February 26, 2025
Passage Read: 2 Kings 24 - 1 Chronicles 2
Meditation Verse: 2 Kings 24:20
Thought
Zedekiah and his brothers and their sons were all of a rebellious nature, despite having known and followed in the footsteps of Josiah. Some barely had any time to express it, two rebelled deliberately against Nebuchadnezzar who ruled over them. This verse reminds us that it was because of the sins of the people for generations, and especially the rebellion under Manasseh, that the Lord removed Judah from their land. So how the kings treated the Lord was reflected in how they treated their earthly masters, and how they treated their earthly masters was also how they treated the Lord.
Application
If I have respect for the Lord, then I am also obligated by the Lord to have respect for my earthly authorities, whether they are good or bad. But if I do not respect or fear the Lord, neither will I have much respect for my earthly masters, especially if they don't measure up in my own eyes. If I like them and what they're doing--especially if they do what I want and give me lots of freedom to do what I want--I probably won't have much of a problem with them. But if they ask and expect of me what I don't like, then I'll treat them as I treat the Lord. Likewise, if I think the Lord only asks of me what I want to give, I'll be fine with Him, but if He asks me something I don't want, I won't be happy with Him. So how I treat my earthly masters, how I view them, is likely how I also treat the Lord, and vice versa. I need to understand who the Lord is and what my real obligation is to Him in order to understand what it means to honor and submit to the earthly authorities in my life. If I get one of those wrong, I probably have both wrong. So I need to get them both right.