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when the worst happens

2 Kings 25:22-30 (JDV).

2 Kings 25:22 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, over the rest of the people he left in the land of Judah.
2 Kings 25:23 When all the commanders of the armies — they and their men — heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. The commanders included Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah son of the Maacathite — they and their men.
2 Kings 25:24 Gedaliah swore an oath to them and their men, assuring them, “Don’t be afraid of the servants of the Chaldeans. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well for you.”
2 Kings 25:25 In the seventh month, however, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, of the royal family, came with ten men and struck down Gedaliah, and he died. Also, they killed the Judeans and the Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah.
2 Kings 25:26 Then all the people, from the youngest to the oldest, and the commanders of the army, left and went to Egypt because they were afraid of the Chaldeans.
2 Kings 25:27 On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month of the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Judah’s King Jehoiachin, in the year Evil-merodach became king of Babylon, he pardoned King Jehoiachin of Judah and released him from prison.
2 Kings 25:28 He spoke kindly to him and set his throne over the thrones of the kings who were with him in Babylon.
2 Kings 25:29 So Jehoiachin changed his prison clothes, and he dined regularly in the presence of the king of Babylon for the rest of his life.
2 Kings 25:30 As for his allowance, a regular allowance was given to him by the king, a portion for each day, for the rest of his life.

when the worst happens

Gedaliah’s assassination leads the Babylonians to release Jehoiachin from prison, and he stays in Babylon for the rest of his life. He is a thin thread of hope that one day there will be a monarchy again in Jerusalem. The story of the kings comes to an end. What God has in store for his people now is another king, who will come centuries later. Even when the world gives us its worst, and we fail miserably, God still has options. There is a throne in heaven, and the one on it is never wringing his hands in despair.

LORD, when the worst happens, we will still trust you.