Jeremiah-The Thieves Who Robbed Temple Treasures

By Mary Vee
II Kings 24, II Chronicles 36, Daniel 1

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo courtesy

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet who witnessed what Nebuchadnezzar did.

Taking King Jehoiachin, all his officers, and all the smart, young men as prisoners wasn't enough for Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon 

He also removed all the treasures from the temple of the Lord, the royal palace, and took away all the gold items Solomon, king of Israel, had made for the temple. 

He took everything, the beautiful golden lamp stand, cups, basins, the golden table, the gold covering all the walls, the jewels, all the richness given as an offering to the Lord. He loaded it in the military chariots and wagons and hauled it to the temple of god in Babylonia. 

Lost from us.

There were so many wagons full of gold, bronze, and silver hauled away with no care taken for their importance at all. These hand crafted temple items were crammed into every open space. The army's greed grew with each additional item they found. All that had once been given as an offering to God--now gone. Treated as mere metal.

The armies stayed for days removing all Nebuchadnezzar wanted.

The temple was a wreck. The beautiful place to come and worship God, in ruins.

Next he took into exile ten thousand men who were craftsmen, officers, and fighters from Jerusalem to put to work, leaving behind only the poorest people. Those that didn't have the strength to work or survive--left to find their own way in Jerusalem. 

Nebuchadnezzar made Jehoiachin's uncle, Zedekiah, the king and made Zedekiah promise to obey him or suffer a great punishment. Of course, he agreed.

Because the kings of Judah would not lead the people to worship God, we suffered ruin, just as God said. The only thing we can do is pray for forgiveness that one day the great city of Jerusalem will be returned to us.

*******************************************************************************************************
1. What king came to Jerusalem to conquer the city?
2. What people did he take for prisoners?
3. What did he take from the temple?
4. Where did he take the temple things?
5. Who did he leave in the city?
6. Which prophet is a witness to this story?

And So It Happened-Just As God Said

By Mary Vee
Daniel I, II Kings 24, II Chronicles 36

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Jeremiah. I have been a prophet, chosen by God to bring His message to the people. I have spoke for Him for twenty-three years. I have warned the Israelites of the punishment coming. And, although there have been some changes, mostly by King Josiah, it wasn't enough. 

God sent many prophets to warn them, and had they fully changed their ways He would not have sent this punishment. But they would not listen.

The people continued to worship their idols and not change from their evil ways. Pharaoh Neco went out to fight Nebuchadnezzar from Bablylon. He was foolish. Babylon had a stronger army. 

Now Egypt lays in ruins. While Babylon plowed through our land to conquer Egypt, they of course conquered us, too. This was all in God's plans to punish Israel for not obeying His commands.

Babylon took Jehoiakim, King Josiah's son and put him in bronze shackles. He must have begged for their mercy and promised to do what they said because he was brought back to Judah and put back on the throne.

Babylon's army also went into the temple and stole precious items of great worth and put them in the temple of their idol. Jehoiakim couldn't ask Egypt to help because they had been utterly destroyed.

I have tried to work with King Jehoiakim but he is too busy doing what he is told by Babylon. The man simply will not honor the God of heaven. And so God said, 

"Because you have not listened to my words, I will call all the people of the north led by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon and they will attack this land. For seventy years you will serve Babylon."

I stood by and watched Babylon take some of the Israelites from the royal family and nobility. Young men without any physical defect, handsome, very intelligent in every kind of learning, and quick to understand. These boys were to serve in the palace of the king of Babylon.

And so it happened--just as God said. This is a sad day for Israel.

*******************************************************************************************************
1. What message would the people not listen to and obey?
2. Who gave the message?
3. What happened to Egypt?
4. What country couldn't help Israel?
5. What happened to King Jehoiakim (King Josiah's son)?
6. What did the Babylon army take?
7. Describe the first group of people to be taken as slaves to Babylon.

Josiah-Bad News Changed the People

By Mary Vee
Ii Kings 22, II Chronicles 34

From the Journals of Shaphan, the secretary

The news priest Hilkiah, the other officials, and I took back to King Josiah had good and bad.

The good news was: God was pleased with King Josiah.

The bad news was: God said He would punish Judah for worshiping other gods instead of Him. The punishment will happen after King Josiah dies, which means the rest of us probably have several years before God allows an army to conquer us. But it will happen.

The officials and I entered King Josiah's chambers and told him what the prophetess Huldah said. 

King Josiah cried. "This is terrible! We all deserve punishment and have wronged the Almighty God. We must act right away. I want all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem to meet me."

In a short time the elders arrived. They bowed before the king. King Josiah stood and said, "Walk with me to the temple of the Lord. I want everyone to join me including the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites, every person front the least to the greatest, poor to rich. Call out to everyone you see to join us."

When he arrived, a great crowd had gathered by the courts. Josiah stood by his pillar and asked for the scroll, the one that had just been found in the temple. I handed it to him. He unrolled the paper and read the words of the Book of the Covenant.

When he finished, King Josiah raised his arms and looked to heaven." Oh God, I promise to follow you and keep your commands, regulations, and decrees with all my heart and soul. I will obey the words of the covenant written in this book."

He look out at all the people and said, "You must pledge yourselves to obey the covenants in this book." 

King Josiah wasn't asking. He meant his words. 

Immediately, the people cried out to God, pledging to keep the commands, regulations, and decrees with all their heart and soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in the book Josiah just read to them.

The moment the crowd silenced, the king turned to priest Hilkiah, the assistant priest, and the doorkeepers and said. "Go now and destroy everything made for the false gods: Baal, Asherah, and all the starry hosts. Burn them in the fields of the Kidron Valley outside of Jerusalem."

The king paced. I think he is planning much more to honor God and to teach the people of Judah to honor Him. 

*******************************************
1. What good news did the messengers have for the king?
2. Did the news make him happy?
3. What bad news did the messengers have for the king?
4. What did King Josiah do when he heard the bad news?
5. Josiah had everyone come to the temple including the rich and the poor. Why?
6. What promise did Josiah make.
7. What did he tell the people do?
8. What did Josiah tell Hilkiah and the other temple workers to do?

The Fall and Rise of Kings

By Mary Vee
II Kings 21 and II Chronicles 33

From the Journals of Josiah

Photo Courtesy

My grandfather, King Manasseh died and was given an honorable burial in the gardens of Uzza. 

I'd heard about the terrible things he'd done when he first ruled Judah and his time as a prisoner in Babylon.

Grandfather saw what he'd done wrong and wept before God. He tried to undo the bad and show his change of heart by getting rid of the idols and telling the people of Judah to worship God like He had started to do, but a lot of the damage had been done. Men and women continued to worship in the high places.

When grandfather died, his son Amon became king of Judah. Apparently my father, King Amon, preferred the old days when everyone worshiped idols. During the time he ruled he never changed. He became angry and yelled. He worshiped all the old idols that Grandfather use to have.

My father didn't live very long. I don't know if the people weren't happy with him or if it was because he never seemed to love God or respect Him. He became king at twenty-two years old and only ruled two years.

I'll never forget the day when several of father's officials came into the palace pretending to want to talk with him about an important matter. They ganged up on him and killed him. 

I know my father didn't follow the laws of God and had been a bad king. I think I even understand why the officials ganged up on him. I am only eight years old and very confused.

The guards and citizens from the kingdom surrounded the officials and everyone else involved in my father's murder and killed them.

The priest held a huge ceremony before all the people to crown me king. 

*******************************************
1. How did Josiah know Manasseh?
2. Who became king after Manasseh?
3. What kind of a king was he? 
4. What happened to Josiah's father?
5. How old was Josiah?

6. Why did the priest have a huge ceremony before all the people?

Manasseh-Learning Lessons the Hard Way

By Mary Vee
II Kings 19 and II Chronicles 32-33

From the Journals of Isaiah

Photo Courtesy

Some people just have to learn lessons the hard way.

God did punish Sennacherib as He said He would. Remember, Sennacherib was the bully who picked on King Hezekiah? 

The bully became frightened and took his army home to Assyria. 

One day, while King Senacherib was worshiping his god Nisroch in a temple made special for this idol, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer sneaked in behind him and thrust their swords into him, killing him.

Not wanting to be caught by any of their father's army, the two boys ran as fast as they could to get away. They kept running out of the city and west, to the land of Ararat. 

Their brother, Esarhaddon, took over as king of Assyria.

In the meantime, the Lord continued to send messages to Manasseh and his people to stop worshiping idols, but they wouldn't listen. I delivered every message God gave me. Trust me, He loved them very much and wanted to give them every possible chance to change from their wicked ways.

Since the people of Jerusalem and Judah kept worshipping idols and ignoring the Almighty God who had rescued them so many times, He had to give them the punishment.

The Assyrian army regrouped and marched toward Judah. They showed their power by taking the wealthy, smart, and beautiful people from Judah as prisoners. They dragged them away from their homes and forced them to walk for days to Assyria where the people of Judah became slaves. 

The Assyrian commanders took King Manasseh prisoner. They put a hook in his nose and put bronze chains on him. He had to walk in shame all the way to Assyria. Manasseh cried out, begging for mercy but the commanders didn't listen.

Many men, women, and children from Judea were also taken that day. They were frightened, but not yet sorry for disobeying God. The army was very cruel to them, pulling them away from their families, putting their hands and feet in chains, and beating them.

Not all of the men, women, and children were taken at this time. The smart, rich, and important people were taken captive at this time. The Assyrian army left the poor to take care of things.

I was sorry to see them cry, but in truth, God had warned them and they refused to listen. Hopefully they will cry out to God and say they are sorry soon. If not. They will have to wait the seventy years God said they would have to wait.

Sigh. If only they had listened and obeyed God.

*******************************************
1. Who is Sennacherib?
2. What was Sennacherib doing in the temple?
3. What did his two sons do?
4. Why did his sons run away?
5. What was going on in Judah (What was God doing?)

6. What didn't the people of Jerusalem do? (God asked them to do this)

7. What happened to them?

Hezekiah-The Bully Walked Away in Silence

By Mary Vee
II Kings 19, Isaiah 37

From the Journals of Hezekiah

I have seen God's amazing power in action. Since I am one of His creations, I don't think it bothers God too much when I am surprised at what He can do.

I have faith He can do anything. But sometimes, I am just so blown away when I see what He's done. My heart pumps hard and I feel a bubbly happiness inside. 

God sent Isaiah to tell me He would take care of the problem with king Sennacherib of Assyria.

And He did!

Last night God sent the angel of the Lord to Sennacherib's army camp and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand of their men. This was not all of their army. There were plenty more soldiers.

When the remaining soldiers and Sennacherib woke the next morning and found the dead bodies he ordered the remaining soldiers to break camp and go back home.

He didn't say anything.

He didn't yell at those of us watching from the city walls.

He didn't cry out, raise his fist, or say any more mean things.

Instead, he and his men left in silence....ashamed.

He and his army returned to Nineveh, their home, and stayed there. They didn't gather new troops to come back and attack. They just stayed home.

Word spread about what the Almighty God did, and how powerful He is. Countries all around us brought gifts to the people of Jerusalem and offerings to present to the Lord. 

For the rest of my days as king, the nations all around us respected Judah and our God.

A while back I was very sick. I cried to the Lord for healing. He said I could live fifteen more years. That time has come to an end. I am thankful for the extra time to help Jerusalem walk in the ways of the Lord and hope that I have please Him.

Praise and glory to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Almighty One.

************************************************************

1.  Who did God send to give Hezekiah a message?
2.  What was the message?
3.  What did God do?
4.  What did Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem see the next morning?
5.  What did Sennacherib and his men do?
6.  What did the nations around Jerusalem do?

Hezekiah-What to Do When the Bully Comes Back

By Mary Vee
II Kings 18 and II Chronicles

From the Journals of Hezekiah

Photo courtesy

Sennacherib, king of Assyria was an evil man. He has been bullying my people. This king told the people of Jerusalem that God couldn't help them. He also said they should surrender to him and he would take good care of them. Of course he wasn't telling the truth.

God sent a message to me, Hezekiah, king of Judah and loyal servant of the Almighty God, saying not to be concerned. He would punish Sennacherib.

Sennacherib heard that the king of Egypt was marching across the land to fight him. After hearing the report he sent messengers to me again. Can you imagine that?

I am not afraid of him because God said He would take care of the problem. 

Still I will tell you what Sennacherib said, "Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria. Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries, destroying them completely. And will you be delivered? Did the gods of the nations that were destroyed by my forefathers deliver them? The gods of Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Tel Assar. Where are all those kings? You will end up like them.

I did not answer him.

Instead I went up to the temple of the Lord and laid the papers with the message out before the Lord. I prayed these words: 

"O Lord, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, O Lord, and hear. Open your eyes, O Lord, and see. Listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God. 

"It is true, O Lord that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these nations and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire an destroyed them, for they were not god but only wood and stone, made by men's hands. Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand so that all the kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord are God."

Come back next time to see what God said. 

************************************************
1. What lies did Sennacherib tell the people of Jerusalem?
2. Even after he heard the king of Egypt was marching against him, Sennacherib did what?
3. Did Hezekiah listen to the bully's words?
4. What did Hezekiah do?