King Zedekiah Hard Lessons In Leadership

There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD. —Proverbs 21:30

Our focus here is recognizing one of the pitfalls in the leadership of King Zedekiah.  More so reflecting on what NOT to do!  Jeremiah prophesied the Word of the Lord of destruction and promise of restoration to kings, prophets, priests and people of Judah.  

In response, King Zedekiah shook his fist at God in resistance and rebellion because he did not want to agree with the prophecy of destruction.  Jeremiah prophesied to King Zedekiah that if the people of Judah surrendered to Babylon, they would not be destroyed.  Apparently, he thought he could override the Word of God and defeat the army of King Nebuchadnezzar by aligning with Egypt.  His actions showed he thought he could outwit, manipulate or cancel the will of God concerning him and the destiny of Judah. He was in such pride and denial that it blinded him from seeing the stubbornness in his own heart. What a tragedy for him and Judah!

I truly love biblical history, but I’m not sharing this just as an informational post on the history of Israel 🇮🇱, or even to say I’m perfect and you should follow likewise.  Nope!  I’m sharing this based on personal experience. Definitely not to the heightened degree of Zedekiah, but I could see myself in some of his choices after hearing wise counsel. One of the ways I love gleaning leadership nuggets is by reading and studying God's Word. This is the leadership lesson. Yielding to wise counsel. 

In business, ministry or life in general, we should ALWAYS surround ourselves with wise counsel or advisors. Not just having people serve as puppets in those positions but actually listening to them (2 Chronicles 20:20).  Jeremiah was prophet and counsel to King Zedekiah.  Jeremiah didn't put himself in that position—God did.

Zedekiah reasoned with Truth, which is something you should NEVER 👎🏽 do. Reasoning with Truth will cause you to replace it with your own version of truth. That means you alter it to make yourself the winner—no pain, no consequences for bad choices, etc. Sometimes you can make yourself the victim—no accountability for your error because it’s somebody else’s fault.  See how dangerous reasoning with the Truth is?  In leadership and in life, the way you handle Truth and the subsequent consequences of disobedience can impact you and everyone that is under your sphere of influence and authority!  That's some serious stuff!

Let’s focus on Zedekiah and the wise counsel that was assigned to him. Jeremiah consistently gave him the Word from the Lord of Judah’s destruction and exile. He did not change or alter it at any time to meet Zedekiah's motives.  The first two waves of deportation to Babylon had already occurred.  It was the third wave of Babylon's impending invasion before God's judgment of destruction.  Confusion and despair dominated the environment.  Resources and food supplies were dwindling.  God was specific about the events that would occur in acts of obedience and disobedience.  God's heart for Zedekiah was to live and not die. (Jeremiah 32:1-5; 34:1-5) 

I gave the same message to Zedekiah king of Judah. I said, “Bow your neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon; serve him and his people, and you will live. —Jeremiah 27:12

The more Zedekiah resisted the wise counsel, the worse the end game became for him.  He placed his own well-being over the people he was given charge to lead and protect.

Babylon was to be the next world superpower by order of God Almighty!  Unfortunately, the Truth frustrated Zedekiah!! You can't force your own desired outcome over the will of the Lord!!  I imagine in Zedekiah’s mind, he thought punishing Jeremiah would somehow change the outcome prophecy of the Lord concerning Judah. He even met with the prophet in secret (Jeremiah 32:14-16), possibly thinking he could manipulate the prophet and the Word of Truth! Jeremiah went under severe punishment because of Truth. Some even thought this word was actual treason.  What was this Truth?

Jeremiah 32:17-23

17Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “This is what the Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, your life will be spared and this city will not be burned down; you and your family will live.
18But if you will not surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, this city will be given into the hands of the Babylonians and they will burn it down; you yourself will not escape from them.’ ”

19King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I am afraid of the Jews who have gone over to the Babylonians, for the Babylonians may hand me over to them and they will mistreat me.”

20“They will not hand you over,” Jeremiah replied. “Obey the Lord by doing what I tell you. Then it will go well with you, and your life will be spared.
21But if you refuse to surrender, this is what the Lord has revealed to me:
22All the women left in the palace of the king of Judah will be brought out to the officials of the king of Babylon. Those women will say to you:

“ ‘They misled you and overcame you—

those trusted friends of yours.

Your feet are sunk in the mud;

your friends have deserted you.’

23“All your wives and children will be brought out to the Babylonians. You yourself will not escape from their hands but will be captured by the king of Babylon; and this city will be burned down.”

So, I’m sure at this point you are wondering, "How does this relate to me?"  I can assure you I did not harm any messenger of the Word of the Lord because I didn't like the message! 

This is what happened...

I received wise counsel on a matter that was for my good. The prophet could see it was a ploy from the enemy to pull me back into a situation that would derail my primary assignment. Even while prophesying to me, it was revealed by the Lord that I already made my decision to engage in it even though I was warned otherwise of its consequence. The prophet said they had no other recourse but to pray me through! 

I really did reason with it and thought to myself, "Oh, I can handle it!"💪 

Welp! It did not happen immediately but over the course of time (just like the devil does), you guessed it! I was derailed from purpose! I lost so much time and the detachment caused unnecessary warfare for me. My goodness! What a hard and valuable lesson. What is the key motivator in rejecting wise counsel? Pride. Plain and simple.  I was warned of trouble and thought I knew better.  Reason exalted itself against the knowledge of God (2 Cor 10:5). I reasoned with Truth, and it cost me dearly!  Thank you Jesus for recovery, for grace and the prayers of the saints!

The consequences of Zedekiah’s arrogance toward God caused his imminent demise—just the way the Lord prophesied (Jeremiah 39:1-9).  It was pride, selfishness and fear that caused Zedekiah to resist wise counsel. He did not want to accept the place of humility, nor was he repentant in his heart for leading a people into sin by worshipping other gods. What a travesty indeed!  In the 11th year of his reign, the Babylonian army invaded Judah.  Although Zedekiah attempted to escape out of fear, he was captured by the Babylonians as prophecy foretold.  He was sentenced and saw his sons and nobles murdered before his eyes, then his eyes were gorged out, and he was taken into captivity to Babylon, imprisoned until his death (Jeremiah 39:6-7). He paid the ultimate price for pride. God did not want this for him, but he made his choice by refusing wise counsel on multiple occasions.  God is longsuffering with us (Numbers 14:18; 2 Peter 3:9).  

This was such a drastic time in Israel's history, I know.  Zedekiah resisted kicking and screaming, yet God's 70-year judgment of captivity prevailed.  God goes to great lengths of correction for the purpose of FULL restoration! 

Leaders! 📣 ALWAYS pray to be cloaked in humility.  Come out of rebellion against God's purposes through repentance!  God's grace will lead us into present Truth and set our course on the right path!  It is definitely for our GOOD!  Let's not take God's longsuffering for granted.  LISTEN to those that are assigned to you as advisors, counselors, coaches, mentors, pastors, prophets, mothers and fathers, etc. God will give them wisdom for you with your best interest at heart.  When you yield and listen and obey instructions, it will pave the way to success.  

Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety. —Proverbs 11:14

...let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance —Proverbs 1:5