S) "19 Then King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, 'I dread the Jews who have gone over to the Chaldeans, for they may give me over into their hand and they will abuse me.'"
Jeremiah 38:19 (NASB)
*This verse was highlighted before I kept these entries online, so I wrote a new entry
*This verse was highlighted before I kept these entries online, so I wrote a new entry
O) Zedekiah, like many kings before him, heard the truth of God from a prophet, but he still rejected it. Unlike some of those other kings, however, he almost seemed reluctant. In many ways, he seemed like he was almost on the fence about whether or not to heed the warnings of the prophet before him. He even sought Jeremiah's counsel, although his motives were certainly questionable. In this verse, we see the summation of his real problem. In the end, King Zedekiah feared men more than he feared the LORD, and that was his undoing.
A) I cannot think of very many instances in the Bible, where the fear of men so clearly trumped the fear of God, like in this verse. I think that is because, like in most of my own experiences, this conflict of fears is more subtle than that. I am not really a fearful person, and I don't generally care too much what other people think about me (or what they think at all). However, I was recently confronted with the realization that, under a certain type of circumstance, this is exactly what was happening. I was being tempted when I was alone, and I had the striking awareness of the presence of God. In itself, that was His grace at its most beautiful, because God was trying to rescue me in that moment of weakness (and He truly did). At that time, I realized that the temptation to sin while no other people were around, was unique to my loneliness, because if there were any people around at all, my fear of their judgment would have been enough to cut through any temptation. I'll say that again, I wouldn't feel tempted because I'd be too afraid of what people would say and think and do in reaction. However, with only God watching, I was not afraid enough of what He would say and think and do. That sickened me that day, and it opened my eyes to the reality that any time I am sinning, I am clearly not fearing God as I should. On the other hand, anytime I would be tempted to sin, if only there were no watchful eyes, then I am clearly fearing people more than I should. The truth is, my very own sins will abuse me. The wages of sin is death. My sins will be the death of me, unless there is intervention. Thankfully, there is divine intervention, the only kind that could ever work. God intervenes, repeatedly, to rescue me from myself. In Christ, His perfect love casts out all fears, and I have no fear of punishment, and no fear of death. I must walk in that mercy every day, and acknowledge the holy perfection of my God. I must fearfully acknowledge His sovereignty to rule my life according to His authority and judgment. That is the only way I can live free of the fear of punishment, and death.
P) Father, open my eyes and ears, to be more aware of Your sovereignty, might, judgment, and authority. Let me fear You as I ought. Show me where my fears are maligned. I never want to be motivated by a fear of men, because I know that is such dangerous ground to walk. That is the same misguided fear that led King Zedekiah astray. Instead, let me fear You, and only You. Let my fear of You alone, motivate and guide my decisions. Let my heart be fully submitted to You, that You would then keep me from sin. Let Your will be done in my life, on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
Amen, Glory To God.
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