July 4- The Anatomy of Captivity

July 4, 2011

Scripture Readings:
2 Kings 23:31-25:30; Acts 22:17-23:10;
Psalm 2:1-12; Proverbs 18:13

And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

~Francis Scott Key

2 Kings 23:31-25:30

Happy Independence Day or Happy Fourth of July!   As most of you know, the Fourth of July  commemorates the adoption of Declaration of Independence signed on July 4, 1776.  Fundamental to the American way of thinking is the idea that a free people have a right to govern themselves and be represented in their legislative assemblies.  The Declaration of Independence boldly proclaimed  America's independence from Great Britain.  Did you know that both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both passed away on July 4, 1826 on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the document? How cool is that?

Today, we are not going to be reading about freedom and independence.  We are reading about captivity.  As we finish reading the book of 2 Kings, the kingdom of Judah is finally taken into captivity by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.  You might be interested to know that present day Iraq is where ancient Babylon was located. 

If you have ever wondered how one might go about taking a kingdom captive, today's reading is a virtual instruction manual.  I am now going to list out the steps you might want to take if you ever decide to become a despot who captures a nation.  Here is the short version:

• Lay siege to the capital city. 2 Kings 24:10
• Take the king hostage. Vs. 12
• Carry away the kingdom's treasure. Vs. 13
• Take captive their princes, best soldiers, craftsmen and metal smiths. Vs. 14
• Leave the poorest people in the land. Vs. 14
• Take the wives, officials, and queen mother into captivity, along with all of the well educated elites. Vs. 15
• Install a puppet government. Vs. 17
• Rename the puppet government king in order to exert control over him. Vs. 18
• If the puppet king rebels, besiege the capital city again. 2 Kings 25:2
• Surround the city with soldiers. Vs. 4
• Gouge out the eyes of the puppet king and lead him away in bronze chains. Vs. 7
• Burn down the major religious temple, royal palace, and all the houses. Vs. 9
• Destroy all the major buildings. Vs. 9
• Tear down the protective wall of the city. Vs. 10
• Leave the poorest people to care for the fields and vineyards. Vs. 12
• Kill the rebel puppet king's key advisers and religious leaders.  Vs. 21
• Appoint a new governor for the territory who is from your own country. Vs. 22

There you have it!  With this simple list you should be able to take a people group into captivity.  Go forth and conquer!

Lesson:  God promised to punish the nation of Israel if they forsook Him and followed other gods.  When the Northern kingdom of Israel forsook God, they were taken into captivity by Assyria.  When the Southern kingdom of Judah forsook God, they were taken into captivity by Babylon.  God keeps His promises.  We are to follow no other god, but the One True God of Israel revealed to us through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Acts 22:17-23:10

Today, we resume Paul's testimony in front of the crowd in Jerusalem who has gotten quiet to listen to him as he addresses them in their own language.  He speaks of falling into a trance and seeing a vision of Jesus, who has a conversation with him and tells Paul to leave Jerusalem because the people will not believe his message about Jesus.  Paul argues with the Lord that because he was a devout Jew, who even persecuted Christians, his witness would be credible.  Jesus tells him in the vision to leave Jerusalem because He (Jesus) is going to send Paul far away to the Gentiles. 

When Paul says, "Gentiles," the crowd goes wild with anger.  They throw off their coats and throw dust in the air.  The Roman guards bring Paul into custody to be beaten.  He is saved from this when he tells the guards that he is a Roman citizen by birth.  They are not allowed to beat a Roman citizen without a trial.  Thank God for legal recourse!

Paul is taken to the Jewish High Council. His trial reminds me of Jesus being before this same High Council not that long ago.  Paul is struck in the face by the command of Ananias, the High Priest, who also had Jesus on trial.  Paul calls him a white washed wall, which was one of Jesus' favorite descriptions of the Jewish religious leaders.  Paul is unaware that he has called the High Priest this.  Paul apologizes when he realizes he has offended the High Priest.  Please note that as we read Paul's epistles, we will get an indication that Paul has eye sight problems.  This is why he would not have recognized that he has offended Ananias.

Being a Pharisee by training, Paul is able to divide the group, who are made up of both Sadducees and Pharisees, by declaring that he is on trial because of his hope in the resurrection of the dead.  This divides the council with some Pharisees arguing in Paul's defense.  They begin to physically tug him back and forth, so the Roman commander takes him away.

Paul is walking in the footsteps of Jesus.  He, alone, is the apostle who is trained in Scripture like His Master.  He was a member of the religious leaders to whom he is now testifying. He is intellectually able to go toe to toe with the religious leaders of his day.  The Holy Spirit is leading him to testify and suffer for Jesus.

Are you prepared to go toe to toe with unbelievers?  Have you studied enough to have the Holy Spirit be able to illuminate your mind?  Are you willing to suffer when people get furious at the gospel message?

Psalm 2

This psalm speaks of the nations raging against the Lord.  Do you see this in our readings?  It says that the kings and rulers plot together against the Lord, but He laughs at them from heaven.

This psalm declares that God has chosen a man to be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  It is His Son, who has been chosen.  The earth is His possession.  The nations are warned to submit to Him and serve Him in fear, because He has the ability to smash them like clay pots.

Do you see Jesus as the King of Kings?  Have you submitted to Him?

Proverbs 18:13

Don't advise people if you don't have your facts straight.

What did you see today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton