August 11

Jeremiah's Prophecies Under Zedekiah - Jeremiah 24:1-10, 29:1-32, 27:1-22, 28:1-17

The Divine Servant statue that stands on the campus of Sterling College founded in 1887 as Cooper College in Sterling, Kansas. I wonder if we truly understand the implications of our need to serve? I know I don't.

"Bow your neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon; serve him and his people and you will live." Jeremiah 27:12

God's will can be so hard to fathom. Today's reading answers my questions from yesterday. It seems that the people taken in exile are more blessed than those who remained in Jerusalem. The slave more blessed than the free. Those in exile are encouraged to spend their 70 years in captivity serving the good of the nation that is their master. In exile, the people will become closer to God they "will seek Me [God] and find Me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you." Jeremiah 29:13-14

Those who remained in Judah were plagued by false prophets who promised the quick return of the exiles and the items taken from the temple. This was a popular belief. Wouldn't it be? Don't we think it's God's will for us to be free? Isn't it God's will that we worship in freedom and that His church go untouched? In this case, no. God commands, "Bow your neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon; serve him and his people and you will live." Jeremiah 27:12

It seems counter to our way of thinking. That God will's is people to live in slavery to others. But then so much of what God is and does and thinks is counter to us.

Lord knows.