I found it interesting that Jehoahaz (23) became king after the death of his father Josiah, instead of his older brother Eliakim/Jehoiakim (25). It didn't last long as Pharaoh Neco took Jehozhaz prisoner. Jeremiah had something to say about this situation ....
22:10 Do not weep for the dead king or mourn his loss. Instead, weep for the captive king being led away! For he will never return to see his native land again.
King Josiah was a good king, but the people are instructed to stop their mourning for him after only 3 short months, and instead to cry about Jehoahaz. Why?
It wasn't because the loss of Jehoahaz was a great loss to the public, unlike the death of Josiah. Rather it was because his case was. as Matthew Henry says, more deplorable....
Josiah went to the grave in peace and honour, was prevented from seeing the evil to come in this world and removed to see the good to come in the other world; and therefore, Weep not for him, but for his unhappy son, who is likely to live and die in disgrace and misery, a wretched captive. Note, Dying saints may be justly envied, while living sinners are justly pitied.
For the saint, death is no punishment! Indeed, I read somewhere awhile back that death is actually a merciful act by a loving God. Imagine if you could not die, no matter how sick you got, how much pain you were in, or how much you were tortured. Truly, for the believer, death is an act of mercy, removing us from this life of sin, pain, and heartache, ushering us into the perfection and joy of heaven.
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 2 Kings 24:1-4, Jeremiah 25, 36, 45, 46
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He gave justice and help to the poor and needy, and everything went well for him. Isn't that what it means to know me says the Lord. Jeremiah 22:16
Helping the poor and needy is not one of my strengths. We drove down to the Point Douglas area today to drop off our tv to be recycled that no longer had a picture. As we were driving, we drove past numerous poor and needy people. My only thought was to drop off the tv as quick as possible and head back to our comfortable area of the city.
Pastor Trevor and company are a great example of showing the love and assistance that the inner city people need, and what this verse says about knowing who God is.
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