Saturday, October 8, 2016

Jeremiah 22 -- The Nation Is Falling Apart

Jeremiah was given messages to deliver about the kings of Judah.  He disclosed what God had planned for Jehoahaz, Zedekiah, Jehoiakim, and Jehoiachim.  It was a message none would want to hear.  He called out Zedekiah for his callousness.  He dashed the hopes that Jehoahaz would ever return from Egypt.

Jehoiakim was admiring his palace and wanting more cedar inside it using unpaid Jewish slaves -- he was so covetous that "it didn't worry him that god watched as he robbed the poor killed the innocent, and oppressed the just in order to satisfy his craving for luxury," my commentary said.

Jehoiachin would reign only 3 months and 10 days before being deported with his mother and his children to Babylon, where they would all die.

It all sounds terrible -- facing the utter destruction of all that they knew.  But God had warned them.  For the city of Jerusalem, it was the end.

Yet in the next chapter, Jeremiah will shine a ray of hope into the distant future.

Father, our own nation is facing so many trials.  It seems the population is hell-bent on doing everything it can to remove You from the scene.  But You are God.  You are sovereign and You will win.  America will be worse for having fought You.  Guide us to select a president who will help bring us back to You.

--
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

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