May the House Be Burned Down if it Helps Me Rely On You
Scripture Passage: Jeremiah 52:12-23 (NASB)
12 Now on the tenth day of the fifth month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard, who was in the service of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. 13 And he burned the house of the Lord, the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem; even every large house he burned with fire. 14 So the entire army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard tore down all the walls around Jerusalem. 15 Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took into exile some of the poorest of the people, the rest of the people who were left in the city, the deserters who had deserted to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the craftsmen. 16 But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left some of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and farmers. 17 Now the bronze pillars which belonged to the house of the Lord and the stands and the bronze sea, which were in the house of the Lord, the Chaldeans smashed to pieces and carried all their bronze to Babylon. 18 They also took the pots, the shovels, the snuffers, the basins, the pans, and all the bronze vessels which were used in temple service. 19 The captain of the guard also took the bowls, the firepans, the basins, the pots, the lampstands, the pans, and the drink offering bowls, whatever was fine gold, and whatever was fine silver. 20 The two pillars, the one sea, and the twelve bronze bulls that were under the sea, and the stands, which King Solomon had made for the house of the Lord—the bronze of all these vessels was beyond weight. 21 As for the pillars, the height of each pillar was eighteen cubits, and it was twelve cubits in circumference and four fingers in thickness, and hollow. 22 Also, a capital of bronze was on top of it; and the height of each capital was five cubits, with latticework and pomegranates on the capital all around, all of bronze. And the second pillar was like these, including pomegranates. 23 There were ninety-six exposed pomegranates; all the pomegranates numbered a hundred on the latticework all around.
SUMMARY
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, sent Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard to Jerusalem after Zedekiah was captured. Nebuzaradan burned the house of the LORD and all the houses of Jerusalem. The entire army with the captain tore down all the walls around Jerusalem. They plundered the temple’s bronze, fine gold and fine silver items as spoils, including the two pillars, the one sea, and the twelve bronze bulls which King Solomon had made for the house of the Lord.
REFLECTION
The fall of Jerusalem is such an important lesson for me to learn in the year 2021. Many warnings of the prophet Jeremiah spoke so much of the meaning of God’s judgement. It brought reverence in my heart knowing that God’s discipline for me is out of His agape love. In today’s passage, He showed His love by allowing the house of the Lord to be burned with fire (v13) and the walls of Jerusalem be torn down (v14). God brought judgement to sin and carried purification to His people even though it had to accompany the loss of the temple. God allowed the removal of the city walls that His people depended on as physical security and safety.
These passages made me ponder the question: Am I hiding behind the walls I built for me and my family that provided me only a false sense of security? From Jeremiah 52:1-11 I learned that people of Judah were besieged in the city for 18 months. Zedekiah refused to surrender and ended up with the tragedy of death of his sons and his commanders due to his disobedience toward God. Do I still have a disobedient heart after reading and meditating on the book of Jeremiah in the last few months?
There were many details in today’s passage in regard to the plunders Babylonian took. God remembered even the details of latticework and pomegranates on the capitals. The temple built in King Solomon time that represented the declaration of God’s goodness, fruitfulness and blessings was ripped away by Babylonians. The commentary helps me to learn that many vessels were later returned when Cyrus, king of Persia, sent back the exiles in the days of Ezra to rebuild the house of the Lord. God restored His people and fulfilled His promises. In the book of Ezra, it recorded the inventory of all articles and number of the exiles who returned. How perfect is God’s love for His people. God remembers and God restores. Do I trust God that He will restore when I am seeing Him stripped away bronze, silver, and gold?
APPLICATION
As I reflected on the attitude of my heart, I still see the disobedience in me. Knowing this season is very important for me and my family to pray more for God’s guidance for my family, I noticed that time I spent in prayers are shortened. I found myself closing my ears and heart. My application will be to commit to join Arise for these coming two weeks. To pray unceasingly as Pastor Andy encouraged us in the last two Sunday Sermons. Pray continuously so that my heart can align with Father’s Will.
To trust that God remembers and God restores, I would also like to start to part items that I have been accumulating in the last ten years. Since I moved from New York to California and started a family here, I have acquired so many things in my life. That created a burden in my heart that made me unwilling to let go and be moved by God. I will give away and bless others to lighten up my family so that we can be more mobilized when God calls.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for teaching, rebuking, training, and correcting me throughout the quiet time I spent in the book of Jeremiah. I have come to realize so much of my weakness and my sinful nature. Thank you for showing me that I can never do this life without the guidance of Your Word. I pray that You will wake me up during Arise. Wake up from my spiritual slumber. Open my ears so that I can perceive Your Will for me and my family. Help me to pray constantly for our church and for Your beloved sheep. In Jesus name I pray.
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