When the Heavens Darken God's Counsel
- Raymond Melendez
- Jan 5
- 6 min read
Updated: Jan 12
At TheGoodNewsCast.com, we believe that every dream worth chasing is grounded in God's sustaining grace, where every branch that remains and every branch grafted in Christ is nourished, preserved, and secured.
Across deserts, mountaintops, and the quiet of deep space, humanity is striving for the seemingly impossible. Skyscrapers reach for the heavens, telescopes peer back to the dawn of time, and nations compete to lead the way. These worldwide achievements are impressive symbols of intelligence and ambition, but they also indicate an approaching storm. As humanity ascends, the foundation beneath it becomes unstable. The earth is burdened, and essential systems are dominated by towering structures, much like Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel 2.
Second Kings 25 speaks about the downfall of Jerusalem: a once mighty city and a once magnificent temple, now lying in ruins. The city's fall came soon after its leaders sought heavenly glory but ignored the fundamental needs of their land. Food systems collapsed, the vulnerable were the first to suffer, and the worst was still to come. This chapter stands as an eternal warning: without the sustaining power of Earth, even the heavens collapse.
Scripture often emphasizes that the splendor of heaven is intended to highlight the needs of the Earth. It is meant to encompass everything that enriches the land, including water and food. When the heavens diminish, the Earth is bound to follow, as the essential systems designed to sustain the Earth start to darken God's counsel.
A true king does not turn away from the needs of the Earth; Zedekiah fled Jerusalem, bringing him no honor. A kingdom that aspires to the heavens but neglects its foundation is merely a towering statue destined to fall.
The Rising Cube
In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's ambition is embodied by The Mukaab—a massive cube standing 400 meters on each side, set to dominate the New Murabba district. Promoted as a modern wonder and potentially "the grandest structure known to man," the Mukaab signifies Saudi Arabia's vision toward a future driven by tourism, technology, and globalism. Its construction has already impacted the landscape (Wikipedia; The National). Although not sacred, the immense scale of the structure demonstrates that when architecture achieves such magnitude, it mirrors what a society chooses to elevate—and at what cost.
Scripture presents similar findings. In 2 Kings, the collapse of Jerusalem begins with empty stomachs.
“The famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.” 2 Kings 25:3
Disrupting the systems that provide food inevitably leads to collapse. When the food supply is exhausted, power and authority also vanish. King Zedekiah's power crumbles, rendering him helpless as he watches the devastation unfold beneath him (2 Kings 25:6–7). Leadership that is out of touch with global issues cannot last. Proverbs makes this teaching clear:
“Where no counsel is, the people fall.” Proverbs 11:14
Judah rejected counsel that linked righteousness to earthly substance, and the result was devastation and ruin.
History cautions that heavenly aspirations must not neglect the Earth's necessities; the repercussions come—initially as famine, followed by collapse. Progress is measured not just by growth, but also by declines, as they reveal what cannot be sustained.
When the Sky's the Limit
High in the mountains of Chile's Atacama Desert, humanity gazes deeper into the cosmos than ever before. The Extremely Large Telescope stands tall, equipped with a precise glass eye designed to capture the faint light from distant galaxies and study the atmospheres of worlds beyond our own. Nearby, the Giant Magellan Telescope is nearing completion, promising unprecedented views of stars and potentially habitable planets (Giant Magellan Telescope). Beyond Earth, momentum is growing: new telescopes are being prepared for launch, missions to the moon are in progress, and celestial bodies like asteroids and the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS travel our skies, providing knowledge that truly "points to the heavens."
These tools that help us observe the vastness of space are remarkable. They embody the height of what it means to discover—to desire to know and understand what exists beyond our world. However, Scripture cautions that even the heavens can darken God's counsel, as they may become disconnected from earthly life.
In 2 Kings 25, the Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and take away the sacred vessels, pillars, and bronze works from the temple. Although these items once symbolized heavenly glory, they had become merely a means to an end, leading to God having them taken away.
What remained?
“The captain of the guard left some of the poor of the land to be farmers and gardeners” 2 Kings 25:12
Thankfully, God's grace extends beyond the heavens and is present on Earth, where farmers and gardeners play a crucial role. Isaiah clearly illustrates this connection through the treatment of the vulnerable: defending the oppressed, protecting the orphan, and caring for the widow (Isaiah 1:17).
Modern telescopes pose deep questions about the universe, but as we gaze at the stars, who is caring for the earth? History indicates that when societies widen the gap between heaven and earth, the heavens often become silent. A desirable future, therefore, is one where Earth speaks and the heavens listen.
The Weight from Above
Significant achievements often place a heavy burden on those at the lower levels. As cities grow and investments favor tourism, technology, and globalization, it's typically the farmers, gardeners, and low-income workers who bear the impact. Land availability shrinks, and water resources are redirected to support urban development projects. Prices rise, rents increase, and traditional ways of life are gradually displaced, frequently without adequate compensation.
Even during times of economic growth, food and land systems do not always receive equivalent support, as the costs of food, fuel, and housing rise faster than wages. New employment opportunities might be temporary, low-paying, or require skills that local communities lack (World Economic Forum). Labor like farming, herding, and gardening is often undervalued, and crucial satellite data and climate modeling technologies are typically inaccessible or incomprehensible to farmers. Government funding and corporate investment in agriculture often complicate the disparity between economic growth and fundamental support systems.
Scripture offers an alternative model of progress—one that unites heaven and earth instead of dividing them. In 2 Kings 25, God's intent was to guarantee that progress would not occur at the expense of the vulnerable. This model is evident in Genesis 41, where Joseph is promoted to oversee grain and sustain life during a famine.
The Book of Mormon clearly points to this truth. Jacob explains that wealth should be used “to do good—to clothe the naked and to feed the hungry” (Jacob 2:19). King Benjamin offers a profound perspective: “Are we not all beggars?” (Mosiah 4:19). No society, leader, or goal can endure without God’s sustaining grace.
Preserving the Roots
Monumental endeavors such as the Mukaab, advanced telescopes, and bold space missions embody humanity's drive to explore, innovate, and advance. They symbolize our intelligence and ambition, illustrating what can be achieved when we aim for the stars. However, for many of the world's poorest individuals, these accomplishments seem out of reach as their struggle for survival intensifies.
The issue isn't whether constructing towers is evil; rather, it's that if the workers at the top weaken those at the bottom, the tower will ultimately fall. Experts emphasize that there is an alternative route—one that integrates local communities, ensures fair wages, long-term jobs, skills development, and investments in local agriculture.
Second Kings 25 serves as a cautionary tale for all generations: when societies aim high while neglecting earthly substance, even minor collapses can lead to worldwide destruction. Jerusalem's downfall occurred because it aspired high but neglected the righteousness rooted in the Earth. However, the chapter also offers hope. Jehoiachin, the deposed king of Judah, was restored and provided with a daily allowance, a subtle yet potent reminder of God's mercy.
Today, God's sustaining glory is eternally secured in Jesus Christ, who not only honors the heavens but also washes their feet, like rain nourishing the soil, supporting the roots, and producing a bountiful harvest.
From the Old Testament to the Book of Mormon, Scripture consistently conveys one truth: God's sustaining glory is found in Christ, where every branch that remains and every branch that is grafted is nourished, preserved, and secured.
Works Cited
“Giant Magellan Telescope.” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Magellan_Telescope. Accessed 5 Jan. 2026.
“Mukaab.” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mukaab. Accessed 5 Jan. 2026.
World Economic Forum. “The Hidden Cost of Agrifood Is $10 Trillion, Finds the FAO.” World Economic Forum, Nov. 2023, www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/11/fao-hidden-food-costs-agriculture/. Accessed 5 Jan. 2026.
