(REFLECTIONS ON 2 Kings 25:1-30)

The journey of the Israelites started back in Exodus with the Lord delivering them from Egypt, led by Moses into the wilderness, led by Joshua into the Promised Land, led by judges that the Lord sent, and then ruled by generations and generations of kings. However, as we reach the end of 2 Kings today, we see that things go back to the beginning, back to Egypt.

Although most of Judah were exiled to Babylon, those that remained were ruled by Gedaliah, a Babylonian governor. Gedaliah’s message was clear,

24 Gedaliah swore to them and their men and said to them, “Do not be afraid of the servants of the Chaldeans; live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will be well with you.”

In the Book of Jeremiah, it is also clear that those whether in exile, or remaining in Jerusalem, were to remain faithful to God under the rule of Babylon.

However we see that Ishmael came with ten men and struck down Gedaliah so that he died along with the Jews and the Chaldeans who were with him.

26 Then all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the forces arose and went to Egypt; for they were afraid of the Chaldeans.

Fear led them back to Egypt, back to the beginning, back to where their ancestors cried out to the Lord for deliverance. Yet despite this movement back to Egypt, we see that there is still hope in Babylon.

27 Now it came about in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he became king, released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison; 28 and he spoke kindly to him and set his throne above the throne of the kings who were with him in Babylon. 29 Jehoiachin changed his prison clothes and had his meals in the king’s presence regularly all the days of his life; 30 and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, a portion for each day, all the days of his life.

Brothers and sisters, there is still hope for Judah, for the Davidic line, and this thread of salvation will continue forward despite Judah’s movement back to Egypt. On one hand, there is movement backwards, but God’s will and heart for Jesus Christ to come out of the line of David, is still alive in Jehoiachin king of Judah who at the very end of 2 Kings receives a throne from the king of Babylon.

This a reminder on a macro-level that no matter how far back the church or the people of God fall, even going back to a life of oppression and slavery, that God’s will and heart will continue moving forward by His amazing grace.

On a micro-level, this reminds us that no matter how much of our life or faith has fallen back seemingly from freedom to slavery in Egypt, that God’s will and heart will continue to hold on to us through Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit.

We just have to have faith against faith, hope against hope, come to the Lord continually in repentance, and the grace of God through Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit will again reach out to us to save us, and move us forward on this journey of faith.

Back to Egypt was what Judah decided to do in fear, but Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit will push us in the other direction towards God’s will and heart if we are willing to humble ourselves and give authority over to Him once again.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: 2 Kings 25