A Story of Three Kings
Moreover the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the prison, saying, “Thus says the Lord who made it, the Lord who formed it to establish it (the Lord is His name): ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’
Jeremiah 33:1-3 NKJV
Quickly a time is coming!
Here in Jeremiah’s day great, awful things have taken place.
The Nation of Israel had been split in two.
Nebuchadnezzar was the Babylonian King. Mighty in power. Ruthless to his enemies.
Judah had been conquered.
Next it was taking over Jerusalem.
Jeremiah has been thrown into prison. His crime, preaching the Word of God to ears that refuse to hear and accept it!
King Zedekiah was the King of Jerusalem
Zedekiah put Jeremiah in the royal prison for preaching in the name of the Lord.
Jeremiah’s crime wasn’t necessarily just speaking the word of God but that the Babylonians would succeed in taking over the great city. Of course the King didn’t want to hear of the destruction of his Kingdom! So he tries to hush Jeremiah.
Captivity was very near.
What could stop Nebuchadnezzar?
What could destroy the pride of King Zedekiah?
Wasn’t this supposed to be the children of the living God?
Didn’t He promise to help them, to protect and provide for them!
He did.
if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
II Chronicles 7:14 NKJV
This was the promise that the Lord gave to these same people, hundreds of years earlier.
They had been in the same situation, facing captivity.
God will always keep His promise. Once His Word is spoken then there is nothing in the whole universe that can stop it from being fulfilled!
He gives out the promises to any and all that are willing to accept them.
But there’s always an “if” attached.
I believe King Zedekiah forgot about the “if’s” as part of God’s plan!
We want all the promises that He offers.
Washing of sin, guilt and shame. Eternal life in a place prepared by His hand! Peace, joy!
We want it all!
What’s amazing is that He will give it all to you, if!
If we humble ourselves.
If we pray.
If we seek His Holy and precious face.
If we turn from our wicked ways.
Does God’s offer still stand today?
The Lord we serve is not a God of second chances! If He only gave us two chances would He still be a merciful God?
The answer to both of those is yes, of course He would be!
But not only is He all merciful, He is all loving. One of God’s greatest attributes is His longsuffering!
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
II Peter 3:9 NKJV
The definition of longsuffering is patiently enduring lasting offense.
It goes beyond patience. It’s more than a second chance.
The Lord of Mercy and Longsuffering had given all humanity one final “if”.
We can see the signs. There is another Spiritual Captivity taking place.
Many are already bound and locked up.
Thus says the Lord who made it, the Lord who formed it to establish it (the Lord is His name): ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’
What are those great and mighty things?
All of these Great and Mighty things can be found all in One place, or should I say, One person!
Jesus Christ, The Word, The Light, The Deliverer, The Savior!
We don’t know anything or have a clue to the Kingdom of God if we don’t call on the Good Shepherd, Jesus!
Jeremiah finds himself in prison for speaking the Word of God.
Even in prison God invited Jeremiah and any other ear that would hear to come to Him.
Come to Him in prayer that is full of faith. Having the confidence that He answers somehow and some way! Expecting that it will be fulfilled.
This promise is especially amazing.
King Nebuchadnezzar is about to take over Jerusalem.
The fear and terror of those hearts that witnessed the fulfillment of God’s judgment on the land.
Even when judgment is close and even at the door, God spoke a word of hope with an invitation to Jeremiah and Jerusalem.
“Call to Me”!
Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”
Psalms 50:15 NKJV
This invite is still valid today and the day of trouble is at hand!
We as Followers of Christ face three choices.
We can destroy what little faith people have by condemning like King Nebuchadnezzar. Bringing destruction, damnation and captivity to those that refuse to bow to Jesus the King of Glory!
We can be like King Zedekiah and try to suppress the Word of God.
Keeping it only for ourselves and then locking it up for no other heart to receive.
Or we can live our lives as a living Sacrifice to the True Word of the King of Kings! Bring hope to the hopeless. Faith to the faithless. Will we show them to the Road of Salvation or let them continue marching in captivity!
Many are still in a spiritual captivity.
Many don’t know there’s a way out of bondage.
Many are in fear of the judgment of God.
God is not slacking in His promises.
He gives out the promises to any and all that are willing to accept them.
Be brave like Jeremiah and be a good witness to the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ no matter the cost.
Tell them there is freedom from captivity!
Pastor Ed