Lesson 10 for December 5, 2015

“Furthermore He said to me, ‘Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel commits here, to make Me go far away from My sanctuary? Now turn again, you will see greater abominations.’” (Ezekiel 8:6) Ezekiel the priest was taken to Babylon during the second deportation (597 BC). He was called to be a prophet there. There was an idol at the entrance of the temple. 70 elders were worshipping reptiles and beasts. Women were praising Tammuz. 25 men were worshipping the sun at the atrium. “For they say, ‘The Lord does not see us’” (Ezequiel 8:12) He was carried to the temple in vision. He saw the acts of the Jewish leaders (Ezekiel 8). He also saw the destruction of Jerusalem.

“Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Thus you shall say to the king of Judah, who sent you to Me to inquire of Me: “Behold, Pharaoh’s army which has come up to help you will return to Egypt, to their own land. And the Chaldeans shall come back and fight against this city, and take it and burn it with fire.”’” (Jeremiah 37:7-8) In the fourth year of Zedekiah’s reign, he was carried to Babylon to renew his obedience agreement. That probably happened at the same time as the events in Daniel 3. Shortly after that, he broke his agreement. He rebelled against Babylon and joined Egypt. Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem. Nevertheless, he gave up when he knew the Pharaoh was against him. In that Moment, Zedekiah asked Jeremiah for advice. Would have God changed His mind?

“Therefore the princes said to the king, ‘Please, let this man be put to death, for thus he weakens the hands of the men of war who remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man does not seek the welfare of this people, but their harm.’” (Jeremiah 38:4) The king respected Jeremiah, but he couldn’t contradict his princes. He handed over Jeremiah to them. The princes didn’t dare to spill innocent blood; their conscience accused them. They threw Jeremiah into a muddy cistern so he would die by “natural causes.” Jeremiah longed for the welfare of his people, but he was accused of trying to harm them. Nevertheless, he remained faithful to the message he received from God.

“Then they burned the house of God, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all its precious possessions.” (2 Chronicles 36:19) “Then they burned the house of God, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all its precious possessions.” (2 Chronicles 36:19) The Babylonian army entered Jerusalem a two-year siege. Zedekiah tried to escape, but he was arrested. His children died and he was blinded and taken to Babylon. The people refused to repent for the third time, so Jerusalem was destroyed. The Temple—the religious core of Israel—was also destroyed. The false prophets died and the abominable idols they trusted were destroyed.

“The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him bound in chains among all who were carried away captive from Jerusalem and Judah, who were carried away captive to Babylon.” (Jeremiah 40:1) Let’s picture the scene... The Babylonian army surrounds Jerusalem. Some residents come out the city and arrive to their camp. They asked them why they are leaving. They reply that God told prophet Jeremiah that they should surrender to the Babylonians. Why did Nebuzaradan release Jeremiah? Why did he treat him respectfully? The Babylonians could understand that they were being used by God to punish Judah thanks to those testimonies (Jeremiah 40:2-3).

“Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:12-13) God knows the end from the beginning. The people in Jerusalem were fighting against the Babylonians, waiting for the prophecies of the false prophets to be fulfilled. At the same time, God was using Jeremiah to show the future to those who already were in Babylon and those who were going to be deported too. “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.” (Isaiah 59:1) They were punished by their sins, so they could return only after sincerely repenting. God was willing to forgive His misdirected children like He said many centuries before Jeremiah (Deuteronomy 30:1-4). He is still merciful and patient to us today.

“For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.” (Jeremiah 29:10) There was no Temple anymore, but God asked the people to keep praying in exile. They should pray for the city where they lived in now to prosper, “for in its peace you will have peace.” (Jer. 29:7). They should live in Babylon as if they were never coming back (Jer. 29:5-6), but believing that they would come back when the right time finally came. Seventy years after the first deportation (605 BC), Daniel interceded with God (Daniel 9) and with Cyrus on the people’s behalf.

“Among the children of Israel who were carried captive to Babylon at the beginning of the seventy years’ captivity were Christian patriots, men who were as true as steel to principle, who would not be corrupted by selfishness, but who would honor God at the loss of all things. In the land of their captivity these men were to carry out God’s purpose by giving to heathen nations the blessings that come through a knowledge of Jehovah. They were to be His representatives. Never were they to compromise with idolaters; their faith and their name as worshipers of the living God they were to bear as a high honor. And this they did. In prosperity and adversity they honored God, and God honored them.” E.G.W. (Prophets and Kings, cp. 39, pg. 479) We are living in this world while waiting for the release from sin captivity. Decide to be faithful to God and to honor him like those captives did.