2 Kings 25:22

2 Kings 25:22 says, And as for the people that remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, ruler. Nebuchadnezzar appointed Gedaliah as the ruler over those left in Judah.  These were the poor people who were considered unimportant and of no threat to Babylon.  We may be poor and unimportant in the eyes of the world, but as Christians, we should always be a threat to their evil ways.  I don't believe we should ever just sit back and do nothing because it is safer to do so, but we must always act under the power and authority of the Holy Spirit.  Verse twenty-three adds, And when all the captains of the armies, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, there came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Careah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.  We are that all the captains of the armies and their men came against Gedaliah, who Matthew Henry said was probably a better ruler than most of their own kings had been.  Verse twenty-four continues, And Gedaliah sware to them, and to their men, and said unto them, Fear not to be the servants of the Chaldees: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon; and it shall be well with you.  Gedaliah told them to be patient and dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon and everything would be well with them.  Nothing is said about them being prevented from worshipping God.  If our worship of God is not threatened by the government, I believe the Bible clearly states that we are to be obedient to it. Verse twenty-five states, But it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, came, and ten men with him, and smote Gedaliah, that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldees that were with him at Mizpah.  Ishmael and ten men came to Gedaliah and killed him.  Then, Ishmael and those with him as well as the Chaldeans that were with him went to Mizpah. This had been an important place to Israel, and they went back there, but it is God Who makes places great, and not just the physical location itself.  Wherever we are as followers of Christ is just as important as any other place, as long as we are obedient to God.  Verse twenty-six continues, And all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the armies, arose, and came to Egypt: for they were afraid of the Chaldees.  We are told that all the people, both great and small, came to Egypt because they were afraid of the Chaldeans.  God had delivered them from bondage in Egypt and brought them to the Promised Land, and now they were willingly returning to Egypt.  If we are a follower of Christ, we have been delivered from the power of sin, but we can still willingly let it back into our life.  Verse twenty-seven says, And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison;  Thirty-seven years after Jehoiachin had been imprisoned, Evilmerodach, Nebuchadnezzar's son and successor as king of Babylon brought him out of  prison.  He had surrendered willing and had been imprisoned for a long time, but he was still alive.  We really aren't told if he ever repented and followed God or not, but at least he had plenty of time to think about it.  If we were to be imprisoned for our faith in God, we must stay faithful to Him, whether Jehoiachin did or not.  One day, we will be set completely free from the power of sin and free to worship God forevermore.   Verse twenty-eight adds, And he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon;  The king of Babylon then set Jehoiachin on a throne that was above even the other kings around him.  We who were imprisoned by sin, if we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, are set free and can come and dine at the King's table, or with God Himself.  Verse twenty-nine continues, And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life.  Matthew Henry says that Jehoiachin had his prison garb changed to royal robes, and this is what happens to us when we become a follower of Christ.  Verse thirty concludes, And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.  Jehoiachin had a daily allowance for the rest of his life.  He was not given a great amount to last for a long time, but a daily rate.  God will provide for our needs spiritually ever day of our life as long as we are obedient to Him.  God does not promise us great material wealth, only what we need daily.