Study 1 – Perth Study Weekend The Twilight King A Rebellious House Study 1 – Perth Study Weekend September 2017

The Key Scriptures for our study The Sons of Joss Jeremiah 21, 24, 27-29 32, 33, 34, 37, 38, 51:59-64 52 (In Jerusalem) 2 Kings 24-25 2 Chron 36 Ezekiel 1 to 33 (In Babylon) Lamentations

The Sons of Josiah who were Kings Zedekiahs Family Connections The Sons of Josiah who were Kings Supporting Passage: 2 Chron 36: 2-11 Josiah Jehoahaz (1) Jehoiakim (2) Zedekiah (4) Jehoiachin (3)

Supporting Passages: 2 Chron 36:2-11 ; 2 Kings 24:19 His Teenage Years Supporting Passages: 2 Chron 36:2-11 ; 2 Kings 24:19 3 months 10 days 3 months 11 years Josiah Jehoahaz Jehoiakim Jehoiakim Jehoiachin Zedekiah 10 yrs old 21 yrs old

What sort of Kingdom does he rule over? No strength … No leadership … Throw them away …nothing else can be done

Why couldn’t God work with Judah anymore To save a remnant Jer 24:6 Captivity

Why couldn’t God work with Judah anymore Ezekiel 17:12-13 “… Behold the King of Babylon is come to Jerusalem and hath taken the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon; And hath taken of the king’s seed, and made a covenant with him, and hath taken an oath of him: he hath also taken the mighty of the land:…”

Why couldn’t God work with Judah anymore Ezekiel 17:14 “ That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.”

Why couldn’t God work with Judah anymore Babylon To keep Judah low Ezek 17:14 God To save a remnant Jer 24:6 Captivity

Why couldn’t God work with Judah anymore Ezekiel 11:15 “ Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from the Lord: unto us is this land given in possession.”

Why couldn’t God work with Judah anymore Babylon To keep Judah low Ezek 17:14 God To save a remnant Jer 24:5-6 Captivity Jews Remaining We are blessed ! Ezek 11:15 A spirit of pride = no need to amend their ways !!

The Problem They were hard ….. insensitive to spiritual things and saw no need to change Faces hard Feelings unmoved Conscience scarred

The problem heard in their words Ezekiel 8:12 (NKJV) “ … Son of Man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, The Lord does not see us, The Lord has forsaken the land.”

The problem heard in their words Ezekiel 9:9 “ … The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: For they say, The Lord hath forsaken the earth and the Lord seeth not.”

The problem heard in their words Don’t worry - God’s not real Ezek 8:12 ; 9:9

The problem heard in their words Ezekiel 18:2 “ What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?”

The problem heard in their words Jeremiah 2:34-35 “ Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these. Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.”

The problem heard in their words Don’t worry - God’s not real Ezek 8:12 ; 9:9 2. I’m OK … sin is not an issue Ezek 18:2 ; Jer 2:34-35

The problem heard in their words Ezekiel 18:25 “ Yet ye say, the way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now O house of Israel ; Is not my way equal? Are not your ways unequal?”

The problem heard in their words Jeremiah 22:15-17 “... Did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him? He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the Lord. But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood ….”

The problem heard in their words Don’t worry - God’s not real Ezek 8:12 ; 9:9 2. I’m OK … sin is not an issue Ezek 18:2 ; Jer 2:34-35 3. I’m right … God’s got it wrong Ezek 18:25 ; Jer 22:15-17

The problem heard in their words Ezekiel 20:32 “ And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.”

The problem heard in their words Don’t worry - God’s not real Ezek 8:12 ; 9:9 2. I’m OK … sin is not an issue Ezek 18:2 ; Jer 2:34-35 3. I’m right … God’s got it wrong Ezek 18:25 ; Jer 22:15-17 4. A “called out” people ... no thanks Ezek 20:32

So What? I wonder if I am hard – “I may need to change”

So What? Matt 13:15 (NKJV) For the heart of this people has grown dull [calloused]. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their heart and turn, So that I should heal them.

So What? I wonder if I am hard – “I may need to change” 2. Open up communication with God. Stop ! ...Think ! ... Ask ! … Listen !