A tale of two kings

They are not only two kings but a father and son–Josiah (ca 648-609 BCE) and Jehoiakim (609–598 BCE).

They could not have been more different.

Josiah rent his clothes when he heard the words of the book of the Law (2 Ki 22.11), but his son Jehoiakim rent the book/scroll itself (Jer 36.24).  The father trembled at the Word of God, while the Son expressed only contempt.  The father showed godly fear, but the son showed no fear.  He cut up the Word as he heard it, and threw it bit by bit into a fire.

What an illustration of the two ways to hear the Word of God!  The one responded in fear and obedience, the other in arrogance and derision.

Significantly, these different ways of listening to the Word resulted in two drastically different ways of life.  The father was noted for humility and piety, the son for opulence and “shedding innocent blood” (Jer 22.17).  The father defended “the cause of the poor and needy,” the son practiced “oppression and violence” (vv 16-17).

God blessed the father with prosperity and the prediction of dying in peace (despite a death in battle; 2 Kg 22.20; 2 Chron 35.22-23), while the son was bound in fetters by Nebuchadnezzar.  The phrase “the fourth year of King Jehoiakim” became a code word for danger, judgment, and destruction (her 25.1; 36.1; 45.1; 46.2).

The father listened to the Word and realized his nation was headed for destruction without repentance; his son listened to the same Word and presumed that all would be well, despite the prophets’ forecast of doom.  The father was proved right and the son wrong.  The results for the nation were disastrous.  Eventually Judah was reduced to rubble, the Temple destroyed, thousands murdered, and thousands more deported into captivity.

One wonders about the state of our land.  We have shed innocent blood for many decades in millions of abortions.  Now our elites have changed marriage in ways that defy reason and tradition, and will hurt the poor and needy (by depriving their children) more than anyone else.  Because of recent policies established by our leaders, whom we elected, America’s political interests are threatened all over the world.  It is possible that saboteurs have slipped across our borders to wreak havoc from within.

Scripture suggests that a people’s leaders are either a blessing or a judgment upon that people.  Are we now experiencing judgment for our sins?

If so, we cannot blame others.  Like Daniel, who suffered exile along with thousands of his countrymen, we must confess America’s sins as our own: “We have sinned and done wrong . . . we have not listened to your servants the prophets . . . righteousness is on your side, O Lord, but open shame falls on us” (Dan 9.5-7).