This is what the LORD says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place. Jeremiah 22:3 (II Kings 23-24, II Chronicles 35:20-27, 36, Jeremiah 22, 26, 46 and 47)
Josiah had cleaned all of Judah and Samaria of the temples and false prophets of Baal. A revival and return to worship occurred. But, there was unrest all around Judah as three world powers fought for dominance. Nineveh fell, bringing Assyria to its knees. Babylon, the new empire, had to contend with Assyrian outliers as well as a rising Egypt to the west. Josiah, out of an act of loyalty to Assyria, but contrary to Jeremiah’s recommendation, went into battle against Neco, Pharaoh of Egypt, and was mortally wounded. Judah’s most faithful king was gone and Judah’s fate was sealed. Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin and finally Zeddekiah did evil in the eyes of the LORD. This was the end of the temporal kingdom of Judah, but from this seed came the Christ, the everlasting Savior and King.
Jeremiah has been to the gates of hell, faced his doubts and fears, and walked away the victor. He now has the fortitude to endure whatever God has in store. Josiah was Jeremiah’s advocate and with him dead and buried, Jeremiah is in jeopardy again. He declares that killing him will not silence God and some of the elders stepped forward in his defense. He survived, but his contemporary Uriah was martyred.
God will not tolerate misrule and corruption. Jeremiah, like Jesus, suffered persecution by those who claimed to know God intimately. God knows the purity of man’s heart and will judge accordingly. Be watchful of wrongly placed loyalties, reckless reactions and scripture-less theologies. Be holy, kind and if all else fails…..love. In this you will never go wrong.
Love,
Gretchen