Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Where Is God Through His Judgments

King James Bible Daily Devotion – Learning Scripture One Day At A Time
Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Chapters: Jeremiah 50-52
Message Title: Where Is God Through His Judgments

Hello My Friend,

If there is one thing about God that we Christians should know it is that He will use any situation for His glory, but rarely do we realize that He will use them for His vengeance. We may see all the wicked things going on and wonder where God is, and to be honest, He has turned His back to all the evil. Why? He will not sit back and watch His people living in sin, He will allow them to face the consequences of their actions. I am talking about not one person, but churches filled with people living in sin. Of course, God is always there for His people, he will protect them, and keep them safe, but He will let them dangle off the edge until they either repent or He takes them home. And for those who led them to go astray, He has something for them as well, His wrath. “For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.” - Ephesians 5:5,6.

By now Nebuchadrezzar and the people of Babylon were thinking quite highly of themselves, in fact, they boasted of the fact that it was God that placed judgment upon Judah. You know, there was one reason and one reason only that God put such harsh judgments upon all of these nations, it was to bring them to Him. Jew or Gentile, the same God is their Creator, He would have welcomed any nation. Instead of turning to God they turned to their false gods, their idols, and their treasures, and because of that every nation was being judged, including Babylon. Through Jeremiah, God foretells the day that He gets vengeance upon Babylon, He used Him for His purpose, and now it's their turn.

Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls; Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones. Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria. And I will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and Gilead. In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.” - Jeremiah 50:11,17-20.

“I will pardon whom I reserve.” God reserves the lost sheep who find the Shepherd, when they get into the arms of their Saviour no sin can be found. “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” - 1 Peter 2:1-3,25.

As God continues to warn Babylon of the judgment placed upon them, He reminds all of us that a Redeemer will stand before God and plead for the lost sheep, who also happens to be the Shepherd. “Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together: and all that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go. Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon. A sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith the LORD, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men. Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?” - Jeremiah 50:33-35,44.

There is only one Redeemer, one person who can save us from judgment, that person is Jesus Christ. By His death, burial, and resurrection He put an end to the war between God and man. Those who let go of their pride and humble themselves by receiving Him will find rest and peace from everything they are in bondage to. Only when we let go of who we are can we let Christ work in us and we truly understand what He gives us rest from. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:29,30.

While I am sure God really does not want us to have to come to Him under such dire circumstances, the truth is, most of us do not seek God and live the way He wants us to live until we have been faced with near death situations. Which is why He had given the people of Babylon and every nation a chance to come Him before ant judgment even comes.

Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD'S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence. Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad. Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed. We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies. The LORD hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God. Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the LORD hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple.” - Jeremiah 51:6-11.

The word recompense means to reward, God was rewarding them for their wickedness, their reward was His judgment. He used them to judge Judah, and they were fully aware of the consequences of rejecting Him, even more they mocked them for being judged, and that is the biggest reason for His vengeance. We cannot expect things to change if we do not make an effort to change things ourselves, Jesus can mend and heal the deepest scars, but unless we are willing to take that step to change within the only reward we get is more suffering. “For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” - Hebrews 10:30,31,36.

Today's Prayer: God, There is no amount of words that can describe just how merciful and forgiving You are no matter what we have done. To think of the things we have allowed in our lives or been caught up in due to others is astounding, but You are always there to catch us, to pick us up, to mend the wounds, and heal everything from a broken heart to a broken ego. Lord, give us your power and strength to set free anything that we have brought into our lives, whether we are imprisoned by it or held captive to it. Lead us and guide us, give us Your mercy and grace, and keep us looking to You through all of our trials, and suffering as we await the joyful day that Your Son comes to get us. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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