Todays readings… 2 Samuel 22, Jeremiah 25, Romans 13,14

“DISASTER IS GOING FORTH FROM NATION TO NATION”

   Today’s chapter 25 in Jeremiah is very disturbing.  The prophet is receiving visions from God of future events, some of the visions include a future then far distant.  God’s judgements are about to fall on Jerusalem.  Jeremiah is told “this whole land shall become a ruin and waste and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years” [v.11]  Many years later Daniel, in Babylon in his old age, “perceived in the books” that God had revealed to Jeremiah that they would be in captivity for 70 years [Daniel 9 v.2]. 

We reflect on the traumatic history of the Jews to whom God’s prophets came with divine messages, they also had the glory of the Temple, also many other blessings such as we have read in what David accomplished.  Greatest of all was when God’s son did wonders in their midst.  

We note how Jesus, at the end of one of his parables said, “Every one to whom much was given, much will be required” [Luke 12 v.48].  There is a Godly principle here: the failure to appreciate and respond to blessings, especially the blessing of hearing and knowing God’s word, will bring in the end an adverse reaction from God – and how much natural Israel suffered!   But God has regathered them in the latter days. David had a vision of this in Psalm 102, in his prayer to the LORD he foresaw when it would be said, “You will arise and have pity on Zion; it is the time to favour her; the appointed time has come.  This is our time – but there are also utterly awesome events to happen too!

We read on today  in Jeremiah, “Thus says the LORD of hosts … I begin to work disaster at the city that is called by my name, and shall you go unpunished? (he is addressing other nations) You shall not go unpunished, for I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth … for the LORD has an indictment against all the nations; he is entering into judgment with all flesh and the wicked will be put to the sword … Behold, disaster is going forth from nation to nation and a great tempest is stirring from the farthest parts of the earth! [v.28,29,31,32]   Australia is one of “the farthest parts.”!

   We note how Ch. 30 concludes with the words, “The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intentions of his mind. In the latter days you will understand this.”   Those who understand must make sure they are on the Lord’s side, and their understanding will develop as world events start to correspond more and more to what God has caused to be written and preserved..