23 July | EVERYONE
“Then the city wall was broken through, and all the men of war fled and went out of the city at night by way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king’s garden, even though the Chaldeans were near the city all around. And they went by way of the plain.” Jeremiah 52: 7
Nebuchadnezzar had besieged Jerusalem for two years; and in the summer of 586 B.C., the soldiers of Babylon dug a hole in the city walls and entered it. As we already saw when referring to what is reported in 2 Kings 25 when King Zedekiah found out about the situation, he took his wife and his children and fled. What a sad attitude! He played with divine grace, hardened himself in the face of God's warnings, fell into the most repugnant idolatry, ordered the prophet to be imprisoned, and now, seeing the consequences of his sin and instead of turning his eyes to God and repenting, he ran and hid.
But it was of no use to him. He and his children had a terrible end. A cruel paradox since the name 'Zedekiah' means "Justice comes from the Lord." And, indeed, implacable "justice" arrived at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, but for not having followed God's advice.
Why did Jerusalem fall? “The Lord your God has pronounced this doom on this place. Now the Lord has brought it, and has done just as He said. Because you people have sinned against the Lord, and not obeyed His voice, therefore this thing has come upon you” (Jeremiah 40:2-3).
Look how things are! A pagan who did not know God was aware that Jerusalem was experiencing the result of their disobedience. But the people did not understand.
Do we understand it today?
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Do not look for fruitless battles that, over time, may cause you to have to run. Accept God's plans and, yes, once you begin to fulfill them, continue until the end.