2 Chron 36:15 The LORD, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because He had pity on His people and on His dwelling place.
My pastor has an expression: “The worst thing is never the last thing.” It is a message of hope, a message to keep looking for God’s grace, mercy, and compassion in life because it is there. The books of Chronicles have been billed from the beginning as “…essentially…books of hope, grounded on the grace of our sovereign Lord.” So as I read this last chapter of 2 Chronicles, full of evil kings, the fall of Jerusalem, and exile, I knew I had to keep the bigger picture in mind so as not to miss the message in the ruins.
2 Chron 36:16 But they mocked God’s messengers, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against His people and there was no remedy.
It helps that I know that the books of Chronicles are not the end of the story. We haven’t even gotten to the New Testament yet, to Christ’s birth, life, death, and resurrection. So even as I see the human pigheadedness that leads to death, destruction, and exile, I know that there is more to the story. I know the hope of Christ.
2 Chron 36:22 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also put it in writing:
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the reminder that the worst thing is not the last thing, that You are loving, merciful, and compassionate, that You are here. Thank You for the reminder to cling to the hope and peace that can only come from You. Draw me closer. Infuse my life with Your hope and peace. Amen.
2 Chron 36:23 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build a temple for Him in Jerusalem in Judah. Any of His people among you may go up, and may the LORD their God be with them.’”
Have a blessed day.