Daily reading

Today’s reading is: Jer. 5:20-6:30; 2 Kgs. 22:3-20; 2 Chr. 34:8-28

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Jeremiah Chapter Five

(Outline continues from yesterday)

  1. A final appeal is made for Jerusalem to humble themselves before the Sovereignty of the Lord their God (Jer. 5:20-29).
  2. The bottom line for Judah—the people thrive on false messages and evil rulers (Jer. 5:30-31).

Jeremiah Chapter Six

  1. Jeremiah issues the command to flee, ordering the evacuation of Jerusalem ahead of the coming siege and destruction (Jer. 6:1-8).
    1. Tekoa was 10 miles south of Jerusalem.  Tekoa’s elevation of 2,790 ft. and location made it ideal for a trumpet alarm site.
    2. Beth-haccerem was 3 miles south of Jerusalem, on an elevated crop of land ideal for a fire signal tower.
  2. The military orders for the destruction of Jerusalem are coming from the Lord (Jer. 6:4,6).
  3. Judah no longer has the ears to hear the wake-up calls of the Lord (Jer. 6:9-21).
  4. Jeremiah describes the coming army, and Judah is too afraid even to flee (Jer. 6:22-26).
  5. Jeremiah is appointed as the assayer and tester of Jerusalem (Jer. 6:27-30).
    1. To accomplish this work, Jeremiah will also have to be a fortified wall & tower (Jer. 1:18; 15:20).
    2. Jeremiah is simply the tool; it is the Lord Himself assaying them (Jer. 9:7; Zech. 13:9; Mal. 3:2-3).
    3. This refining process is the process every believer endures (Prov. 17:3; 1st Pet. 1:7).

Second Kings Chapter Twenty-Two

(Outline continues from Day 215)

  1. At the age of 26, Josiah commissioned Shaphan the Scribe to work with Hilkiah the High Priest to renovate the temple (2nd Kgs. 22:3-7).
    1. Shaphan was a remarkable steward and servant for King Josiah.  Three of Shaphan’s sons, and two grandsons are featured in a positive manner.
      1. Ahikam & his son Gedaliah, assisted the Prophet Jeremiah (Jer. 26:24).  Gedaliah was appointed as the Governor of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar after the destruction of Jerusalem (2nd Kgs. 25:22).
      2. Elasah, entrusted to carry Jeremiah’s letter to the exiles in Babylon (Jer. 29:3).
      3. Gemariah & his son Micaiah, tried to prevent King Jehoiakim from burning Jeremiah’s scroll (Jer. 36:10-12,25).
    2. Hilkiah “my portion is YWHW” was a faithful high priest in the line of Zadok.  He was instrumental in enacting King Josiah’s spiritual reforms.
  2. Apparently as a result of the temple renovation, the long lost Law of Moses was discovered (2nd Kgs. 22:8-13; Deut. 31:24-26).
  3. Josiah’s humility prompted him to inquire of the Lord, consulting Huldah the Prophetess (2nd Kgs. 22:14-20).
    1. Her residence was well known in the city of Jerusalem.
    2. She was consulted rather than Jeremiah (Jer. 1:2) or Zephaniah (Zeph. 1:1).

Second Chronicles Chapter Thirty-Four

  1. Chapters 34&35 describe the last good king of Judah—Josiah (2nd Chr. 34:1-33; 35:1-27; 2nd Kgs. 22:1-20; 23:1-30).
  2. Josiah’s early chronology is detailed (2nd Chr. 34:1-13).
    1. He was a king at age 8 (v.1).  639BC.
    2. He was saved at age 16 (v.3a).  631BC.
    3. He began to purge Judah’s idolatry at age 20 (v.3b).  627BC.
    4. He began a temple restoration project at age 26 (v.8).  621BC.
  3. At some point in the temple restoration project, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord, and through Shaphan the scribe delivered it to King Josiah (2nd Chr. 34:14-18).
  4. Josiah’s response to the rediscovery of the Mosaic Law was to humble himself and send 5 delegates to Huldah the prophetess (2nd Chr. 34:19-22).
  5. Huldah’s message was that the Lord was applying His Divine discipline upon Judah, but that Josiah’s humility would produce mercy in his generation (2nd Chr. 34:23-28).

(Chapter Thirty-Four continues tomorrow)