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Friday 29 July 2011

Day 211: the sign of the ox yoke

Disaster strikes! The one thing Judah cannot afford is to lose Josiah, and that’s what happens.
Jeremiah’s questions and God’s answer
Jeremiah 12:1-6
The Lord’s sorrow
Jeremiah 12:7-13
Babylon: the world power 612-539BC
His promise
Jeremiah 12:14-17
Josiah slain
2 Kings 23:28-30, 2 Chronicles 35:20-24
Lamentation for Josiah
2 Chronicles 35:25-27
Jehoahaz’ evil life
2 Kings 23:31-32, 2 Chronicles 36:1-2
Judah pays tribute
2 Kings 23:33, 2 Chronicles 36:3
Johoahaz’ death
2 Kings 23:34, Jeremiah 22:10-12
Jehoiakim made king
2 Kings 23:36-7, 2 Chronicles 36:5
The sign of the yoke
Jeremiah 27:1-11
Jeremiah in the Temple court
Jeremiah 26:1-7

Josiah perhaps acted rashly, opposing Pharaoh as he went to the aid of Assyria. But Judah could ill afford to lose their reforming king. He was their best hope. If he had remained on the throne, and listened to Jeremiah, perhaps he could have led the people back to true faithfulness. But it was never going to happen without him. His two sons are not a patch on their father. The first one was enslaved to Egypt, the second was a puppet king, and both paid tribute to Pharaoh. Meanwhile, Assyria has been replaced by the new world power, Babylon, and the storm clouds are gathering again.
Jeremiah prophesies that the people will have to accept the yoke of Babylon, which must have seemed tantamount to treason. People would find this very hard to swallow.

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