23. "Thus speaks Cyrus king of Persia: Yahweh, the God of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has ordered me to build him a house in Jerusalem, in Judah. Now, all of you who belong to his people, go there and may Yahweh your God be with you."
Chapter 36 of 2 Chronicles narrates the end of the kingdom of Judah and the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon, fulfilling God's prophecies about the punishment of the people for their disobedience. Among the topics covered are the disobedience of the people, the negligent leadership of the kings, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the hope of future restoration. Next, five verses related to these themes:
Jeremiah 25:11-12: "All this earth will be reduced to the desert and object of mocking, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years. But when the years are thoroughly, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation, Because of their sins, and I will make the land of the Chaldeans a perpetual desert. " This verse anticipates the fall of Babylon after seventy years and shows that God used the nation to punish Judah for his sins.
2 Kings 24:10-11: "At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and the city was surrounded against Jerusalem, and the city was surrounded. Nebuchadnezzar also personally came to the city while his servants besieged it." This verse describes the siege of Jerusalem through Babylon and the presence of King Nebuchadnezzar during the attack.
Jeremiah 39:2: "On the tenth day of the fourth month of the year first of the reign of Zedekiah, the officials of the king of Babylon entered the city and occupied it." This verse shows the moment when Jerusalem was taken by Babylon and the city was destroyed.
Lamentations 2:9: "Their gates have fallen to the ground; their bars have been broken and destroyed. Their kings and their princes are exiled between the nations, without finding law or prophet. The visions of the prophets are but empty farce." This verse describes the destruction of Jerusalem and the lack of leadership and spiritual orientation of the people.
Ezra 1:1-2: "In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, that the word of the Lord said through the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord inspired Cyrus, king of Persia, to do this proclamation in writing in all His kingdom, 'Thus Speaks Cyrus, King of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, gave me all the kingdoms of the earth and in charge of building a temple to him in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. " This verse brings the hope of restoration and reconstruction of the temple of Jerusalem after exile in Babylon, fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecies and showing God's faithfulness to fulfill His promises.
“Deus ama quem segue o caminho da virtude.” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina
