Judah's Decline

 

2 chronicles 36:1-10

 

September 29, 2023

 

Judah's Decline

The people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah and made him king in his father's place in Jerusalem.  Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.  Then the king of Egypt deposed him in Jerusalem and laid on the land a tribute of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.  And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem and changed his name to Jehoiakim. But Neco took Jehoahaz his brother and carried him to Egypt.

Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God.  Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and bound him in chains to take him to Babylon.  Nebuchadnezzar also carried part of the vessels of the house of the Lord to Babylon and put them in his palace in Babylon.  Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and the abominations that he did, and what was found against him, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. And Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.

Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.  In the spring of the year, King Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babylon, with the precious vessels of the house of the Lord, and made his brother Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem.

Are we seeing a pattern of kings that honored God, and had evil sons?  One has to wonder, were they like King David who knew the evil of his son, and ignored it?  Was the job of the king their top priority?

 

Dads, we are told by our Father and Lord to raise up our children in the fear of the Lord, to honor God above all, and to honor their parents, and all who are in authority.

Dad’s that requires more than words, it requires time and action of not just telling them to do what is right, it requires you living it out in front of them.  Maybe it is time for us dads to take inventory of the investment in our children’s lives.

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice