the fall of judah copyright © simon g. harris 2011 scripture quotations taken from the holy bible,...

The Fall of Judah

Copyright © Simon G. Harris 2011Scripture quotations taken from the

HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.

Used by permission

2 Chronicles 36:172 Chronicles 36:17He He brought up against them brought up against them

the king of the the king of the Babylonians, who killed Babylonians, who killed

their young men with the their young men with the sword in the sanctuary, sword in the sanctuary,

and spared neither young and spared neither young man nor young woman, man nor young woman,

old man or aged. God old man or aged. God handed all of them over handed all of them over

to Nebuchadnezzar. to Nebuchadnezzar.

Why does GOD sanction, even cooperate with,

mass killing in

the Bible?

Why does GOD sanction, even cooperate with,

mass killing in

the Bible?

Isaiah 40:22Isaiah 40:22He sits He sits enthroned above the enthroned above the

circle of the earth, and its circle of the earth, and its people are like people are like

grasshoppers. He grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens stretches out the heavens

like a canopy, and like a canopy, and spreads them out like a spreads them out like a

tent to live in. tent to live in.

- is God free to take back what he has given?

- whose life is it anyway?

- is God free to take back what he has given?

- whose life is it anyway?

1. God’s sovereignty

2 Kings 17:16-172 Kings 17:16-17 They forsook all the They forsook all the

commands of the Lord commands of the Lord their God and made for their God and made for

themselves two idols cast themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves, in the shape of calves,

and an Asherah pole. and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all They bowed down to all

the starry hosts, and they the starry hosts, and they worshiped Baal. They worshiped Baal. They

sacrificed their sons and sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire. daughters in the fire.

They practiced divination They practiced divination and sorcery and sold and sorcery and sold

themselves to do evil in themselves to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, the eyes of the Lord,

provoking him to anger. provoking him to anger.

- what kind of God would turn a blind eye?

- I wish God didn’t judge? Really!

- what kind of God would turn a blind eye?

- I wish God didn’t judge? Really!

2. God’s judgement

2 Kings 17:132 Kings 17:13 The The Lord warned Israel and Lord warned Israel and

Judah through all his Judah through all his prophets and seers: "Turn prophets and seers: "Turn

from your evil ways. from your evil ways. Observe my commands Observe my commands

and decrees, in and decrees, in accordance with the accordance with the

entire Law that I entire Law that I commanded your fathers commanded your fathers

to obey and that I to obey and that I delivered to you through delivered to you through

my servants the my servants the prophets." prophets."

- 100’s of years of forgiveness offered

- Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, Habbakuk, Zephaniah,Jeremiah



3. God’s patience

Exodus 34:6Exodus 34:6And he And he passed in front of Moses, passed in front of Moses,

proclaiming, "The Lord, proclaiming, "The Lord, the Lord, the the Lord, the

compassionate and compassionate and gracious God, slow to gracious God, slow to

anger, abounding in love anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, and faithfulness,





3. God’s patience

2 Chronicles 36:15-2 Chronicles 36:15-1616The Lord, the God of The Lord, the God of

their fathers, sent word to their fathers, sent word to them through his them through his

messengers again and messengers again and again, because he had again, because he had

pity on his people and on pity on his people and on his dwelling place. 16 But his dwelling place. 16 But

they mocked God's they mocked God's messengers, despised his messengers, despised his

words and scoffed at his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused of the Lord was aroused

against his people and against his people and there was no remedy. there was no remedy.


- Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah,Jeremiah


- Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah,Jeremiah

3. God’s patience

Habakkuk 2:14Habakkuk 2:14For the For the earth will be filled with earth will be filled with

the knowledge of the the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the glory of the Lord, as the

waters cover the sea. waters cover the sea.

4. God’s higher purpose

2 Kings 11:1-22 Kings 11:1-2When When Athaliah the mother of Athaliah the mother of

Ahaziah saw that her son Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded was dead, she proceeded

to destroy the whole to destroy the whole royal family. But royal family. But

Jehosheba, the daughter Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and of King Jehoram and

sister of Ahaziah, took sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and Joash son of Ahaziah and

stole him away from stole him away from among the royal princes, among the royal princes,

who were about to be who were about to be murdered. She put him murdered. She put him

and his nurse in a and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him bedroom to hide him

from Athaliah; so he was from Athaliah; so he was not killed. not killed.

- the royal line was under threat

- what kind of God would not intervene & keep his promise?




Philippians 2:9-Philippians 2:9-1111Therefore God exalted Therefore God exalted

him to the highest place him to the highest place and gave him the name and gave him the name

that is above every that is above every name, that at the name name, that at the name

of Jesus every knee of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven should bow, in heaven

and on earth and under and on earth and under the earth, and every the earth, and every

tongue confess that Jesus tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory Christ is Lord, to the glory

of God the Father. of God the Father.






Genesis 6:5-6Genesis 6:5-6The Lord The Lord saw how great man's saw how great man's

wickedness on the earth wickedness on the earth had become, and that had become, and that

every inclination of the every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was thoughts of his heart was

only evil all the time. 6 only evil all the time. 6 The Lord was grieved that The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the he had made man on the earth, and his heart was earth, and his heart was

filled with pain. filled with pain.

- God is working with fallen humanity

- God is working with fallen humanity

5. God’s accommodation

Matthew 10:14-15Matthew 10:14-15If If anyone will not welcome anyone will not welcome

you or listen to your you or listen to your words, shake the dust off words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell that home or town. I tell

you the truth, it will be you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that of judgment than for that

town. town.

- a judgement greater than these is coming


WHAT ARE THESE MOMENTS A SIGN OF?

Matthew 7:13-Matthew 7:13-1414"Enter through the "Enter through the

narrow gate. For wide is narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the the gate and broad is the

road that leads to road that leads to destruction, and many destruction, and many

enter through it. 14 But enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and small is the gate and narrow the road that narrow the road that

leads to life, and only a leads to life, and only a few find it. few find it.



WHAT ARE THESE MOMENTS A SIGN OF?

- God gives TIME - God gives TESTIMONY - God gives opportunity to TURN

- God gives TIME - God gives TESTIMONY - God gives opportunity to TURN

Deuteronomy 20:16-Deuteronomy 20:16-18 18 However, in the However, in the

cities of the nations the cities of the nations the Lord your God is giving Lord your God is giving

you as an inheritance, do you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything not leave alive anything

that breathes. Completely that breathes. Completely destroy them ... as the destroy them ... as the

Lord your God has Lord your God has commanded you. commanded you.

Otherwise, they will teach Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the you to follow all the

detestable things they do detestable things they do in worshiping their gods, in worshiping their gods, and you will sin against and you will sin against

the Lord your God. the Lord your God.

A unique situationA unique situation

The most difficult passages

- God’s judgement - God’s judgement

Genesis 15:16Genesis 15:16In the In the fourth generation your fourth generation your descendants will come descendants will come

back here, for the sin of back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet the Amorites has not yet

reached its full measure." reached its full measure."




Deuteronomy Deuteronomy 9:49:4After the Lord your After the Lord your

God has driven them out God has driven them out before you, do not say to before you, do not say to

yourself, "The Lord has yourself, "The Lord has brought me here to take brought me here to take

possession of this land possession of this land because of my because of my

righteousness." No, it is righteousness." No, it is on account of the on account of the

wickedness of these wickedness of these nations that the Lord is nations that the Lord is going to drive them out going to drive them out

before you. before you.




Deuteronomy 20:16-Deuteronomy 20:16-18 18 However, in the However, in the

cities of the nations the cities of the nations the Lord your God is giving Lord your God is giving

you as an inheritance, do you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything not leave alive anything

that breathes. Completely that breathes. Completely destroy them ... as the destroy them ... as the

Lord your God has Lord your God has commanded you. commanded you.

Otherwise, they will teach Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the you to follow all the

detestable things they do detestable things they do in worshiping their gods, in worshiping their gods, and you will sin against and you will sin against

the Lord your God. the Lord your God.




- a higher purpose - a higher purpose

- TIME - TESTIMONY- opportunity to TURN


Genesis 13:13Genesis 13:13Now the Now the men of Sodom were men of Sodom were

wicked and were sinning wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord. greatly against the Lord.







- not genocide - not genocide

Habakkuk 1:6, 12Habakkuk 1:6, 12 I am raising up the I am raising up the

Babylonians, that ruthless Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, and impetuous people, who sweep across the who sweep across the

whole earth to seize whole earth to seize dwelling places not their dwelling places not their

own. own. ... O Lord, you have ... O Lord, you have appointed them to appointed them to

execute judgment; O execute judgment; O Rock, you have ordained Rock, you have ordained

them to punish. them to punish.







- not genocide - not genocide

- The places of attack were possibly forts filled with combatants

- The language used

- Local skirmishes

- Finite occasions (most unique & unrepeatable)

- The places of attack were possibly forts filled with combatants

- The language used

- Local skirmishes

- Finite occasions (most unique & unrepeatable)

Some extra issues

Matthew 11:22Matthew 11:22But I tell you, it will be But I tell you, it will be

more bearable for Tyre more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. judgment than for you.

WHAT IS IT TEACHING?

Judgement is comingJudgement is coming

Matthew 24:14Matthew 24:14And this gospel of the And this gospel of the

kingdom will be preached kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a in the whole world as a

testimony to all nations, testimony to all nations, and then the end will and then the end will

come. come.


Judgement is comingJudgement is coming - TIME will run out - TIME will run out - God’s TESTIMONY is here - God’s TESTIMONY is here

John 3:36John 3:36Whoever believes in the Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son whoever rejects the Son

will not see life, for God's will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." wrath remains on him."


Judgement is comingJudgement is coming - TIME will run out - TIME will run out - God’s TESTIMONY is here - God’s TESTIMONY is here - You are invited to TURN and be rescued

- You are invited to TURN and be rescued

the fall of judah copyright © simon g. harris 2011 scripture quotations taken from the holy bible,...

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