Thursday of Week 12 – 2 Kings 24:8-17; Ps 78:1-5,8-9; Matthew 7:21-29

“Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he came to the throne, and he reigned for three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Nehushta, daughter of Elnathan, from Jerusalem. He did what is displeasing to the Lord, just as his father had done. At that time the troops of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched on Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon himself came to attack the city while his troops were besieging it. Then Jehoiachin king of Judah surrendered to the king of Babylon, he, his mother, his officers, his nobles and his eunuchs, and the king of Babylon took them prisoner. This was in the eighth year of King Nebuchadnezzar. The latter carried off all the treasures of the Temple of the Lord and the treasures of the royal palace, and broke up all the golden furnishings that Solomon king of Israel had made for the sanctuary of the Lord, as the Lord had foretold. He carried off all Jerusalem into exile. . .”

Sometimes when you give in, the punishment will be less. Instead of your head, you will only lose your homeland. You will keep your life, but you will go into exile. Truly great is the kindness of lords and rulers. Didn’t they have the right to kill? But those who were exalted by their grace, like Zedekiah, will suffer a similar fate as soon as they prove to be too independent.

It is better to fall into the hands of God than of man. You can implore God. . .