God of Justice & Faithfulness
Hezekiah perhaps the best king
in Judah’s history, is succeeded
by Manasseh, possibly the worst!
Manasseh’s 55-year reign of terror
sends the nation into a stupor from
which it will never fully recover. Even
godly King Josiah with his crusade
for righteousness is powerless to
reverse the wicked trends in Judah.
After Josiah’s death, there can be
no escaping the consequences
of Judah’s idolatry and immorality.
God’s judgment came in the form
of Nebuchadnezzar and the armies
of Babylon. Judah, who had refused
to learn from the sad example
of her northern sister Israel, now
experiences the same calamities:
distruction, deportation and exile.
But then You’re Faithful to Covenant.
Lord, we are Open for Renewal:
Then king (Josiah) called together
all the elders of Judah & Jerusalem.
He went up to the temple of the Lord
with… all the people… He read in
their hearing all the words of the
Book of the Covenant, which had
been found in the temple of the Lord.
The king… renewed the covenant…
to follow the Lord and keep his
commands, regulations & degrees
with all his heart and all his soul…
Then all the people pledged them-
selves to the covenant (2Kgs 23:1-3)
Lord, the Word of God should cause
us like King Josiah, to take action
soonest to reform our lives and
bring them into harmony with
God’s will. So Lord, I ask You
to reveal those areas in my life
where I need to do a clean-up.
Shine Your Holy Spirit into those
places and help me to honour
You with my whole life. Amen.
Lord, we want to Obey than Rebel:
Zedekiah reigned 11 yrs in Jerusalem.
He did evil in the Lord’s sight… So
the Lord in his anger finally banished
the people of Jerusalem & Judah fr
His presence & sent them into exile.
Then Zedekiah rebelled against the
king of Babylon (2Kgs 24:18-20).
So… Nebuchadnezzar king of
Babylon marched against Jerusalem
with his whole army… Then the city
wall was broken through and the
whole army fled at night… the king
was captured… They pull out his
eyes, bound him with shackles and
took him to Babylon… Imperial
guard came to Jerusalem… set fire
to the temple… royal palace and all
the houses of Jerusalem (2K25:1-9)
Lord, we realise the destruction
of Jerusalem was due to Judah’s
refusal to acknowledge You God.
You are after heart of worship not
caring for external & symbolic acts.
Help us to live in constant humility &
cultivate renewal of our lives. Amen.
Lord, we witness Your Faithfulness:
Gedaliah took an oath to reassure
them and their men. Do not be afraid
of the Babylonians officials, he said.
Settle down in the land and serve
the king of Babylon and it will go
well with you (2 Kings 25:24).
In the 37th year of the exile of
Jehoiachin king of Judah in the
year Evil-Merodach became king
of Babylon, he released Jehoiachin
from prison… He spoke kindly to
him and gave him a seat of honour
higher than those of the other kings
who were with him in Babylon. So
Jehoiachin for the rest of his life
ate regularly at king’s table (v27-30)
Lord, the release of Jehoiachin king
of Judah & given a place of honour
in the Babylonian palace points to
restoration the prophets promised.
Lord fact that You do not forget
Your covenant is encouraging.
With Your faithfulness our future
is secure in Jesus’ name, Amen.