2014-06-13
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Last week, I was led to write about some of the history of Judah, leading up to it being taken captive by the Babylonians. Names were changed of some of the principle rulers for various reasons, usually without them having much say about it. The changes as power passed from one of Israel’s enemies to another led to her northern kingdom of Israel being captured by the Assyrians in 722 BC and her southern kingdom of Judah taken captive by the Babylonians in the period between 605 BC and 586 BC. There are many lessons to be learned from this history, and God’s ultimate sovereignty, which never changes even through power over Israel changed human hands so often.
The beloved king of Judah, Josiah, had been killed in the battle of Meggido [part of the larger battle of Charchemish] in 612 BC. Two of Josiah’s four sons, Shallum/Jehoahaz and Eliakim/Jehoiakim jockeyed for placement on the throne of Judah 1 CH 3: 15; JER 22: 11: 2 CH 36: 42; 2 K 23: 34-35] . Then, powerful pharaoh, Neco, captured Jehoahaz, tortured him in Egypt, and Jehoahaz died there. Jehoiakim, who had been pro-Egyptian, was placed on the throne of Judah [2 K18: 25; 2 CH 35: 21]. Ruling from 609-598 BC, Jehoiakim assessed the people, making them pay taxes to Pharaoh Neco in Egypt. He reigned when the prophet, Daniel, and his friends were taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia. After Jehoiakim, his son Jehoiachin (18) ruled Judah for only three months from Dec. 587 BC – Mar. 597 BC [2 K 24: 8]. When Zedekiah (21) became king of Judah, he was on the throne the destruction of the temple at Jerusalem happened, ruling from 597-586 BC [2 K 24: 18-19]. Like Jehoiachin, Zedekiah did evil in the sight of God.
Going into all this history is good for us, because it brings up the overarching point which is made in DN 4: 17. “The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone He wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.” One area I’m directed by the Holy Spirit to discuss this week is the fate of the prophets, particularly Jeremiah, during this key period of Israel’s history. It’s interesting to note that King Zedekiah’s mother was Hamutal, the prophet, Jeremiah’s, daughter [2 K 24: 18]. It stands to reason that Jeremiah was upset when Jehoiachin was taken prisoner by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, along with temple treasures stored there by King Solomon many years earlier. Jeremiah served Judah as a prophet from 650 – 582 BC, and lived in part during Nahum’s time (658-615 BC). He was also a contemporary of Zephaniah (640-626 BC), Habakkuk (608-598 BC), Ezekiel (c. 620-570 BC), Daniel (c. 620-540 BC), and Obediah (c. 590 BC). Jeremiah’s service to Judah really began in 626 BC. These dates are given to add perspective to what we learn about the consequences of disobedience to God experienced by Judah and the lessons we can learn from it-- applying to our modern lives. Provenance is added to Jeremiah’s claim to know the truth with JER 25: 11, his very accurate prophecy that Judah would be held captive for 70 years.
Jeremiah was the major prophet who was in service at the time Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon captured Daniel (602 BC) and destroyed the temple in Jerusalem (586 BC). The cup of God’s wrath spilled over on His disobedient Jewish idolaters, as the exiled Ezekiel had seen in a vision of this most detested sin of idolatry being carried on in the very temple erected to honor Him [EZK 8: 6-10]. And God’s shekinah glory [dazzling presence] took leave of the temple, as seen in his vision in EZK 10: 18-19. Returning to Jeremiah, this prophet continued to spread his unpopular message, as Isaiah had done, for most part unheeded. During Jehoiakim’s reign, Jeremiah was threatened with death. He had delivered a message of warning and need to reform to the priests, prophets, and people when the latter seized him [JER 26: 8] near Jerusalem’s New Gate to the temple. However the officials released Jeremiah, saying he should not be put to death, fearing the guilt of shedding innocent blood on themselves [JER 26: 15]. Jeremiah had the support of Ahikam son of Shaphan, who was the father of Gedaliah, who would become the governor of Judah after Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 BC. Ahikam had been an official of King Josiah’s court and was held in high esteem. Throughout all this turmoil and that about to happen, Jeremiah’s scribe, Baruch, whose name in Hebrew means “Praise be” (to God”), remained his friend. This very interesting story continues in next week’s devotion. For this week, we should think about the meaning of names we give to our children, praying for our Covenant Partner’s wisdom beforehand, and continue in recognizing our Covenant Partner’s ultimate sovereignty in our own lives. His enemies are our own enemies; His friends are our own human covenant partners and potential ones. And yes, we must recognize that ultimately Christ will separate the sheep from the goats [MT 25: 32].
PRAYER: O Lord, You leave nothing important up to mere chance. We recognize that by rehearsing our own history with You and seeing Your faithfulness and love for us. You reveal Yourself in our daily lives. PS 107: 43, “Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithfulness of the Lord.” We, who are at the work of getting to know You better, reach to understand You are sovereign and that we can rely on Your goodness, compassion, and wisdom. We bow before You with utmost reverence and awe. We recognize that Your will should be our own, that Your will shall always prevail. We can hear in our hearts Your words in IS 46: 9-10, “I am God, and there is none like Me. I will make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’” While rejecters will say such a statement is boasting and arrogant, we who love You will accept it as truth and a reason to obey You faithfully. You are our God, Our Covenant Partner, Who knows all, is with us all the time, and whose actions and teachings are wholly consistent. HE 13: 8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” PS 9: 7-8, “The Lord reins forever; He has established His throne for judgment. He will judge the world in righteousness; He will govern the peoples with justice.” Your goodness is unparalleled by any human. PS 16: 2, “I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.” And Dearest Covenant Partner, You are right here with us. PS 145: 18-19, “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who have reverence for Him; He hears their cry and saves them.” Let us end this prayer with praise and exaltation, as well it should be. EX 15: 2, “The Lord is my Strength and my Song. He has become my Salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him; my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.” In Christ’s holy/mighty name we pray. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: The story of Jeremiah and the other prophets of Judah is of interest, because of our overarching message of God’s sovereignty and how it was exerted. After doing the research necessary for next week’s devotion, I am even more fascinated by the names these historical figures were given and the importance of our own need to submit to the Lord’s authority. One can hardly miss the blessings of being obediently faithful to our Covenant Partner or the love He shows those who do this. I’m sure some people reading this may ask how I personally know the Lord is with me 24/7. He speaks to me in many ways. Some of them are directions-- like what to write to each of you each week, some are things for my personal life and relationships, and some are what I should be doing with my other time when I’m not writing about Him. He gives me warnings about making wrong decisions, and sometimes He sends the same message to me from people unconnected to each other. He sometimes answers prayers I have offered, like the one to provide me with lots of opportunities to witness to my faith. And sometimes He stabs me with the pain of knowing when I have done something wrong, reminding me to confess my sin to Him honestly/openly and to stop sinning. But, I know this: Everything He does, every message He gives is for our eternal good! He will do this for anyone who opens his heart to the Holy Spirit and is willing to do what is necessary to strengthen his faith in the Lord Jesus. Each of His human creation who seeks Him in genuine love will be answered in kind. JER 29: 11-13, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you not to bring disaster, plans to give you the future for which you hope. Then you will come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” Praise be to our God forever!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn]
JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2014. All Rights Reserved.
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