This Week's Story
click here to play audioZed's defiance invites the brutality of Nebuchadnezzar.
This Week’s Story relives American history and the Bible through brief inspiring stories presented on mp3 audio recordings and text for reading.
A Broken Promise Brings Crushing Consequences from Nebuchadnezzar! part two
How is my brother Zed surviving in prison? Is he still blaming other people for his punishments? Is he awake to his proud stupidity when he broke his promise to King Nebuchadnezzar?
Three of my brothers and a nephew were recent past kings of Judah. When I think of their rebellion, it twists me with pain. They copied the idol worship of other nations. They grabbed glitter and caused destruction.
Zed promised loyalty to King Nebuchadnezzar, who had taken thousands of Jews captive and stolen temple treasures. I remember King Nebuchadnezzar’s words when he made Zed king, “Swear to your god that you will not rebel.”
Zed swore to not rebel. For nine years he continued disobeying God’s commandments. He led Judah in rejecting God. Then he rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, even though God’s prophet Jeremiah warned him. “Keep the promise you made. You swore in God’s name to do so.”
Nebuchadnezzar ordered brutal consequences. His soldiers surrounded Jerusalem for two years until the Jews had almost no food. They began to starve. Zed secretly sent for Jeremiah and asked, “Is there any message from God for us?”
What a hypocrite Zed was! For years he had mocked God’s messages for Jeremiah to tell the Jews of Judah.
Jeremiah replied, “There is a message from God. You will be given to King Nebuchadnezzar. Do not fight against him. If you stay in the city, you will die by the sword, or starving, or disease. If you surrender, you will not be killed.”
Zed ignored the advice. King Nebuchadnezzar with his Babylonian soldiers broke through the wall of Jerusalem with war machines. They swarmed into the city. King Zed, his princes, and his children tried to get away at night, but they were caught. Babylonian soldiers brought them to King Nebuchadnezzar.
He ordered, “Kill all the princes and children. King Zedekiah will see each one die. That will be his last sight! Then, put out his eyes. Take him to Babylon and put him into prison for life.”
The horror did not stop. Nebuchadnezzar’s soldiers burned the glorious temple built by King Solomon’s thousands of workers with pride and meticulous detail. It was the center of Judah’s worship of God. Golden spoons, dishes, and candlesticks were stolen. The splendid brass pillars were broken into pieces. All were taken to Babylon.
The imposing houses of Jerusalem were burned, and the city wall was broken. Captives were taken. Only the poorest of the people were left. Judgment had finally come. Jerusalem lay in ruins and the temple was ashes.
Jeremiah, the faithful prophet who had been imprisoned by his own people for giving God’s warnings, was put into chains. King Nebuchadnezzar ordered, “Set him free and unhurt.”
Jeremiah was given a choice. “You can go to Babylon with the captives or stay in your land with the poor.” Jeremiah chose to stay.
What happened to Jeremiah, the poor who remained in Jerusalem, and the captives? Soon our story, primarily based on texts in Kings, Chronicles, and Jeremiah in the Bible, will continue. The spokesperson in this story is a possible son of King Josiah.
This is Barbara Steiner. Investigate thisweeksstory.com.
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