Mon.’s Devo- The Last Kings of Judah

Read: Jeremiah 22:1-23:20; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12; Psalm 83:1-18; Proverbs 25:11-14 Josiah had been the last good king who honored the Lord. After him was his 4th son, Jehoahaz who reigned 3 months, then Josiah’s 2nd son, Jehoiakim, who reigned 11 years. Jehoiakim’s son, Jehoiachin reigned after him for 3 months and 10 days and lastly, Josiah’s 3rd son, Zedekiah ruled. He ruled 11 years. It was Zedekiah who Jeremiah was addressing in today’s reading. He advised Zedekiah to be just to his people and to treat them kindly. If he didn’t then his palace would become a pile of rubble. *** Jeremiah saw the disaster that Jerusalem would become. God told him not to weep for Josiah or his son, Jehoahaz. Josiah was dead and Jehoahaz had been taken captive by Babylon. (In other words, God told Jeremiah to stop mourning what was and what could have been - he was to live in the present and the future.) It would not go well for Jehoiakim who built wonderful buildings with forced labor only to have them destroyed. The people would not mourn his death. God would turn his son, Jehoiachin over to the Babylonians. *** God was not happy with the shepherds of Israel who were suppose to care for their sheep, but instead deserted them and set them up for destruction. The leaders would be judged, but the people would return to their land where they would prosper and increase in number. *** Then Jeremiah addressed the false prophets who did not speak for the Lord. They spoke evil and abused their power. They were ungodly and wicked who did despicable acts in the Temple of the Lord. The Lord blamed them for the wickedness that had filled the land. They had not gotten their prophecies from the Lord. *** The Church in Thessalonians had questions about the second coming of Christ and about death. Paul tried to answer those questions in his first letter to them, then learned that some had quit working to wait for Christ’s return. He quickly wrote this second letter to straighten things out. *** Paul begins by commending them on their faith and love they maintained through their persecutions and encourages them to keep going. Jesus will return one day and judge all their enemies and all who believe in him will give him glory and praise. He prayed that God would continue to help them live their lives worthy of his calling. *** Lord, may our lives honor you. Thank you for your grace that allows us to live for you.