chosen to do evil. They had rejected the Lord and His laws. They must now face the consequences of their sins not repented of, and thus not forgiven!

It is important that we learn this deep spiritual truth. We all like to assert that we have the right to choose. We must also remember that should we choose poorly, we must also bear the consequences. Sometimes the consequences affect the next generation! Daniel and his generation were among the people who suffered because of the sins of the previous generations. They found themselves in captivity. They found themselves herded to live in Babylon. Far away from their beloved homeland!

LET US PRAY FOR WISDOM TO WALK IN GOD'S WAYS!
What impacted your heart as you read the Lord's Word and pondered over it? Did you shudder at the teaching of "choice and consequences?" Did you pray for wisdom to walk in God's ways?
                                                                                                         Prayerfully,                                                                             

Pastor Charlie

First released 28 January 2001, © Bethany Independent-Presbyterian Church, Singapore