Who Knows Best?
The Fall of Jerusalem
15 The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. 16 But they mocked God's messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against his people and there was no remedy. 17 He brought up against them the king of the Babylonians, [a] who killed their young men with the sword in the sanctuary, and spared neither young man nor young woman, old man or aged. God handed all of them over to Nebuchadnezzar. 18 He carried to Babylon all the articles from the temple of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the LORD's temple and the treasures of the king and his officials. 19 They set fire to God's temple and broke down the wall of Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces and destroyed everything of value there.
20 He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power. 21 The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah.
Tommy's Thoughts:
God’s mercy is ever available and He patiently waits for those who live in sin to turn to Him. Sadly, many take this mercy for granted, using it as an excuse to continue sinning. There are even those who blame the situation they are in for sinning; thinking it’s a normal and fair human reaction during trying and difficult situation.
This is a lie, we can choose not to sin by obeying God’s clear commands and trusting Him knows what’s best for us and He will deliver us. But, most of the times, our impatience and ignorance of the consequences lead us to continue dabbling with sin and harboring it in our heart.
Sin is a monster and tremendously progressive in its nature. When we continue to sin, we fool ourselves by giving evil an incontrovertible momentum to destroy us from within. We’re feeding the evil until it takes over everything and very soon it’s too late for us to retaliate or even to stop ourselves, we are doomed!
Its true God’s mercy can rescue and remedy us from this, but we need to know also there is a limit to His patience in mercy. Like in today’s passage, there will come a time when things no longer remediable or reversible. In His perfect knowledge and wisdom, He concludes that there is no more waiting for the stubbornness of mankind to repent. His mercy will soon be replaced by judgment.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You again for Your crystal clear teaching. Thank You for removing all the confusion and delusion; showing me that I have the choice to do what is right. Teach me to truly repent from all my past wrongs and begin living obediently to You, remembering there is a limit to Your patience in mercy. Lord, lead me to Your path and keep me close to You always.
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
- Psalm 23
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Bee's thoughts:
God is very merciful and patient. Yet if we again and again take His mercy and patience for granted, it will come a time that there is "no remedy", like in the case of the Israelites in the above passage. So sometimes we need the wake up call from God before we start to listen to Him again.
Dear Lord,
Help me to hear Your voice when You speak to me. Let my heart not be hardened, let me obey Your word.
Right now, I want to pray that my best friend will not be disappointed by my action and the decision I have chosen. I pray that he will accept that it's not time yet for me to act as he expected. I pray that You will console his heart even right now. I pray You will grant him a good and peaceful sleep tonight and wake up fresh feeling Your unfailing love, Lord.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
