Sabbath: The Destruction of Jerusalem
Read for This Week’s Study: Ezekiel 8:1-18, Rom. 1:22-25, Jer. 37:1-10, Jer. 38:1-6, Jer. 29:1-14, Dan. 9:2.
Memory Text: Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper
(Jeremiah 29:7, NIV).
Image © Lars Justinen Goosalt.com
Within a few short years the king of Babylon was to be used as the instrument of God’s wrath upon impenitent Judah. Again and again Jerusalem was to be invested [surrounded] and entered by the besieging armies of Nebuchadnezzar. Company after company-at first a few only, but later on thousands and tens of thousands-were to be taken captive to the land of Shinar, there to dwell in enforced exile. Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, Zedekiah-all these Jewish kings were in turn to become vassals of the Babylonian ruler, and all in turn were to rebel. Severer and yet more severe chastisements were to be inflicted upon the rebellious nation, until at last the entire land was to become a desolation, Jerusalem was to be laid waste and burned with fire, the temple that Solomon had built was to be destroyed, and the kingdom of Judah was to fall, never again to occupy its former position among the nations of earth.”-Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, pp. 422, 423.
As we have seen, and will see, none of this came upon them without plenty of warnings and pleadings by the prophets, especially Jeremiah. Their refusal to obey brought only ruin. May we learn from their mistakes!
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, December 5.
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I love the study guides. It seems to me we are for sure in End Times, and we need to focus on Jesus, more, and a lot less on this world. And I think we should share more, off of this sight with the rest of the world, any way we can reach them, There are Millions of people on many web sites.
It is probably easy for some Christians to simply say that unrepentant sinners will be destroyed and adopt a posture of indifference in terms of making an effort to reach same. It may be thought that the wicked deserve their punishment, and they certainly do, so it is all fair, and it definitely is if the Creator does it (Romans 3:23; 6:23). However there is hurt when lives are lost.
When Jerusalem was destroyed the first time it brought disrepute on the name of the Lord (Ezekiel 9:5-11). Whenever that which the Lord claims as His own fails Satan exults; for it is an opportunity to discredit Jehovah and advance the idea that He is impotent, if He even exists. The failure of the chosen people and the resulting punishment always presents a blow to God’s cause (Exodus 32:10-14).
However God does not act merely to save face or spare His reputation. Justice means more than His name (Psalm 138:2) to the One who is the originator of Law (Exodus 31:18; Revelation 15:3). Still His concern for His own reputation and justice is surpassed by His concern for the salvation of every soul. It hurts the Creator when He destroys (Ezekiel 33:11).
Those who are becoming like Christ, the Creator, also hurt when souls are lost, and they show this by their action before it seems all is lost. They try to help others get back on track. They reach out in the best way they understand and put intense effort into it (2 timothy 4:1-5).
The faithful who sigh and cry over abominations are sometimes readily dismissed as fanatics, grouped with alarmists and classified as fringe believers (Ezekiel 9:4). Yet, even if some may be a bit overzealous or somewhat misguided in their approach the question remains – do they speak truth according to the word of God? Further, will heeding what they say help or hurt, and whom?
Few they may be who sincerely sigh and cry, but they are on the Lord’s side. If there is one thing love does not do with knowledge of danger it is keep silent (John 21:17).
2Peter 3:9 tells us how important every living human being is to God. We also should have the same concern. However it is not our prerogative to determine who is among each side, the lost or the saved. There is a limit to everything human. The parable of the sower is an example. The seed was all sewn, but all did not result in healthy plants. Sometimes it is difficult to accept failure in our evangelistic efforts, but accept it we must. Everyone has the same opportunity of choices. To see friends and loved ones make bad choices is some of the most grievous occurrences that we face. However there comes a time that we have to let go. What is left is our prayers that somehow the efforts of the Holy Spirit will reach the heart of the unrepentant one.
Jer 29:7. If the Hebrews had lived as complainers and conspirators in the land of their exile, they would have been a curse their own souls, and a dishonour to God.
Those that were transported to Babylon with Daniel, received the best that the world could offer. The best food, and the best education... the State really wanted to promote their welfare.
Now Daniel was one that prayed for the land and for the king, and so much so, that when he was shown the prophetic dream of the tree (Nebuchadnezzar) being cut down, Daniel felt it very deeply.
Of course Daniel "was astonished", and when the king saw this, he says to Daniel, "Do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you." Daniel replies, "My lord, may the dream concern those that hate you, and its interpretation concern your enemies!" (Dan 4:19 NKJV.) The king's welfare, and that of the whole empire, were matters of the highest importance for Daniel. He was genuinely astonished and saddened when he saw what lay ahead of the king, Nebuchadnezzar.
He had no desire that any disaster should befall the monarch, and he had no wish for the success of Nebuchadnezzar's enemies. To me this is a wonderful testimony regarding the fulfilment of God's will.
It's sad we never learn until it to late to take heed to the warning the Lord has given us. Help us Lord to understand the times in which we are living be not deceived he that shall come will come and his reward is with him to give to all those who dwell on the earth.
Yes we need to focus on Jesus since this message is so like the message we are seeing today .The things that are going on in the world, each and everyday there is some sort of violent act some where .These are desperate times .Let us have more wisdom so we can gmhave more understanding and therefore more knowledge so to be able to help those that are lost , and also we need to be able to help ourselves to do our part to prepare .