Bible Survey: Part TwoSample

The remainder of 2 Chronicles tells of a series of kings who are all defeated by other nations. Eventually, Judah is destroyed by Babylon. The Babylonians take many of the people to Judah to live in Babylon as slaves, where they live as captives for 70 years. The Babylonians are defeated by the Persians and the Persians permit the people to return to Judah. Ezra 1 & 2 tell of the people’s release and gives a genealogy to show that God has preserved His people even in captivity.

In our chapter today, worship at the site of the former Temple begins and they begin the reconstruction of the Temple. The people don’t want to make the mistake that led to their captivity by failing to worship God. How exciting it must have been for them to return to their land, way of life and way of worship.

Seventy years is a long time, but God still remembered them and still brought them back. It is a miracle that the Jews could still be recognized as a separate people after two generations in Babylon. I’ve heard stories from people of how they were raised without God in their lives, but had faithful grandparents who prayed for them and they were eventually introduced to Jesus. God is faithful!