Scri
pture has its own set of despots who could rank well with the Hitlers, Stalins, and Saddam Husseins of more recent history. High on this list of infamous Bible tyrants is Jehoiakim, 18th king of Judah, ruler from 609–598 B.C.
Jehoiakim was raised in the home of faithful King Josiah, a man who is viewed as one of the great Old Testament heroes. Jehoiakim came into office through the back door. Upon the death of his father, the people bypassed Jehoiakim and named his younger brother, Jehoahaz, king instead. This, however, lasted for only three months until Jehoahaz was escorted off to Egypt. It was then the pharaoh named Jehoiakim new ruler over Judah.
Jehoiakim’s life was one of recklessness, vileness, and wickedness. He overturned many of the reforms his father had put in place. He despised the Lord God and put his stamp of approval on many heathen practices. He oppressed God=s people as he squeezed taxes from them and put to death anyone who questioned his judgment. Jehoiakim loved grandeur and misused the people=s money for his own self-gratification. “He says, ‘I will build myself a great palace with spacious upper rooms.’ So he makes large windows in it, panels it with cedar and decorates it in red” (22:14). His luxurious palace was fit for a wealthy king, although he did not have the money. Archeologists have found what is believed to be Jehoiakim’s palace. His opulent structure was built atop the ruins of other buildings that he destroyed—other buildings that seem to have been a peasant village.
The Lord had seen enough! He told Jeremiah to write Jehoiakim a long letter of condemnation, warning of the consequences that would follow if this evil continued. What did Jehoiakim think of the warning? “Whenever Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll, the king cut them off with a scribe’s knife and threw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was burned in the fire” (36:23).
Satan had control of this man’s mind. He was thinking thoughts that were dictated by the great deceiver. His actions did not bring glory to God. Evil and wickedness had so completely saturated his mind and heart that he bristled just to hear Jeremiah’s message. God’s words made him squirm and Jehoiakim hated it! He was soaring high on his pompous vanity, but God=s sword of justice was about to begin its work.
God is a jealous God. Nothing usurps his throne, not egos, riches, power, or prestige. God=s will is always served. Jehoiakim was sent on an unexpected trip to Babylon that he never completed. While on the way, Jeremiah’s prophecy came true: “He will have the burial of a donkey—dragged away and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem” (22:19).
Such was the demise of Jehoiakim. His path of wickedness led him straight to the grave and well beyond. The sowing of evil reaped the wrath of God’s justice.
But there remains an interesting sequel to this story. When we read the list of Jesus’ ancestors in Matthew chapter 1, we find the name of Jehoiakim’s great grandfather Manasseh; his grandfather Amon; and his father, Josiah; but the next in line, Jehoiakim, is missing. Could it be that it was now God’s turn to use the scribe=s knife?
In a society of self-righteousness and indulgence, it is easy to succumb to the sins of Jehoiakim. We pray that the Holy Spirit would strengthen our love and devotion to serve the will of God. We pray that God would give us power to overcome the assaults of Satan to which Jehoiakim subscribed, and we thank our Lord for giving us the assurance of our sins forgiven through the death and resurrection of our loving Savior.
Lord, help me to practice the art of humility today and every day. Amen.