Nebuchadnezzar destroys the temple

 March 30

Read 2 Kings 25:8-15 and reflect on the passage.

It hurts when our rebellion catches up to us. When the lies get exposed—no more wheeling and dealing to be done—all that is left is to endure the shame of our sins ripened and harvested. That was the case for the nation of Israel in this passage in 2 Kings. All is lost, King David’s dynasty came crashing down—the Temple, the palace, all the important buildings, the wall around Jerusalem—the sin of a nation had ripened and the Babylonians had come to harvest.

These are some of the darkest days—when our sin has caught up with us, and the consequences of our misdeeds can no longer be ignored. I can only imagine the despair the nation felt on that day.

But that is not the end of the story. God brings another descendant of David to sit on the throne. God’s redeeming character cannot be suppressed forever—not then, and not now. The Scriptures say, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Our God is a redeeming God—even when things seem the most dire, God has a plan to redeem those He loves.

Questions

1. If God rescues His people in their worst moment, is there any reason why He would withhold that same love from you?

2. When you feel like things could not get any worse, where do you put your hope?

Prayer

Father, in my darkest days, please do not let Your promises of redemption depart from me. Remind me of the hope I have in You.

—Brodie Taphorn