In our reading today, we are witnessing the realization of Gods wrath being poured out on His people the Israelites. He has shown so much patience but because he is a just god, when His anger is finally released, the consequences will be great for this disobedient people.
Chapter 39 details some gruesome actions of the takeover of Jerusalem. Do you remember what Jeremiah had told king Zedekiah, turn yourself over to the Babylonian king and your life and the lives of your family will be spared and the city will not be destroyed (38:17). Unfortunately, for Zedekiah he failed to listen to Jeremiah, and all those things happened to him.
The world for the Israelites was in complete chaos, everyone was fearful of the future. There did not seem to be a voice of reason and yet in the midst is Jeremiah prophesying the Word of God. There may be times in our lives when everything seems to be out of control, but please remember, God is always in control, He will hold on to us, He will not let go, we just need to hang on to Him through the storms of this life, the battles that will be fought.
So even as bad as things were for Jeremiah, God never deserted him. The Babylonian king freed Jeremiah and provided for him. God never let go of Jeremiah, even in the dungeon, in the cistern; God continued to speak to Jeremiah.
Remember to continue to seek God’s voice in the midst of your trials, listen to his word. Things would have been so much better for the people, but as we will read tomorrow, anarchy will be the story. How will Jeremiah survive?
Our psalms for today, are songs of lament. The people cry out over the destruction of their world and the seeming abandonment of God. But then they turn their cry towards God to rescue them and in the end God’s glory will be evident to all people.
Blessings
Pastor Kathy