Wed.’s Devo - The Last Kings

Read: Jeremiah 22:1-23:20; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12; Psalm 83:1-18; Proverbs 25:11-14 Jeremiah listed the things they were doing that angered the Lord and told them to stopping them. They were not being fair or just to the people; they were not helping those who had been robbed; they mistreated foreigners, orphans and widows; and they murdered the innocent. If they would obey the Lord, then there would always be a king in their gates, but if they refused to obey, then Jerusalem would become a pile of rubble and Judah would be turned into a desert. When people passed by they would ask what happened to the beautiful city of Jerusalem and the answer would be that they broke the covenant they had made with their God. Josiah had been a good king who honored the Lord with all his heart. He gave justice and helped the poor and needy so everything went well for him. His son, Jehoahaz was of another heart. He was greedy and dishonest - a murderer of the innocent and oppressor of the poor. He ruled ruthlessly. He would be taken captive and never return to Jerusalem. Jehoiakim used forced labor to build his palace When he died, the people would not mourn for him like they did his father, Josiah. He would be thrown out of the city gates like a dead donkey. Jehoiachin his son would be handed over to the king of Babylon along with his mother. They would die in Babylon and never return. None of his sons would become king. God pronounced judgment on the leaders and shepherds of the people who were suppose to care for them. Instead they deserted them and drove them to destruction. There would be a remnant who God would save and protect. The would be brought back. God would appoint new shepherds to lead them in righteousness. From them a king would come and his name would be “the Lord Is Our Righteousness.” Judah would be saved and Israel would live in safety. In that day, they would no longer be talking about God delivering them from Egypt, but the talk would be the fact that God brought them back to their land. The false prophets abused their power and desecrated the Temple of the Lord. The prophets of Samaria were terribly evil and prophesied in the name of Baal. They led the people of Israel into sin. The prophets of Judah and Jerusalem did even worse. They committed adultery and loved dishonesty and encouraged others to do the same. He compared them to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. The false prophets filled the people’s minds with false hopes saying that no harm would come to them. Jeremiah ended with “In the days to come you will understand all this very clearly.” Paul commended the church in Thessalonica for their endurance and faithfulness in the midst of persecutions and hardships. God would use their persecution to show his justice and make them worthy of his Kingdom. Paul prayed that God would enable them to live a life worthy of his call and that He would give them the power to accomplish all the good things their faith prompted them to do. May You be honored in all we do. Thank you for the grace to accomplish all you have put in our hearts to do.