When Divine Judgment Becomes Inevitable
Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke the word of the LORD. He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him take an oath in God's name. He became stiff-necked and hardened his heart and would not turn to the LORD, the God of Israel.
Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful, following all the detestable practices of the nations and defiling the temple of the LORD, which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.
The LORD, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through His messengers again and again, because He had pity on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked God's messengers, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against His people and there was no remedy.
He brought up against them the king of the Babylonians, who killed their young men with the sword in the sanctuary, and did not spare young men or young women . . .
He carried to Babylon all the articles from the temple of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the LORD's temple and the treasures of the king and his officials.
. . . He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his successors until the kingdom of Persia came to power.
2 Chronicles 36:11-20
Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful, following all the detestable practices of the nations and defiling the temple of the LORD, which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.
The LORD, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through His messengers again and again, because He had pity on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked God's messengers, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against His people and there was no remedy.
He brought up against them the king of the Babylonians, who killed their young men with the sword in the sanctuary, and did not spare young men or young women . . .
He carried to Babylon all the articles from the temple of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the LORD's temple and the treasures of the king and his officials.
. . . He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his successors until the kingdom of Persia came to power.
2 Chronicles 36:11-20
Questions are sometimes asked when divine judgment is meted out. We often wonder whether God is too harsh when He judges. When we read of some of the very "harsh" judgments in the Bible, we question whether God is truly compassionate! But the truth is that God is extremely compassionate! The Scripture actually declares that it is because of His mercies that we are not consumed. His compassions never fail and His mercies are new every morning and great is His faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23).
Judgment is used by God as a last resort. He always admonishes numerous times before unleashing His wrath on sinful humanity. On the very brink of judgment, God has been found to show restraint, forgiveness, and compassion. Even the wicked King Manasseh of Judah was brought back from Exile and restored to his throne when he humbled himself in repentance!
Nonetheless, God judges when our "cups are full."
So, before God brought judgment on Zedekiah and his people the account says: "The LORD . . . sent word to them through His messengers again and again, because He had pity on His people . . . But they mocked God's messengers, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against His people and there was no remedy." This is the typical pattern that leads to divine judgment against sin. God is relentless in pursuing people with love and compassion but men are equally relentless in rejecting God's love and warnings until it is too late!
Divine judgment only becomes inevitable when God's admonition has been rejected over and over again for long periods of time! May we wake up to any form of deception in our hearts that causes us to rebel against God, and may we not continue to sin hoping that grace will continue to abound. Divine judgment is real, so let's not presume on grace.
Judgment is used by God as a last resort. He always admonishes numerous times before unleashing His wrath on sinful humanity. On the very brink of judgment, God has been found to show restraint, forgiveness, and compassion. Even the wicked King Manasseh of Judah was brought back from Exile and restored to his throne when he humbled himself in repentance!
Nonetheless, God judges when our "cups are full."
So, before God brought judgment on Zedekiah and his people the account says: "The LORD . . . sent word to them through His messengers again and again, because He had pity on His people . . . But they mocked God's messengers, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against His people and there was no remedy." This is the typical pattern that leads to divine judgment against sin. God is relentless in pursuing people with love and compassion but men are equally relentless in rejecting God's love and warnings until it is too late!
Divine judgment only becomes inevitable when God's admonition has been rejected over and over again for long periods of time! May we wake up to any form of deception in our hearts that causes us to rebel against God, and may we not continue to sin hoping that grace will continue to abound. Divine judgment is real, so let's not presume on grace.
Prayer: Lord, I thank you for your unfathomable grace upon my life. Please help me not to take your grace for granted but to rid my life of anything that is displeasing to you. Amen.