Tues.’s Devo - The Last Kings of Judah

Read: Jeremiah 37:1-38:28; 1 Timothy 6:1-21; Psalm 89:38-52; Proverbs 25:28 Just to give some reference about the last four kings of Judah: Jehoahaz only reigned 3 months, Jehoiakim ruled 11 years, Jehoiachin ruled 3 months and 10 days, and Zedekiah ruled for 11 years. All were kin to Josiah and all were evil kings. Zedekiah was appointed by the King of a Babylon to rule when he took Jehoiakim as a prisoner. *** None of the leaders listened to Jeremiah, but King Zedekiah sent two of his priests to ask Jeremiah to pray for them. Israel had hired Egypt to come help them. When the Pharaoh came to the southern border of Judah, the king of Babylon withdrew from besieging Jerusalem. *** Zedekiah asked Jeremiah what was going to happen. Jeremiah explained that the Babylonians left because of Egypt, but as soon as the Egyptians leave, the Babylonians would return. Then they would finish the siege and burn down Jerusalem. *** Since Jerusalem was experiencing a moment of peace, Jeremiah decided to go see the land he had purchased from his relative (Jer. 32:9-15). He was arrested walking out of the gate and accused of defecting to the Babylonians. Jeremiah was given no justice. He was flogged and put in prison. *** King Zedekiah secretly came to Jeremiah and asked if he had a message from the Lord. He told him, “Yes, You will be defeated by the Babylonians.” Then Jeremiah plead for his life. Zedekiah brought him out of that prison and put him in the palace prison and ordered him to be given a loaf of bread every day until the bread in Jerusalem gave out. *** Jeremiah told the people that the only way to live through this was to surrender to the Babylonians. When the officials Shephatiah, Gealiah and Pashhur heard what Jeremiah had told the people they accused Jeremiah of being a traitor and said his talk brought down the moral of their troops. Zedekiah submitted to them and they took Jeremiah and put him in a muddy cistern and left him to die. *** Ebed-melech told Zedekiah what these men had done and said Jeremiah would die if they didn’t rescue him. Zedekiah let Ebed-melech save him. He had Jeremiah wrap cloth around his arms and they lifted him out with ropes. *** Some time later, Zedekiah brought Jeremiah to the inner entrance to the Temple and asked him for advise. Jeremiah finally told him that his only hope was to surrender. Zedekiah was afraid to surrender because he was afraid of what his own people would do to him if he did. Jeremiah promised God would protect him and all would go well for him. If he had only listened, he could have saved the lives of his sons and he would have kept his sight. *** Zedekiah left talking to Jeremiah and told him not to tell the officials what they had discussed. Jeremiah kept his promise. *** Timothy talked about showing respect for those you work for, especially if they are believers. *** Paul said that his teachings of how to live a godly life should be utilized in everyone’s daily living. The world acts godly to gain wealth but Paul said that to be content with what you have is true wealth. To want what you don’t have can lead to all sorts of evil. *** As godly people we should run after righteousness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. *** Paul taught them to trust in God, not their money, but to use their money to do good and to be generous. He told Timothy to avoid having foolish discussions over doctrine. *** Lord, may we pursue your nature in all we do. Give us your perspective about our daily trials and tests. May we shine as lights in this dark world.