A Devotional Verse From 2 Kings

And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servants the prophets.     2 Kings 24:2

When a man became king in Bible days, he thought he had it made. He was absolute ruler. The army, thousands of men, would draw their swords in his defense, and lay down their lives for him. He held the power of life and death. In recessionary times he still got the best food, and all he needed. People obeyed his every command. He thought he was safe and secure. He could do whatever he wanted, without fear of consequences, or so he thought.But when kings did evil in the sight of the LORD they were "crusin' for a brusin'" as we used to say in the 1950's.

Jehoiakim, king of Judah, was just one of many kings of the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel and Judah who did evil in the sight of God. He also did stupidity, in rebelling against Nebuchadnezzar. Before Nebuchadnezzar finally came and deported the Jewish nation to Babylon, this verse tells us that God sent against Jehoiakim gangs of terrorists, or marauders, so that even without his immediate problems with the king of Babylon he still had his hands full. This verse caught my attention because it mirrors the bands of terrorist and troublemakers roaming in the world today.

No king, or government, is safe without conscious vigilance to protect its people and property; without wisdom to avoid the stupid decisions that can hurt and disrupt a nation; and most importantly, without the realization that the LORD God not only ordains governments, but can bring them down as he chooses. The nations who seek the LORD, or, at least, seek righteousness and seek to do good to their people and the world are most likely to survive because of the blessing of God.