AUGUST 3 READINGS...Zephaniah 2:8-3:20 & 2 Chronicles 35:20-27 & 2 Kings 23:29-30 & Jeremiah 47:1-48:47
It is good to be back with you. I have been away for the last two weeks…I hope you have continued the readings through the Bible chronologically. You have covered a great amount of the history of Judah in the last two weeks. You finished the prophecies of Isaiah, and now we have moved into the prophecies of another Old Testament major prophet, Jeremiah. Jeremiah had a unique and hard call from the Lord…he was told to prophesy to the people, but he was also told that not only would the people not do what he said, but they would actually do the opposite of what he said. Jeremiah had a hard life, as he served among Judean kings, all except Josiah, who would reject him…and even have him imprisoned.
In today’s readings we have Jeremiah and Zephaniah giving very similar prophecies to Moab. The Moabite kingdom was going to fall. They were filled with pride, and they also treated God’s people with distain. Jeremiah also prophesied against the Philistines of Gaza…he spoke of how they would be destroyed. Zephaniah spoke of the destruction of Assyria and Ethiopia…and the rebellion and redemption of Jerusalem. This redemption would happen when those in Jerusalem would finally receive and believe in their Messiah…which is yet to happen.
We are told in today’s readings of the last good king of Judah, and his death. Josiah would die in a battle that he never should have been involved in. The Lord had instructed King Neco of Egypt to go into battle in the region of the Euphrates…in order to do this he would need to go through Judah. When Josiah saw them he with his army out to fight Neco. Neco had sent a messenger to tell Josiah that he was not coming to fight him, and that he was being sent by God to complete this mission in the north…he advised Josiah to “stand down”, or he would be killed for interfering in the Lord’s work. Josiah did not listen and he was killed in battle. Josiah’s son Jehoahaz was made king of Judah, but for only three months, and he was deposed by King Neco of Egypt, who put Jehoahaz’s brother, Eliakim in as king.
Please share any thoughts you might have from today’s or any of the reading in the last two weeks, that you may have. All of this prophecy, and all the history of Judah and its kings, should remind us that God is sovereign. It should encourage us that God will accomplish His purpose on this earth…that is good for us, for His purpose is what we need the most.
TOMORROW’S READINGS…2 Chronicles 36:1-4 & 2 Kings 23:31-37 & 2 Chronicles 36:5 & Jeremiah 22:1-23 & 26:1-24 & 2 Kings 24:1-4 & Jeremiah 25:1-14
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