Beginning with Moses and continuing through all the historical prophets that included Elijah, Elisha and numerous unnamed prophets the Lord explained his requirements and rewarded the nation for their obedience. The mercy of God continued with prophets such as an old Isaiah, Huldah, Zephaniah, Habakkuk, and specifically, Jeremiah and Ezekiel in this final generation. All these prophets presented the Word of God to this rebellious generation until God no longer had pity on them and the people of Judah were forced to experience the ultimate punishment that comes on a fourth generation - the fifth cycle of discipline.

This generation was led by Kings such as Jehoiakim and Zedekiah to mock and scoff at the men of God and despised the Word of God. Ultimately God’s pity was exhausted and it was replaced by the Lord’s wrath.  

As Jeremiah had told the people of Judah for forty years (627-586 BC) the Babylonians came to lay siege to the city of Jerusalem and after two years the walls were broken through, the starving people were slaughtered in the streets, even in the Temple itself. The city, the palace and the Temple were burned. The treasures of the city of Jerusalem along with many surviving people were taken to Babylon to build cities for Nebuchadnezzar.

“There is a type of Christian faith…rather strongly represented today, that regards the affirmations of Christian faith as confessional statements which the individual accepts as a member of the believing community, and which are not dependent on reason or evidence. Those who hold this position will not admit that historical investigation can have anything to say about the uniqueness of Christ. They are often skeptical as to the possibility of knowing anything about the historical Jesus, and seem content to dispense with such knowledge.” – Millar Burrows

The Christian faith is faith IN Christ. Its value or worth is NOT IN the one believing, but IN the One believed,
NOT IN the one trusting but IN the One trusted.