October 28- An Empire Fallen

October 28, 2011

Scripture Reading:
Jeremiah 51:1-52:34; Titus 3:1-15;
Psalm 100:1-5; Proverbs 26:18-19

Jeremiah 51:1-52:34

Imagine, if you will, that a prophet comes and writes a book that says that the United States of America will be devastated, defeated, and will fall.  As part of the prophecy, the man says that the country will be so destroyed that it will become a deserted wasteland.  Perhaps some of you remember the movie The Planet of the Apes.  In this movie, astronauts land on a planet in the distant future where apes are the dominant species and humans are mute animals wearing animal skins. The shocker at the end of the movie is the realization that the planet overtaken by the apes is the earth.  How do we discover this?  The charred remnants of the Statue of Liberty are seen half submerged on the beach at the end of the movie.  The implication is that this new society is a result of a global nuclear war.  Today, Jeremiah writes the future of the great Babylonian empire and it includes the fact that God is going to make Babylon a deserted wasteland, devastated by a war.

Jeremiah gives his prophecy about Babylon's destruction to King Zedekiah during the fourth year of his reign.  We know that King Zedekiah rebelled against Babylon and eventually after a long siege of Jerusalem, the Babylonians broke through the walls of the city and captured the king and the royals.  Zedekiah was forced to watch as his sons and royal officials were killed.  Zedekiah had his eyes gouged out and was bound in bronze chains to be led away to Babylon. Just as predicted, the city and the Temple were burned down and all of the wealth that had been accumulated by David and Solomon were carted away to Babylon.  There is a description of the majestic nature of the bronze pillars in the Temple and the large bronze sea that sat in one section of the Temple. We see that a prediction that Isaiah gave came true as these precious objects are taken by the conquerors. Remember that King Hezekiah had shown the ambassadors from Babylon many years before the great wealth in his treasury.  God told Hezekiah that this would result in future problems for Jerusalem.  Hezekiah was only concerned about his own life at the time. God's predictions were accurate.

The book of Jeremiah ends with a description of what happens to the royal line of David.  This is important to God because of his promises to the nation of Israel.  God has promised that a son of David will rule on the throne in Jerusalem forever. Although God does not intend to allow any descendant of King Jehoiachin to reign in Israel, God in His wisdom has Mary, Jesus' mother, come from the line of Nathan, rather than from the line of Solomon.  Jehoiachin is from Solomon.  God is able to fulfill both prophecies in the end.  Jeremiah records how this is fulfilled during the Babylonian captivity.

God is intimately involved in His Story on earth.  Does this surprise you?  Do you believe that God is intimately involved in your story too?  He is a detailed-oriented Being.  The details of your life and mine matter to God.

Titus 3:1-15

As Paul continues his instructions to Titus, he gives Titus topics on which to teach.  Today, he reminds Titus to emphasize to the body of believers that they should obey the government. They should be ready to do good for others and avoid quarreling. If you are gentle and humble, your life will not be marked by arguing with others.  How are you doing in this department?

If you hate others and they hate you, you are living a life of disobedience and foolishness. God shows us His kindness and love.  This is out of His character of mercy. He also pours out his Spirit upon those He has forgiven and promises the gift of eternal life. This is the message that should motivate people to do good works and live lives that please God. What motivates you to do good works for others?

The final reminder from Paul is that people should not fight about spiritual pedigree or Jewish laws.  This would have been a problem among Jewish believers at that time.

What would the Apostle Paul tell your local pastor to speak to you about in your church?  What areas need to be exhorted and taught to you?

Psalm 100:1-5

We are His sheep and we enter His gate (Jesus Christ) with thanksgiving.  Read this psalm in light of what the Apostle Paul was saying to Titus today.

Proverbs 26:18-19

Wow.  Don't lie to your friend and then act like you were only joking.  Not a good plan...

What did you read that was of interest today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton