Bible: The Assyrian and Babylonian Captivities/The "Glory" Departs from Jerusalem/The New Covenant (Various Texts)

The Assyrian Captivity

Introduction

In 931 B.C. Jeroboam took control of the ten northern tribes of Israel (1 Kings 12).

He set up idolatrous centers of worship in the cities of Bethel and Dan to oppose Yahweh's prescribed location in Jerusalem.

Having fallen away from Yahweh into idolatry, these ten tribes were forcibly deported to Assyria by King Tiglath-Pileser in 740 B.C. (2 Kings 15:29; Isa. 9:1) and later by King Shalmaneser in 722 B.C. (2 Kings 17:3,5).

While false prophets in the land predicted the captivity in Babylon would last only a short time, Jeremiah, the true prophet of Yahweh, proclaimed that it would last seventy years (Jeremiah 25:12; 29:10).

Conservative scholars construe the dates of the Captivity as extending from 605 B.C. to 536 B.C.

According to 2 Chronicles 36:22, 23 and Ezra 1:2, it began with the first invasion of Nebuchadnezzar and ended with the decree of Cyrus, king of Persia.

King Sennacherib of Assyria had partially exiled Judah around 701 B.C.

However, King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah trusted in the LORD, and the angel of Yahweh saved Jerusalem from total destruction t that time (2 Kings 18-19; Isaiah 36-37).

After some "downs" (Manasseh, Amon) and an "up" (Josiah), Judah "hit the skids," and it was not long before the people were under King Nebuchadnezzar's thumb.

In 586 B.C. this Babylonian king took Jerusalem and captured Zedekiah, the last ruler of Judah.

The Vision of the Departing Glory

Ezekiel 8-11

I. The Temple Presence (8:4)

A. Seventy elders worship idols (8:10)--They do not believe God can see them burning incense to paintings in private.

B. Women weeping for Tammuz (8:14)--Tammuz was the sun god.

C. Twenty-five priests worshiping the rising sun, but ignoring the temple (8:16)

II. The Threshold Presence (9:3)

A. One angel marks the saints (9:4)--

[This procedure the Antichrist will use to seal his followers; God, however, will not allow it to prevent Him from sorely plaguing them during the tribulation (cf. Rev. 13:16; 16:2).

The LORD will employ it again in the sealing of the 144,000 Jewish people, having the same purpose as recorded here (Rev. 7:2-8)].

B. Five angels kill the rest (9:5-7)

III. The Pausing Presence (10:4,18)

A. The brightness of His shekinah glory illumines the inner court

B. He stands over the cherubim

IV.The Departing Presence (11:23)

A. He will be a little sanctuary for them in exile (11:16)

B. He will one day bring them back to the land (11:17)

C. He will regenerate them and be their God (11:19-20)--Promise of New Covenant (Chapter 36)

Lesson Outline

A. The New Covenant will be made with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.

We must not transfer these promises to the Church (both Jews and Gentiles).

The Church has temporarily (not permanently) replaced Israel as God's people.

After the Rapture of the Church, the LORD will work with Israel again.

B. Jeremiah contrasts the New Covenant with the Mosaic Covenant.

C. The New Covenant will be fulfilled after the days of Jacob’s trouble/great tribulation (see Jer. 30:7; cf. Matt. 24:21).

The context (31:1-30) concerns Israel’s regathering as preparation for fulfillment.

D. The New Covenant differs from the Mosaic in that all God’s people will have the Law “written on their hearts.”

The LORD will cause them to obey His word.

E. It will be fulfilled during period of universal knowledge of the LORD (Isa. 59:21; Jer. 31:33).

F. It involves forgiveness of sins; it is a gracious covenant (see 31:34b).