Running From God Jer. 52:1-11

The end of the earthly reign of the house of David came when Jerusalem fellto Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C. The last descendant of David to rule as a king of a physical nation was Zedekiah. They fell because fellowship with God was lost. “For through the anger of the LORD this came about in Jerusalem and Judah until He cast them out from His presence.” (Jer. 52:3) 

As the Babylonian army closed in, he cut and ran.  “A]l the men of war fled and went forth from the city at night by way of the gate between the two walls which was by the king's garden...” (Jer. 52:7)  Ezekiel prophesied their escapee and their capture. “The prince who is among them will load his baggage on his shoulder in the dark and go out. They will dig a hole through the wall… I shall also spread My net over him, and he will be caught in My snare." (Ezk. 12:12,13) Jeremiah records, “The Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho…his army was scattered from him…they captured the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon.” (Jer. 52:8,9)  

His sons were killed before his eyes. And so that this calamity would be the last thing he ever saw, Nebuchadnezzar “blinded the eyes of Zedekiah.”  Then he “bound him with bronze fetters and brought him to Babylon, and put him in prison until the day of his death.” (Jer. 52:10, 11)

The rebellious life always ends disastrously. You can no more run from God’s punishment than Jonah could run from His presence – yet many try. Men try to sow the wind without reaping the whirlwind.  They try to sow to the flesh and not reap corruption. They keep on trying to live a life of sin without going to hell. None will succeed. Zedekiah couldn’t run that fast. I can’t run that fast. You can’t run that fast.

Proverbs On Wealth And Possessions

Destitution For The Lazy: If you won’t work, save, and use wisely you surely won’t have much.  

6:9-11“How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?

10A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest–

11And your poverty will come in like a vagabond, And your need like an armed man.”

13:4“The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made fat.”

20:4“The sluggard does not plow after the autumn, So he begs during the harvest and has nothing.”

21:17“He who loves pleasure will become a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not become rich.”

Material Blessings That Many Righteous Receive: The righteous are not guaranteed wealth, but those who exercises wisdom and good stewardship will most always have more than those who don’t.  

10:4“Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.”

14:23“In all labor there is profit, But mere talk leads only to poverty.”

22:4“The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches, honor and life.

24:3,4“By wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established;

4And by knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches.”

28:19“He who tills his land will have plenty of food, But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.”