August 14th~My Way First, Then Yours

Jeremiah 51:15-58


2 Chronicles 36:10


2 Kings 24:10-17


1 Chronicles 3:10-16

2 Chronicles 36:11-14

Jeremiah 52:1-3a

2 Kings 24:18-20

Jeremiah 37:1-10

The Lord gave Jeremiah many more messages regarding the fall of Babylon, even before Babylon had risen to prominence. It was God’s way of reassuring Jeremiah and the faithful remnant that He was in control, even though Judah was being destroyed and the people taken into captivity. He had a plan and the Babylonians would be judged and punished for their sins as well.

Meanwhile, Nebuchadnezzar returned to Jerusalem (597 BC), recaptured the city, and took what he wanted, including the young king Jehoiachin, his mother and officials, along with ten thousand hand-picked people from the city. Nebuchadnezzar then set Jehoiachin’s uncle, Mattaniah, on the throne, and changed his name to Zedekiah. Zedekiah was a Babylonian puppet and the last King of Judah.

It would make sense to us, seeing all that had transpired — the fall of Israel and captivity of ten tribes to Assyria, the ruin of Judah, the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, the loss of tens of thousands of people to Babylon, etc. — for Zedekiah to turn to the Lord and lead a revival in the land, like Hezekiah or Josiah had done; but, that did not happen. In fact, Zedekiah did evil in the sight of the Lord, desecrating the Temple with his idols, just as those before him. Of course, his actions provoked the Lord to anger, which led to the eventual fall of Judah.

How ignorant and calloused were these people? Jeremiah wrote, “Compared to God, His people are foolish! They make idols, but the idols will disgrace their makers, for they are frauds. They have no life or power in them. Idols are worthless; they are lies! But the God of Israel is no idol! He is the Creator of everything that exists, including His people, His own special possession. The Lord Almighty is His name” (51:17-19).

“But neither King Zedekiah nor his officials, nor the people who were left in the land, listened to what the Lord said through Jeremiah” (37:2, 3). However, when it became obvious to the King that all was lost, then he sought out Jeremiah and asked him to pray to the Lord for them. This gesture was, of course, shallow and insincere; it reminded me of Pharaoh asking Moses to bless him when he had refused to let God’s people go after nine plagues (Exodus 12:32).

Daily Reflection

What is it about people that they push God away and demand to do their own thing?

If you were the Lord, how would you have responded to King Zedekiah’s prayers? Would you have extended grace? Why or why not?

Have you ever ignored God like this, only to come begging to Him when your ways didn’t work? What does that communicate to God? Is the Lord your first resort or last resort?

BiAY.org | Day 226 — 139 Days to Go