2 Kings Chapter 25 – Zedekiah’s Faithlessness and the Fall of Judah
I find Zedekiah’s portrayal in the Bible to be very human, and so I’d like for us to focus on him today as we come to the end of a long journey through the Kings.
Although Zedekiah was sinful and weak-willed, God gave him grace by speaking to him through Jeremiah, only that Zedekiah refused to listen. (Isn’t God compassionate?)
2 Kings 25 opens with the city of Jerusalem besieged for almost two years by the Babylonian army as its inhabitants endured a severe famine. (This was also foretold by the prophet Ezekiel in a fascinating chapter, Ezekiel 4.)
Judah’s desperation escalates, and we see this in the escape attempt that King Zedekiah and his army make as they abandon their people. Zedekiah is captured, his sons murdered before him, his eyes gouged out. Zedekiah is taken to Babylon.
Funnily, Zedekiah had already heard how these would happen to him through prophet Jeremiah (Jer 34:2-3).
But it didn’t have to end like this. God had faithfully shown Zedekiah how to preserve his life and guide Judah.
Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “Thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘If you surely surrender to the king of Babylon’s princes, then your soul shall live; this city shall not be burned with fire, and you and your house shall live. But if you do not surrender to the king of Babylon’s princes, then this city shall be given into the hand of the Chaldeans; they shall burn it with fire, and you shall not escape from their hand.’” (Jer 38:17-18)
The path of life for Zedekiah was clearly set out for him by God. Unfortunately, Zedekiah was proud, stubborn, and did not give attention to God’s word (2 Chr 36:12-13; Jer 37:2). Zedekiah was also a fearful person who worried more than he trusted God.
And Zedekiah the king said to Jeremiah, “I am afraid of the Jews who have defected to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they abuse me.”
But Jeremiah said, “They shall not deliver you. Please, obey the voice of the LORD which I speak to you. So it shall be well with you, and your soul shall live. (Jer 38:19-20)
Despite having the prophet’s compassionate reassurance and a clear answer, Zedekiah struggled to trust God. And so he made poor choices that led to the destruction of him and his kingdom.
In the same way, the Bible shows us clearly how to live. But do we have the faith to follow?
To inherit eternal life, Jesus calls us to keep His commandments and do His will.
Through our trials, the Bible calls us to rejoice, be patient and commit our way to God.
When we’re anxious, we can choose to rejoice and seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness first, because God will meet all our needs.
These are clear answers for us, but whether we obey them depends on whether we fear the Lord, see His sovereignty and trust in Him.
If we do, then we will not stagnate into a faithless state similar to Zedekiah’s, where we are too stubborn or too afraid.
Our God is also compassionate, for He gives us faith as we hear the word of God (Rom 10:17).
May you and I gain strength to walk by faith and not by sight by feeding on God’s wonderful word.
Watch this sermon that explores the theme of “Facing Difficult Choices” through the life of Zedekiah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOHNxB41sfY