448 – The Fall of Judah

SEMESTER 3

448 – The Fall of Judah

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE: BIBLE SURVEY III LESSON # 48
THE FALL OF JUDAH

Read II Chron. 26:1-23 and II Chron. 36:1-23.

INTRODUCTION:

1. Israel has fallen, but Judah lives on, for another 136 years.
2. If we think their inherent morality or religious superiority is the reason, we will miss a great Bible truth.
3. Let us study the differences between Israel and Judah, and then see the fall of Judah.

I. JUDAH WAS RELIGIOUSLY SUPERIOR TO ISRAEL

1. Judgment always relates to sin, thus we see Israel carried away sooner, because of the greater extent of their sin (idolatry).
2. Does this mean that the inherent character of Judah and Benjamin was better? No, we know it was not for the following reasons.

i. Idolatry was also practiced in Judah.
ii. Judah ultimately did fall because of idolatry.
iii. The Bible teaches us that all men are by nature as others. (Eph. 2:2)

3. The reason for this superiority was godly leaders of the house of David, who stalled Judah’s idolatry.

i. Uzziah, a good king but a leper because he usurped the office of the priesthood. (II Chron. 26:1-23)
ii. Hezekiah, who did much to purge out existing idolatry. (II Chron. 29:1–II Chron. 32:33)
iii. Josiah, the youthful king who burned the bones of Jeroboam’s priests upon their altars. (I Kings 13:1-2 and II Kings 23:1-23)

II. WHENCE THEN THIS SUPERIORITY?

If it was not inherent, whence these godly leaders who stalled God’s judgment?

1. It was totally by the grace of God. The leaders were only the means of grace, provided by God.

i. For David’s sake. (I Kings 2:4, I Kings 8:25)
ii. For Abraham’s sake. (Gen. 12:1-3, Gal. 3:16)
iii. God’s purpose and promise of a remnant. (Isa. 6:9-13, Isa. 53:11-12)

2. Those leaders, who were vessels of mercy, were so totally by God’s grace, leading to the performance of His eternal covenant, which was through Noah, Abraham, David, and finally to, and altogether through Christ.

III. YET JUDAH DID GO INTO CAPTIVITY

1. Notwithstanding, human nature will produce sinful action and God will punish sin.
2. Therefore, God raised up a scourge to chasten the house of Judah, by captivity. Carefully read II Kings 24:1-25 and II Chron. 36:1-21.
3. God allowed Nebuchadnezzar’s depravity and pride to work in the destruction and captivity of Judah.
4. He restrained it in whatsoever areas restraint served their ultimate survival. (Daniel chapters 2 and 3)
5. God used Judah’s captivity to return their hearts, in measure, to Himself. (II Chron. 36:19-23)
6. Judah’s fall to Nebuchadnezzar came, not in a moment, but by gradual course.

i. The last really godly king of Judah was Josiah. After his death, in about 609 B.C., the path was constantly down­ward.
ii. For the next couple of years, Judah was abased and humili­ated by Egypt. (II Chron. 36:1-4)
iii. In about 605 to 607 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar began to be the pre-eminent figure on the scene. (II Chron. 36:5-7)
iv. During the reign of Jehoiakim over Judah, in about 605 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar began to carry Judah away into captivity. (II Chron. 36:5-7, Dan. 1:1-6)
v. This captivity continued progressively during the last two kings of Judah, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah.
vi. It was consummated in about 586 B.C. when God finally destroyed them, by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. (II Chron. 36:14-21)

4. This, however, was not to be Judah’s final destruction, as in the case of Israel, it would be only a 70 year captivity. (II Chron. 36:20-23)