ESOCS Devotional 31 May 2023
MEMORY VERSE: “At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.” 2 Kings 24:10
TEXT: 2 KINGS 24:8-17
8 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began his three-month reign in Jerusalem. His mother was Nehushta daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.
9 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, in keeping with all his father had done.
10 At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up to Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.
11 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to the city while his servants were besieging it.
12 Jehoiachin king of Judah surrendered to the king of Babylon, he, his mother, his servants, princes, and palace officials. The king of Babylon took him prisoner in the eighth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign.
13 He carried off all the treasures of the Lord’s house and the king’s house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold in the temple of the Lord, which Solomon king of Israel had made, as the Lord had said.
14 He carried away all Jerusalem, all the princes, all the mighty men of valor, 10,000 captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths. None remained except the poorest of the land.
15 Nebuchadnezzar took captive to Babylon King Jehoiachin; his mother, his wives, his officials, and the chief and mighty men of the land [the prophet Ezekiel included] he took from Jerusalem to Babylon into exile.
16 And the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon all the men of valor, 7,000, and craftsmen and smiths, 1,000, all strong and fit for war.
17 And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his stead and changed his name to Zedekiah.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
In our text, we see that Jerusalem was besieged and conquered by the Babylonians in the time when young King Jehoiachin ruled Judah. His mother was Nehushta, a native of Jerusalem who ought to have grown under the instruction of the word of God. But under her watch and participation, her son failed as king (2 Kings 24:8).
God is no respecter of persons. We must take a decision to live for God and do well to be guided by His Spirit to do His will in whatever we are called to do. The gospel message is not there in vain. The anointed preachers and prophets of truth are not called for nothing. They are called by God to make us understand the way and will of God. We must listen and apply the teachings to our personal lives. God is good to those who believe Him and hearken to His words. But those who do not believe God but live by their desire are said to have been condemned already (John 3:16-18). King Jehoiachin supported by his mother “did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD ….” He followed the evil ways of his father (2 Kings 24:9)
The measurement for righteous living should be the gospel message. It reveals the righteousness of God (Rom. 1:17). We escape condemnation through Jesus Christ through whom we are able to live after to the Spirit (Rom 8:1-2).
It is bad if as parents our children become evil in the sight of God through the evil we lived in. This was the case with King Jehoiachin. He followed the evil ways of his father with the support of his mother. By this he brought calamity upon himself, his mother, family and the people of Judah (2 Kings 24:11-17).
It takes a man to know Jesus to be able to receive the power to deviate from the evil ways of sinful parents. It is also an upright father or mother that can stand against the ways of a child who has grown to be evil. It is advised that we seek God and believe in Jesus Christ so that in all situations we will escape the condemnation that comes with living in sin.
May evil not come on our people in our time on the throne.
- If God is to assess your performance today, what will be the result tomorrow?
- Father, give me the grace to excel in righteousness.
FURTHER READING: Numbers 13:17-end; Romans 14:1-12
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ESOCS Devotional 31 May 2023
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