Scripture (S)
“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 his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke the word of the Lord. He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him take an oath in God’s name. He became stiff-necked and hardened his heart and would not turn to the Lord, the God of Israel. Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful, following all the detestable practices of the nations and defiling the temple of the Lord, which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.” (2 Chronicles 36:11–14)
Observation (O)
This passage feels upside down. Nebuchadnezzar, the pagan king who is often the symbol of pride and evil, is the one God uses to accomplish His purposes. Zedekiah, the king of God’s people, rejects God’s prophet and hardens his heart. To rebel against Nebuchadnezzar in this moment is actually to rebel against God, because God had put Judah under Babylon’s rule as judgment.
It’s shocking: the one who should have been leading in faith (Zedekiah) resists God, while the one we would expect to be against God (Nebuchadnezzar) becomes, in this moment, an instrument in God’s hand. The text reminds us that God is sovereign over history—He can even use those who don’t know Him to bring about His purposes.
Application (A)
What does this mean for us? Sometimes God’s will comes in forms we don’t expect or even like. Zedekiah thought resisting Babylon meant standing strong, but in reality it meant resisting God’s discipline. We also may confuse stubbornness with faith, when in fact true faith is humbly aligning ourselves with God’s Word, even if it feels upside down from our perspective.
Practically, this challenges me to ask: Am I humble enough to accept that God may work through people or situations I would never choose? A difficult boss, a hard season, even people I consider “outsiders”—God can use all of these to shape me. My call is not to resist what God is doing because it doesn’t fit my expectations, but to keep a soft heart, listen carefully to His Word, and trust His sovereignty even when the story feels upside down.
Prayer (P)
Lord, You are sovereign over all things. Forgive me when I resist Your discipline or harden my heart because Your ways don’t fit my expectations. Help me to trust that You are working, even through unexpected people and circumstances. Give me the humility to bow to Your Word, the courage to obey You, and the discernment to recognize Your hand, even in upside-down moments. Amen.
