Topical Bible: Self-Will: Zedekiah

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Zedekiah, originally named Mattaniah, was the last king of Judah before the Babylonian conquest. He reigned from approximately 597 to 586 BC. His reign is marked by a series of poor decisions and acts of self-will that ultimately led to the downfall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple.

Background and Ascension to the Throne

Zedekiah was the son of Josiah and the uncle of Jehoiachin, whom he succeeded as king. His original name, Mattaniah, was changed to Zedekiah by Nebuchadnezzar II, the king of Babylon, who placed him on the throne as a vassal king after the first deportation of Jews to Babylon (2 Kings 24:17). This change of name symbolized his subservience to Babylon, yet Zedekiah's reign was characterized by a struggle between submission to Babylonian rule and the desire for independence.

Acts of Self-Will

Zedekiah's self-will is most evident in his rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar. Despite the prophet Jeremiah's repeated warnings to submit to Babylon as God's instrument of judgment (Jeremiah 27:12-15), Zedekiah chose to align with Egypt in a futile attempt to gain independence. This decision was driven by political expediency and a desire to assert his own authority, rather than obedience to God's directive.

Jeremiah 38:19-20 records Zedekiah's fear of the Judeans who had defected to the Babylonians, which led him to reject Jeremiah's counsel: "But King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, 'I am afraid of the Jews who have gone over to the Chaldeans, for the Chaldeans may hand me over to them to abuse me.' But Jeremiah replied, 'They will not hand you over. Obey the voice of the LORD in what I am telling you, that it may go well with you and you may live.'"

Consequences of Self-Will

Zedekiah's refusal to heed divine counsel resulted in catastrophic consequences. In 586 BC, Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem, leading to its eventual fall. The Babylonians captured Zedekiah, and his fate was grim: he witnessed the execution of his sons before his eyes were put out, and he was taken in chains to Babylon (2 Kings 25:7).

The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple marked a significant moment in Jewish history, symbolizing the end of the Davidic monarchy and the beginning of the Babylonian Exile. Zedekiah's self-will and failure to submit to God's will through the prophetic word of Jeremiah serve as a sobering reminder of the dangers of prioritizing personal desires and political alliances over divine instruction.

Legacy

Zedekiah's legacy is one of caution against self-will and disobedience to God. His reign illustrates the peril of ignoring prophetic warnings and the importance of humility and submission to God's sovereign plan. The narrative of Zedekiah underscores the biblical theme that true leadership and success are found in obedience to God, rather than in self-reliance and defiance.

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2 Chronicles 36:13
And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning to the LORD God of Israel.
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Library

The Fall of Judah
... Zedekiah's doing 'evil in the sight of the Lord' is regarded as aggravated by his ...
in an alienated heart, and the source of all sin is an obstinate self-will. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the fall of judah.htm

The Captivity.
... But Zedekiah would not listen, and at last broke out with his men of war to cut
his way through the enemy. His self-will met its deserts; he was taken by ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson x the captivity.htm

Self-Destruction
... he knew he deserved; that was what enticed him to listen to Zedekiah and the ... lust
of believing what is pleasant to us, what suits our own self-will"what is ...
/.../kingsley/twenty-five village sermons/sermon viii self-destruction.htm

Twenty-Seven Articles Respecting the Reformation of the Christian ...
... enemies. And King Zedekiah was destroyed utterly with his people, because
he broke the oath that he had sworn to the King of Babylon. ...
/.../iii twenty-seven articles respecting the.htm