Thursday: The Remnant
In the closing years of Judah’s apostasy the exhortations of the prophets were seemingly of but little avail; and as the armies of the Chaldeans came for the third and last time to besiege Jerusalem, hope fled from every heart. Jeremiah predicted utter ruin; and it was because of his insistence on surrender that he had finally been thrown into prison. But God left not to hopeless despair the faithful remnant who were still in the city.
Image © Krieg Barrie from GoodSalt.com
Even while Jeremiah was kept under close surveillance by those who scorned his messages, there came to him fresh revelations concerning Heaven’s willingness to forgive and to save, which have been an unfailing source of comfort to the church of God from that day to this.
-Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 466.
Even amid that prevailing apostasy and doom, God always had a faithful people, however small in number. Though as with many of the prophets, much of the emphasis in Jeremiah was on apostasy and unfaithfulness-because these were what the Lord wanted to save the people from-all through sacred history, the Lord had a faithful remnant. This, of course, will continue down until the end of time (see Rev. 12:17).
How is the concept of the remnant expressed in Jeremiah 23:1-8? How does this apply to New Testament times? (See also Jer. 33:14-18.)
In Jeremiah 33:5-7 scholars have long seen a Messianic prophecy, a prophecy of redemption for God’s faithful people. Though it’s true that, after the Babylonian exile, a remnant returned, it was not a glorious return. However, God’s purposes would be fulfilled through the lineage of David, through a righteous Branch,
the King who would one day reign.
This prophecy had a partial fulfillment in the first coming of Jesus (see Matt. 1:1, Matt. 21:7-9, John 12:13). It will have its ultimate fulfillment in the Second Coming (see Dan. 7:13-14), when all of God’s faithful people, His true remnant, will dwell forever in peace and safety. The redemption, first symbolized by the Exodus from Egypt, will be final, complete, and eternal.
In what are you putting your hopes? How can you learn to trust more and more in the promises of God and their ultimate fulfillment in your own life? What else besides them do you have?
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After all the sacrifice, self-denial and suffering Jeremiah’s personal story does not seem to end in glory. John the baptizer did much to prepare the way for the Messiah, but was accused of being judgmental (Mark 6:16-20) and lost his head after spending his final days in a lonely dungeon (Matthew 14:9-11). Several others have been faithful only to suffer and die as martyrs.
Still believers are being called to be a part of an end time remnant who will be virtually marked for death (Revelation 12:17; 13:15). As well truth tellers are cautioned about opposition (Luke 6:20-26). Why should anyone sign up for this?
Of course Jesus did suggest this was not for everybody; only those who are prepared to endure to the end (Luke 14:27-29; Matthew 24:12-13).
The narrow way to eternal life (Matthew 7:13-14) is not for those who like Herod just want to get close to Jesus to see a miracle (Luke 23:8) or need their inheritance now (Luke 15:12). Surely there are immediate benefits to following Jesus (Mark 10:29-30), but these like the difficulties are only to support the long term goal of restoration to God’s image (2 Corinthians 4:8-11).
The remnant give up blessings which work against the Redeemer’s purpose and eventually come to value their service to the Creator more than their own lives. Like Jeremiah they understand their personal story does not end in this life, nor in defeat, in spite of the appearance. Their patience pays off in the end (Revelation 14:12; Romans 8:18).
It pays to serve Jesus, now and greater still hereafter. Still the remnant are not so much concerned about their own gain. Their joy is service to those they love. Until the end “let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
Thank you so much. May the Spirit continue using you to edify the church. God bless you.
Thursday: The Remnant
Even amid that prevailing apostasy and doom, God always had a faithful people, however small in number and this, of course, will continue down until the end of time (see Rev. 12:17).
God has His people who have put His commands in their hearts and they truly honor regardless of the situation. But there are the false pastors who pretend to be doing God’s will but are actually scattering God’s sheep. They are not the owners of the sheep. God here is interested in the sheep and calls them the sheep of my pasture, whom I am interested in, and have provided good pasture for. Woe be to those therefore who are commanded to feed God's people, and pretend to do it, but who, instead of that, scatter the flock, and drive them away by their violence and oppression, and have not visited them, nor taken any care for their welfare, nor concerned themselves at all to do them good. Though they may say it, "Oh, I've been thinking about you this week. And God laid a heavy burden upon my heart for you. Is everything all right, brother? Please write and tell me what's wrong with you so I can pray for you. And I'm going to go and I'm going to fast and I'm going to pray and I'm going to bring your requests before God. Now make sure that you send your request in to me immediately and please mark off how much you can send in at this time, you know." That's all a bunch of cheating to get to the bottom line for you to send your bucks in. There's no real concern for the flock of God. There's no real attempt. You read the letter. There's nothing there to feed your spirit. The whole thing is designed to fleece you. The whole purpose is to fleece the innocent ones. A true shepherd seeks to feed His flock. A hireling always seeks to fleece the flock of God
Here is a word of terror to the negligent shepherds. The day is at hand when God will reckon with them concerning the trust and charge committed to them: Woe be to the pastors (to the rulers, both in church and state) who should be to those they are set over as pastors to lead them, feed them, protect them, and take care of them.
And so God is speaking of that day of future restoration that shall come to pass when Jesus comes again. And then shall the angels be sent to the four corners of the earth to gather God's elect, the Jews, from all of the areas to which they have been scattered and God will bring them back in that day and in that day all Israel shall be saved. For God shall bring the deliverer out of Zion who will have turned the hearts of the children to the fathers. So the glorious day of God's redemptive work for the nation Israel when Jesus comes again, the righteous Branch out of David to establish the throne of God and His kingdom upon the earth and to fulfill God's promise to these people. Though there be but a remnant of God's flock left, a little remnant, that has narrowly escaped destruction, he will gather that remnant, will find them out wherever they are and find out ways and means to bring them back out of all countries whither he had driven them. My prayer is to be among the group.
I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over them which will feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD (Jer 23:3-4).
Throughout the Bible those who loved Jehovah with all their heart, mind & body were in the minority. So if you love Him - don't be surprised if you are not part of the popular movement.
There is nothing else out side Christ for us.
The Sanctuary taught that there would always be a light in the world - a "remnant".
The lights of the Sanctuary were never to go out. Even when the lamps were trimmed, the lamps were not all extinguished at one time.
The supply of oil was to be maintained “to cause the lamps to burn continuously.” (Lev 24:2)
Joseph Smith, the false prophet of Mormonism, effectively taught that the Gospel light had gone out, and that he was the channel through which the truth was to be revived.
But no, God has always had people in this world that have maintained the lights of the true Sanctuary. And even when the word of God has been clothed in sackcloth (Rev 11:3), the lights were never completely extinguished.
Another lesson that can be drawn from this, I suggest, relates to the Sabbath. Has the lamp of truth [inasmuch as it concerns the Sabbath,] ever flickered and completely gone out?
No it hasn't. There have always been Sabbath keepers among the descendants of Adam.
I long for our 'Righteous Branch' to rule and reign on earth as prophesied by Isaiah 9:7
Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
and Gabriel in Luke 1:32
Luk 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
two powerful witnesses to the Messiah Jesus Christ ruling and reigning forever on the throne of 'His father' David. Come Lord Jesus and redeem your chosen people.