Spiritual renewal springs forth as we humble ourselves before the Word of the Lord. The Lord gave Jeremiah a word for King Zedekiah. Zedekiah was to surrender himself and his people to the King of Babylon. God called the King of Babylon His servant. [2] This pagan king’s cruelty toward people... his disastrous policies, brought more people to God than Jerusalem’s backslidden leaders and preachers did.
Zedekiah rebelled against the King of Babylon. He stiffened his neck and hardened his heart. Likewise, “All the leaders of the priests and the people transgressed more and more.” “They defiled the Lord’s house.” [3]
As a teenager, I imagined that if church leaders updated the music and dress code, church attendance would flourish. That happened, but a major improvement in our culture has not.
Zedekiah and his people “mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy.” [4]
So, the Lord “brought against them the king of the Chaldeans [Babylon], who killed their young men with the sword.” The Lord “had no compassion on young man or virgin, on the aged or the weak. He gave them all into his hand.” “Those who escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon, where they became servants to him and his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia, to fulfill the Word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths. As long as she lay desolate she kept Sabbath, to fulfill 70 years.” [5]
The Lord is able to bring hard-hearted and stubborn people to their knees. I am glad that He does this. Not only for our sakes, but also for the sakes of our children, grandchildren, relatives, friends, our leaders and for the world. The Lord wants no one to perish, but all to repent and know the truth. The Lord does not want anyone to be scammed out of their eternity with Him.
“Rise up, O Judge of the earth, render punishment to the proud.” Thank God that He does! “Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord, and teach out of Your law.” [6]
“Escape” from church attendance, daily Bible reading, prayer time and from honoring the Lord with time, talent and treasure is not freedom. A lack of God’s instruction in one’s life is a curse. A sign of being separated from Him! The cure is repentance. Ask the Lord to forgive and purge foolishness from you. “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” [7]
Humility and adoration is the proper posture before God. “O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice: do not harden your hearts...” [8]
“Sing to the Lord, bless His Name; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.” [9]
“Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples, give to the Lord glory and strength. Give to the Lord the glory due His Name; bring an offering and come into His courts. O, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth. Say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns; the world also is firmly established, it shall not be moved; He shall judge the peoples righteously.’” [10]
Those who scam God and neighbor are scamming themselves. “They lie in wait for their own blood, they lurk secretly for their own lives. So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its owners.” [11]
The Lord says, “Turn at My rebuke; surely I will pour out My Spirit on you; I will make My Words known to you.” [12] The Lord urges you and me to turn to Him expeditiously. Call upon Him in the Name of Jesus which means “the Lord saves.” Jesus Christ atoned our sins on the cross. He resurrected from the dead to reveal His power over death. Victory is in Jesus.
The Lord says, “Whoever listens to Me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.” [13]
“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” [14]
[1] 2 Chronicles 36:11-12
[2] Jeremiah 25:9; 27:6
[3] 2 Chronicles 36:13-14
[4] 2 Chronicles 36:16
[5] 2 Chronicles 36:17, 20-21
[6] Psalm 94:2, 12
[7] Psalm 14:1
[8] Psalm 95:6-8
[9] Psalm 96:2-5
[10] Psalm 96:7-10
[11] Proverbs 1:10-19
[12] Proverbs 1:23
[13] Proverbs 1:33
[14] 1 Timothy 1:17
