Daily Manna 2 May
KEY VERSE: Jeremiah 22:13 – “Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour’s service without wages, and giveth him not for his work.”
READ: Jeremiah 22:13-30 (KJV)
13. Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour’s service without wages, and giveth him not for his work;
14. That saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and it is cieled with cedar, and painted with vermilion.
15. Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him?
16. He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him; was not this to know me? saith the LORD.
17. But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.
18. Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah lord! or, Ah his glory!
19. He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.
20. Go up to Lebanon, and cry; and lift up thy voice in Bashan, and cry from the passages; for all thy lovers are destroyed.
21. I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, I will not hear. This hath been thy manner from thy youth, that thou obeyedst not my voice.
22. The wind shall eat up all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go into captivity; surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness.
23. O inhabitant of Lebanon, that makest thy nest in the cedars, how gracious shalt thou be when pangs come upon thee, the pain as of a woman in travail!
24. As I live, saith the LORD, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence;
25. And I will give thee into the hand of them that seek thy life, and into the hand of them whose face thou fearest, even into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chaldeans.
26. And I will cast thee out, and thy mother that bare thee, into another country, where ye were not born; and there shall ye die.
27. But to the land whereunto they desire to return, thither shall they not return.
28. Is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not?
29. O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.
30. Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days; for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
We are often quick to think of leaving a legacy behind, but do we really think about how the legacy can be managed or sustained? There are many great men who laboured to build empires and estates supposedly for their children but today these have become wasted legacies.
Our text tells how the good legacy of Josiah was wasted by Jehoiakim, his son. Josiah, one of the great kings of Judah, had been faithful with his responsibility to teach the law of God and to promote revival of godliness in Judah. He treated the poor and the needy with respect and dignity. But Jehoiakim was the direct opposite of his father. He had been unfaithful to the word of God, strong-headed and hardhearted since childhood. He allowed his wealth and position to affect his walk and fellowship with God. He used the proceeds of corruption, bribery and extortion to build houses, estates and fortunes. He was unjust in judgment, killing the innocent and oppressing the poor and the vulnerable. God warned him but he refused to hearken. Consequently, judgment was pronounced on him. He could not claim the father’s blessings because he failed to imitate his godly example.
A good legacy, certificate or a great estate cannot guarantee a godly character. According to biblical records, Jehoiakim’s death was shameful. He was notorious in life and obnoxious in death!
Parents must take care to prepare their children to sustain their godly legacy. Do not be too preoccupied with bequeathing your children with wealth and estates without preparing them to lead a godly life, which is the foundation for sustained prosperity, wealth and happiness.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Godly training remains the best legacy ever!
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Joshua 22-24
Thank you for studying today’s Daily Manna – A Wasted Legacy – by Pastor Enoch A.
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Daily Manna 2 May 2021
