Reading through quickly about the kings of Judah written in the books of 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and the books of Jeremiah and Haggai, so many thoughts crowd my mind – thoughts about God’s continuous mercy and the continuous waywardness of the children of Israel and the children of Judah. Sometimes the children of Judah do come back to the Law of Moses by the warning of God’s servants and prophets – “rising up early and sending them”

People were given to idols, the kings did evil in the sight of God and the prophets were dishonored and even tortured for speaking the truth. Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, foretold the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple of Solomon from the hand of Babylonians and their king Nebuchadnezzar. They did not listen.

After building a siege wall against Jerusalem, the king of Babylon attacked Jerusalem because Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, revolted against him and did not pay taxes. In 2 years, the siege resulted in a famine so severe that there was no food left inside Jerusalem. King Zedekiah was captured when he tried to flee the city; his two sons were killed before his eyes and then his eyes were put out and he was imprisoned in Babylon.

Jerusalem, the major part of the city was burnt down, the temple destroyed and the gold, silver and bronze articles and artifacts plundered and taken away to Babylon along with many people as captives.

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down. Yea, yea we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hung our harps upon the willows in the midst of it… How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land?

Jeremiah and Daniel spoke peace to the children of Judah even in Babylon, saying that they seek the peace of the city, and pray… for in its peace, they will have peace (Jer. 29: 7).

But ultimately the time had come for Jeremiah to announce that God is putting away the Old Covenant (which they could not keep) and make a New Covenant through One RIGHTEOUS SERVANT.

In Haggai, we read about the temple and its glory. There is a latter temple coming, “For thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while), I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts. The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the LORD of hosts.”