This week, we shall finish the study
the book of 2 Kings in the Old Testament.
The eradication of idol worship by Josiah was not only complete but it also shows how deep the kings of Judah before him had plunged the nation into such perversions against the Lord:
(1) From vv. 4-7, can you name all the perversions that had taken place right inside the temple of the Lord?
(2) What did Josiah do to ensure the eradication of the worship of Baal and Asherah? (23: 4, 6)
(3) What was the act of scattering the dust (or powder) of the Asherah pole over the graves of the common people meant to do?
(4) What kind of prostitutes was once allowed inside the temple of the Lord? (23:7)
(5) The high places began as a convenient way of worshipping the Lord outside of the temple, modeled after the idol-worship of the Canaanites, and were eventually used also to worship all kinds of idols:
a. What did Josiah do to ensure the eradication of this form of idol worship? (23:5)
b. Whom did he use to carry out the desecration? Why? (23:8-9)
(6) How important was it that Josiah desecrated “Topheth”? (23:10)
(7) The Bible especially mentions Josiah’s destruction of other forms of idol-worship directly instituted by previous kings of Judah:
a. Sun-worshipping:
- Why would these kings worship the sun? (Job 31:27-28)
- How did Josiah deal with the horses and chariots dedicated to the sun? (v. 11—see Note below)
b. What might Ahaz and other kings use the altars on the roof for? (see Zeph. 1:5)
c. Why did Manasseh build altars in the two courts of the temple? (21:5)
d. How did Josiah deal with these altars? (v. 12)
e. What kind of high places did Solomon build and how did Josiah deal with them (vv. 13-14)
(8) As you’re reading the passage that depicts all of the above, what might be the thing that you find most shocking? Why?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note:
“Horses were regarded sacred to the sun by many nations…These horses were hardly kept to be offered to the sun in sacrifice…but as we must infer from the ‘chariots of the sun,’ were used for processions in connection with the worship of the sun…to drive and meet the rising sun.”
(K&D, 344)
本週我們繼續研讀並會讀完列王紀下這書卷。請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
從這段經文，我們不但看到約西亞是如何徹底的破除偶像，也給我們看到歷代的猶大對神的叛逆是如何的可怕：
(1) 按23:4-7—請列出他們在聖殿中所作褻瀆神的事。
(2) 約西亞如何根除對巴力和亞舍拉的敬拜？(23:4, 6)
(3) 將偶像的灰撒在平民的墳上是什麼意思？(23:6, 14)
(4) 他們曾容許那類的娼妓在聖殿中居住（和活動）？(23:7)
(5) 邱壇（high places）本是為方便百姓仿效外邦，隨意在聖殿外的高處敬拜耶和華；及後自然也成為祭祀其他鬼神之用：
a. 約西亞如何根除這些邱壇的敬拜？(23:5)
b. 他要誰來做這拆毀的工作？(23:8-9) 為甚麼？
(6) 約西亞如何處置「陀斐特」？(23:10)
(7) 聖經亦特別指出，約西亞所除的偶像中，多是猶大歷代的王所立的，這包括：
a. 太陽的敬拜：
i. 這些君王為何會學外邦人敬拜日頭？（參伯31:27-28)
ii. 約西亞如何處置這些獻日的馬匹和馬車？（23:11—參下註）
b. 亞哈斯（和諸王）在樓頂築壇的用意是什麼？（參番1:5）
c. 瑪拿西在聖殿兩院中築壇的用意是什麼？（21:5）
d. 約西亞如何處置這些祭壇？(23:12)
e. 這裡指出所羅門為偶像所立仍存在的邱壇包括那些？(23:13-14)
(8) 這種種背叛神的東西中，那樣叫你感到錯愕？為什麼？
(9) 今日你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
註：“很多外邦的民族看馬對於日頭是神聖的……（不過）這些馬不是被焚燒給太陽的……乃是被用來拉動獻給日頭的馬車，作為敬拜初升的太陽行列之一。” (K&D, 344)
“Therefore I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.” (2 Ki. 22:20)
Both Hezekiah and Josiah were kings who did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and both were promised that the punishment prophesied against the nation would not happen in their lifetime, and yet their response to such a promise could not be more different.
We read in 2 Chronicles 32:31 that God used the visit of the Babylonians and this subsequent promise to test what was in the heart of Hezekiah and his heart was fully revealed when he said, “The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good,” divulging his inner thought: “Will there not be peace and security in my lifetime?” (2 Ki. 20:19). In other words, Hezekiah failed his test. All he cared about was himself and his earthly well-being.
Josiah’s response showed where his heart was. He cared not so much about himself and his generation, he desired that even if the prophesied disaster could not be avoided, at least, the coming generations would be spared as far as possible, and thus he sought to get rid of all forms of idol worship and perversions within his land and beyond.
He not only removed the idols, but ground them into powder.
He not only put a stop to idol worship, but he made the pagan priests desecrate the high places and altars and sent them away (likely to their own pagan nations).
And, he not only destroyed idol worship, but he reinstituted the worship of the Lord with the reading (and obviously teaching also) of “all the words of the Book of the Covenant” and led “all the people (to pledge) themselves to the covenant” (2 Ki. 23:2-3).
The Scripture ends the account of Josiah’s reform with his giving an order to all the people to celebrate the Passover, the most important remembrance of who they are—a people saved and belonged to God and God alone! (2 Ki. 23:21-23)
No wonder the Scripture says that “Before him there was no king like him who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him.” (2 Ki. 23:25)
Josiah certainly passed his test with flying colors!
「我必使你平平安安地歸到墳墓到你列祖那裡；我要降與這地的一切災禍，你也不至親眼看見。他們就回覆王去了。」(王下22:20)
希西家與約西亞同是行耶和華眼中看為正的事的王，也同樣得到應許不致在有生之年看見神對猶大國的審判，但二人對這應許的反應就絕然不同。
其實按歷代志下32:31，整件巴比倫到訪的事，包括神應許希西家不用面對國難的應許，是神用來試驗他的內心的，而他的內心就藉著他的話完全顯露出來：“若在我的年日中有太平和穩固的景況，豈不是好麼？”（王下20:19）。
換句話說，希西家經不起這考驗:他只顧自己和屬地的太平與安穩！
約西亞的回應則顯出他的心是與希西家截然不同的。他不是只顧念自己和他的世代而已，他更希望縱然國難終難避免，至少跟著的世代能因向神回轉而得幸免；因而他徹底的把一切偶像和偶像的敬拜從猶大至撒瑪利亞根除：
- 他不但拆除偶像，更把它們打碎成灰；
- 他不但除去邱壇，更除掉邱壇的祭司；
- 他不但除掉偶像的敬拜，更恢復耶和華的敬拜—使「所有的百姓，無論大小，都一同上到耶和華的殿；王就把耶和華殿裡所得的約書念給他們聽……在耶和華面前立約」（王下23:2-3）。
聖經就以他吩咐眾民與祭司守逾越節作為這段改革記述的結束—以記念神的救贖作為這復興的高潮是合適的。
無怪聖經說：“在約西亞以前沒有王像他盡心、盡性、盡力地歸向耶和華，遵行摩西的一切律法；在他以後也沒有興起一個王像他。”（王下23:25）
換句話說，約西亞考試及格了！
Josiah’s eradication of idol worship extended beyond his own territory of Jerusalem and Judah:
23:15-18—Removal of Idol worship at Bethel
(1) Who set up the altar in Bethel?
(2) What was his purpose? (1 Ki. 12:26-27)
(3) How wicked was this form of idol worship? (1 Ki. 12:28-29)
(4) Since it was not within his territory (the nation of Judah), why did he care to demolish it?
(5) How did he demolish and desecrate this altar in Bethel?
(6) What prophecy was he fulfilling in the desecration of this altar? (1 Ki. 13:1-2)
(7) What might be the importance of the special mention of the grave (and bones) of the prophet who confronted Jeroboam but was subsequently killed by a lion? (1 Ki. 13:26-32)
23:19-20—Removal of Idol worship in Samaria
(8) What was Samaria like in the time of Josiah, i.e. after the fall of the Northern Kingdom? (17:24-41)
(9) What did he do to eradicate idol worship in Samaria?
(10) What risk was he taking?
(11) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
約西亞在猶大以外除掉偶像：
23:15-18—除掉伯特利的偶像
(1) 是誰立伯特利的壇的？
(2) 立壇的動機是什麼？(王上12:26-27)
(3) 設立這偶像的可憎之處是什麼？(王上12:28-29)
(4) 伯特利非猶大的地域，為何他要干預？
(5) 他怎樣處置伯特利的壇和根除這敬拜？
(6) 在污穢這壇的事上，約西亞應驗了那個預言？(王上13:1-2)
(7) 約西亞如何處置那被獅子咬死的先知骸骨？這有什麼重要的意義？(王上13:26-32)
23:19-20—除撒瑪利亞的偶像
(8) 在約西亞的時代，撒瑪利亞是一個怎樣的城市？(17:24-41)
(9) 他如何處置那地的偶像？
(10) 他這樣做帶著什麼風險？
(11) 今日你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
“Furthermore, the altar that was at Bethel and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin, had made, even that altar and the high place he broke down. Then he demolished its stones, ground them to dust, and burned the Asherah.” (2 Ki. 23:15)
As we are reading the accounts of individual kings of Israel and Judah, we get a general sense of the perversion and apostasy that many of them had plunged the people and the nation into, but the full force of their collective evil is only felt in our reading of the reform undertaken by Josiah. We learn the following:
- Many of the pagan altars were actually placed within the temple of the Lord and even under successive reforms, the altars and the articles for idol worship were permitted to remain and they included these things—
- Articles made for Baal and Asherah (23:4)
- The Asherah pole itself (23:6)
- Male shrine prostitutes were allowed to have their quarters located right within the compound of the temple, and no doubt, were permitted to do their business inside (23:7).
- The kings appointed pagan priests to propagate idol worship who were paid or treated the same as the priests of the Lord (23:5, 9).
- They engaged in the evil practice of the worship of Molech which involved the sacrificing of their sons and daughters in the fire (23:10).
- The kings followed the pagan practice of sun-worship, with horses and chariots placed at the entrance of the temple of the Lord (23:11).
- The kings led the way in their rebellion against the Lord with Ahaz erecting pagan altars in his private quarters, Manasseh putting altars inside the temple courts, and Solomon erecting high places, poles and sacred stones for many pagan deities (23:12-14).
A people chosen by God had degenerated into such a sorry state and their rebellion had lasted king after king. One can get a sense of how deeply ingrained was their rebellion against the Lord, and that all the effort of Josiah in implementing a reform based on the Law of Moses could hardly change the evil in the hearts of the people. No wonder, we read at the end of the account of Josiah’s reform, the Bible remarks that, “However, the Lord did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath with which His anger burned against Judah” (2 Ki. 23:26).
While “Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law”, God has promised a deliverer from Zion. “He will turn godlessness away from Jacob…and take away their sins” and one day, “all Israel will be saved” (Rom. 9:31, 11:26-27).
「他將伯特利的壇，就是叫以色列人陷在罪裡、尼八的兒子耶羅波安所築的那壇，都拆毀焚燒，打碎成灰，並焚燒了亞舍拉。」(王下23:15)
當讀到列王怎樣行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，甚至原是愛神的王(如所羅門)也晚節不保時，我們對這些君王怎樣把民陷於罪中，如何得罪了神，都有一定的了解；但是當讀到約西亞的改革時，就對列王的惡行的可怕和其深遠的影響與禍害，有極震撼的感受！我們發覺：
- 那些敬拜偶像的壇竟然是被立在神的殿中。到約西亞時，這些祭壇和器皿仍被留存，包括了拜巴力和亞舍拉的器皿（23:4）和亞舍拉的柱像（23:6）;
- 不但有男妓的淫行，他們竟是住在耶和華的殿中（23:7）;
- 列王不但立邱壇的祭司來供奉偶像，更可以吃耶和華祭司所吃的(23:5, 9)
- 甚至連把兒女經火的摩洛也敬拜(23:10)；
- 又仿效外邦拜日頭，並把所獻的馬與馬車放在聖殿的入口處(23:11)；
- 並且有君王卒先帶頭行惡，在自己樓頂築壇(如亞哈斯)、也有君王放壇在聖殿中(如瑪拿西)，而所羅門為西頓人、摩押人和亞捫人所築的壇，到約西亞時尚存在(23:12-14)。
這給我們看到神的子民可憐的歷史：他們對神的叛逆，在王朝更換之中，其實沒有多大的改變，反而如病入膏肓；即使有約西亞按摩西律法強加的改革，也未能改變百姓內心的對神的背叛。無怪在總結約西亞的改革時，聖經說：“然而，耶和華向猶大所發猛烈的怒氣仍不止息”(23:26)。
是的，單靠律法所帶來的改革是沒有果效的。正如保羅所言 :“以色列人追求律法的義，反得不著…”(羅9:31)，但神卻已應許“必有一位救主從錫安出來，要消除雅各家的一切罪惡”，並且有一天“以色列全家都要得救” (羅11:26-27)。
23:21-23—The celebration of Passover (it will be helpful to also read 2 Chr. 35:1-19 for a fuller account of this event)
(1) The king gave the order:
a. Should the observation of Passover not be a mandate to all Israelites? (Exod. 12:24)
b. Why should it be done now at the order of the king to the people (2 Ki. 23:21) and to the priests (2 Chr. 35:10)?
c. What does it say about the spiritual condition of the people and the priests?
(2) If you are able to scan through the more detailed account in 2 Chronicles 35, how do you feel about the king’s command which extended to the putting of the ark back in the temple (35:3), the arranging of Levites and priests into subdivisions (35:5, 10), the putting in place of musicians (35:15), and the final comment in v. 18?
23:24-28—Utter Extermination of apostasy
(3) How different was the getting rid of mediums, spiritists and household gods from the extermination of other forms of idol worship mentioned previously?
(4) How does this signal the utter extermination of all forms of apostasy by Josiah?
23:25-28—Biblical Comments
(5) How does the Bible commend Josiah’s effort? (v. 25)
(6) Since this was the case, why wasn’t Josiah’s effort in spiritual reformation enough to change the fate of Israel? (vv. 26-27)
(7) Why was the sin of Manasseh cited as the reason? (See 2 Ki. 21:10-16; 24:3 and Jer. 15:4)
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
23:21-23—守逾越節（請亦參閱代下35:1-19較詳盡的記載）
(1) 王下命令眾民守節：
a. 逾越節是否可守可不守的節期？（出12:24）
b. 為何王要吩咐（下命令）眾民（王下23: 21）和祭司（代下35:10），他們才守？
c. 這怎樣反映到當時猶大的屬靈情況？
(2) 參閱歷代志下第35章時，你看到王對約櫃放置的吩咐(35:3)，對祭司和利未人輪班親自作安排(35:5, 10) ，和對詩班的吩咐（35:15) ，並在35:18的評語，你有什麼正面和負面的感受？
23:24-28—盡除偶像鬼神的敬拜
(3) 這裡所論到的惡行與先前所除掉的偶像敬拜主要有什麼分別？
(4) 這裡怎樣反映到約西亞盡除偶像的決心？
(5) 聖經對約西亞有什麼評語？（23:25）
(6) 既是這樣，為何約西亞的努力仍不能改變以色列的命運？（23:26-27）
(7) 為何在此要特別提到瑪拿西的惡行？（見王下21:10-16；24:3和耶15:4）
(8) 今日你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
“The king gave this order to all the people: ‘Celebrate the Passover to the Lord your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant'.” (2 Ki. 23:21)
The reform under Josiah was not only drastic and complete, but I believe it was also carried out at lightning speed.
The Bible mentions that it was in the 18th year of his reign that Josiah sent his official to urge the priest to get moving with the repairs or restoration of the temple of the Lord (22:3), and it was in the process of this project that the Book of the Law was discovered, likely within a short period of time after the commencement of the project (22:8).
The king quickly had the book read to him and he responded with repentance and grief, asking the priest and his official to enquire of the Lord (22:14).
The words from the prophetess moved him to gather the entire people to hear the reading of the Law and he led the people to pledge themselves to the observance of the Law (23:3).
Now, the Bible says that the king gave the order to celebrate the Passover also in the 18th year of his reign (23:23), and we know that the Passover was observed on the 14th day of the 1st month (2 Chr. 35:1). If we interpret the Biblical account literally (which I do not see why we should not), it is likely that all the events preceding the Passover described above happened within the first two weeks of the 18th year, and the Passover was the first festival mandated by the Law in the year. Since they had just pledged to obey the Law, it would only be logical that they immediately put the pledge into action with the observance of the Passover.
According to the Chroniclers, no Passover had been observed “like this in Israel since the day of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah with the priests, the Levites and all Judah and Israel who were there with the people of Jerusalem” (2 Chr. 35:18). This highlights the fact that since the time of Samuel, i.e. the establishment of kingship, it was the first time that a king initiated and led the nation to remember the deliverance of God that included both Judah and Israel as one united people, and it was celebrated by all the people, not just the priests and the Levites.
The unity and the universality of the celebration of the Passover was such a fitting act of confirming their covenant with the Lord in repentance, in remembering of the salvation of the Lord, in recommitting themselves as the People of God and in acknowledging the Lord as their God!
Today, as we observe the Holy Communion, it is also a most fitting time for repentance and reaffirmation of our commitment as one united body of Christ and in acknowledging the lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives.
「王吩咐眾民說：你們當照這約書上所寫的，向耶和華─你們的神守逾越節。」(王下23:21)
約西亞的改革，不但是徹底和激烈的，我相信更是非常迅速的。
聖經告訴我們，約西亞乃是在位第18年吩咐書記催促祭司要立刻進行聖殿的修理(22:3)。就在這進程中發現了律法書；相信是在維修工程開始的時候(22:8)。
約西亞立刻要求在他面前讀出律法書，更立時受感而撕裂衣服，便差派人向神求問(22:14)。
神藉著女先知的回答使王召齊長老、祭司和大小百姓，同來聽這律法書的話，也帶領他們一同向神立約要遵守書上的話(23:3)。
聖經也告訴我們，王是在第18年吩咐祭司與百姓守逾越節(23:23) 的。我們知道，他們是按律法書的吩咐，在正月十四日守這節的(代下35:1)。如果我們按字面去解釋，剛才所述的事情都是在這第18年正月十四日前發生的，是短短兩星期內的事。也因如此，逾越節是聽到神律法上的吩咐後，第一個接著而來的節期。他們既然剛剛立約要遵守誡命，自然立刻要守逾越節了。
按歷代志的記載：“自從先知撒母耳以來，在以色列中沒有守過這樣的逾越節，以色列諸王也沒有守過，像約西亞、祭司、利未人、在那裡的猶大人，和以色列人，以及耶路撒冷居民所守的逾越節”(代下35:18)。意思是說：從撒母耳為他們立王以來，沒有像約西亞這樣吩咐全國(特別是分國以後)，由長老、祭司、利未人和所有的百姓如此同心的去守逾越節。
這樣的南北團結，與上下齊心在這時刻去守逾越節是極其合宜的，因為藉著記念神的救恩作為悔改，重新「盡心盡性的順從」與神的立約(王下23:3)是最合宜不過的。
今天，我們守聖餐記念主的捨身流血的救恩時，也正是與神重新立約、向神悔改和活出同屬基督身體，不分彼此最合宜的時刻。
23:29-30—Death of Josiah
(1) We have no idea why Josiah sought to intervene with Pharaoh Necho’s effort to help the king of Assyria, but 2 Chronicles 35:22 makes it clear that Necho had “God’s command” to hurry and asked Josiah not to stop him:
a. Why would God give a command to a gentile king?
b. In your opinion, why did Josiah choose to ignore the word of Necho?
c. What was the result of his action?
d. What lesson can we learn from his mistake?
e. The prophet Jeremiah composed laments for Josiah (of which there is no extant copy); however, how might you eulogize Josiah at his funeral? (see 2 Chr. 35:25)
23:31-34—King Jehoahaz of Judah
(2) Given the information in 22:1, how old was Josiah when Jehoahaz born?
(3) Was Jehoahaz privileged to see the radical reform done by his father?
(4) Why then would he turn away from the footsteps of his father?
(5) What was his fate?
23:35-37—King Jehoiakim of Judah
(6) It is interesting to note that while Pharaoh Necho removed Jehoahaz and replaced him with his brother Eliakim, he also changed his brother’s name to Jehoiakim— “El-iakim” means “God will set up”, while “Jeho-iakim” means “Jehovah will set up”:
a. Why did Necho not change his name into one of the Egyptian names that bears the name of his gods, and instead he changed his name to honor Jehovah—the God of Israel?
b. Given Necho’s previous encounter with Josiah in the name of God, what might this change of name indicate?
(7) How old was Jehoiakim when he was installed king? Was he any better than his predecessor?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
23:29-30—約西亞之死
(1) 我們不曉得為何約西亞要干擾法老尼哥與亞述的戰爭，但歷代志下35:22就清楚指出尼哥所言是出於神的：
a. 為何神要藉外邦的王向約西亞說話？
b. 為何約西亞竟然不聽從？
c. 不聽從帶來什麼後果？
d. 從這事上，我們可以學到什麼功課？
e. 先知耶利米為約西亞作哀歌(代下35:25) ，但已失存。如果你要為他作哀歌，你會寫什麼？
23:31-34—約哈斯作猶大王
(2) 按22:1所載，約西亞生約哈斯時，自己年紀有多大？
(3) 既是這樣，約哈斯是否有機會目睹父親領導的改革？
(4) 為何他竟會行惡？
(5) 他得到什麼下場？
23:35-37—約雅敬作猶大王
(6) 法老在立約西亞另一兒子代替約哈斯時，竟把他原有的名「以利亞敬」—即神會建立，改為「約雅敬」—即耶和華會建立：
a. 你認為法老為何不以埃及神靈的名來為他改名，反而更確實的以耶和華，以色列神的名，為他改名？
b. 這與法老先前與約西亞的事件可有關係嗎？
(7) 約雅敬被立為王時，年紀有多大？他與約哈斯有別嗎？
(8) 今日你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中?
“Josiah, however, would not turn away from him, but disguised himself to engage him in battle. He would not listen to what Necho had said at God’s command, but went to fight him on the plain of Megiddo.” (2 Chr. 35:22)
With the biblical comment that “Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did” (2 Ki. 23:25), Josiah was likely the most godly king of Israel after David, and with the mentality of our time, one would assume that he would die a “good death”. However, such was not the case. Josiah was killed in the battle.
We have no idea why Josiah felt obliged to intercept Pharaoh Necho as he sought to “help the king of Assyria” (2 Ki. 23:29) in his effort to ally with the Assyrians to fight against the rising power of Babylon. But it is clear that Necho felt the presence of God and did so with what he perceived as the command of God. This he made clear to Josiah and the Bible affirms that “Necho had said at God’s command” (2 Chr. 35:22). The puzzling question is, "Why didn’t Josiah listen?".
With what we are told in the Bible about Josiah’s godliness, we can safely assume that if Josiah knew that God had actually told Necho to “hurry up” and that his intervention amounted to “opposing God” (2 Chr. 35:21), he would definitely refrain from interfering with Necho. So the better question to ask is, “Why didn’t Josiah believe the words of Necho?”.
We who consider ourselves as spiritual should know the answer. Necho was a pagan and not a God-fearer while Josiah was more than a God-fearer, he loved the Lord. Therefore, the natural question that Josiah had upon hearing the words of Necho was, “Why would God speak to you and not to me?” or “Why would God use you who do not even know Him, to speak to me?”.
The truth of the matter is, God can use anyone or anything He chooses to speak to His people, and I have experienced this myself.
The first summer after I obeyed God’s call to full-time ministry and entered seminary, I found myself wanting to find a summer-job to supplement my income. Since I had had some connection with General Motors, I was hoping to find a summer job in Detroit. I happened to share this thought with a former college classmate who was not a born-again Christian; he sternly said, “Paul, do not look back!”.
While I was bothered that I was rebuked by someone whom I considered not capable of knowing God’s will, I knew deep in my heart that God had sent him to rebuke me. In a moment of humbleness, I instantly remember the incident of Necho and put away my pride and accepted the rebuke.
「約西亞卻不肯轉去離開他，改裝要與他打仗，不聽從神藉尼哥之口所說的話，便來到米吉多平原爭戰。」(代下35:22)
相信約西亞該是自大衛之後最合神心意的王了，因為聖經是這樣的稱許他：“在約西亞以前沒有王像他盡心、盡性、盡力地歸向耶和華，遵行摩西的一切律法；在他以後也沒有興起一個王像他” (王下23:29)。既是如此，我們若以古時的觀念，總以為他一定「有好死」的。誰知事實卻不然，他是死在戰場上，並且是自取死亡的！
我們不曉得約西亞為何定意要難阻法老尼高去亞述地爭戰(23:29)，但我們卻曉得，尼哥自信有神的同在、聖經更同意尼哥所言確出於神(代下35:22)。故此，問題是：為何約西亞不聽尼哥的勸告？
聖經既然這樣稱許約西亞，我們相信，如果他確知尼哥所言是出於神，他一定聽從的，不會「干預神的事」(代下35:21)。所以，要問的問題該是：為何約西亞不信尼哥之言是出於神？答案恐怕是 ：「屬靈的驕傲」！
我們這些「屬靈人」應該明白的。不是嗎？尼哥是誰：尼哥是誰？不是一外邦、不認識、不敬拜神的王嗎！約西亞是誰？他豈不是個又敬畏、又愛神的猶大王嗎？何用一個外邦王來教訓他，代神傳言呢！
但事實上，神能用任何一個人、任何一個事物來為祂傳言，來向屬祂的人說話。我就有這樣的經歷。
當我蒙召進神學院，剛完成第一年的課程時，為想幫補下學期的費用，我就想在暑期重操故業，多賺些錢。在一個偶然的機會，我與一位舊同學分享我這個念頭。誰知我這不是基督徒的同學一聽之下，語氣鄭重的說：「不要回頭看吧！」
當時我聽了很不舒服，卻立時想起尼哥對約西亞的話。於是，在難得的謙卑的那一刻，我決定吞下心中的驕傲，打消了做暑期工的念頭。
24:1-7—Death of Jehoiakim
(1) What happened to Judah during the reign of Jehoiakim?
(2) What was the reason given by the Bible?
(3) While 2 Kings simply records his death:
a. What was the prophecy concerning his fate? (Jer. 36:27-31)
b. Why? (Note: While the deportation of Jews did begin during Jehoiakim’s 3rd/4th year—see Dan. 1:1 and Jer. 25:1—the first official deportation is reckoned as having taken place in the time of Jehoiachin)
24:8-17—Jehoiachin, King of Judah
(4) How long did Jehoiachin reign?
(5) What kind of a king was he?
(6) The 1st deportation to Babylon:
a. What prophecy was fulfilled by Nebuchadnezzar in removing treasures from Jerusalem? (2 Ki. 20:17, Isa. 39:6)
b. Who were among the first batch of exile? (vv. 15-17)
24:18-20—Zedekiah, King of Judah
(7) Mattaniah was Josiah’s youngest son and would have been 10 years old when Josiah died. Like Necho, Nebuchadnezzar made this vassal king change his name, but not to a Babylonian name, but to a Hebrew name, Zedekiah, meaning “Righteousness of Jehovah”: What might be the implication of Nebuchadnezzar’s action?
(8) In spite of his name-change, what kind of a king was he?
(9) What was the Bible's verdict of him and Judah in spite of his attempted rebellion against Babylon?
(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
24:1-7—約雅敬之死
(1) 約雅敬掌權下的猶大國，遭到了什麼命運？
(2) 原因何在？
(3) 耶利米書對他的死亡有較詳細的交代：
a. 對他的死亡，神曾作出什麼預言？（耶36:27-31）
b. 原因是什麼？（註：雖然歷史以約雅斤年代的被擄算為第一次，其實在約雅敬的第三或四年時，已有一批人被擄去—見但1:1 和耶25:1）
24:8-17—約雅斤作猶大王
(4) 約雅斤一共作王多久？
(5) 他是怎樣的一位君王？
(6) 第一次被擄到巴比倫
a. 尼布甲尼撒王擄去聖殿和宮中的財寶應驗了什麼預言？(王下20:17, 賽39:6)
b. 第一批被擄的包括些什麼人？(王下24:15-17)
24:18-20—西底家作猶大王
(7) 瑪探雅是約西亞的幼兒，約西亞死時，他才十歲。像尼哥一樣，尼布甲尼撒迫使他改名為西底家—意即耶和華的義—而不像以巴比倫諸神的名改但以理等人的名：你認為原因可能是什麼？
(8) 名字雖然被改了，但他的生命有改變嗎？
(9) 到此，聖經怎樣論到這王和猶大的終局？
(10) 今日你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
“Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years…And he did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as his predecessors had done.” (2 Ki. 23:36-37)
The radical reformation by Josiah did prove to be a futile effort as his successive sons appeared to be totally oblivious to the godly example and influence of their father. Since the accounts of 2 Kings are very brief about the deeds of these sons, allow me to supplement here, from the book of Jeremiah, a more detailed summary of one of his sons, Jehoiakim, who was considered “Judah’s most evil king” next to Manasseh:
a. He built a plush palace, with huge rooms, many windows, paneled throughout with a fragrant cedar, and painted them a beautiful red. This he accomplished with forced slave labor while his own people were suffering (22:13, 14).
b. He was full of selfish greed and dishonesty (22:17).
c. He murdered the innocent, oppressed the poor and reigned with ruthlessness (22:17).
d. He butchered with a sword a godly and fearless prophet named Uriah, having him first tracked down in Egypt and brought back to Jerusalem (26:23).
e. He often attempted to silence the prophet Jeremiah (26:24; 36:19, 26).
f. On one occasion he burned a scroll which contained the inspired writings and prophecies of Jeremiah. But this backfired, as the prophet rewrote all that the king had burned and added a chilling prophecy against Jehoiakim (36:22, 23, 27-32). (Source: Wilmington’s Guide to the Bible, 162-3)
It is worth-noting that Jeremiah prophesied about Jehoiakim’s death in that he would not be mourned by his immediate family or his servants, and that “He will have the burial of a donkey—dragged away and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem" (Jer. 22:18-19).
「約雅敬登基的時候年二十五歲，在耶路撒冷作王十一年…約雅敬行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，效法他列祖一切所行的。」(王下23:36-37)
雖然約西亞盡了最大的努力推行屬靈的改革與更新，但看來他的努力是徒然的，特別看到他的兒子們都沒有跟從他敬畏神的榜樣。列王紀下把接續他作王的兒子們的生平，作很簡短的報導；故此容許我就耶利米書較詳細的記載，與你們總結性的思想他其中的一個兒子約雅敬的生命。有解經者稱他為「僅次於瑪拿西最可惡的猶大王」：
“a. 他為自己建豪宅，蓋廣大的房間、開窗戶、做香柏牆、並加以丹色油漆，卻不給工人當得的工價(耶22:13, 14)；
b. 他的眼與心專顧貪婪(22:17)；
c. 他流無辜人的血、行欺壓與強暴(22:17)；
d. 他用刀殺死那敬畏神，無懼的先知烏利亞；甚至派人把他從埃及捉回來施刑(26:23)；
e. 他屢次禁止耶利米傳神的信息(26:24; 36:19, 26)；
f. 他更燒掉神啟示耶利米寫下的書卷，結果換來神不但要叫先知重新寫過，更加上對他更可怕審判的預言(36:22, 23, 27-32)。”
（Willmington’s Guide to the Bible, 162-3）
按耶利米的預言，這不跟從父親敬畏神而行大惡的兒子，在死時：“人必不為他舉哀……他被埋葬，好像埋驢一樣，要拉出去扔在耶路撒冷的城門之外。”(22:18-19)
(1) Zedekiah (in spite of Jeremiah’s prophecy of captivity in Jer. 27:12-13) decided to rebel against Nebuchadnezzar (vv. 1-7):
a. How long was he able to hold off the mighty Babylonian army? (vv. 1-3)
b. What eventually did him in? (v. 3)
c. What was the fate of Zedekiah? (vv. 5-7)
d. Did he deserve such a severe punishment?
(2) Destruction to God’s temple and Jerusalem (vv. 8-12) — the 19th year of Nebuchadnezzar = 11th year of Zedekiah:
a. What happened to the house of God and the royal palace?
b. What happened to the houses and important buildings of Jerusalem?
c. What happened to the walls of Jerusalem?
d. What happened to most of the people in Jerusalem?
e. What kind of a city had Jerusalem become?
f. What was the reason given back in 24:20?
(3) Removal of sacred objects (vv. 13-17)
a. Make a list of the things taken away from the temple of the Lord.
b. What would the temple look like even if it were not burnt down?
(4) Capture of notable people (vv. 18-21)
a. Make a list of these notable people captured.
b. What happened to them subsequently?
(5) Although a limit of 70 years was put on their captivity (Jer. 29:10), what kind of a place would those people return to?
(6) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
25:1-7
(1) 雖然耶利米清楚的預言到被擄的必然（耶27:12-13），西底家仍要頑抗、背叛巴比倫：
a. 西底家堅守城池有多久？（25:1-3）
b. 最終為何要棄城而逃？（25:3）
c. 西底家遭到什麼終局？（25:5-7）
d. 他遭到的報應是否太嚴厲呢？
25:8-12
(2) 聖殿與耶城被毀（尼布甲尼撒第19年=西底家第11年）：
a. 尼布甲尼撒怎樣對待神的殿和宮殿？
b. 尼布甲尼撒怎樣對待耶城其餘的房屋？
c. 尼布甲尼撒怎樣對待城牆？
d. 這樣，耶路撒冷基本上變成了怎樣的城市？
e. 這怎樣應驗24:20的話？
25:13-17
(3) 聖物被擄：
a. 列出從聖殿中被拿去的聖物。
b. 即使聖殿沒有被焚燒，這殿已變成了什麼？
25:18-21
(4) 領袖被捉拿：
a. 列出被捉拿的眾領袖。
b. 結果，尼布甲尼撒怎樣處置他們？
(5) 雖然神應許他們被擄七十年後會歸回，你可以想像他們歸回到的耶路撒冷會是什麼樣子的呢？
(6) 今日你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中?
“So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army. He encamped outside the city and built siege works all around it.” (2 Ki. 25:1)
As Nebuchadnezzar surrounded the city of Jerusalem, we read in Jeremiah 21 that King Zedekiah enquired of the Lord through Jeremiah. The reply of the Lord was three fold:
(1) Nebuchadnezzar was God’s instrument to fight against them, and if they chose to resist by holding onto the city, they would be struck down by a plague, and the king, his officials and those who survive the plague would be handed over to Nebuchadnezzar.
(2) However, if they surrender, their lives would be spared.
(3) The royal house of David (i.e. the king and the princes) should stop oppressing the people and administer justice.
I believe, the Lord was hoping that with this message the king might repent, and presumably he did and ordered the people to proclaim freedom for their slaves which they unfortunately reneged on fairly quickly (Jer. 34:8ff).
At the end, the king chose to resist “the whole army of Nebuchadnezzar” and one had to admire his determination because he was able to hold off the mighty army of Babylon for a good one and half years, until the famine was so severe that the only choice they had was to break out of the walls of the city and flee. Zedekiah was captured and his eyes were gouged out (2 Ki. 25:4-7) and he died in prison (Jer. 52:11).
It is such a pity that Zedekiah had such great courage to fight against the powerful Nebuchadnezzar, but he did not have the same courage to submit to the will of God. Worse, by fighting against Nebuchadnezzar, he was in fact fighting against God. No one can fight against God and win!
「西底家背叛巴比倫王。他作王第九年十月初十日，巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒率領全軍來攻擊耶路撒冷，對城安營，四圍築壘攻城。」(王下25:1)
當尼布甲尼撒圍困耶路撒冷時，耶利米書21章告訴我們，西底家確有藉耶利米向神求問的。神的回答可以說是有三方面的：
(1) 尼布甲尼撒是祂的工具，用來審判他們。如果他們堅持去抵抗，就會遭受瘟疫與饑荒；即使還能生還的，包括王、臣僕與百姓都會被交在尼布甲尼撒的手中；
(2) 但如果他們投降，生命便得保存；
(3) 大衛家，即王與臣僕，則要停止欺壓百姓，施行公平。
我相信，神希望藉著這信息，王與百姓能悔改歸向祂。事實上，王確實立刻下令釋放奴僕；可惜的是，他們不久就反悔，重新勉強他人為奴（耶34:8ff）。
至終，西底家選擇抵抗「尼布甲尼撒全軍」。不過我也欣賞他的勇氣，他竟能在如此強大的敵人面前，堅守城池達一年半，最後因絕糧，城才被攻破。結果，西底家在奔逃中被擒拿，眼睛被剜出（王下25:4-7），最後死在獄中（耶52:11）。
雖然我欣賞他頑抗尼布甲尼撒如此強大的敵人的勇氣，可惜他卻沒有信靠神、順服神旨的勇氣。更糟的是，他以為自己抗拒的是尼布甲尼撒，其實，他抗拒的是神旨。誰能以神為敵而能得勝的呢！
(1) With very few people left in this devastated city of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar appointed Gedaliah as care-taker of Judah. He was the son of Ahikam — see Jeremiah 26:24 about what Ahikam did to Jeremiah.
(2) Many of the fighting men who broke free from the Babylonian siege (25:4) now came back and joined Gedaliah; so did many who escaped to Moab, Ammon and Edom (Jer. 40:11). What was God’s intention for them (through the overseeing of Gedaliah) even with the severe and complete punishment He gave Jerusalem? (also see Jer. 42:7-12)
(3) However, one of the these army officers, Ishmael, was actually sent by the king of the Ammonites and he assassinated Gedaliah and killed the Babylonian soldiers posted (Jer. 40:14; 41:3), and the rest of people fled to Egypt for fear of the Babylonians:
a. Should they have fled to Egypt? (Jer. 42:19ff)
b. Apart from the fact that Egypt would also fall to Babylon, what would happen to them once they were in Egypt? (Jer. 44:8)
(4) How was Jehoiachin treated toward the latter part of his life in Babylon?
(5) What might be the reason or message for ending the account of the nations of Israel and Judah on such a note?
(6) The end of 2 Kings marks the end of the nation of the people of God which lasted from 588/6 B.C. to A.D. 1948 — it was more than 2,600 years.
a. What might be the most important lesson one can learn from the Books of the Kings, i.e. 1 & 2 Samuel (beginning with the anointing of the first king) and 1 & 2 Kings (to the end of the nation of Israel)?
b. What should be the most important lesson to modern-day Israel?
(7) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
(1) 尼布甲尼撒立基大利作這已盡毀、少有居民之地的省長。基大利是亞希甘的兒子。試翻到耶利米書26:24，看看亞希甘是怎樣的人。
(2) 先前從城逃跑的軍兵（25:4）回到基大利那裡，也有逃到摩押等地的猶太人（耶40:11）：雖然神如此降災審判他們，神對這群餘剩的人有什麼心意？（王下25:24和耶42:7-12）
(3) 原來以實瑪利受到亞捫王所指使來刺殺基大利的，也殺了一些巴比倫兵士(見耶 40:14; 41:3), 餘民因懼怕而逃到埃及：
a. 他們應否逃到埃及？（參耶42:19ff）
b. 不該逃到埃及的原因，除了埃及也不能自保外，尚有什麼原因？（參耶44:8）
(4) 約雅斤後期遭到怎樣待遇？
(5) 以色列與猶大這段歷史以約雅斤後期的遭遇作結束，你認為意味什麼？
(6) 列王紀下的結束也是以色列國的結束，為期超過了二千六百年之久—即由主前588/6 年到主後1948年
a. 從撒母耳記的開始（由立王）到列王紀的結束（亡國）所載的歷史，最重要的信息是什麼？
b. 對今日復了國的以色列最重要的信息又是什麼？
(7) 今日你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中?
“Gedaliah took an oath to reassure them and their men. ‘Do not be afraid of the Babylonian officials,’ he said. ‘Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you'.” (2 Ki. 25:24)
Toward the end of the nation of Judah, through the mouths of His prophets, especially Jeremiah’s, the Lord had repeatedly confirmed that the destruction of the nation was inevitable, and that the kings and the people should submit to God’s will and surrender to their enemies.
As we learn from the Book of Jeremiah, it was not a popular message and Jeremiah was put in prison as a result. However, even as the nation was destroyed, God chose to preserve a remnant in Jerusalem and bless them (Jer. 42:10-12). In fact, God also promised the eventual return of the exiles to Jerusalem in 70 years (Jer. 29:10). All they had to do was to submit to the will of God, totally depend on God for their deliverance and well-being, and wait for His timing in the meantime.
Unfortunately, they would have none of that and at the assassination of Gedaliah, the remnant chose to flee to Egypt against the express command of the Lord (Jer. 42:19ff). It was such an apt ending to that part of the history of Israel in that they thought they were fleeing to freedom; they were in fact fleeing from the presence of the Lord!
What a lesson to all of us today as well!
「基大利向他們和屬他們的人起誓說：你們不必懼怕迦勒底臣僕，只管住在這地服事巴比倫王，就可以得福。」(王下25:24)
在猶大的末期，神藉著先知，特別是耶利米，宣告耶路撒冷和國家的失陷是不能避免的；並且，他們該順服神的旨意，應向尼布甲尼撒投降。
從耶利米書詳盡的記載，我們知道這是一個極不受歡迎的信息，而耶利米本身，亦因而被苦待和下獄。雖然這些預言應驗了，猶大人家破人亡，多有被殺和被擄去的；神卻在這全被毀滅的耶路撒冷，為他們留下小數餘剩的人，並願意保守、看顧他們（耶42:10-12）。至於那些被擄去的，神也早已應許他們在70年後，帶領他們歸回（耶29:10）。故此，他們所要做的是順服神旨，在這國難之年安靜的倚靠神的救拯、等候神所定的時間，一切便會穩妥。
可惜這些餘民不聽勸導，不願等候與信靠神；特別在省長基大利被刺殺後，雖有神清楚的責備和勸導，仍選擇逃到埃及地，是自尋死路（耶42:19ff）。以這小小的插曲來結束以色列國的歷史也是合宜的，因為這正反映出他們一直所犯的錯誤，就是他們自以為是奔向自由的路，結果是逃避神的同在，奔向滅亡的道路。
這也是今日我們的鑑戒！