The Beginning of The End – Daniel 1:1,2
Introduction
When something comes to an end – there is often a ‘beginning’ of the end
e.g. the end of an athletic career often begins with injury or illness
Lou Gherig the Iron Man of Baseball played in 2130 consec games
Career 340 avg, 1995 RBI 493 HR
1937 3511938 2951939 114 no HR thru 1mo
6/1939 diagnosd w Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis died 6/41
When country comes to an end, there is also a beginning of the end
Today the beginning of the end of Judah
History
Saul 1st king 1040-1000BCDavid 1000-960BCSolomon 960-920BC
Punishment for Solomon’s sin 1Kn11:11 tear most of nation away 1 tribe left
Rehoboam ff Solomon king of Judah, Jeroboam split and became king of Israel
Israel
Jeroboam precedent dominat Israel 1Kn12:26-29ff Au calves Dan&Bethel
Kings of Israel ff Jeroboam, religious apostasy, Ahab one of worst
Very few sons ff their father as king in Israel, U bcm King Israel kill prev
God sent prophets to Israel – Hosea, Amos, Jonah, Nahum, Elijah, Elisha..
Sad history of Israel came to an end in 722 BC Shalmaneser IV Assyria
2 Kings 17 details end v 5-18 give reasons
Assyrians resettled Israel 2Kn17:24-41
Judah
Some good kings, many bad kings
Josiah was the last good king of Judah, but lets start w his gfthr Manesseh
Manesseh became king 697, ruled 55 years longest of and king Ju or Isrl
Brought witchcraft, child sac, idolatry, shed innocent blood
Amon his 22 yr old son ff Manesseh, like father like son,
killed by servants after 2 years
Josiah 8 yr old, ff ways of David
When 26 repairs to temple, found scroll, heard words – tore clothes
Inquired of God 2 Kn 22:16 calamity;
Josiah heart tender humbled self B4 the Lord 22:19, 25 no king lk
Initiated massive reforms 2Kn23... prophet JEREMIAH supported
Sought 2stp Phar Necho fm pas thru lnd 2Kn23:29killd@Megiddo
Jehoahaz succeded Josiah, Pharoah Necho removed,placed Jehoiakim king
Jehoiakim ruled as puppet king to Necho for 3 years
Jeremiah spoke against Jehoiakim Jer 22,23, importantly 25:10-12
Jeremiah sent word to Jehoiakim – burned word of God Jer36
605BC Necho mrchd north join w Assyria fight Babylon Carchemish total defeat of Egypt and Assyria by Nebuchadnezzar
Jer 46:2
Beginning of the End of Judah 605BC
Daniel 1:1,2 Nechadnezzar comes to Jerusalem and besieges it
Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand w some of the articles of temple
Neb carried to the land of Shinar [Gn11:1-9; 10:10] into house of his god
Lessons 4US
- beginning of the end the work of God, absolute sovereignty of God
- Daniel a prophetic book, give meaning to history, key to intrep prophecy
- when word of God ignored or violated – divine judgment comes, inevitable
- God sends word to warn of the coming judgment – this is the beginning of end
- Israel B4 end had form of godliness w/o power, like many in modern church worldly saints not doing much good for this world