1. SEIZING EVERY CHANCE Sunday May 28

a. What had Jeremiah been inspired to prophesy about Jehoiakim? Jeremiah 22:15–19, 25. With what grand purpose did this king foolishly refuse to cooperate? “It was God’s purpose that Jehoiakim should heed the counsels of Jeremiah and thus win favor in the eyes of Nebuchadnezzar and save himself much sorrow. The youthful king had sworn allegiance to the Babylonian ruler, and had he remained true to his promise he would have commanded the respect of the heathen, and this would have led to precious opportunities for the conversion of souls.”–Prophets and Kings, pp. 437, 438. b. How can we follow in the footsteps of Jeremiah rather than Jehoiakim? 2 Timothy 4:1–4. “We must be wide awake, refusing to let precious opportunities pass unimproved. We must do all that we possibly can to win souls to love God and keep His commandments. Jesus requires this of those who know the truth. Is His demand unreasonable? Have we not the life of Christ as our example? Do we not owe the Saviour a debt of love, of earnest, unselfish labor for the salvation of those for whom He gave His life?”–Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 244.

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2. THE SUCCESSOR OF JEHOIAKIM Monday May 29

a. What was the result of Jehoiakim’s betrayal of the Babylonian ruler? 2 Kings 24:1, 2. “Scorning the unusual privileges granted him, Judah’s king willfully followed a way of his own choosing. He violated his word of honor to the Babylonian ruler, and rebelled. This brought him and his kingdom into a very strait place. Against him were sent ‘bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon,’ and he was powerless to prevent the land from being overrun by these marauders (2 Kings 24:2). Within a few years he closed his disastrous reign in ignominy, rejected of Heaven, unloved by his people, and despised by the rulers of Babylon whose confidence he had betrayed–and all as the result of his fatal mistake in turning from the purpose of God as revealed through His appointed messenger.”–Prophets and Kings, p. 438. b. Who was the new ruler in Judah and how long did he rule from Jerusalem? 2 Kings 24:6, 8, 9. Why could God not fulfill His covenant with the people? “Jehoiachin [also known as Jeconiah, and Coniah], the son of Jehoiakim, occupied the throne only three months and ten days, when he surrendered to the Chaldean armies which, because of the rebellion of Judah’s ruler, were once more besieging the fated city.”–Prophets and Kings, p. 438.“The children of Israel were taken captive to Babylon because they separated from God, and no longer maintained the principles that had been given to keep them free from the methods and practises of the nations who dishonored God. The Lord could not give them prosperity, he could not fulfil his covenant with them, while they were untrue to the principles he had given them zealously to maintain. By their spirit and their actions they misrepresented his character, and he permitted them to be taken captive. Because of their separation from him, he humbled them. He left them to their own ways, and the innocent suffered with the guilty.”–The Review and Herald, May 2, 1899.

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3. DEPORTATION TO BABYLON Tuesday May 30

a. At the time of Nebuchadnezzar’s second siege, what happened to the king and many of his people? 2 Kings 24:11–16. “Nebuchadnezzar ‘carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king’s mother, and the king’s wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land,’ several thousand in number, together with ‘craftsmen and smiths a thousand.’ With these the king of Babylon took ‘all the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king’s house’ (2 Kings 24:15, 16, 13). “The kingdom of Judah, broken in power and robbed of its strength both in men and in treasure, was nevertheless still permitted to exist as a separate government. At its head Nebuchadnezzar placed Mattaniah, a younger son of Josiah, changing his name to Zedekiah.”–Prophets and Kings, pp. 438, 439. b. What is written concerning the attitude of king Zedekiah toward the Babylonians? 2 Kings 24:18–20. What golden opportunity did he lose? “Zedekiah at the beginning of his reign was trusted fully by the king of Babylon and had as a tried counselor the prophet Jeremiah. By pursuing an honorable course toward the Babylonians and by paying heed to the messages from the Lord through Jeremiah, he could have kept the respect of many in high authority and have had opportunity to communicate to them a knowledge of the true God. Thus the captive exiles already in Babylon would have been placed on vantage ground and granted many liberties; the name of God would have been honored far and wide; and those that remained in the land of Judah would have been spared the terrible calamities that finally came upon them.”–Prophets and Kings, p. 440.

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4. TIMELY COUNSELS Wednesday May 31

a. What timely but unwelcome instruction did the Lord give to those that were taken captive to Babylon? Jeremiah 29:4–7. “Through Jeremiah, Zedekiah and all Judah, including those taken to Babylon, were counseled to submit quietly to the temporary rule of their conquerors. It was especially important that those in captivity should seek the peace of the land into which they had been carried. This, however, was contrary to the inclinations of the human heart.”–Prophets and Kings, p. 440.“[Jeremiah] entreated [the priests and the people] to hear the words that he spoke. He cited them to the prophecies of Hosea, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and others whose messages of reproof and warning had been similar to his own. He referred them to events which had transpired in their history in fulfillment of the prophecies of retribution for unrepented sins.”–Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 170. b. What deceitful message was given by those opposing Jeremiah? Jeremiah 28:1–4. “Satan, taking advantage of the circumstances, caused false prophets to arise among the people, both in Jerusalem and in Babylon, who declared that the yoke of bondage would soon be broken and the former prestige of the nation restored.”–Prophets and Kings, p. 441.“Men had arisen in opposition to the message of God and had predicted peace and prosperity to quiet the fears of the people and gain the favor of those in high places. But in every past instance the judgment of God had been visited upon Israel as the true prophets had indicated.”–Testimonies, vol. 4, pp. 170, 171.

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5. CLEAR ADMONITION Thursday June 1

a. What warning was given to the king and the people? Jeremiah 29:8, 9. When were they to expect deliverance from captivity? Jeremiah 29:10. “God designed to hold the king of Babylon in check, that there should be no loss of life nor galling oppression; but by scorning His warning and commands they brought upon themselves the full rigor of bondage. It was far more agreeable to the people to receive the message of the false prophet, who predicted prosperity; therefore it was received. It wounded their pride to have their sins brought continually before their eyes; they would much rather put them out of sight. They were in such moral darkness that they did not realize the enormity of their guilt nor appreciate the messages of reproof and warning given them of God. Had they had a proper sense of their disobedience they would have acknowledged the justice of the Lord’s course and recognized the authority of His prophet. God entreated them to repent, that He might spare them humiliation and that a people called by His name should not become tributary to a heathen nation; but they scoffed at His counsel and went after false prophets.”–Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 172. b. How is this history to be a warning for us today? Mark 13:22. “Just such men arise in these days and breed confusion and rebellion among the people who profess to obey the law of God. But just as certainly as divine judgment was visited upon the false prophets, just so surely will these evil workers receive their full measure of retribution; for the Lord has not changed. Those who prophesy lies encourage men to look upon sin as a small matter. When the terrible results of their crimes are made manifest, they seek, if possible, to make the one who has faithfully warned them responsible for their difficulties, even as the Jews charged Jeremiah with their evil fortunes.“Those who pursue a course of rebellion against the Lord can always find false prophets who will justify them in their acts and flatter them to their destruction. Lying words often make many friends.”–Testimonies, vol. 4, pp. 173, 174.

REVIEW AND THOUGHT QUESTIONS Friday June 2

1. How may we be in danger of imitating Jehoiakim? 2. How did Jehoiakim end up reaping what he had sown? 3. What should we learn from Zedekiah’s opportunity? 4. Describe the ploy that Satan often uses when God is warning people for their protection. 5. What are the results of lying words and flattery?