Sat.’s Devo - Zedekiah’s Weak Reign

Read: Jeremiah 37:1-38:28; 1 Timothy 6:1-21; Psalm 89:38-52; Proverbs 25:28 Zedekiah was appointed as Judah’s next king by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. It becomes plain to see why. He was easily manipulated and a very weak leader. He was swayed back and forth by the opinions of others. ***Zedekiah wouldn’t listen to what Jeremiah prophesied and yet he would call for him and ask him to pray for them. The king of Babylon stopped attacking Jerusalem to tend to the Egyptians, but Jeremiah told them that they would return and finish capturing the city and burning it to the ground. *** Jeremiah tried to leave Jerusalem to see about the piece of property he had bought from his relative but was stopped at the gate and accused of defecting to the Babylonians. He told them that was absurd but they wouldn’t believe him. He was blogged ad imprisoned in the house of Jonathan the secretary and put into a dungeon cell. *** Finally, the king sent for Jeremiah to ask him if he had any message from the Lord. Jeremiah said that he sure did. He would be defeated by the Babylonians. Then Jeremiah pled his own cause and begged him not to send him back to the dungeon to die. The king let him go to the royal palace prison and be fed a loaf of bread as long as they had bread. *** Three of the officials came to Zedekiah and told him how Jeremiah was telling the people that they needed to surrender to the Babylonians or they would die. This was killing the morale of their soldiers. So Zedekiah caved to them and allowed them to do whatever they wanted to Jeremiah. They took him and put him in a cistern that was full of mud. When the Ethiopian, Abed-melech found out what had happened to Jeremiah, he went and pled his case before Zedekiah. Zedekiah told him to take 30 men and pull Jeremiah out before he died. *** Jeremiah was pulled out and allowed to return to the royal prison. Zedekiah secretly sent for Jeremiah again to ask him for advice. Jeremiah told him that if he would surrender to the king of Babylon he and his family would be allowed to live, but if he didn’t, he would not escape. The city would be burned to the ground and all the women left in his palace would be brought out and given to the officers of the Babylonian army. All his wives and children would be led out to the Babylonians and he would be seized. *** Zedekiah told Jeremiah that he was afraid to surrender for fear of what the Judeans who had defected might do to him. Jeremiah told him that he wouldn’t be turned over to them if he obeyed and surrendered. Zedekiah sent Jeremiah back to his cell and told him not to tell his officials what they had talked about. He did what the king said and remained in the prison until Jerusalem was captured. *** Paul gave advice to the working men. They were to respect their boss especially if he was a believer. Anyone who taught differently than the teaching of Christ lacked understanding. Those who were contented to live godly lives were spiritually wealthy. We brought nothing into this world and can take nothing with us when we leave. Longing to be rich is a temptation that will lead to foolish and harmful desires. and to love money is a root to many kinds of evil. It has caused many to leave the faith and given them sorrow in return. *** Paul encouraged Timothy to run from the desire to be rich and desire instead to live a pure, righteousness and godly life full of faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. If he did this no one would be able to find a fault in him. *** One day, Christ will be revealed from heaven by God. Until then, the rich must not be proud and trust in their money, but their trust must be in God. They are to use their money for the good and be rich in good works and generosity. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure for the future. *** Lord, may we put our eyes, our hope and our future in your hands. We look to you as the author and finisher of our faith.