The Reign And Captivity of Jehoahaz
November 13, 2021
Commentary
Josiah’s body was transported back to Jerusalem, where he was buried. With his death, all hope of spiritual revival was gone. The events that followed his reign would soon bring down the proud Judean capitals.
Judah made Jehoahaz, Josiah’s fourth son, the new king. His reign only lasted three months and he was taken prisoner. His three short months were marked as “evil.” When Pharaoh Neco defeated Josiah at Megiddo, Judah came under Egyptian rule and a heavy tax was placed on them. He evidently did not like Jehoahaz so he imprisoned him and sent him to Egypt where he eventually died.
Neco then placed Jehoahaz’s older brother, Eliahim, on the throne of Judah and changed his name to Jehoiakim. Jehoiakim became a puppet to Neco the Egyptian king and reigned 11 years. Jehoiakim was a weak ruler and followed in the path of idolatry and self reliance.
Jehoiakim found his alliances shifting as Egypt was defeated by Babylon and Judah came under the rule of Babylon (24:1). He rebelled against Babylon which proved to be a crucial mistake. Nebuchadnezzar crushed Jehoiakim’s rebellion and took him to Babylon (2 Chron. 36:6).
Application
Israel’s task was to be a witness, telling the world who God is and what he has done. I need to remind myself that the only way some people may know what God is like is through my words and example. They cannot see God directly, but they can see Him reflected in me.
Isaiah 43:1– 13 (NET)
1 Now, this is what the Lord says, the one who created you, O Jacob, and formed you, O Israel: “Don’t be afraid, for I will protect you. I call you by name, you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I am with you; when you pass through the streams, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not harm you.
3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your deliverer. I have handed over Egypt as a ransom price, Ethiopia and Seba in place of you.
4 Since you are precious and special in my sight, and I love you, I will hand over people in place of you, nations in place of your life.
5 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. From the east I will bring your descendants; from the west I will gather you.
6 I will say to the north, ‘Hand them over!’ and to the south, ‘Don’t hold any back!’ Bring my sons from distant lands, and my daughters from the remote regions of the earth,
7 everyone who belongs to me, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed—yes, whom I made.
8 Bring out the people who are blind, even though they have eyes, those who are deaf, even though they have ears!
9 All nations gather together, the peoples assemble. Who among them announced this? Who predicted earlier events for us? Let them produce their witnesses to testify they were right; let them listen and affirm, “It is true.”
10 You are my witnesses,” says the Lord, “my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may consider and believe in me, and understand that I am he. No god was formed before me, and none will outlive me.
11 I, I am the Lord, and there is no deliverer besides me.
12 I decreed and delivered and proclaimed, and there was no other god among you. You are my witnesses,” says the Lord, “that I am God.
13 From this day forward I am he; no one can deliver from my power; I will act, and who can prevent it?”
Illustration: What Does God Have to Do With it
If you “Google” the word love, and you have to be very careful doing this, you will find all sorts of websites,120,000,000 to be exact. Here are some examples that you will find: ilovecheese.com; ilovelucy.com; we lovetheiraqiinformationminister.com; trueromanceingservice.com; love test.com; matchmaker.com; thelovecalculator.com. On this site you type in your name and your mates name and it gives you the odds of your relationship lasting. Alana and I got 41%) The interesting aspect is that on all these sites, love is seen as almost an entirely human endeavor. God needs to be in control. (John Harvey – Sermon Central)