Reading

• 2 Kings 24:1b-4
• Jer. 48:1-47; 49:1-33; 22:18-23
• 2 Kings 24:5-6a

Devotional

Despite numerous attempts from GOD to call Jehoiakim king of Judah to repentance, Jehoiakim refused. He was very proud and unwilling to humble himself before GOD. He even rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. As a result the LORD sent raiders from Babylon, Aram, Moab, and Ammon to persecute Judah and Jehoiakim. Jeremiah prophesied the following regarding Jehoiakim’s death:

¹⁸ Therefore thus says the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: “They shall not lament for him, Saying, ‘Alas, my brother!’ or ‘Alas, my sister!’ They shall not lament for him, Saying, ‘Alas, master!’ or ‘Alas, his glory!’ ¹⁹ He shall be buried with the burial of a donkey, Dragged and cast out beyond the gates of Jerusalem. ²⁰ “Go up to Lebanon, and cry out, And lift up your voice in Bashan; Cry from Abarim, For all your lovers are destroyed. ²¹ I spoke to you in your prosperity, But you said, ‘I will not hear.’ This has been your manner from your youth, That you did not obey My voice.

²² The wind shall eat up all your rulers, And your lovers shall go into captivity; Surely then you will be ashamed and humiliated For all your wickedness. ²³ O inhabitant of Lebanon, Making your nest in the cedars, How gracious will you be when pangs come upon you, Like the pain of a woman in labor?
(Jer. 22:18-23 NKJV)

And, as always, GOD’s prophecy did come to pass:

⁵ Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? ⁶ So Jehoiakim rested with his fathers.
(2 Kings 24:5-6a NKJV)

It is always a tragic end when one refuses to humble themselves before GOD and receives their reward. Let us who are living take this to heart.