“In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River the heavens opened and I saw visions of God.” Ezekiel 1:1
Ezekiel sees an incredible vision as God calls him into service. It would be very difficult to miss or ignore such a powerful and unusual call. Such a call was important for Ezekiel to receive. He had confidence the message he was going to speak was from God, even though the people would ignore his words. The prophet is overwhelmed by the presence of God and falls before Him in awe and worship. (1:28b).
Although God does not call each of us as dramatically as He called Ezekiel, our response must be the same. First, we must recognize God’s holiness and we must respond in awe and worship. Second, we must obey God no matter whether people will respond as we hope, or not. Our responsibility is not the response of others. Our responsibility is to present the message, to fulfill the call God places upon our lives. When God calls us into service for Him, it may not be easy and it may not be glamorous, but it is for the King!
As we prepare for another “season” of ministry within the church, each one of us must ask God what role He wants us to play, and then get involved in that area of ministry, leaving the results to Him!
“When I saw [the glory of the Lord], I fell facedown.” Ezekiel 1:28b
“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.” Lamentations 3:21,22
Jeremiah pours out his heart to God. He expresses his pain, on behalf of the people of Israel, and he laments what has happened to the people. He acknowledges that the true reason for their plight is sin. This judgment was not brought on by one act of sin, but rather the cumulative effect: “Our fathers sinned and are no more, and we bear their punishment.” (5:7). Jeremiah was not suggesting that the people living in his day were without sin – he makes that clear in his writings. Rather, he acknowledges that God finally had enough after generations of sin and the lot fell to that particular generation to bear the punishment.
Yet … there is always hope in God. God is always willing to respond to a repentant and humble heart. However someone must have the courage to lovingly challenge people in their sin! In these few brief chapters we get only a small glimpse of the cost of sin. The sinner suffers, but too often those (like Jeremiah) who seek to help the sinner also suffer, and they suffer unjustly!
Are we willing to be obedient to God – no matter what the consequences? Are we willing to suffer so that others might experience God’s grace?
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
“After affliction and harsh labor, Judah has gone into exile. She dwells among the nations; she finds no resting place.” Lamentations 1:3
Lamentations is certainly an appropriate title, at least for the opening chapters. The first sentence conveys the essence of its emotion: “How deserted lies the city, once so full of people!” Those of us who grew up in rural Saskatchewan in the 1950’s and 1960’s perhaps have an ability to identify partially with this feeling of emotional emptiness, which accompanies the empty streets we once saw full of people and activity. However, there are different reasons for their emptiness.
The author of Lamentations expands on the emptiness of Jerusalem and the reason for it. God has allowed His people to turn away from Him, after much effort on His part to draw them back. Now they are suffering the consequences of their independent mind.
The church in the 21st Century must reignite its passion for holy living and obedience to God. We have, for too long, simply been going through the motions of worship and faith. Obviously there are those who have followed faithfully and whole heartedly, but we need more! We must turn back to God with all our hearts! What does that look like in our lives? We must commit ourselves to listening to God’s Word and His Spirit and then obeying!
“Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.” Psalm 51:13
“This is what the Lord says: ‘See, I will defend your cause and defend you.’” Jeremiah 51:36
Chapter 51 contains Jeremiah’s final words; words of hope for people that were about to face terrible judgment. God would destroy Babylon after they had done their job of bringing judgment upon Judah. The future would be positive for God’s people Judah once they turn back to Him and are redeemed!
Chapter 52 deals with the not so positive, present situation of the nation; this is the reality of God’s judgment against His people. The message of future hope would provide comfort for the present; a present where people were executed and the rich history and heritage of significant, sacred buildings was destroyed. The key elements, the physical elements, of Israel’s worship were also destroyed.
This was a symbolic reminder to the people that worship is not predominantly about the physical aspects or elements of worship. Worship is about God; it is directed toward God. It celebrates who God is and comes from the heart and attitude of the worshipper. Worship has not changed. It is still not predominantly about where we worship or what methods we use to worship – it must celebrate God. It must come from hearts that are pure before Him.
“Let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire.’” Hebrews 12:28-29
“‘In those days, at that time,’ declares the LORD, ‘the people of Israel and the people of Judah together will go in tears to seek the LORD their God. … They will come and bind themselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten.” Jeremiah 50:4,5
Messages are presented regarding coming judgment on various nations surrounding Israel. They will be punished because of the way they have dealt with God and His people. Some will be overthrow, scattered and then restored to fortune. Others will be destroyed and left by God.
Special mention is reserved for the nation of Babylon. They were God’s chosen instrument of punishment for Judah, but they overstepped their bounds. They continued to worship false gods and follow them. They rejoiced as the plundered God’s people. They took great pride in their strength and trusted their false gods. God was going to bring a people from the North to destroy them. In conjunction with that destruction God will see His people turn back to Him in repentance and He will restore Israel to Himself!
God’s people today face various challenges. When we succumb to temptation and sin God provides grace. Even on those occasions when God allows us to suffer the consequences of our sin, He will provide grace in the end. We are assured of eternal life if we earnestly seek God. Those momentary lapses do not condemn for eternity as long as we follow Israel’s example: seek God and turn back to Him!
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:8,9
“Should you then seek great things for yourself? Seek them not. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the LORD, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.” Jeremiah 45:5
An ominous message is delivered to three nations and one individual. Baruch seems to have been feeling sorry for himself in regard to how he has been treated, especially since he has been faithfully serving God. God promises to preserve his life, but warns against pride and seeking things for his own honor.
Egypt, Philistia and Moab are warned of their own impending destruction. They face this destruction because they have allowed their pride to control their lives. They have relied on their own earthly wealth, strength and wisdom. This has allowed them to prosper for a long time, but their prosperity and pride will now bring judgment. Tucked into the warning against Egypt is another assurance for God’s people. In the midst of destruction God will once again deliver His people.
God’s final judgment is coming! Baruch and Jacob represent all who are followers of Christ and faithful to Him. We must also heed the warning not to become arrogant and proud – even in our faith. The destruction of those who rebel against God will be complete. Some of those who follow Christ may well see much that they have done, believing it is in the name of the Lord, destroyed. They will, however, be saved themselves!
“If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” 1 Corinthians 3:14,15
“Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything the LORD your God sends you to tell us.” Jeremiah 42:4
At the outset of this section it appears as though the people of Judah are prepared to initiate a new beginning with God. It seems as though they are ready to follow God’s instructions. However, it quickly becomes evident that they want Jeremiah to bring them a message from God confirming what they have already decided to do. When God’s words contradict their plans they immediately reject God’s word.
Jeremiah responds: God knew their heart; God knew they were determined to follow false gods and worship them. He has no intention of preventing that choice, but the people will suffer the consequences of their choice. They will be killed by the Babylonians. The fear of the Babylonians was what drove them out of Gods plan and out of Judah.
So often we say we want to know God’s plan for us; we want to hear from God so we can obey Him. However, God also knows our heart. God knows when we are really sincere in our desire to follow Him. It appears, from 42:19,20, that the people of Judah would have been better off not seeking God’s will. At least then they could have pleaded ignorance. We can, and should, know God’s will from His word. Will we obey?
“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22
“The Babylonians set fire to the royal palace and the houses of the people and broke down the walls of Jerusalem. Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard carried into exile to Babylon the people …” Jeremiah 39:8,9
God’s word is finally fulfilled. Jerusalem is over run by Nebuchadnezzar and his army. Zedekiah tries to escape from Jerusalem and captivity, but is caught by the Babylonians. His punishment is horrible: all of his sons are killed before his eyes and then he is blinded. The last thing he sees is the death of his sons.
Zedekiah experiences the full extent of God’s wrath. He refused to obey God, no matter how many opportunities were extended. God will keep His word, even if that word is harsh. He is faithful to His words. He did to Judah what He promised them because they also refused to turn back to God in obedience, even though He gave them many opportunities.
All of us have our moments and times of disobedience. God’s grace is certainly sufficient for those times. However, if we absolutely refuse, time after time, to turn back to God in obedience we will also face His wrath. God does extend grace; God does provide every opportunity for us to turn to Him, but eventually our opportunities will end. We must not take that chance – turn to Him in repentance today!
“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” Hebrews 4:7
“So they took Jeremiah and put him into the cistern of Malkijah, the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.” Jeremiah 38:6
After reading through these three chapters one quickly understands why Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet. He would weep for the people who refused to listen to the message from God, but he would also weep at the treatment he received from those in authority. Jeremiah was given a very challenging message to deliver. That message would seem contradictory to all that God had done for His people to that point, apart from what happened to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. In most cases when God’s people had faced danger and destruction God had moved in to save and protect.
This time the message from God was to surrender to their enemies to preserve their life. No one wants to be known as a quitter; the one who gave up because he/ she could not get the job done. However, sometimes that may be exactly what God is calling that person, or leader, to do.
Jeremiah delivered the message God had given him with confidence because he knew God would fulfill the message. We need to be confident in what God is saying to us and then we can do whatever He has called us to do – even the difficult things, because God will bring it to pass!
“God will bring to judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time for every deed.” Ecclesiastes 3:17
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3
God is amazing! He invites His people to seek wisdom from Him – the source of all wisdom. The challenge is, we don’t always like the things we might hear from Him. Case in point: Once again God states what the future will be for His people, Judah. He contrasts the way the people have treated the slaves from among their own people with how He treated His people that were slaves in Egypt. In the laws God gave the people of Israel were instructed to set the Hebrew slaves free in the Sabbath, seventh year. Some forgot the instructions, others remembered, proclaimed the year of freedom, but then went back on their word! God did not set that kind of example of disrespect in the treatment of His people. In spite of His omniscience; His foreknowledge of their impending rebellion, God kept His word and brought the people out of slavery in Egypt. In a final attempt to turn the people back to Him God will send the people into exile.
God knows the depths of our depravity. He knows the full extent of our rebellion against Him; He knows every sin that we have committed and will commit. Yet, He loves us and He died for us. With this awareness, how can we treat one another with such disrespect? We criticize one another, sometimes with just cause, but we forget we are as sinful as those we gossip about! Others may have different shortcomings than we have, but we are all equally in need of God’s forgiveness and grace!
“Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34