At this look at the penultimate king of Judah before the exile, there is wickedness, deportation and fulfilled prophecy. God's Word is true. God's judgment is sure. Grace is found in the names of the next king and in the names of those on the deportation list!

Paul, in keeping with Timothy's own duties as well as delegated duties to others, tells Timothy to remind those faithful men designated to assist him about the Christ and the Gospel and to avoid fruitless discussions. Such chatter can lead to deviation from the truth and false teachers like those named by Paul. Our hope is the firm foundation of God's salvation and accompanying work.

So how can we suffer for the sake of the Gospel and avoid the shame that comes with being associated with followers of Christ under persecution? By the power of the Spirit, we must remember the basics - Jesus Christ, the Gospel, salvation and the like. Even the grace of God to those who weakly fail under pressure is a highlight to those focused on Christ in the midst of suffering.

Timothy has been told by Paul to guard the good deposit. But how? By the power of divine grace and the Holy Spirit. By delegating the task to faithful, qualified men. By a willingness to share in the suffering of Gospel ministry with a singular focus, a good work ethic and self-discipline while focusing on the final reward more than the here and now. To soldier on in the work of the Lord is no easy task!

The sad story of Jehoiakim is of a king who blatantly rejected the Word of God. He was an adapting conniver who waffled back and forth politically because he had no foundation. This is a case study of someone who flat out rejects God's warnings of judgment.

As we mourn with the writer over the death of good King Josiah, we are reminded that our trust is not even in someone like him but in Christ alone. His own son didn't follow his reforms. Even Josiah apparently refused to consult God before his fray into world events. Yet in all this, God's Word never failed.

Paul sets up for Timothy both the necessity of teaching orthodox theology as a genuine believer who loves the sheep; and the power by which he is to maintain this Gospel ministry (the good deposit). Then, in Paul-like fashion, he provides examples of both those who fail to do this in shame and someone who lives out the Gospel in courage.

It's not just that Paul tells Timothy he should not be ashamed. It's that he calls Timothy to suffer together with the Gospel. To be able to do that, he needs God's power, in part through the reminders of the concise explanation of the Gospel in these verses and encouragement through Paul's example.

It is amazing how extensive Josiah's reforms were. However, it is even more amazing that he did all these reforms despite knowing that it would not stop God's wrath on Judah. Josiah led these reforms by an obedient faith without any bargaining chip blessings in return. Faith leads to obedience that glorifies God, not ourselves.

As we open Paul's second letter to Timothy, it is noted that Paul, alone and cold while awaiting an expected execution, is passing the mantle of ministry to his "son in the faith" Timothy. In recognition of the dangers and difficulties of ministry, he reminds Timothy to rekindle the gift of God and to serve in the power of the Holy Spirit.