August 4 - 2 Chronicles 36:1-4 | 2 Kings 23:31-37 | 2 Chronicles 36:5 | Jeremiah 22:1-23 | Jeremiah 26:1-24 | 2 Kings 24:1-4 | Jeremiah 25:1-14

Good morning everyone,

This morning we begin with the king of Egypt, Pharaoh Necho, coming in and dethroning the king of Judah, Jehoahaz, after his having sat on the throne for only three months following the death of his father Josiah. He will be carted off to Egypt, his future not looking so good. Necho appoints another of Josiah’s sons, Eliakim, king though Necho changes his name to Jehoiakim for no real reason aside from he was quite powerful and could. Necho then demanded gold and silver of the king and in order to pay, the king heavily taxed the land. We are told that Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God. It will be during his rein that the Egyptians are driven out of the region and Babylon, led by Nebuchadnezzar will come in and start carting people away, but I am getting ahead of the story.

Today in Jeremiah, first in chapter 22 we see where the Lord passed Judgement on Jehoiakim. His father had been one of Israel’s good kings faithful to God, but not so with Jeremiah showing us that a godly home, a good education and all the “better” things in life doesn’t guarantee you good moral character. We must foster our own good relationship with Jesus and even then, the mouth can and will say some regretful words. It is good to keep short accountability with God. You know? 

We see in Jeremiah 26, and please use your mind’s eye, God has asked Jeremiah to stand in the courtyard of the wicked king Jehoiakim and make an announcement. So there this, maybe 25 by now, year old kid is, he stops to stand in front of the temple of the Lord, looks around and then in his very best, “Let’s-Get-Ready-to-Rumble” voice, gives them God’s message, (paraphrasing) “If you do not start listening to the prophets I am sending to warn you, you will become like Shiloh,” which had been reduced to rubble at this point. Don’t you just love the enthusiasm of the youth! However, this message was not received well, the temple was important to the people of Jerusalem and they actually wanted to kill young Jeremiah for the message he delivered. Now though, up steps some of the older men who remembered Micah and Urijah who had prophesied the very same message years before and so it was that Ahikam stood up for Jeremiah and persuaded the mob not to kill him. They spared Jeremiah, but they did not save themselves by hearing the message he was sent to give them. Pity.

From the beginning of time with Adam and Eve in the garden, the enemy has been at war for our minds while we as Christians struggle to have the mind of God. Paul says in Romans 7:23, “but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.” The wicked human mind desires to violate the law by following “the law of sin”, however, being willing to hear God's voice results in the revelation of God's will and character. Paul goes on to say, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!”  Friends, be on guard, armor up for the war against your mind. Let us all be shouting, “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Amen?

Have a good day and to God be the glory.

God bless you all.