October 15- Submit To Babylon

October 15, 2011

Scripture Reading:
Jeremiah 26:1-27:22; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18;
Psalm 85:1-13; Proverbs 25:16

Jeremiah 26:1-27:22

A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country according to Jesus.  Well, that is the case for Jeremiah.  Today, we see that as Jeremiah continues to prophecy of the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, the king and his countrymen cry out for him to be killed.  Court is held at the new gate at the Temple and various witnesses come forth to either defend or witness against Jeremiah.  Discussion is raised that in the past, King Hezekiah got a similar prophecy from the prophet Micah.  He repented and averted disaster for Jerusalem.  Some people feel that Judah should repent.

We learn that Uriah is another prophet at this time and the Lord is giving him the same dire prophesies that Jeremiah is giving.  Uriah is threatened with death, flees to Egypt, is captured, brought back and killed by King Jehoiakim. 

Jeremiah wins his case in court and is not killed.

The Lord tells Jeremiah to make a yoke and put it on his own neck.  This is a picture/illustration for the people to see that Babylon will yoke many nations because the Lord is using this nation for His own purposes. Surrounding nations are encouraged to submit to Babylon, rather than being slaughtered by them. The Lord describes King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon as His servant.  God encourages nations to put themselves under Babylon's yoke. Jeremiah gives this message of surrender to the surrounding nations, King Zedekiah of Judah, and the priest and prophets of Jerusalem.

What do you think about God raising up nations to be conquerors on earth?  Are you comfortable with His participation in the history of this planet?  Do you see that God is in control of this universe for His own purposes?  Does it comfort you that God has a purpose for history that draws us towards Himself?

2 Thessalonians 3:1-18

The Apostle Paul asks his friend in Thessalonica to pray that the message of Jesus Christ would spread rapidly throughout the earth.  Paul prayer is still being answered 1900 years later. He also asks for prayer to be protected from evil people who would harm the messengers of God.  We see that Jeremiah had need to pray this same prayer.

Next, Paul deals with the problem of laziness that has infected the Thessalonian church.  Some of the members are waiting for Christ to return and have stopped working.  They are idle, which has led to freeloading, gossiping, and general trouble making.  Paul encourages the other Christians to rebuke these people, and if there is no repentance, do not associate with them.  This is not to be unloving, but it is a tough love tactic designed to bring them back into the fold with repentance. 

"If you do not work, you do not eat."  Christians would do well to remember this philosophy in our day of social justice.  Nobody said life was going to be easy.  Nobody claimed we would all have equal resources on this earth.  Nobody said that you should be given things without working.  Paul would not agree with a welfare state.  An able bodied person who can work, should work.  Help is to be offered to those who have earnestly tried to work and have been unable to find work.  Help should be offered to widows and orphans who have no means of support.  The Bible is very clear on this.

What have you learned from this book of 2 Thessalonians?


Psalm 85:1-13

Here is a psalm anticipating future salvation for the earth!

Proverbs 25:16

Too much of a good thing is not good. 

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton