The Call Of Jeremiah

It looked like a great revival (2 Ki.22:1-23:30), why then is the captivity still going on?

(Jer. 3:10; 25:3)

America – everybody seems to have confused patriotism with Christianity. We make the Movie, “The Passion of Christ” the number one movie at the box office, while at the same time the Divorce rate is nearly 50%; Abortion is legalized, a Supreme Court nominee cannot get approved by Congress if he or she is pro-life; Gay marriages are taking place; the economy is all but worshipped; and pornography is as accessible as ice cream – yet, all the while American’s go to church, buy Bibles, and talk about how they believe in God!

Carson, a professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, use to meet with a young man from Africa, for the purpose of practicing their German together. Carson writes:

“Once a week or so, we took a break and went out for a meal. I learned his wife was in London, training to be a medical doctor. I soon discovered that once or twice a week he disappeared into the red-light district of town. Obviously he paid his money down for a prostitute.

Eventually I asked him what he would do if he discovered his wife was doing something similar in London. “Oh” he said, “I’d kill her!” “That’s a bit of a double standard, isn’t it?” I asked. “You don’t understand. Where I come from in Africa, the husband has the right to sleep with many women, but if a wife is unfaithful to her husband she must be killed.”

“But you told me you were raised in a mission school. You know that the God of the Bible does not have double standards like that.” He gave me a bright smile and replied, “Ah, God is good. He’s bound to forgive us; that’s His job!”

That was Judah’s ungodly attitude also, and it is despicable!

B. King Jehoiakim – proof that it was just a surface change. 2 Ki.23:31-37

Or ELIAKIM, second son of Josiah, brother and successor of Jehoahaz or Shallum, king of Judah, for whom he was substituted by the king of Egypt. He was king during eleven years of luxury, extortion, and idolatry. In the third year, Nebuchadnezzar carried to Babylon a part of his princes and treasures. A year after, his allied the Egyptians were defeated on the Euphrates; yet he despised the warnings of Jeremiah, and cast his book into the fire. At length he rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, but was defeated and ingloriously slain, B. C. 599, 2 Kings 23:34; 24:6; 2 Chronicles 36:4-8; Jeremiah 22:1-30; 26:1-24; 36:1-32. A Dictionary of the Holy Bible.

C. King Zedekiah. 2 Ki. 24:17-20

Personal name meaning “Yahweh is my righteousness” or “Yahweh is my salvation.” 1. False prophet who advised King Ahab to fight against Ramoth-gilead, assuring the king of victory (1 Kings 22). His prophecy conflicted with that of Micaiah, who predicted defeat. When Micaiah stated that God had put a lying spirit in the mouths of Zedekiah and his band of prophets, Zedekiah struck Micaiah on the cheek. Micaiah forecast that Zedekiah would feel the brunt of God’s Spirit, but the text does not tell what became of the false prophet. See Micaiah;Prophecy,Prophets. 2. Last king of Judah (596-586 B.C.). Zedekiah was made king in Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (2 Kings 24:17). When he rebelled, the Babylonian army besieged Jerusalem and destroyed it. Zedekiah was taken to Riblah along with his family. At Riblah he witnessed the executions of his sons before his own eyes were blinded (25:7). Then Zedekiah was taken to Babylon. He apparently died in captivity. See Israel, Land of. 3. Son either of Jehoiakim or Jeconiah (1 Chron. 3:16), the Hebrew text being unclear at this point. 4. Signer of Nehemiah’s covenant (10:1; spelled Zidkijah by KJV). 5. Prophet who promised quick hope to exiles in Babylon (Jer. 29:21). Jeremiah pronounced God’s judgment on him. 6. Royal official in Jeremiah’s day (36:12). Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary.