Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon"
Text: Jeremiah 52:3
REFLECTION ABOUT THE LAST KING OF JUDAH
Zedekiah was the last king to sit on the throne. The kingdom of Judah was already in the state of decline. Unfortunately, he added to the decline of the kingdom.
“Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king,
and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.
His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
He also did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.
For because of the anger of the LORD this happened in Jerusalem and Judah,
till He finally cast them out from His presence.
Then Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.”
Jeremiah 52:1-3
1. “Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years
in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah”
a) Ascension to the throne.
Zedekiah ascended the throne when he was twenty one years old.
b) He was the brother of the previous king, Jehoiakim (2 Chronicle 36:10).
c) He was appointed king by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Chronicles 36:10).
d) He reigned for only eleven years.
2. “He also did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done”
a) Jehoiakim committed evil deeds.
b) They were called “abominations” (2 Chronicles 36:8).
c) He was arrested and sent to Babylon as a fettered captive (2 Chronicles 36:6).
d) His son, Jehoiachin was only eight years old when he came to the throne.
He was also summoned to Babylon (2 Chronicles 36:9).
e) Zedekiah also followed the path of evil (2 Chronicles 36:12a).
f) He did not humble himself before God (2 Chronicles 36:12b).
3. “For because of the anger of the LORD this happened in Jerusalem and Judah,
till He finally cast them out from His presence”
a) The anger of the LORD fell upon:
i) Jerusalem
ii) Judah
b) He cast them from His presence.
4. “Then Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon”
a) He had seen his brother deported to Babylon.
b) He had also seen his nephew, Jehoiachin deported.
c) He was appointed king by Nebuchadnezzar.
d) Yet, foolishly he rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar with neighbouring nations (Edom, Moab, Ammon and Sidon). (Jeremiah 27:1-3)