AND IF GOD IS AGAINST YOU....UH OH...

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,

We are looking at Jeremiah Chapter 21. I never want to find myself in the position King Zedekiah found himself in when he finally inquired of the Lord after the King of Babylon  had laid siege on Jerusalem.   He was hoping that God would perform a miracle and the enemy would turn away as they did during Hezekiah's reign.  Look what God says to the King of Judah in verses 3 through 7.

But Jeremiah answered them, “Tell Zedekiah,  ‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I am about to turn against you the weapons of war that are in your hands, which you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Babylonians who are outside the wall besieging you. And I will gather them inside this city. ⁵ I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm in furious anger and in great wrath. ⁶ I will strike down those who live in this city—both man and beast—and they will die of a terrible plague. ⁷ After that, declares the LORD, I will give Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials and the people in this city who survive the plague, sword and famine, into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who want to kill them. He will put them to the sword; he will show them no mercy or pity or compassion.--Jeremiah 21:3-7

Not only would the Lord not deliver the city from the enemy but He would fight on their side! The Lord's arm would not be outstretched this time to help and to show mercy but in wrath against His people.  It says in Romans 8 if God is for us who can be against us.  The converse of that verse is very frightening indeed!  This is where King Zedekiah and the people of Judah found themselves. As always though the Lord's wrath is tempered with His mercy. See what God tells the people of Jerusalem in verses 8-10.

“Furthermore, tell the people, ‘This is what the LORD says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death. ⁹ Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; they will escape with their lives. ¹⁰ I have determined to do this city harm and not good, declares the LORD. It will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will destroy it with fire."--Jeremiah 21:8-10

God gave them a choice...surrender to the enemy and live or die in the city by the sword, famine or plague.  You decide.  Don't miss the picture here.  In surrendering...in submitting to the enemy...they were actually confessing their guilt and submitting to the will of God because Nebuchadnezzar was God's instrument in judgment. Those who submitted  lived.  Those who did not surrender to the Babylonians and remained in the city perished. I am pretty sure there is a lesson in there for us...I will get back to you. : D

Girls, the only sane response to God's chastening hand is submission.  Hebrews 12:9  says this: "Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?  It is important also to remember here that the leaders of Jerusalem had been given better choices earlier...unfortunately they waited until the enemy had surrounded them before asking the Lord for help.  If you are practicing sin, the time to turn and repent is now...don't wait for disaster and judgment to be upon you.

The last several verses pronounce doom on the kings of Judah...the House of David.  Here are the verses from Jeremiah 21:11-14

“Moreover, say to the royal house of Judah, ‘Hear the word of the LORD.  This is what the LORD says  to you, house of David:


   “‘Administer justice every morning;
   rescue from the hand of the oppressor
   the one who has been robbed,
or my wrath will break out and burn like fire
   because of the evil you have done—
   burn with no one to quench it.
¹³ I am against you, Jerusalem,
   you who live above this valley
   on the rocky plateau, declares the LORD—
you who say, “Who can come against us?
   Who can enter our refuge?”
¹⁴ I will punish you as your deeds deserve,
   declares the LORD.
I will kindle a fire in your forests
   that will consume everything around you.’”

God is simply reminding them  of His covenant with them and urging them to obey.  The words to the covenant can be found in 2nd Samuel Chapter 7.

As I end girls, remember that God is for us.  If we have His Son we have life in His name. God, the creator of the universe, who conquered Satan, the ruler of this world, at the cross is FOR US! He who is in me, is greater than he who is in the world. Girls, there are many times during the day when my eyes just fill with tears and I am overwhelmed by His goodness and kindness toward me.  If God did not spare His own Son when I was still His enemy, I can be sure that He will not withhold His gift of salvation from me...I can be sure that He will not condemn me...I can be sure that He will give me everything I need to live for Him..after all He gave His life for me when I hated Him. How much more will He freely give to me those things that are for my best as His daughter.

Love
Mom