September 18, 2022 - Discovering Where Real Significance & Meaning is Found - Pastor Paul Vallee

Babylon, which continues its ascendancy under the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, subdues all of Syria and makes Judah its staging area to bring Egypt under his control. Jehoiakim is now under tribute and sends temple vessels as tribute to Babylon, and the young nobility of Judah, one of whom is Daniel, was taken into captivity in Babylon. Jehoiakim eventually rebels against Babylon, refusing to pay tribute in 597 B.C. Still, while Babylon is coming to address this revolt, Jehoiakim was removed as king by his officials and replaced by his son, Jehoiachin. A short siege occurs in which Jerusalem capitulates. Jehoiachin, whose reign lasted three months, was exiled by the Babylonians and other leading citizens, including Ezekiel. Zedekiah becomes king and serves as a vassal leader under Babylon for eleven years. He rebelled in his ninth year, and the Babylonians returned and destroyed Jerusalem in 586 B. C., in his eleventh year. It sounds chaotic and confusing, but that is what sin brings about in our lives: instability, confusion, and chaos. It was tragic that not one of these four kings looked to God but trusted in their political acumen and failed miserably. We learn that sin leads to separation from what we once cherished. In the case of the Judeans, it was the land they were exiled from. The significance of this exile is that the land spoke of the presence of God, and they feared that they were exiled from God’s presence. That is what sin does in our lives: it separates us from God. Isaiah explains the consequences of sin. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear! (Isaiah 59:2) So what can we learn from this prophetic announcement to these ancient kings that applies to us? What is it that God requires from us, especially if we have been given a responsibility to care for the lives of others, as parents, neighbours, bosses, pastoral, and political leaders? How we treat others is one of the most critical tests of the genuineness of our faith in God. When we examine the result of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives, or as the apostle Paul described His work, as the fruit of the Spirit, they are all qualities of human behaviour. They are described as love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (cf. Gal. 5:22). Today, we are going to look at God’s requirements and evaluation of some leaders who disregarded His instructions and the consequences of their actions. What is more important is the lessons we learn from their mistakes.