Jerusalem Set Ablaze

Jeremiah the Prophet had a foreboding, a knowledge, that sin would be judged by the righteous God of Israel. It had to be. This had been foretold from the days of old. In the Law, of which every ruler in Israel had a copy, punishment for sin was a given; it could not be overlooked. Blessings untold and unheard of for obedience; and judgment for disobedience.


Jeremiah cried out for years of the terror and destruction that would strike at noonday. He was in the city of Jerusalem when it was set a fire by the invading Babylonian army that had invaded. God removed the defenses of Israel and they were as a ripe fruit ready for picking.



What of God's man in the midst of this turmoil? God promised Jeremiah that during the calamity that "Verily (surely!) it shall be well with your remnant (what is left of yours), verily (surely!) I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction." (Jeremiah 15:11)


When the destruction struck the kingdom of Israel (Jeremiah 39:11,12) unknown to Jeremiah the Babylonian King Nebuchadrezzar gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan, the captain of his guard, saying, "Take him (Jeremiah) and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee..."


As Jerusalem was set ablaze, the man of God was protected. In the midst of great judgment, in the fires, God was glorified. His justice was vindicated because sin was judged, His protection for those who were His was established, and in the midst of the fires God's glory shone forth (Isaiah 24).


Our goal, our purpose, our life desire should be that God be glorified. Christ glorified the Father by His submission to His will; as difficult as this was for Him. He said the whole reason for His coming to earth was to glorify the Father.



There is a spiritual principle that is being further established in His dealings with mankind that must not be overlooked; it is as if it is hidden and has to be searched after like lost treasure. In the middle of tribulations and judgment, the Book of Malachi says that those who feared the LORD spoke often one to another; and the LORD is listening, and hears what is being said, and a book of remembrance is being written, even now, before Him for those who fear the LORD and that thought upon His name.



Even those who think upon His name! A persons name in Biblical times is who they were, what their character consisted of. Those who think upon the LORD'S character and ways are remembered; not only their speech, but their thoughts of Him.



The LORD promises that those who do this shall be His special jewels; and that He will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.



Another excellent example that God has given us is the man Daniel. His witness was so powerful, and his faithfulness to his God so well known, that the heathen king of the Medes and the Persians told Daniel regarding the lions den that, "Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee..."



Even the heathen, non-believers know that we serve a God who protects, who saves, who delivers and who demands that songs of deliverance be sung by His children in the midst of judgment. We are a witness of His faithfulness to His own.



Today, in the midst of great turmoil and growing darkness, a verse in Micah comes to mind, " O thou that art named the house of Jacob (that's us) is the Spirit of the LORD straitened? are these His doings? do not My words do good to those who walk uprightly? (Micah 2:7)



He is a God that delivers!
He is a God who knows exactly where we are!
He is a God that knows our situation; He is well acquainted with our ordeals!
His glory, protection, and praise extends to the ends of the earth; that pretty well covers our location!


Speak often of His Name. Give Him praise and glory in His faithfulness on our behalf.


Songs of Deliverance will be sung throughout the endless ages of eternity. Those presently around the Throne give Him praise day and night; we also are writing the words to the songs we will be able to sing in His Presence when we make our arrival to our home in the heaven of heavens.


"Alas! and did my Saviour bleed?
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I? "


" Was it for crimes that I have done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity!
grace unkinown!
And love beyond degree! "


" Well might the sun in darkness hide,
And shut His glories in,
When Christ the mighty Maker,
died for man,
the creature's sin. "


" But drops of grief can ne're repay
The debt of love I owe,
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
'Tis all that I can do. "
* Isaac Watts 1674-1748_ ALAS! AND DID MY SAVIOUR BLEED?