Occasionally I will be dwelling on a verse or passage, ruminating on the message, (or to be honest, wandering off into some undisciplined daydreaming), and the Lord will bless me with a truth that is so obvious, so fresh and such a blessing that I just want to share it with you.
Such is the following passage
1 The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the guard: 2 “Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it–the LORD is his name: 3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. – Jeremiah 33:1-3 ESV
Jeremiah was in the court of the guard. As a matter of fact, Jeremiah was in the court of the guard a bunch! The phrase shows up 10 times in Jeremiah, many of the time referring to his being placed in the court of the guards, or in the cistern in the court of the guards.
Turns out that Jeremiah was in the court of the guards until Jerusalem was taken.
And Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard until the day that Jerusalem was taken. – Jeremiah 38:28 ESV
The court of the guards was the Kings prison. If I understand it correctly, this meant Jeremiah was in stocks, day in and day out. one of the references of Jeremiahs imprisonment in the court of the guards mentioned that he had bread once a day to sustain his existence.
And the Lord said…
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
Jeremiah, the prophet of the Lord, one hated by his countrymen, prisoned by his earthly king, accused of being a traitor, and a false prophet, suffering without sustenance, was told by the Lord to …
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
Jeremiah has been preaching of the destruction of Israel, of the imminent failure of his nation before the Lord God. In the midst of the destruction of Jerusalem, of the entire nation of Israel, the lone prophet of God is shackled in a prison. And the Lord gives him the command to call on Him.
The Lord continues with describing the inevitable fall of Israel to the Babylonians, but check out verse 7-9, where the Lord God gives His great and mighty promise of restoration in the midst of the certain death of the nation.
7 I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first. 8 I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me. 9 And this city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them. They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it. – Jeremiah 33:7-9 ESV
Jeremiah had many needs, ranging from emotional healing, adequate sustenance, deep fellowship, physical healing, pain relief… I think you get my point.
The Lord gave him his heart’s desire – that is, that his nation would rise again, that the kingdom would continue and flourish. The Messiah would arrive, and He will execute justice and righteousness in the land.
14 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’ – Jeremiah 33:14-16 ESV
My friends, God is good, even in the midst of very trying times. There may be trying times coming for our generation. Take heart. The same God who spoke to Jeremiah is the same God who came to execute justice and righteousness on the earth, and is the same God who will deliver us from this present evil world.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. – Hebrews 13:8 ESV
May His name be praised and remembered as we go about our day. Be thankful for His many mercies!
The LORD is our righteousness
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion.
Considering the Bible 