Jehoiakim had been established by Pharaoh. But from his fourth year as king, Nebuchadnezzar went up and Jehoiakim became his servant. This is also the time of the first deportation, when Daniel, among others, was taken up to Babylon. The time of the nations had begun since the first year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign. But after three years, King Jehoiakim rebelled against the king of Babylon. God gave a personal response to this rebellion because He had established Nebuchadnezzar as king over them. This authority was from Him and they had to submit to it. This revolt was thus against God’s authority.

So, even before the king of Babylon came back to settle the issue, so to speak, the Lord Himself sent against Judah the bands of the Chaldeans, the Syrians, Moab, and the sons of Ammon. This judgment was also attributed to the wicked actions of Manasseh, about ten years before: his sins, and the innocent blood which he had filled Jerusalem with.

In the eleventh year of Jehoiakim, Nebuchadnezzar took the city and put the king to death. Judgment came on that king who rejected God and His authority.

This episode of Jehoiakim’s reign reminds us of Romans 13:1–2, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.” The children of God are specifically called to submit to the authorities, for they are ordained by God. The only exception is if that would make us disobey God’s commands, like being asked not to speak of Jesus or teach in His name (Acts 4:18–19).