Even the best leaders are unable to turn some situations around. Read Ezekiel 14:12-23.

The Lord came to Ezekiel when he was speaking to the elders of Israel exiled in Babylon and gave him a message of condemnation for their ongoing practice of idolatry. God named three of His best from their Jewish history including Daniel, a very familiar one who was a well-known leader during the exile, and stated that even they would not have been able to save this rebellious people from themselves. Even though all three were full of integrity, character, and discipline, totally competent and responsible to do the right thing; God says even they could save only themselves because the people would not listen to them.

Every leader is accountable to someone. Read Jeremiah 52:1-11.

Judah is in their last days before the total defeat by the Babylonian army. Zedekiah is the king. He had served as a loyal “puppet” king since the last Babylonian attack on Jerusalem half a decade earlier but because of the high taxes and stiff regulations of the Babylonians, he rebelled against Babylonian rule. Zedekiah forgot that even the leader works for someone. His rebellion led to the downfall of Jerusalem.

Leaders abdicate their responsibility as a leader when they declare they are powerless to act and then neglect to do what they can and should do to apply positive leadership. Read Jeremiah 38:1-6.

King Zedekiah had been on the throne in Judah about 9 years when the king of Babylon attacked Jerusalem. Jeremiah had consistently prophesied that Jerusalem would fall to Babylon and it had angered not only the king but also the city and religious leaders. They felt that since they lived in God’s chosen city where His temple was located that they were under His protection no matter their lifestyle. Zedekiah had Jeremiah under house arrest but he was free to come and go as he pleased as long as he did not leave the city.

Often the most important personal and organizational changes are made when a leader is willing to receive and process bad news. Read Jeremiah 36:1-32.

Today’s study is best understood when put in the context of the history of the last 50 years of Judah’s existence. These are the years before Jerusalem was destroyed and Babylon deported and exiled the survivors.

Christian leaders are to model and reflect in their life the same self-discipline God shows to us. Read Jeremiah 18:1-12.

The prophet Jeremiah had consistently delivered the message that, because the people of the nation of Judah had stopped obeying Him, had chased after foreign gods, and decided to run their own life totally ignoring God; the nation of Judah would be overpowered by Babylon and those that were not killed in the attack would be taken into captivity to Babylon. These first 12 verses of chapter 18 give us keen insight into God’s self-discipline.