Jeremiah 22:24-30. God is telling Jeremiah to write down his proclamation against Coniah, the king of Judah. God is going to banish him and his mother to another land. He is going to deliver him into the hands of the Babylonians and Chaldeans. He and his mother will die in exile, although they will long to return to Judah. None of Coniah's children will succeed him on the throne - he is to be written down as childless.

I wonder sometimes why God lets so many bad kings rule over Israel and Judah, but I guess he is giving them a chance, just like he gives to all of us. Even the most wicked among us are God's children, we are all created in his image and likeness. So we all get a chance. We all get many chances - we can turn ourselves around at any time and God wants us to.

So he lets the kings ascend to their thrones, whether they deserve it or not. On the throne, perhaps the weight of the crown will cure them of their wickedness. If it does, wonderful! If not, God will punish them eventually, as he promises here for Coniah.