Zedekiah's Hard Heart
2 Chronicles 36:13
He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him take an oath in God's name. He became stiff-necked and hardened his heart and would not turn to the LORD, the God of Israel.
He is Zedekiah, uncle of Jehoiachin, a grandson of Josiah. The prophesied ruin has come fast. Since Josiah, the kings have been evil and detestable. Adding to his other sins, Zedekiah hardened his heart. This has happened before; when Pharoah hardened his heart, I reasoned from the surrounding events that it involves a refusal to acknowledge God. Here it is spelled out. He could have listened to Jeremiah, and he could have bowed to God's will in placing Nebuchadnezzar over him. But he refused to see God at work.
The rot proceeded from the head of the fish on down. The Temple was looted and burned, and so were the palaces.
And the next book is named "Ezra."
He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him take an oath in God's name. He became stiff-necked and hardened his heart and would not turn to the LORD, the God of Israel.
He is Zedekiah, uncle of Jehoiachin, a grandson of Josiah. The prophesied ruin has come fast. Since Josiah, the kings have been evil and detestable. Adding to his other sins, Zedekiah hardened his heart. This has happened before; when Pharoah hardened his heart, I reasoned from the surrounding events that it involves a refusal to acknowledge God. Here it is spelled out. He could have listened to Jeremiah, and he could have bowed to God's will in placing Nebuchadnezzar over him. But he refused to see God at work.
The rot proceeded from the head of the fish on down. The Temple was looted and burned, and so were the palaces.
And the next book is named "Ezra."
posted by ruthees @ 2:21 PM
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