Week 6 - Day 4
THE STORY
DISCIPLINE
In only two generations, King David’s grandson foolishly divided the nation of Israel. The northern tribes of Israel went their own way and eventually were carried into exile and ceased to exist. The southern tribe of Judah remained faithful to King David’s descendants and to God … sort of. Eventually, like the northern tribes even Judah turned its back on God. God sent prophets to call them back to Himself and to warn them that He would discipline them with an exile too if they remained on their rebellious path.
Jeremiah is one of these prophets. Here’s a classic passage that outlines Judah’s rebellion against God.
Jeremiah 7:1-11 (NLT)
The LORD gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, “Go to the entrance of the LORD’s Temple, and give this message to the people: ‘O Judah, listen to this message from the LORD! Listen to it, all of you who worship here! This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says:
“‘Even now, if you quit your evil ways, I will let you stay in your own land. But don’t be fooled by those who promise you safety simply because the LORD’s Temple is here. They chant, “The LORD’s Temple is here! The LORD’s Temple is here!” But I will be merciful only if you stop your evil thoughts and deeds and start treating each other with justice; only if you stop exploiting foreigners, orphans, and widows; only if you stop your murdering; and only if you stop harming yourselves by worshiping idols. Then I will let you stay in this land that I gave to your ancestors to keep forever.
“‘Don’t be fooled into thinking that you will never suffer because the Temple is here. It’s a lie! Do you really think you can steal, murder, commit adultery, lie, and burn incense to Baal and all those other new gods of yours, and then come here and stand before me in my Temple and chant, “We are safe!”—only to go right back to all those evils again? Don’t you yourselves admit that this Temple, which bears my name, has become a den of thieves? Surely I see all the evil going on there. I, the LORD, have spoken!
Just because the Temple of God was in Jerusalem, would that protect God’s people from the consequences of their sinful rebellion?
What were the sins that Judah (God’s people) were committing?
Unfortunately, God’s people couldn’t pull up from their nose dive into rebellion. Eventually, God made good on His threats to discipline them. God actually used Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babylon to discipline them. Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem, destroy the Temple and carried the people into exile.
But what about God’s promises? For example, God promised Abraham to bless him and his descendants and to make them a blessing to the whole world. And God promised David to always have an heir on the throne. If Judah has gone into exile, how can these promises be fulfilled?
The good news is that God maintained a remnant of faithful followers during Judah’s exile. And He promised this small following that He would bring them back to the Promised Land and rebuild their nation.
That’s why God had Jeremiah write this letter of encouragement to His exiled people.
Jeremiah 29:4-14 (NLT)
This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the captives he has exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem: “Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce. Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away! And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.”
This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let your prophets and fortune-tellers who are with you in the land of Babylon trick you. Do not listen to their dreams, because they are telling you lies in my name. I have not sent them,” says the LORD.
This is what the LORD says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the LORD. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”
How might this letter have been both encouraging and discouraging to the exiles?
How might this letter be a good model for how God’s people might be a blessing whenever and wherever they live?
God kept His covenantal promises to Abraham and David and after a 70 year “Time Out” in Babylon, He brought a remnant back to rebuild the city of Jerusalem and the Temple.
Once again, we see that God disciplines those He loves. And don’t forget that God promised to bless His people not just for themselves but so that they would be a blessing to the whole world. He rescued them over and over because He promised to eventually Rescue the whole world through them. This Blessing and this Rescue would come through the Promised Messiah.
PREVIEW
But would this Promised Rescuer ever come? Another prophet named Ezekiel made this bold prediction about the Coming Messiah. When Ezekiel gave this prophecy, King David had long been dead. So this prophecy isn’t about him, but about one of his descendants who would be God’s King, Shepherd, Prince of Peace and Temple Presence to the whole world.
Ezekiel 37:24-28 (NLT)
My servant David will be their king, and they will have only one shepherd. They will obey my regulations and be careful to keep my decrees. They will live in the land I gave my servant Jacob, the land where their ancestors lived. They and their children and their grandchildren after them will live there forever, generation after generation. And my servant David will be their prince forever. And I will make a covenant of peace with them, an everlasting covenant. I will give them their land and increase their numbers, and I will put my Temple among them forever. I will make my home among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And when my Temple is among them forever, the nations will know that I am the LORD, who makes Israel holy.
Next week, we will turn to The Story of this Promised Rescuer.
In light of what you have discovered through the Bible readings and your personal reflections, how will you respond? Finish this sentence: I will …