Tisha B'Av Grace
King Jehoiachin's failure reveals God's grace to broken sinners.
This morning, I participated in a Zoom call with Ron Joelson, the Chief Financial Officer (retired) of Northwestern Mutual.
Ron is a friend and a brilliant man. He managed billions of dollars in Northwestern Mutual's investment portfolio for decades until he retired last year.
Ron reminded me that today is Tisha B’Av in Israel.
Tisha B’Av
Tish B’Av is Hebrew for “The ninth day of the month of Av.”
Jews measure time using a lunar calendar. The “ninth day of Av” is the ninth day of the lunar month corresponding to August in the Western solar calendar.
The ninth day of Av in Israel is a day of solemn mourning in Israel. The nation of Israel has experienced awful pain as a nation on this day.
On Tish B’Av:
On this holy day of Tisha B’Av, Jewish women do not wear makeup, all sports games in Israel are canceled, and Jews do not eat sweets.
The Jewish people mourn.
Tom Cruise and His Great Fall in Paris
The world went nuts when Tom Cruise jumped from the Paris stadium at the 2024 Olympic Closing Ceremonies.
The biggest Hollywood movie star’s fall from the Olympic stadium to the stage to hand off the Olympic flag to the mayor of Los Angeles captured worldwide attention.
Tom Cruise’s fall from heights compares nothing to the historic falls of the nation of Israel.
One example of Israel’s great fall comes from King Jehoiachin.
You’ve never heard of Jehoiachin, right?
He served as King of Judah for 100 days (see II Kings 24:8-17) —100 days of hell.
The Scripture uses three different names for King Jehoiachin:
Jehoiachin: “Yahweh will uphold” – 2 Kings 24:8.
Jeconiah: “Yahweh will be steadfast” – 1 Chronicles 3:16.
Coniah: “Yahweh has upheld him” – Jeremiah 37:1.
Jehoiachin’s story is drop-dead fantastic.
King Jehoiachin’s story is a profound testimony to hope's enduring power in the darkest times.
Though Jehoiachin ascended to the throne of Judah in 597 BC, the Babylonians cut short his reign 100 days after his accession.
Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians took King Jehoiachin captive, leading to his long, bleak imprisonment.
King Jehoiachin languished in chains for thirty-seven years, symbolizing broken dreams.
Yet, just when despair seemed eternal, Jehoiachin experienced a miraculous restoration.
The last words of the scroll of Jeremiah record for us Jehoiachin’s restoration:
“And in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, graciously freed Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison; and he spoke kindly to him, and gave him a seat above the seats of the kings who were with him in Babylon. So Jehoiachin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life he dined regularly at the king's table; and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, every day a portion, as long as he lived.” - Jeremiah 52:31-34
Jehoiachin’s release and elevation from prison remind us that no night is so dark that it can quench the dawn’s light.
Jehoiachin’s story symbolizes grace to believers who experience pain in this life.
When we, as God’s people, feel our souls imprisoned through painful circumstances…
Hope endures.
Even in the deepest valleys, the possibility of redemption and renewal awaits.
Jehoiachin went from the Palace to the Pit, from the Kingdom to the Dungeon, and from the Reign of Power to the Rain of Pain.
God had his hand on Jehoiachin.
God always has his hand on mourners.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” - Matthew 5::4.
By God’s grace, Tisha B’Av, the day of mourning, turns to Simchat Torah, a day of rejoicing.
In Babylon's grasp, young Jehoiachin lay,
At eighteen, captive, in chains, he would stay.
Nebuchadnezzar, with power and pride,
Led Judah’s king to a cell dark and wide.
But dreams of the night and visions so clear,
Showed a God of the Jews, whom he learned to fear.
A furnace of fire, a tale to be told,
Of three who were saved, as prophecy unfolds.
Nebuchadnezzar, once mighty, now knew,
The power of YHWH comes from God, who is true.
On his deathbed, he lay, with a heart now contrite,
He called to his son in the dim candlelight.
"Evil-Marduk, my heir, heed this last plea,
Release Judah's king, set Jehoiachin free."
"Thirty-seven years have passed since his fall,
But YHWH’s mercy extends to us all."
With his final breath, the king made it clear,
The God of the Hebrews, he now held dear.
And so, at fifty-five, Jehoiachin walked free,
A symbol of grace in Babylon's decree.
For the heart of a king can be turned by the LORD,
And nations are swayed by His sovereign word.
Don’t let this day of sorrow in life pass, your day of Tisha B’Av, without giving the GOD of Creation thanks for the joy He brings to sinners by His grace in Jesus Christ.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” - Romans 8:18
I'm embarrassed. I consider myself as perhaps being at least a novice Bible student, but how did I miss the amazing story of King Jehoiachin's imprisonment and rescue? I know I have read it many times but it's one of those things that just did not resonate in its significance. I must go back and re-visit that entire exile episode and Nebuchadnezzar's awakening.
Thank you for highlighting it, Wade. I won't forget it.