Sermon: Wittenberg Academy – Sept 17

17 September 2019

Text: 2 Chron 36:1-23

In the name of + Jesus.  Amen.

This one reading captures the decline and fall of Judah – but also brings us to her redemption by God’s mercy.

This is painful to read.  We want to shout through the ages and beg these kings to heed the Word of the Lord!  Think of how much unnecessary suffering there is because we don’t listen to God’s Word!  Good King Josiah was the last faithful ruler of Judah.  He reigned 31 years – and even he died because he foolishly ignored the Word of God.  His son Jehoahaz reigned only three months before being deposed by Egypt.  His brother Eliakim (also known as Jehoiakim) ruled 11 years, but “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.”  He was taken into exile by Babylon in chains.  His son Jehoichin was evil and ruled only three months, and was also removed in chains.  His brother Zedekiah was the last of this rotten dynasty.  He mocked the preaching of Jeremiah, and make stupid political decisions.  The people mocked the prophets “until there was no remedy.”

Babylon invaded, slaughtered the young men of Judah, and captured the king.  They destroyed the temple and all of Jerusalem.  And this exile was to last 70 years, making up for the seventy years that Judah ignored God’s command to give the land a Sabbath rest every seven years. 

But even in the midst of this gloom, dear friends, the Lord did not forsake His people.  The Persians defeated the Babylonians, and King Cyrus, fulfilling the prophecy of Jeremiah, allowed the people to return, saying, “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and has charged me to build Him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.  Whoever is among you of all His people, may the Lord his God be with him.  Let him go up.”

The Lord has mercy on His people, dear brothers and sisters.  And in that rebuilt temple, our Lord Jesus Christ would preach and teach, and not far from that sacred mound, He would be crucified for our salvation.  We are much like Judah, to our dismay.  We take the Word of the Lord for granted.  Let us confess, let us repent, let us receive the Lord’s forgiveness, and may we learn from history, particularly that which the Holy Spirit causes us to hear and ponder.  And thanks be to our merciful Lord and God for treating us not as we deserve, but according to His grace.  Amen.

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.