What happened to Zedekiah and what happened to the city of Jerusalem and the Lord’s temple are all symbols of the consequences of the disobedience of God’s people. Zedekiah was left childless – disobedience make us unfruitful. Zedekiah’s was blinded – disobedience leaves us spiritually blind. Zedekiah was tied up in chains – disobedience leaves us spiritually bound and helpless.

Nebuzaradan destroyed the temple, bringing to an end the system of Temple worship established by David and Solomon. Disobedience interferes with our ability to worship and honour the Lord. The city walls of Jerusalem were also destroyed. Disobedience leaves us defenceless.

Throughout the book of Kings, the theme has been that disobedience to God brings disaster. However, the writer offers us a tiny spark of hope at the end. Disgraced king Jehoiachin is shown mercy by the Babylonian king. Perhaps this is a reminder that the Lord is merciful and never totally forgets his people.

More than that, we know that God still worked among his people while they were in exile. Ezekiel and Daniel both served God in Babylon. After Babylon was overrun by the Persian empire, we see God working through Mordecai and Esther in the Persian capital. God had not abandoned his people.

As Christians, we operate under a different covenant than Israel did but the books of Kings remind us that God blesses those who trust and obey him and disciplines those who do not. Yet, even those he disciplines, he still loves and he does not forget or abandon his people. May the Spirit of the Lord lead us in obedience so that we might enjoy the blessings of God.

next devotional >>

 

 

NEWBOLD COMMUNITY CHURCH