Lesson 10: Part II: Captive King Jehoahaz, and Greedy King Jehoiakim
Our last lesson was all about the last good king of Judah--Josiah! Josiah was the kid king who sought the Lord in his youth. However, his sons unlike him, did evil in the sight of the Lord! Read their stories, how they turned from the Lord. Unravel their historical place in history. Find out messages Jeremiah foretold about them, and how these prophecies proved true!
For each king make a IYJ (In Your Journal) info sheet with a "crown topper. Besides, create a story/ stories' sheet(s). Unlocking the history mysteries of these kings will make them seem so much like leaders we see all around us today.
Read about Jehoiakim's Vermilion Fixation, the Vermilion Conversation, Vermilion Fish, and The Vermilion Bible Verse Color Book. Looking ahead to Lesson 10 Part III get ready to learn about signet ring history. Kids also will enjoy wearing unusual milk carton seal rings afterwards using them to make clay impressions. And get ready to create mini finger puppet kings from letter shapes!
Portrait of a Potentate: About Him: Young King Jehoahaz
Josiah had just been killed at Megiddo by Pharoah Necho II of Egypt. Jerusalem and Judah were weeping for him as told by Jeremiah in II Chronicles 35:25-27. The people then installed a new king, the twenty- three-year old son of Josiah--Jehoahaz. Unlike his father who sought the Lord at a young age, this middle son began to turn to evil right away. However, Pharoah Necho II had other plans for after just ninety days of being king Necho took him to Riblah, and then later in chains into Egypt. Then Necho made his brother Jehoiakim king instead.
In Your Journal: IYJ 17th. King of Judah--The Jehoahaz Page
Click on photo below to see IYJ. Notice its "Crown Topper" with its large letters, and its syllable parts. IYJ draw or create a mini Jehoahaz pic. Add Jehoahaz details as shown on the sample photo page.
Cut out a mini crown or draw one. If it's a cut out lift up to peek at the meaning of the name--"God has held." Point out that the abbreviation a.k.a. stands for "also known as" "Shallum." Ask: Do you have more than one name people use to identify you? It's been said that often kings had a birth name and later a different name when they became king.
Find a Necho II photo online under images to pop out or cutout or draw a Necho yourself. Click to find Necho II Images here. * Also find a map with Riblah, and Egypt on it. Add to your page. Notice the "zero chain" to recall Necho brought Jehoahaz to Egypt in chains. * necho ii of egypt - Search (bing.com)
Portrait of a Potentate: About Him: King Jehoiakim
King Jehoiakim followed King Jehoahaz. Of him in Jeremiah 22:13 we read "Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbor's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work; That saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers and cutteth him out windows; and it is ceiled with cedar, and painted with vermilion." Wow, what a contrast Jehoiakim was to his godly father Josiah. How full of self was he! How greedy! How fixated on his own needs!
In Jer.22:15 God reminds the king that his father Josiah was less interested in the pleasures of just being a king but was far more interested in doing judgment and justice, and then it was well with him. Says Jeremiah 22:16: "He (Josiah) judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know (honor) me, saith the LORD?" Which king are you like? tender-hearted Josiah or fixated-on-self Jehoiakim?
Enclosed In Cedar: Jehoiakim's Palace: Jeremiah 22:13 says Jehoiakim's palace was paneled in cedar wood--once again a very costly wood. The Word IN LIFE Study Bible in "Cedar Paneling" (p.1300) says this: "King Jehoiakim was apparently very fond of cedar ... even while his people paid heavy taxes .... and labored for minimal wages ...." The writer further comments that "Jehoiakim rejected God's ways right from the start of his reign (2 Kings 23:26-37) ......"
In Your Journal: IYJ Pages for the 18th King of Judah:
Click the IYJ pages below! See its Jehoiakim Info: family names, date of reign, meaning of name and other personal details. See tiny pic of the king atop a gold hole-punched O letter; notice its purple frame. By it the "Woe" verse is written. On the second page view the two framed "pics" of Josiah and Jehoiakim titled: "Well with Him!" "Woe unto Him!" I wonder if verses were written about you would you be like godly King Josiah, or ungodly Jehoiakim?
Gem Verse: I've never forgotten Micah 6:8 that we sang at our church that says: "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good: and what does the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" May we, as Josiah of old, love the Lord with all of our heart, mind, and soul and practice Micah 6:8!
Rather than justice, mercy, and love Jer. 22:17 informs us Jehoiakim's eyes and heart were for covetousness, murder, * oppression, and violence. And Jer. 22: 8 with its therefore (3-dot symbol) says no one would lament for Jehoiakim after he died, but very sadly he would die as a donkey.
*The phrase in the KJV Bible, rather than murder, says "the shedding of innocent blood" whether babies, children, or adults. Look for this phrase in Jeremiah and elsewhere; ponder it!
Painted in Vermilion: Jeremiah 22:14 tells besides being paneled in cedar, Jehoiakim chose an expensive paint for his palace--vermilion. In The Word IN LIFE Study Bible section "Knowing God" (p.1301) the writer comments on Jehoiakim's extravagant lifestyle gotten by levying taxes on the poor to pay for his extensive palace plans. Sound familiar? Everything about the evil leaders of Jeremiah's day might be said about ours. The commentary says in general, God's assessment of Jehoiakim was he was committed only to his own ways and his own covetousness or greed. (Jer. 22:17)
Explore Vermilion: Learn more about this beautiful red-orange color. Explore around your home to find some examples. Use a red/orange crayon to write out the Gem verse, or Jehoiakim's name. By the way vermilion was a very expensive paint often used in artwork of long ago. Look at IYJ page below; check out the shades of vermilion. Find vermilion color swatches here: vermilion swatches - Search (bing.com)
A Conversation about Vermilion: Vermilion Paint, Vermilion Fish & More! Just recently my grandson, an amazing young naturalist, was showing me fish and rock pics from his phone. I in turn was showing him pics on my phone--what about? You guessed it-- some of my Jeremiah research. He threw all kinds of big words at me. So, I thought I wonder if he's ever heard of "vermilion?" I asked him. Sure, enough he had--but not about King Jehoiakim's palace paint but about "Vermilion Snapper Fish" and vermilion like marks on fish. Wow! I was impressed. Look them up yourself--see all the vermilion-colored fish images! Click here: photos of vermilion fish - Search (bing.com)
Yes, it was God who first painted in vermilion! What a neat opportunity to share about Jeremiah too! And wonder of wonders later as he fished, and I watched what did he catch but a fish with vermilion coloring on it! Click on photo of a fish he caught below! How awesome is our Creator, and how colorful is his creation! Note some Bible translations have changed the KJV word "vermilion" to "red" but how much more vivid and specific is the term vermilion. And what a vocabulary stretcher too!
Jehoiakim--The Book Burning King: You'll recall Josiah heard the lost book of the law read, and obeyed it, whereas King Jehoiakim heard the book of the law read, and burned it. He committed a grievous sin! He tried wiping out God's word. So, it is today as all around us folks are trying to erase and change the Word!
Some Jeremiah Classic Verses: Did you know that there's quite a few well-known and well-loved verses folks often quote from Jeremiah? Some include: Jer. 17:5-10; Jer.21:8; Jer. 32:17, 27; Jer. 33:3,22: .... To view the entire list: consult "Classic Passages in Jeremiah" on pp: 481-482 in Willmington's Survey of the Old Testament. (Victor Books, 1987) Find his excellent book here: Willmington's Survey of the Old Testament: An Overview of the Scriptures from Creation to Christ: Willmington, Harold L.: 9780882078243: Amazon.com: Books
IYJ Third Page: Heart Verse and In the Winter House: Read the heart verse in the right corner; talk about the words: covetousness, innocent blood, oppression, and violence. Who did these things? Are there rulers today who do these things? people? Talk about this. See the big snowflakes and the king's picture. Who read the book of the law to the king? What did he do when he heard it? What did he do to it? Be sure to read the story aloud.
IYJ Fourth Page: The Lament Page: Click on the page below. See the word "lament." Ask what it means. Talk about how after good King Josiah died Jeremiah and the men and women singers wept and sang laments for him. In contrast when Jehoiakim died God stated no one was to cry over him for he had been so very wicked. They were not to say mournfully, "Ah my brother! Ah sister! Ah lord! Ah his glory!" For Jehoiakim would die as a donkey because he'd forsaken the living God, for idols of his own making!
Lamentations: A Book of Laments: Have you noticed the name of the OT book after Jeremiah? It's just a small book of five chapters that has five laments or poems in it. Jeremiah wrote this book as well. Check out the book in your Bible index and find it in your Bible. Now most of the laments are quite sad but one especially offers hope and that one is chapter three. In fact, it has two of my favorite OT verses in found in Lamentations 3:22,23: "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." Maybe they are your favorites too! How I love to sing "Great Is Thy Faithfulness."
Jeremiah's Lamentation Verse of Hope: Coming home after my "vermilion conversation" I listened to a pastor talk about Jeremiah. In his message he told how Jeremiah was a prophet who suffered much persecution and mocking because he dared to share the Lord's words or messages. But in spite of all his troubles Jeremiah put his hope in the Lord. Then the pastor read the wonderful Lamentation 3:24 verse just after the "great is thy faithfulness verse." It reads: "The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him."
How blessed I felt hearing this marvelous verse. What a surprise I got too the next morning as I found a pile of Bible verse color books. And wonder of wonders the first color book I chose was titled: The LORD is my God. (Colouring Book 22). * Opening its vermilion-like cover, I was soon at page five when what verse did I spy but Lamentations 3:24! Once more the Lord truly was showing me that He is a God of even the smallest details! How very great is his faithfulness!
* * UK spelling! See the book photo below. Order it here: The LORD is My God - Coloring Book 22 (lighthousetrails.com)
Do click on these photos to enlarge them. Don't miss the two king tube puppets below.
