Sat.’s Devo - Judgment on the Leaders

Read: Jeremiah 22:1-23:20; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12; Psalm 83:1-18; Proverbs 25:11-14
God’s main complaint with Judah’s officials is that they didn’t judge fairly. They didn’t rescue the oppressor who had been robbed. They treated the alien, the widow and the fatherless with violence and killed innocent babies. They made all these decisions in the palace of the king.
Josiah had been a righteous king who brought about reform and peace. Josiah’s son, Shallum or renamed: Jehoiakim did just the opposite. He built a beautiful palace using slave labor and ruling without mercy or justice. He practiced all types of idolatry and sin. God called Jehoiakim a broken pot that no one wanted. God was going to cast him out of the land where he and his family would be poor and none of his children would sit on the throne.
God also judged the shepherds who were suppose to be the spiritual overseers of his people. Instead of guiding them in the truth, they had brought division and not taken care of them.
To the remnant, God was going to bring them back to their homes where they would be fruitful and increase in number. He was going to give them shepherds would would take care of them and help them grow in Him.
The prophets and the priests had mostly gone astray and were prophesying by the power of Baal. They had led the people in wickedness and idolatry. They would have to drink the bitter poisonous waters they had given out.
Jeremiah summed it up with these words, “In days to come you will understand it clearly.”
In Thessalonians, Paul also talked about judgement. He was speaking of the judgment to come. Judgment only falls on those who have rejected him and his son. But for the believer, God has promised a calling and power to fulfill every act and good purpose.
Lord, may we walk in the calling you have placed on our lives with your power and grace.