Paul Defends His Work for Christ

2 Corinthians 10 Do you think I am a coward when I am with you and brave when I am far away? Well, I ask you to listen, because Christ himself was humble and gentle. ²Some people have said that we act like the people of this world. So when I arrive, I expect I will have to be firm and forceful in what I say to them. Please don't make me treat you that way. ³We live in this world, but we don't act like its people ⁴or fight our battles with the weapons of this world. Instead, we use God's power that can destroy fortresses. We destroy arguments ⁵and every bit of pride that keeps anyone from knowing God. We capture people's thoughts and make them obey Christ. ⁶And when you completely obey him, we will punish anyone who refuses to obey.
⁷You judge by appearances. If any of you think you are the only ones who belong to Christ, then think again. We belong to Christ as much as you do. ⁸Maybe I brag a little too much about the authority that the Lord gave me to help you and not to hurt you. Yet I am not embarrassed to brag. ⁹And I am not trying to scare you with my letters. ¹⁰Some of you are saying, "Paul's letters are harsh and powerful. But in person, he is a weakling and has nothing worth saying." ¹¹Those people had better understand that when I am with you, I will do exactly what I say in my letters.
¹²We won't dare compare ourselves with those who think so much of themselves. But they are foolish to compare themselves with themselves. ¹³We won't brag about something we don't have a right to brag about. We will only brag about the work that God has sent us to do, and you are part of that work. ¹⁴We are not bragging more than we should. After all, we did bring the message about Christ to you.
¹⁵We don't brag about what others have done, as if we had done those things ourselves. But I hope that as you become stronger in your faith, we will be able to reach many more of the people around you. That has always been our goal. ¹⁶Then we will be able to preach the good news in other lands where we cannot take credit for work someone else has already done. ¹⁷The Scriptures say, "If you want to brag, then brag about the Lord." ¹⁸You may brag about yourself, but the only approval that counts is the Lord's approval.

King Jehoiakim of Judah
(2 Chronicles 36.5-8)

2 Kings 23 ³⁶Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he was appointed king, and he ruled eleven years from Jerusalem. His mother Zebidah was the daughter of Pedaiah from Rumah. ³⁷Jehoiakim disobeyed the LORD by following the example of his ancestors.
2 Kings 24 During Jehoiakim's rule, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia invaded and took control of Judah. Jehoiakim obeyed Nebuchadnezzar for three years, but then he rebelled.
²At that time, the LORD started sending troops to rob and destroy towns in Judah. Some of these troops were from Babylonia, and others were from Syria, Moab, and Ammon. The LORD had sent his servants the prophets to warn Judah about this, ³and now he was making it happen. The country of Judah was going to be wiped out, because Manasseh had sinned ⁴and caused many innocent people to die. The LORD would not forgive this.
⁵Everything else Jehoiakim did while he was king is written in The History of the Kings of Judah. ⁶Jehoiakim died, and his son Jehoiachin became king.
⁷King Nebuchadnezzar defeated King Neco of Egypt and took control of his land from the Egyptian Gorge all the way north to the Euphrates River. So Neco never invaded Judah again.

King Jehoiachin of Judah Is Taken to Babylon
(2 Chronicles 36.9, 10)

⁸Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled only three months from Jerusalem. His mother Nehushta was the daughter of Elnathan from Jerusalem. ⁹Jehoiachin disobeyed the LORD, just as his father Jehoiakim had done.
¹⁰King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia sent troops to attack Jerusalem soon after Jehoiachin became king. ¹¹During the attack, Nebuchadnezzar himself arrived at the city. ¹²Jehoiachin immediately surrendered, together with his mother and his servants, as well as his army officers and officials. Then Nebuchadnezzar had Jehoiachin arrested. These things took place in the eighth year of Nebuchadnezzar's rule in Babylonia.
¹³The LORD had warned that someday the treasures would be taken from the royal palace and from the temple, including the gold objects that Solomon had made for the temple. And that's exactly what Nebuchadnezzar ordered his soldiers to do. ¹⁴He also led away as prisoners the Jerusalem officials, the military leaders, and the skilled workers--ten thousand in all. Only the very poorest people were left in Judah.
¹⁵Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin to Babylon, along with his mother, his wives, his officials, and the most important leaders of Judah. ¹⁶He also led away seven thousand soldiers, one thousand skilled workers, and anyone who would be useful in battle.
¹⁷Then Nebuchadnezzar appointed Jehoiachin's uncle Mattaniah king of Judah and changed his name to Zedekiah.

King Zedekiah of Judah
(2 Chronicles 36.11-16; Jeremiah 52.1-3)

¹⁸Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he was appointed king of Judah, and he ruled from Jerusalem for eleven years. His mother Hamutal was the daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah. ¹⁹Zedekiah disobeyed the LORD, just as Jehoiakim had done. ²⁰It was Zedekiah who finally rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar.
The people of Judah and Jerusalem had made the LORD so angry that he finally turned his back on them. That's why these horrible things were happening.

HABAKKUK

Habakkuk 1 I am Habakkuk the prophet. And this is the message that the LORD gave me.

Habakkuk Complains to the LORD

²Our LORD, how long must I beg for your help
before you listen?
How long before you save us from all this violence?
³Why do you make me watch such terrible injustice?
Why do you allow violence, lawlessness,
crime, and cruelty to spread everywhere?
⁴Laws cannot be enforced; justice is always the loser;
criminals crowd out honest people
and twist the laws around.

The LORD Answers Habakkuk

⁵Look and be amazed at what's happening
among the nations!
Even if you were told, you would never believe
what's taking place now.
⁶I am sending the Babylonians. They are fierce and cruel--
marching across the land, conquering cities and towns.

⁷How fearsome and frightening.
Their only laws and rules are the ones they make up.
⁸Their cavalry troops are faster than leopards,
more ferocious than wolves hunting at sunset,
and swifter than hungry eagles suddenly swooping down.
⁹They are eager to destroy,
and they gather captives like handfuls of sand.
¹⁰They make fun of rulers and laugh at fortresses,
while building dirt mounds so they can capture cities.
¹¹Then suddenly they disappear like a gust of wind--
those sinful people who worship their own strength.

Habakkuk Complains Again

¹²Holy LORD God, mighty rock, you are eternal,
and we are safe from death.
You are using those Babylonians
to judge and punish others.
¹³But you can't stand sin or wrong.
So don't sit by in silence while they gobble down people
who are better than they are.

¹⁴The people you put on this earth
are like fish or reptiles without a leader.
¹⁵Then an enemy comes along and takes them captive
with hooks and nets.
It makes him so happy ¹⁶that he offers sacrifices
to his fishing nets, because they make him rich
and provide choice foods.
¹⁷Will he keep hauling in his nets and destroying nations
without showing mercy?