Not by What We Build but by How We Care

Jeremiah 22:16 KJV

He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the LORD.

The prophet is addressing here addressing the three sons of Josiah: Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim and Jeconiah.

• Jehoahaz was captured by Egypt and replaced with
• Jehoiakim who dies unlamented after wasting huge sums of money upon himself. Finally
• Jeconiah comes to the throne but is captured and carried off to Babylon where he dies childless.

This forever ends the reign of the family of Solomon over Jerusalem.

While Jehoiakim splurged money on himself in a time of tragedy in the land; he forced labor without pay on the people, the prophet reminded him that his father had demonstrated his relationship with the Lord by doing judgment and justice to the poor and needy.

And so we also demonstrate our relationship with God, not by what we build, but by how we care for those who are around us.