July 17

Today's Reading: 2 Kings 25:1-30

This is the account of the final conquest of Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in 587/586 BC. The Babylonians destroy the wall around the city as well as the Temple.

Unlike the conquest of Israel in which all the people were scattered into the surrounding nations and never returned, the exile of Judah will not be permanent. Eventually some of the exiles will return and rebuild the walls and the Temple.

We see God's sovereignty here. Although it may not seem right to us that God would use an evil nation like Babylon to execute judgment on His own people, that is exactly what God had promised to do. It's easy to see how that is relevant today. Some people have the idea that the United States is immune to God's judgement because it is a "Christian nation". But the further we stray from God's standards, the more likely it is that God's patience will run out and He will bring judgment - maybe even using a wicked and evil person or nation. Knowing that should cause us to continue to pray for our nation and for God's mercy.