Thus says the LORD, “Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and there speak this word and say, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, who sits on David’s throne, you and your servants and your people who enter these gates. Thus says the LORD, “Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place. For if you men will indeed perform this thing, then kings will enter the gates of this house, sitting in David’s place on his throne, riding in chariots and on horses, even the king himself and his servants and his people. But if you will not obey these words, I swear by Myself,” declares the LORD, “that this house will become a desolation. ’ ” (Jeremiah 22:1-5, NASB)
Jeremiah was a prophet in the last days of the Kingdom of Judah. He prophesied in the days of King Josiah and Josiah’s son, King Jehoiakim, until the defeat and exile of Judah to Babylon. (Jeremiah 1:2-3) The Bible passage above is from one of Jeremiah’s warnings to Jerusalem if they don’t shape up.
The “king of Judah” refers to Jehoiakim, who was evil in the sight of God (Jehoiakim’s father, Josiah, is described as being the most wholehearted king of all time over Israel and Judah). God tells Jeremiah to warn the king to “do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place.” God’s people had been consistently told to be just and righteous; to be kind to the stranger (because they had been strangers in the land of Egypt); and to provide for orphans and widows. But Judah had fallen away from justice and righteousness.
God’s warning is clear: Repent, and Judah’s kings would continue to sit on the throne of David; or continue in their ways, and “this house will become a desolation.” Unfortunately, Judah did not turn from its ways, and God kept His promise. Babylon, under King Nebuchadnezzar, besieged Jerusalem, utterly destroying the city, and carried the people of Judah off into exile.
Our Nation faces a similar choice today. We’ve turned our backs on God. We can turn back to Him, or face the consequences. God’s people must lead in this effort to “do justice and righteousness,” and be kind to people. As I’ve said, God wants our hearts. If we give Him our hearts, everything else will fall into place!
& Delirious?