Desolation to Destruction

Based on 2 Kings 24-25, Proverbs 11

This may not seem like the most encouraging topic, but sometimes seeing the worse side of things helps keep us more determined to stay on the right track! When we have desolation and despair on the inside, with a heart void of God, that can only mean destruction on the outside...and the kings & people of Judah saw this happen over & over again...

"And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the Lord, as the Lord had said." 2 Kings 24:13.

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took not only treasures from the house of The Lord, but also the very people themselves! Their hearts had drifted so far from God that they ended up being physically taken out from their land and carried to Babylon. That inner emptiness & desolation resulted in an outward consequence of destruction...

"And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king's garden: (now the Chaldeans were against the city round about:) and the king went the way toward the plain. And the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho: and all his army were scattered from him."
2 Kings 25:4‭-‬5.

So much chaos taking place! When souls are empty and void of God, there is no direction, and destruction is the only option! Only God keeps things steady...

"Now the rest of the people that were left in the city, and the fugitives that fell away to the king of Babylon, with the remnant of the multitude, did Nebuzar–adan the captain of the guard carry away. But the captain of the guard left of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen."
2 Kings 25:11‭-‬12.

After all this, the Babylonians even killed the priests and officers...with God, things are better than they could ever be. Without Him, things have a way of getting worse. That's because God's loves us and wants to deliver us, but the enemy wants to destroy us. God is not the One who wants these bad things to happen, and that's why He lays out the way things should be in our relationship with Him. If we follow His ways, everything will work out. But if we choose differently, it's our choice! We invite the destruction into our lives at that point...but thankfully, God ends this book of 2 Kings on a good note!

"And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evil–merodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison; And he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon;" 2 Kings 25:27‭-‬28.

God has a way of "lifting up our heads" to show us there is still hope. There is a brighter side. He still loves us and wants what's best for us! We just have to allow Him in so we no longer have desolation & despair on the inside and destruction manifesting on the outside. With God, we are fulfilled. Peaceful. Joyful. It's a good life living for The Lord!

"Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety."
Proverbs 11:14.