“So Jehoiachin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life he dined regularly at the king’s table” (Jeremiah 52:33 ESV).
In the final verses of Jeremiah’s prophetic book of judgment on Judah and the surrounding nations, a glimmer of hope appears. Jehoiachin, the former king of Judah, who had been imprisoned by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, is released and invited to dine at the king’s table. Jehoiachin had only been king of Judah for three months before surrendering to Nebuchadnezzar and being taken captive along with many of Judah’s leaders.
Nebuchadnezzar installed Jehoichin’s uncle, Zedekiah, as a vassal king over Judah, but he later rebelled against Babylon. So Nebuchadnezzar’s army returned to Jerusalem and laid siege to it, ultimately destroying the city, its walls and the Temple. Zedekiah was captured, his family killed, and his eyes put out. All the key leaders of Judah were executed. Judah and the throne of David was no more.
So how would God’s promise to David be fulfilled? For God had promised, “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever” (2 Sam. 7:16). And God had revealed to Jeremiah, “The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteous Savior” (Jer. 23:5-6).
How would God’s promise to David be kept? It would be fulfilled through Jehoiachin. Like a dramatic TV series where hope seems lost, just before the episode ends, a key character emerges from the rubble, offering a glimpse of renewed hope. Thus, we find Jehoiachin, also known as Jechoniah, in Matthew’s lineage of the Messiah, Jesus Christ (See Matt. 1:12).
PRAYER: Dear Father, when all appears lost, Your Word and Your promises still remain. We therefore put all our hope in You. We have trusted in Jesus, the promised Son of David, as our Savior and Lord. We will not fret nor lose hope for He has come and He is coming again. In Jesus, all things are well and all things will be well. Fill us afresh by Your Spirit today with the joy and hope of Christ. In His name we pray, amen.