2 Kings 25:1-7. In the ninth year of the reign of King Zedekiah in Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, besieged Jerusalem. The entire city was surrounded for two years and the famine became so great that there was no food for the people at all. At the point that a breach was made in the city wall, Zedekiah and his army fled by night through the gate by the king's garden. The Chaldeans eventually caught up with them and Zedekiah was taken prisoner while his army scattered. Zedekiah was brought to Nebuchadnezzar for sentencing. His two sons were killed before his eyes, then his eyes were put out and he was taken in fetters to Babylon.

From Zedekiah's behavior we can see why Jerusalem really just had to fall. Zedekiah was king in a besieged city, responsible for the protection and guidance of God's chosen people, but when the going got really bad, with famine and starvation prevailing, he sneaked out of the city with his army to escape, abandoning his people and the holy city.

If this is the attitude of the king, it is indicative of the attitude of the people, or at least of the ones in power. They clearly did not think much of their special place in God's plan or of God's people or His holy city. The kingship was just another power position in a world of power players - it was forsaken merely for safety of the king.

When leadership gets this bad most likely the next king or ruler would just be as would be just as bad as Zedekiah. This corruption is almost never limited to just one person, it becomes the norm in the upper echelons of power. God knew the only way to bring his city back was to let it fall and have all of these people cleared out.

I think the United States is in much the same position right now. In fact, I think much of the world is. Our world needs prayer to avoid the fate of Jerusalem!