“Zedekiah’s Stubbornness”


BIBLE READING: 2 Kings 24-25

                In 2 Kings 24.18 we learn that Zedekiah becomes king over Judah when he was twenty-one years old.  Zedekiah ruled over Judah for eleven years.  During those eleven years the king did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.  We can also notice in 2 Chronicles 36.11 that he ”did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the LORD”.  The book of Jeremiah details that message that God had sent to King Zedekiah.  The prophet’s message was one of warning the king to humble himself and repent and turn back to the LORD, or else, Nebuchadnezzar would overtake them.  In his arrogance and pridefulness the king refuses, allowing the prophecy to come true.  Not only does Nebuchadnezzar destroys the city, he also takes the two sons of Zedekiah and kills them before his eyes.  He then gouges out Zedekiah’s eyes making the horrifying death of his sons the last thing he ever saw. All of this happened because Zedekiah would not humble himself before the LORD and repent.  We have all heard lessons from the word of God that have pointed out the error of our ways, but what do we do about it?  Are we convicted by God’s message and compelled to repent and change, or are we stubborn and ignore the message God is trying to send us?  Although I do not believe a pagan King is going to come and gouge out your eyes because of your lack of repentance, I do think it will be worse.   It will be worse because just like it did for the nation of Judah, judgement will come to our lives as well.  If we have been faithful and heeded God’s Word, then blessings will await us.  However, if we have been rebellious and refuse to humble ourselves before God, our punishment will be much worse than the fate of Zedekiah.    

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