King Zedekiah is promised a good death and burial. He does the right thing and pronounces liberty for the people of Israel. Everyone is to let go their slaves. They were not to enslave their brothers.

The law the Lord points out is the law of the Sabbath year, where every seventh year slaves are to go free; debts are to be forgiven.

Zedekiah made the proclamation and ushered in repentance, but the people then take back their slaves. Zedekiah still gets the reward of it.

We can’t control the hearts of others. We can’t make them repent and turn to the Lord and walk with Him all their days. We can’t transform hearts. That is God’s job alone.

We can, though, make the proclamation. We can declare the good news. We can proclaim liberty to the captives and release to those enslaved.

Who is enslaved now?

Jesus said that anyone who sins is a slave to sin.

They need to be set free! There is freedom from sin in Jesus Christ. He came to take away our sins. We’re told that by John the Baptist and the apostle John. That’s not just forgiveness. He removes our sin. He gives us a new heart. We become slaves of righteousness. We want to please our Father.

If you have something that can call to you and you follow it, things you know are sin or things like food and entertainment, you need to get rid of that stuff. Put it before the Lord and hate that it can control you. Confess it. Tell the Lord that you want Him alone directing your thoughts and actions. Ask Him to take it away and then let it go!

Once you are free, never look back. It should be disgusting to you. Your mind may have a memory of it being enjoyable, but come to your senses and realize how revolting it is to have something controlling you other than the good and perfect God. Rejoice in your freedom and revel in His love, and the thing that once bound you will no longer have any pull on you.

Those who have been set free are free indeed.