Compare Jehoiakim's actions to Deuteronomy's teachings on obedience to God's law. The Setting in 2 Kings 23:37 • “And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.” (2 Kings 23:37) • Jehoiakim follows the brief reforming reign of his father Josiah yet quickly returns Judah to sin. Jehoiakim’s Pattern of Disobedience • Heavy taxation to pay foreign tribute (2 Kings 23:34-35) • Oppression and unjust labor practices (Jeremiah 22:13-17) • Violence and shedding of innocent blood (Jeremiah 22:17) • Idolatry and the revival of pagan worship (2 Chronicles 36:5; Jeremiah 25:6-7) • Despising and destroying God’s word—cutting and burning Jeremiah’s scroll (Jeremiah 36:23-24) Key Deuteronomic Benchmarks for a King • Personal immersion in Scripture – “When he is seated on his royal throne, he is to write for himself a copy of this Law… and he is to read it all the days of his life.” (Deuteronomy 17:18-19) • Humility and equality before God – “…not to consider himself better than his brothers or turn aside… so that he and his descendants may reign long.” (Deuteronomy 17:20) • Exclusive loyalty to the LORD – “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5) • Justice and care for the vulnerable – “Do not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy.” (Deuteronomy 24:14-15) • Rejection of idols – “Cursed is the man who carves an idol or casts an image.” (Deuteronomy 27:15) • Warning of covenant curses for disobedience – “But if you do not obey… all these curses will come upon you.” (Deuteronomy 28:15) Point-by-Point Contrast: Jehoiakim vs. Deuteronomy • Scripture vs. Scroll-Burning – Deuteronomy: Write and read the Law daily. – Jehoiakim: Cuts up and burns the prophetic scroll (Jeremiah 36:23). • Humility vs. Self-Exaltation – Deuteronomy: King must not exalt himself. – Jehoiakim: Levies oppressive taxes to fund his own throne (2 Kings 23:35). • Loyalty to the LORD vs. Idolatry – Deuteronomy: No idols, wholehearted love for God. – Jehoiakim: Restores idol worship (2 Chronicles 36:5). • Justice vs. Oppression – Deuteronomy: Protect hired workers and the poor. – Jehoiakim: Builds palaces “by unrighteousness” and withholds wages (Jeremiah 22:13). • Blessings vs. Curses – Deuteronomy: Obedience brings long reign; disobedience brings exile (Deuteronomy 28:36). – Jehoiakim: Babylon invades, and he dies ingloriously during siege years (2 Chronicles 36:6; Jeremiah 22:18-19). The Consequences Foretold and Fulfilled • Deuteronomy warns that the LORD “will bring you and the king you appoint to a nation unknown to you” (Deuteronomy 28:36). • Babylon carries away treasures, people, and eventually the king’s lineage (2 Chron 36:7; Daniel 1:1-2). • Jehoiakim’s dishonorable death—“He will be buried like a donkey” (Jeremiah 22:19)—mirrors covenant curses of shame and exile. Lessons for Today’s Believer • God’s standards do not change; His Word remains the measure of leadership and life. • Neglecting Scripture leads inevitably to moral drift and judgment. • Personal humility and daily obedience safeguard against the pride that destroyed Jehoiakim. • The blessings and curses of Deuteronomy still affirm that wholehearted love and submission to God bring life, while rebellion brings ruin. |
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