SCRIPTURE:
'“Go and tell Ebed-Melek the Cushite, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfill my words against this city—words concerning disaster, not prosperity. At that time they will be fulfilled before your eyes. But I will rescue you on that day, declares the Lord; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear. I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord .’ ”'
Jeremiah 39:16-18
OBSERVATION:
The word of the Lord through Jeremiah comes to fruit. Going against the words of the prophet, Zedekiah flees and is subsequently captured and killed. Babylon seizes Jerusalem and the Lord again speaks His promise to Jeremiah.
So now I ask myself: if I was Zedekiah what would I have done? Would I have accepted captivity? Would I willing walk into exile?
I remember when Eden first showed an interest in gymnastics. She would beg and bug us about taking classes. My initial response was to tell her she needed to get a bit stronger to handle it, so when we finally gave in and signed her up, after months of cartwheels and jumps she was ready to go. Her response after the first class? “Daddy, it’s boring.” After asking why, she said, she could already do all the stuff they were teaching. I encouraged her by saying everyone needs to start with a beginner class and when the coaches think she’s ready they’ll move her up. Be patient, obey your coach, and everything will turn out fine. Fortunately, fine came quick cause after 2 classes she was invited to an advanced class, but today as I read the words of the Lord to Jeremiah that recall the Future + Hope in store for His people, I’m convicted to listen to my own words to be patient, obey, and everything will turn out fine.
So, would I willing accept captivity? Would I welcome exile with promise for a better Future + Hope?
APPLICATION:
I would probably pull a Zedekiah and run or at least put up a fight. I would dismiss the words of the prophet and take things into my own hands. I would basically forget that while the word of the Lord was full of doom and disaster, the final chapter was full of hope. His promise wasn’t for my destruction, but for the fulfillment of my prosperity.
I need to hold onto the truth that God will be faithful to fulfill his promise. While the road there might be filled with boring beginner classes and trials I need to remember what I told Eden; be patient, obey and add on to that trust God’s plan. I need to flip my perspective to continually see things into a higher state and maintain my posture of praise.
In order to keep this perspective I need to:
- Sit down…Be humble -
Sit down = I don’t always need to share my opinion. I only need to listen intently to the Holy Spirit and sometimes the only way for me to do that is to sit down and sit still.
Be humble = humility is not just shunning attention and the spotlight. It also means submission to His will not mine. I need to relent control of my life to the master controller.
- Trust the Process - His plans will never fail me. Even when the preferred outcome seems unattainable and out of reach, I need to remember that He parted the seas with a mumbling man and a stick, slayed the giant with a shepherd and a stone and saved the world with a baby born in manger. Sometimes God needs to break down the wall in order to rebuild it. In those times of breaking, instead of grumbling, I need to remain in joy that the master is doing His work.
- Don’t Worry Be Happy - Psalm 105 reminds me to “let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad.” My attitude entering the city of exile will be how I’ll exit. I don’t need to worry cause I know how the story ends. It’s not for my punishment, but my prosperity; now for my frustration and harm but for my future + hope.
PRAYER:
Jesus, thank You for another hana hou reminder. Thank You once again for Your gracious and timely reminder to trust and obey because my Future + Hope are in Your hands. Amen
