2014-06-20
Good Morning Dear Ones,
The Holy Spirit has had me spending time on some of Judah’s history just prior to the Babylonian Captivity. The idea is to give us all a chance to learn lessons from it that we can apply to our lives today. We do this with special emphasis on the prophet, Jeremiah (who served from 650-582 BC). You’ll remember that Jeremiah was commissioned by God to deliver a very unpopular message to Judah at the time of latter’s practice of idolatry. This even was extended, as we find out from Jeremiah’s contemporary, Ezekiel, in EZK 8: 6-10 and EZK 10: 18-19, to within the Jerusalem temple walls! It resulted in the dazzling presence of God departing that most sacred building for heaven. But we get a picture of our Covenant Partner at work in this story that reveals His heavenly attributes.
Now, let’s look at what happened to Jeremiah. You’ll remember that the last human king of Judah (the southern kingdom of a divided Israel, divided against God’s will) was Zedekiah (a son of Josiah ruling from 597-586 BC), who was on throne at the time King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia captured another contemporary, Daniel, who was age 15 in 602 BC, and his friends, taking them to serve in the court in Babylon. It was 586 BC when the temple itself was sacked, and all Judah’s leaders and material wealth in the temple were taken to Babylon too. At the time, Jeremiah had his scribe, Baruch, write his message of warning on a scroll, but the foolish king of Judah burned it [JER 36: 27-32]. Ironically, Zedekiah’s name means “God is My Righteousness.” God was angered by this refusal to listen. It fulfilled a prophecy concerning Jehoiakim made in JER 36: 30. During the last two years of Zedekiah’s reign (588-586 BC), Jeremiah was imprisoned by Judean authorities and beaten near the north, Benjamin Gate to the temple. Right afterward, God told Jeremiah to tell the king that the Egyptian pharaoh’s army will retreat from Judah, and the Babylonians will return to attack the city of Jerusalem to burn it down [JER 37: 8]. Jeremiah tried to leave to go to the territory of Benjamin to get his share of the land there, but was arrested instead, accused of desertion [JER 37: 12-13]. He was put in a vaulted cell, kept there for a long time. Once again, God delivered to him a message of Judah’s doom to be given to Zedekiah. The king ordered that Jeremiah be chained in the courtyard of the guard and be given bread until all of it in the city is gone (JER 37: 21).
Once chained as described, Jeremiah told people that only those who went to Babylon would survive. Those who stayed in Jerusalem would “die by the sword, famine, or plague” [JER 38: 2]. The officials recommended to the king that Jeremiah should be put to death. So they put Jeremiah in the cistern of Malkijah. One Cushite official, Ebed-Melech, spoke out against it. Zedekiah then ordered 30 of his men to take Jeremiah out of the cistern, to prevent him from starving to death [JER 38: 6-13]. Jeremiah was brought to the king, and the king promised not to kill him if Jeremiah told him the truth. Jeremiah repeated God’s message and told the king to surrender to the Babylonians. The king knew the Babylonians and Jews who had already gone to them would mistreat him. Jeremiah told him he must surrender, or it will be doom for Jerusalem (14-22). The king told Jeremiah to keep their conversation secret, and for doing so, Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard until the day the Babylonians took Jerusalem in 586 BC.
Once King Zedekiah was taken at Riblah by Nebuchadnezzar, Zedekiah’s sons were slaughtered before his eyes along with the court nobles. Then the king was bound, shackled, and taken to Babylon [JER 39: 5-7]. Only poor people who had nothing were left behind in Judah and given fields and vineyards (10). Nebuchadnezzar ordered Jeremiah to be taken out of the courtyard of the Judean guard and not harmed. The Babylonian soldiers were to do whatever Jeremiah asked of them. Jeremiah was placed under the care at the house of Governor Gedaliah, son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphen (11-14). The Lord promised Jeremiah he would not be handed over to the Babylonians (17-18). Nebuzaradam, commander of the imperial guard, freed Jeremiah from his chains and told him to go wherever he wanted [JER 40: 1-4]. Jeremiah stayed with Gedaliah (6) amongst his own people. Gedaliah’s men met him at Mizpah with the warning that Baalis, king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, to kill Gedaliah. Ishmael had been one of the Judean king’s officers, and he betrayed his men, assassinating Gedaliah and his fellow Jewish and Babylonian officers at Mizpah [JER 41: 1-3].
Remaining Jewish officers got together to strike Ishmael for his crimes, under the leadership of Johanan, son of Kareah (11-12). They caught up with Ishmael and his captives at Gibeon. The captives turned against Ishmael, which led to Ishmael and his men to escape, fleeing to Ammon (13-15). Jeremiah was asked by these returning officers to pray for the remnant who had been left in Judah, and he agreed [JER 42: 1-6]. Jeremiah’s story isn’t over, but there are some real lessons in it. Think about the patience he demonstrated through all his trials. Consider his obedience to God, as well. Meditate on these things, and I’ll complete Jeremiah’s story next week.
PRAYER: O Lord, we come before You with open hearts, open to Your Spirit. Mankind’s history with You, our Covenant Partner, and it’s lessons serve to increase the reverence and awe we have for You. Through them, we see Your loving patience with Your people Israel, the same patience You show toward all Your covenant partners. Your wisdom is superior to that of any human, and the compassion You show is unparalleled from any human. PR 9: 10-11, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” So, Dearest Abba, we pray PS 119: 169, “May my cry come before You, Lord; give me understanding according to Your word.” So often we disappoint You, as You have shown us by some of the people You have tried to help in Judah. And yet, You show patience and compassion, hold back on judgment, and honor obedience, like that of the prophet Jeremiah, with protection. PS 72: 2, 4, “He will judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted with justice…He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; He will crush the oppressor.” And indeed, in 539 BC, the Babylonians were defeated by the Medo-Persians. By 444 BC, Your people were released from captivity to return to an Israel, reunited in keeping with Your will, O Father. For Your will shall always be accomplished [IS 46: 9-10]. We learn that You are to be trusted by the justice You do. PS 30: 18, “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore, He will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him.” We offer You our heartfelt thanks and praise in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: I have pledged to complete Jeremiah’s story and to demonstrate how our Covenant Partner guides the people of the two kingdoms He never wanted split apart., Judah and Israel. Their idolatry disgusted Him, so He righteously punished them using their enemies. God’s will shall be done! Such was the case with ancient Israel, which would be reunited, would go through a second dyaspora [loss of nationhood and scattering of her people, from 70 -1948 AD], and would be restored to unity once more. If we ever question God’s will, we should read PS 21: 11-12, “They [God’s enemies] make their plan and plot against Him, but they will not succeed. He will shoot His arrows at them and make them turn and run.” We must believe that when we act as His covenant partners, making His will our own, then He will vanquish our shared enemies. This principle is as true now and in the future, as it was in ancient days [HE 13: 8]. As believers in Jesus Christ, our Yeshua, we can take great comfort in the righteous use of His superior power that our Covenant Partner demonstrates. His wisdom and compassion extends to our protection, as well. PS 34: 6-7, “This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles. The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them.” If ever we feel alone and abandoned, we must remember PS 145: 17-19, “The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all He has made. The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them.” Through faith in Jesus Christ and repentance of our sins, we are saved, eternally forgiven, and can look forward, in God’s perfect time, to everlasting bliss in heaven with Him. Praise and thanks be to our Covenant Partner forever!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2014. All Rights Reserved.
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