Verses 1-12
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Verses 1-3. A prophecy is here given about the impending judgment of God on Israel, and the fall of Jerusalem, when all the people of Jerusalem were taken captive into Babylon (2 Kings 24).
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We learn here, as is relevant for today, about the characteristics of a society before it falls:
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Verses 4, 12. Children, childish people, or women are in leadership; and children disrespect their elders.
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Certain women in biblical history God has appointed to influential positions, such as Esther or Deborah. This is commended. However, it is considered a curse for women to have the overall position of power in a society.
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Verse 5. People all oppress each other—violence is widespread.
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Verses 6-7. People will want to appoint anyone to be a leader, but none will be truly qualified.
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Verses 8-9. People are against God in their words and actions, and they openly proclaim their sin.
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Know that a society if sure to fall if children defy their parents and try to take authority for themselves, if women are in charge of men, if unqualified people are put in authority, if there is great violence, and if there is blatant sin.
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Verses 10-11. Overall, we know that, in the end, it will be well with a people who practice righteousness, but things will end badly for people who practice wickedness (Proverbs 29:2).
Verses 13-26
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Verses 13-15. A society that falls to God's judgment will also make a practice of oppressing the poor.
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Verses 16-23. God speaks again about women. We learned earlier in the chapter about the curse upon a society when women are in authority. And here we learn about the practices of the women in a time of cursing and judgment.
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Verse 16. They are promiscuous.
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Verses 18-23. And they are greedy for luxury and fine apparel.
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Verses 24-26. So, when such a society does fall, the luxury of wealth with collapse, and the strength of men will broken.
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The end will be sadness and despair.
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Summary: Knowing these things, “beware lest you fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked” (2 Peter 3:17). Don't agree with the current sway of society. Don't stand for feminist ideals, sexual immorality, or the nuclear family. The world will fall, but you must not!