Tuesday: The Short Reign of King Jehoiachin of Judah
The nineteenth king of Judah became Jehoiachin, son of Jehoiakim. He reigned on David’s throne for barely three and a half months. In 598 b.c. Nebuchadnezzar brought his forces to Jerusalem and seized the 18-year-old king with his mother, his wives, and many other royal captives. In 561 b.c., in the thirty-seventh year of his captivity, Jehoiachin was given mercy by Evil-Merodach, Nebuchadnezzar’s successor. He was granted the right to dine with the king of Babylon, and he could wear his kingly robes. (See 2 Kings 25:27-30, Jer. 52:31-34.)
Image © Kevin Carden from GoodSalt.com
His sons were also in Babylon with him, yet Jeremiah’s prophecy said they would have to give up the throne of David.
Read Jeremiah 29:1-14, the words of the Lord through Jeremiah after King Jehoiachin and his family and the court were taken captive from Jerusalem. Even amid this tragedy, how is God’s love and grace revealed?
One of the most famous verses in the Bible is this: ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’
(Jer. 29:11, NIV). Here, of course, we have the immediate context: that of the Lord speaking through Jeremiah to the captives of Judah who had seen their lives completely uprooted by their Babylonian conquerors. Yet, even then, no matter how bad their situation seemed, the Lord wanted them to know that He still loved them and had only their good in mind. No doubt, considering the horrific circumstances, they must have welcomed such promising and hopeful words. Thus, even amid all dire warnings and threats, the people were still given the promise of a future and hope.
How crucial it must have been for them, especially at that time, to have such assurance!
A future and a hope? What promises can you claim from the Lord for a future and a hope
even right now, regardless of your circumstances?
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A future and a hope?
As the principal contributor of the lesson rightly puts it, the immediate context is given to the hopeless enslaved people of God in Babylon and Assyria that though their situation they cannot see any future good and blessings the promise is given unconditionally just like the unconditionality of John 3:16 however, the key to this promise of a better future and hope rests on their relent and repentance of their wicked ways prior to their captivity just as every human should believe to have Eternal life in John 3:16.
What promises can you claim from the Lord for a future and a hope even right now, regardless of your circumstances?
The promise that He will give courage, patience and perseverance during my troubles and problems at the moment like in Isaiah 43:1But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel,
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are Mine!
2"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,
Nor will the flame burn you.
3"For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I have given Egypt as your ransom,
Cush and Seba in your place.
4"Since you are precious in My sight,
Since you are honored and I love you,
I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life.
5"Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
And gather you from the west.
6"I will say to the north, 'Give them up!'
And to the south, 'Do not hold them back.'
Bring My sons from afar
And My daughters from the ends of the earth,
7Everyone who is called by My name,
And whom I have created for My glory,
Whom I have formed, even whom I have made
I am content as Saint Paul stated in Philippians 4:9-18 "I am content whether poor or rich, full of food or empty, whatever situation imprisoned or free, will always rejoice in Christ who strengthens him to either look forward to a better future here on earth or in heaven and a hope of help here on earth if not in heaven for my name is written in the Book of the Lamb or in Heaven (Philippians 4:2 (paraphrase is mine). So I pray for all the Saints of God to believe in these two promises in Jeremiah 29:11 and Philippians 4
Jeremiah 29:11-14, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you…of peace (prosperity), and not of evil (harm), to give you an expected end (hope and a future)…” is perhaps one of the anchor texts of prosperity theology. Probably another one is Deuteronomy 28:13, “And the Lord shall make you the head, and not the tail, and you shall be above only…”
Today many are encouraged to claim these and other physical promises, and often without due attention to the limited application and conditions. So what about those suffering, starving and underprivileged in depressed areas and neglected territories, especially those who might choose to serve the Creator? Are the promises good for them too, and who will explain it to them?
These promises were first made to the chosen nation of Israel on condition of commandment keeping. Material wealth was a part of the package, but not the principal thing. Beware of false assurances by skillful motivational speakers who appear to be preachers of righteousness.
Especially when these promises are applied to spiritual Israel they take on a decided spiritual focus. Observing the misguided focus on material by the Jews and anticipating the trap material possessions and positions would be to believers later Jesus categorically cautioned against the deceptiveness of riches (Mark 10:23) and elevation (Luke 14:7-14).
The promises of the Creator/Savior are primarily to secure and support salvation (John 14:27). Material possessions are to support this by making the saints distribution channels for the goodness of God. Where material gain will interfere with the restoration of the image of God in mankind such blessings (or baggage) are best left unclaimed (Mark 8:36-37).
The most important promise to claim is that of spiritual renewal or character transformation (Jeremiah 31:33-34); for without this material increase becomes perilous and the suffering and starving people may yet remain unnoticed. Godliness with contentment is the way of the faithful (2 Timothy 6:6-8).
This is the common position when it comes to God's love to mankind
If you were given no hope or future, would you turn to the Lord or turn away? I do believe that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is based on evidence. We can exprience this evidence in our own lives with prayers answered. We are given evidence in the Bible, and by Prophets, including EGW. The more we turn to Christ more evidence He bestows. Where have you put your hope and future, I hope, in the Lord Jesus Christ. 1Corinthians 15:57,58.
My thoughts are basically centered around a series of questions! What is the reason we serve God if it's not for a future existence that lies in the hope of Jesus return? Do we serve Him just to receive temporal blessings? When we serve Him in faith are we not claiming now what He has promised thru the blessed hope that lies in Jesus ?? I look forward to the day when I can experience what Adam and Eve experienced before sin a world not because it's perfect in every way but also more importantly because I can see my savior and my Father face to face!!! If I didn't have that to look forward to I would be most miserable but because I do I now can have joy amidst sorrow peace in confusion !! So yes I have claimed the hope and yes I claim the future because every day I live I know it's one more day closer to Jesus bursting those clouds! By His power I will be an overcomer and be with outstretched arms awaiting His return!! I pray we all will be!!
In 2 Kings 25:27-30 we read, "Now it came to pass in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, that Evil-Merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, released...."
and in Jer. 52:31-34 we read
"Now it came to pass in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, that Evil-Merodach king of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, lifted up the head of......
Which is the actual date for Jehoiachin's realease/lifting up, on Twenty Seventh of Twenty Fifth?
Some of our Muslim brothers use these two verses telling us that the Bible is a bit contraditory,
Patrick, Jeremiah says that Evil-Merodach "lifted up his head" and "delivered him from prison". Kings says he was released from prison. Is it possible that Jehoiachin was given the good news of his release on the 25th and actually released on the 27th? That would be a quicker release than is common in some countries today.
Also, the earliest documents we have of Evil-Merodach's reign are dated on the 26th, so he must have been a busy monarch that first year.It's amazing that he made Jehoiachin's release a priority at all. God was working. And somehow He worked on the heart of Jehoiachin's grandson, Zerubbabel, who became the faithful leader of the exiles who returned to Jerusalem. God is over all.
Trust in the Lord lean not unto your own understanding acknowledge him and he shall direct thy path.
We walk by faith and not by sight.
God is able to do more and abundantly than we can ask or think.(paraphrasing)