The StoryFinding Your Story in God’s Story

“The Kingdoms’ Fall”

Series 2 - God Pursues His People

Review Chapter 16

“The Beginning of the End”

Series 2 - God Pursues His People

I. Judah’s Exile

2 Kings 21-25Hezekiah – good kingManasseh – bad kingAmon – bad kingJosiah – good kingJehoahaz – bad kingJehoiakin – bad king

Invasion of Judah by Babylon – 2 Kings 24:1-4Jehoiachin – bad kingZekekiah – bad kingJudah sent into exile 24:20

The Temple and city of Jerusalem destroyed 25:8-12

Exile for 70 years

II. Prophetic Voices

Two major prophetic voices – Ezekiel – to the exiles in BabylonJeremiah – to the Jews who remained in Judah

Ezekiel’s Call – Ezekiel 2In the presence of the glory of the Lord – 1:26-28

Sending you to a rebellious nationDo not fear themGive my messages whether they listen or not

Jeremiah’s Call – Jeremiah 1:4-10You were set apart from your mother’s womb

I’m too youngI have put my words in your mouth

III. In the Midst of Judgment - Hope

Hebrews 12:5-11

Jeremiah 31:31-34 (NLT) 31  “The day is coming,” says the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. 32  This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife,” says the LORD. 33  “But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,” says the LORD. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34  And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the LORD.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,” says the LORD. “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”

Ezekiel 36:24-27 (NLT) 24  For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land. 25  “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. 26  And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. 27  And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.

Hebrews 8:6-12Jesus mediates a far better covenant for usLaws written on our heartsAll our wickedness and sins forgiven

Valley of Dry Bones – Ezekiel 37Message of restoration of a broken people

To the people of IsraelApplication - To broken lives today – doesn’t matter your condition, God can do a work of restoration to give you life again.

Lamentations 3:21-23 “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness”