[:en]SCRIPTURE: JEREMIAH 22
“People from many nations will pass by this city and will ask one another, “Why has the Lord done such a thing to this great city?” And the answer will be: “Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord their God and have worshiped and served other gods” (Jeremiah 22:8-9)
“Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, his upper rooms by injustice, making his countrymen work for nothing, not paying them for their labor” (Jeremiah 22:13)
JUDGMENT AGAINST EVIL KINGS
Prophet Jeremiah address 4 kings of Judah beginning with Zedekiah, the last king and then taking the preceding kings in the order of their reign:
1. Zedekiah (vs. 1-9) – He would sit on the throne of David but his palace will be ruined and the house dynasty of David would have no king until the Messiah would come.
2. Shallum (vs. 10-17) – His father was Josiah who was a godly man. But Shallum was covetous. He reigned for only 3 months and was taken to Egypt where he died there.
3. Jehoiakim (vs. 18-23) – He disobeyed God. When he died, nobody mourned for him and he was buried in disgrace.
4. Jehoiachin (vs. 24-30) – He was very popular with several children but none of them would inherit the throne of David. He was handover to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.[:]