Bible In One Year-Day 137 (Saturday, May 17, 2014)

Commentary: 2Kings24-25. There are things that shouldn’t take over a child of God if at all it ever happened to him or her. However, in all situations, we need to consider our ways. If a child of God is neglected and it seems no one is there for him or her, it is not a failure, neither is it a curse. The most reliable and trusted person could be a disappointment in time of dear need; it is not a curse or a failure. This is bound to happen a times in order to prepare us for another level. However, if the anger of the Lord is to the extreme as it was against Judah, one is therefore doomed;

2 Kings 24:3-4 “Surely at the commandment of the LORD came this upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did;And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon.”

God Himself supervised the attack on Judah, the victor became the victim and the master became the servant. God could use anything to effect His judgment. Severally, He used the Assyrians to spank the Israelites in the chapters we had read so far; Isaiah 10:5 “O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.” Nebuchadnezzar was an instrument here in chapters24 and 25. The kings and important people of Judah were ridiculed, molested and carried captive. The poor ones were left uncared for. All the works of the temple which Solomon took credit for were burnt down. When a man is rejected, the work of his hands will be rejected also. Witchcraft stole the heart of Solomon and he lost a prestigious place with the Lord. The beauty of the temple he spent years to build was razed down within 24 hours. The books of Samuel and Kings were political history of the kingdoms (within and without); quite messy tussle for power, independence and dominion. In this messy political confrontations and battles, Jehoiachim, King of Judah, was held captive for 37 years. All important people and his mother were carried with him. His uncle, Mattaniah, was installed in his stead. The king of Babylon even went ahead to give him a name which was easier for him to pronounce, Zedekiah. Unfortunately, along the line he was dealt with by the same king who installed him; 2 Kings 25:6-7 “So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him.And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon.”

Evidently, you can’t be stronger than the powers that installed you when it comes to spiritual matters; only in Jesus could you overcome. One of the ways to deal with rebellious leaders in those days was to pluck out their eyes. The last thing Zedekiah saw before his eyes were removed was the death of his children. Two prophets actually lived during all these political rubbish; Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Jeremiah was born in the time of Manasseh. He could not stand the idolatrous lives of the two kingdoms and this was why he was called the weeping prophet. He warned Zedekiah severally about the impending danger of idolatry, but Zedekiah listened to the counsels of his lieutenants rather than the voice of God. There is no protection for whoever rejects the word of God. The smell of God is in His words; you can’t find Him where His word is not. It was during his own time that Jerusalem fell. All along, Jehoiachim was in captivity. His restoration at the end of chapter25 was a sign of hope for a repentant nation, Jer29:10-14.

We need to read the book of Jeremiah next to have more in-depth knowledge of God’s dealing with His people. The reading for today is Jeremiah1-3. Keep the fire burning and alive.

Jeremiah 29:11-12 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.”

Matthew 5:18 For verily I say to you, Till heaven and earth shall pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.