(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)
“Now in the fifth month, in the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, who stood before the king of Babylon, came into Jerusalem. He burned Yahweh’s house, and the king’s house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, even every great house, he burned with fire. All the army of the Chaldeans, who were with the captain of the guard, broke down all the walls of Jerusalem all around. Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the poorest of the people, and the rest of the people who were left in the city, and those who fell away, who defected to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the multitude. But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poorest of the land to be vineyard keepers and farmers.”
(Jeremiah 52:12-16)
““Yahweh is righteous,
for I have rebelled against his commandment.
Please hear all you peoples,
and see my sorrow.
My virgins and my young men have gone into captivity.
“I called for my lovers,
but they deceived me.
My priests and my elders gave up the spirit in the city,
while they sought food for themselves to refresh their souls.
“Look, Yahweh; for I am in distress.
My heart is troubled.
My heart turns over within me,
for I have grievously rebelled.
Abroad, the sword bereaves.
At home, it is like death.
“They have heard that I sigh.
There is no one to comfort me.
All my enemies have heard of my trouble.
They are glad that you have done it.
You will bring the day that you have proclaimed,
and they will be like me.”
(Lamentations 1:18-21)
“Remember this, that the enemy has mocked you, Yahweh.
Foolish people have blasphemed your name.
Don’t deliver the soul of your dove to wild beasts.
Don’t forget the life of your poor forever.
Honor your covenant,
for haunts of violence fill the dark places of the earth.
Don’t let the oppressed return ashamed.
Let the poor and needy praise your name.
Arise, God! Plead your own cause.
Remember how the foolish man mocks you all day.
Don’t forget the voice of your adversaries.
The tumult of those who rise up against you ascends continually.”
(Psalm 74:18-23)
Jerusalem was taken. The people rebelled against God. Broke their covenant with Him and turned to idolatry and ungodly behaviour. They performed abominations and their morals collapsed. They refused correction. They refused repentance. They hung on to their way of doing things. Then they were besieged and many did not take the escape from destruction that God offered. They trusted in their idols. They trusted in their false prophets and immoral priests. They rejected God and rebelled. And so they were caught up in judgment and destruction. Only those who obeyed escaped. A remnant survived. But many perished.
Babylon was the instrument of this judgment. God used them against Jerusalem and all the nations surrounding her. The Babylonians took great JOY in the downfall of God’s people. Called to bring them down, they went the extra mile. They added cruelties and suffering to it. They rejoiced as they burned and pillaged. But they took it further still. They not only mocked and abused the people, they mocked God. As they took the treasures from the Temple and set it on fire. As they slaughtered the priests and the kings’ family. As they dragged the rulers and the rich off in chains. They proclaimed the superiority of their idols and their culture.
God is not to be mocked. It is a very human thing to do. Look around and see nothing immediately destroying you, so you proclaim you are right and good in what you do. But God is merciful. God is patient. God gives opportunity for us to repent, to change our minds, and to come to Him. If we don’t, we will get judged because He is a just God. Rebellion is punished. If we choose to reject Him, He will honour that. The Babylonians rejoiced, mocked God, and proclaimed themselves superior. But once they were done doing their appointed task, they received judgment. God did not forget their sin. They did not escape.
Summary
Repentance isn’t a forever thing. It’s a now thing. We need to not fall into the trap of thinking we always will have time. I knew someone whose plan was to live his life his way and repent on his deathbed. He was killed in an accident two days later. We don’t know what is coming. When the Lord lays repentance on our heart, when He offers us correction, we need to seize the moment. We need to respond. We need to not wait. Not put it off. Not leave it in the distant future. Respond to God in the present. As He leads you. Answer Him when He speaks. Don’t wait. Humble yourself and submit. It is the best way to go.
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