June 28

Jeremiah 22
He was a godly man. His father was an idolatrous, baby-killing, whoremonger. How did he become a godly man? His brother walked in his father’s footsteps. His sons were evil. How did that happen? His grandson was extremely evil. I speak, of course Josiah. How was it that he was a godly man? Jeremiah speaks in this chapter of the evil of Josiah’s sons, grandson and brother. Each of them reigned successively after Josiah. Each was removed from his reign because of his evil. The first nine verses are probably addressed to all three descendent kings of Josiah. As Jeremiah summarizes their evil, what was it? Here is what he says:
3Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place. . . . Why has the LORD done so to this great city?’ 9 Then they will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God, and worshiped other gods and served them.
Beginning with Shallum (Jehoahaz) (v.10-12), he tells him to weep for himself, not for Josiah, for Shallum will never see Jerusalem again. Shallum was set up as king by the people after Necho, Pharaoh of Egypt, killed Josiah in battle. But three months later, Pharaoh took him captive and set up Jehoiakim, Shallum’s brother, as king. Jehoiakim was more evil than Shallum. Here is how Jeremiah summarizes Jehoiakim:
13 “Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness And his chambers by injustice, Who uses his neighbor’s service without wages And gives him nothing for his work, 15 Did not your father eat and drink, And do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. 16 He judged the cause of the poor and needy; Then it was well. Was not this knowing Me?” says the LORD. 17“Yet your eyes and your heart are for nothing but your covetousness, For shedding innocent blood, And practicing oppression and violence.” 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.
How about that! Part of knowing God is judging the cause of the poor and needy. Because of his lack of justice toward the poor Jehoiakim was removed from office after 11 years. Finally, Jeremiah addresses Coniah (Jeconaiah or Jehoiachin). What does he say to him? We are not told specifically what Coniah did that was evil, but he only reigned 3 months before he was deported to Babylon. We can only assume that his increased the sin of his father. His sin was so bad that the Lord cursed him from ever having a blood descendent from reigning upon the throne of David. Joseph the husband of Mary the step father of Jesus was a descendent of Coniah.
So what was their sin and what does that tell us about the glory of Jesus? Their sin is that they were idolatrous men who put their own comfort above justice toward the poor and refused to listen to the voice of the Lord. It is the glory of the Lord that He pursues justice for the poor and expects us to listen to His voice. Am I pursuing justice? Am I listening to His voice? This is part of knowing Him. Lord, enable me to pursue justice for the poor! Enable me to listen to Your voice! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john