Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim"
Text: Jeremiah 26:1
THE REIGN OF JOSIAH
The father of King Jehoiakim was Josiah. His reign was quite significant spiritually. The following things were credited to King Josiah (2 Chronicles 34-35). Six things may be highlighted.
1. He did what was right in the sight of the LORD. 2 Chronicles 34:2a
2. He walked in the ways of his father David. 2 Chronicles 34:2b
3. He sought the God of his father David. 2 Chronicles 34:3a
4. He purged Judah and Jerusalem of idol worship. 2 Chronicles 34:3b
5. He restored Passover worship. 2 Chronicles 35:1
6. He supported the priests and Levites. 2 Chronicles 35:2-3
Unfortunately, he got involved in a battle with the Egyptians and he was slain in battle (2 Chronicles 35:24). Jeremiah personally lamented and mourned his death (2 Chronicles 35:25).
THE REIGN OF JEHOIAKIM
After the death of Josiah, Jehoahaz was crowned the next king of Judah. He reigned for only three months but was deposed by the Egyptians and exiled to Egypt (2 Chronicles 36:1, 4).
He was replaced by his brother who was originally called Eliakim. Egypt changed his name to Jehoiakim (2 Chronicles 36:4). He was made to pay tribute to Egypt (2 Chronicles 36:3).
“In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah,
king of Judah, this word came from the LORD, saying,
‘Thus says the LORD:
‘Stand in the court of the LORD’s house,
and speak to all the cities of Judah,
which come to worship in the LORD’s house,
all the words that I command you to speak to them.
Do not diminish a word.
Perhaps everyone will listen and turn from his evil way,
that I may relent concerning the calamity
which I purpose to bring on them because of the evil of their doings.””
Jeremiah 26:1-3
1. “In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the LORD, saying”
This sets the historical circumstances in which the word of the Lord was given.
This word of God expressed:
a) His concern.
b) His care.
c) Josiah had done well; would the new king follow his father’s footsteps?
2. “Thus says the LORD: ‘Stand in the court of the LORD’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD’s house, all the words that I command you to speak to them. Do not diminish a word'”
a) This word was given to Jeremiah.
b) He is to boldly address all the worshippers who had come to the Temple.
c) He is to speak to all who came from the cities of Judah.
d) These had probably been favourably affected by Josiah’s good support for the worship of God at the Temple.
e) Jeremiah was to speak every word of God faithfully and courageously.
3. “Perhaps everyone will listen and turn from his evil way, that I may relent concerning the calamity which I purpose to bring on them because of the evil of their doings”
a) Hopefully all will listen and turn from their evil ways.
b) The Lord may well relent from the calamity that He had forewarned.
c) The evil that was in the heart did not go away, though external worship was offered to the LORD.
(Jeremiah 26 was not written chronologically. Jeremiah 22:18-19 was a word that Jehoiakim turned out to be an incompetent and evil king).