Mourning and Mercy
(Jeremiah 50:1-40; 51:59)
Godly Sorrow
Jehovah God revealed to the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah how He would allow the Babylonians to capture His people. He permitted His children to be taken to exile for many years, suffering mistreatment and displacement.
Eventually, God’s people would cry out to Him for deliverance from their bondage to sin and to the Babylonians.
"In those days, at that time,"
declares the Lord,
"the people of Israel and the people of Judah together
will go in tears to seek the Lord their God.
They will ask the way to Zion
and turn their faces toward it.
They will come and bind themselves to the Lord
in an everlasting covenant
that will not be forgotten.”
The Lord promised to reunite the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah into one united nation under God. He declared that His children would be overcome with sorrow over their own rebellion and seek to return to Him.
Hasn’t this pattern persisted throughout human history? How often has mankind wavered between faithfulness and faithlessness?
When the Lord returns with His glorious kingdom, will He not unite His faithful ones? He promises to join both Jews and Gentiles, males and females, and followers from every nation in the fulfillment of His glorious covenant.
What is the key to the kingdom?
Could the secret to salvation be sorrow over sin? Might we have to begin with tears, if we are to realize true triumph? Doesn’t mourning usher in the miraculous?
Will you pray with me?
Mighty Master,
Your Name is One.
You created mankind
For community
With You
And with one another.
Make us mindful
Of Your desire
To make us one.
We eagerly await
The fulfillment of Your kingdom
On earth
As it is in Heaven.
Use us
In Your plan
To bring Your kingdom
To pass.
Break our hearts
Over our sin,
So that You
May plant new hearts
Within us
To love You more.
Amen.
I have been thinking a lot about grief and mourning lately. This post really hits me and makes me think. Grief is work...and it does take us deeper. Miraculous? Hmmm. Interesting to consider.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!