SIGNS OF JUDGMENT (PART 2 – YOUNG, INEXPERIENCED LEADERS)

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“I will make mere youths their officials; children will rule over them.”

O my people! Can’t you see what fools your rulers are? Weak as women! Foolish as little children playing king.

Isaiah 3:4, 12a

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

What signs will indicate when the Lord God Almighty is passing judgment on a city or nation?

God’s word from Isaiah, Chapter 3, is offering us answers.

In this series, “Signs of Judgment”, we have already seen how God will remove supply and support from any city or nation who chooses to disobey and disrespect Him in the way they carry out business. And although the text is talking about Jerusalem and Judah, the message is clear: God can (and will) send judgment on any city and nation who chooses sin and wickedness over His righteousness.

So what is the second sign we find in Isaiah?

It’s the sign of young and inexperienced leadership finding their way to the top.

Consider what happened to Judah, fulfilling the promise found in this verse, the focal point of this devotion today:

“I will make mere youths their officials; children will rule over them.” (v 4)

As the people of the southern kingdom continued their apostasy toward God, inclining themselves more and more to false worshipping of idols, the kings ascending to the throne became younger and younger, dragging Judah further and further onto the path of destruction. The evidence of this is striking.

For after Hezekiah, none of the kings Judah would be above the age of 23. They were as follows:

Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. 2 Kings 21:1-2

Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done. 2 Kings 21:19-20

Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left. 2 Kings 22:1-2

Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as his predecessors had done. 2 Kings 23:31-32

Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father had done. 2 Kings 24:8-9

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as Jehoiakim had done. It was because of the Lord’s anger that all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah, and in the end he thrust them from his presence. 2 Kings 24:18-20

Six young rulers. Five of six did evil in the sight of the Lord. In the end, this is what incited the Lord’s anger and led to Jerusalem and Judah being “thrust from His presence.”

Is your nation approaching judgment?

Keep a lookout for the signs which include loss of supply and support as well as young leaders rising to power and doing evil in the sight of the Lord. God will not be mocked and no nation will be spared from the consequences of turning away from Him toward iniquity and malevolence. Trust and believe that.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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