the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 2 of 5
2 Kings 25:1-17
Exasperated by the rebellious spirit of the kings of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar goes up for the third time against Jerusalem, besieges it, and breaks into it after a siege lasting more than a year. And this time there is no mercy for the proud city. Beginning with the temple, it is completely destroyed by fire. Its walls are demolished, its inhabitants are led away into captivity. Zedekiah suffers the cruel consequences of his obstinacy. A few country folk only are left in the land.
Then the Chaldean guards wreak their vengeance on the temple, which to them symbolised the spirit of resistance. Not satisfied with having burnt it, they succeed in breaking up and taking away the mighty brazen pillars, as well as the sea and its bases, and the rest of the temple vessels. Why is it that vv. 16 and 17 repeat the details of the decoration of the pillars, just at the very moment when they are to disappear? Without doubt for a very poignant reason: was it not the last glance the people would have of a beloved object which their hearts would linger over until the very end? How beautiful these pillars were, symbols of the stability and strength, which henceforth the LORD was taking away from His disobedient and rebellious people! (1 Kings 7:21).
