The king eats at the king's table... Only a remnant left in Judah to till the land. How sad. The LORD has led His chosen people so far, but they turned their backs on Him and they find themselves exiled from the land He had given them.
I have always found it interesting, that King Jehoiachin, after 37 years in captivity, is freed by and eats at King Evil-merodoch's table. After 37 years, it seems, that the people have adjusted (maybe too well?) to being exiled from the land that God had given them. Being exiled by God, just doesn't sound like something I could ever be comfortable with. Of course, they weren't totally exiled. We know that God was with them. He never left his people, even though, as a people, they had left Him, time and time again.
This final chapter in the book of 2 Kings also reminds me of the desolation that comes with being exiled from the presence of God. The temple has been torn down. There is no place left to worship God... No place to gather to hear His Word. Zion's fellowship congregation is in Kemi of Russian Karelia. For years our brothers and sisters in Russia had no place to worship. The churches of every denomination were torn down or remodeled for other purposes. Faithful Pastors were exiled to prisons in Siberia. Although, Christianity suffered a terrible blow, God remained present with the people. He did not leave them. With the help of God, they met in private homes and in cemeteries so that they could share God's promises with one another. Faith remained and has survived. Congregations are growing and going in this place. Thanks be to God!
There are times when I wonder if professed Christians understand that apathy toward God and the worship of God leaves Christianity wide open for another exile. Of course there are multitudes of faithful, but there are also multitudes who say "Lord, Lord," and do not know Him. I wonder if/when it will happen in this country (USA) that we are no longer free to worship publically, but in order to safeguard our families lives we will have to worship behind closed doors. May God grant that we don't have to hit this bottom, before the people will turn and receive His Kingdom, His power, His love, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
I have always found it interesting, that King Jehoiachin, after 37 years in captivity, is freed by and eats at King Evil-merodoch's table. After 37 years, it seems, that the people have adjusted (maybe too well?) to being exiled from the land that God had given them. Being exiled by God, just doesn't sound like something I could ever be comfortable with. Of course, they weren't totally exiled. We know that God was with them. He never left his people, even though, as a people, they had left Him, time and time again.
This final chapter in the book of 2 Kings also reminds me of the desolation that comes with being exiled from the presence of God. The temple has been torn down. There is no place left to worship God... No place to gather to hear His Word. Zion's fellowship congregation is in Kemi of Russian Karelia. For years our brothers and sisters in Russia had no place to worship. The churches of every denomination were torn down or remodeled for other purposes. Faithful Pastors were exiled to prisons in Siberia. Although, Christianity suffered a terrible blow, God remained present with the people. He did not leave them. With the help of God, they met in private homes and in cemeteries so that they could share God's promises with one another. Faith remained and has survived. Congregations are growing and going in this place. Thanks be to God!
There are times when I wonder if professed Christians understand that apathy toward God and the worship of God leaves Christianity wide open for another exile. Of course there are multitudes of faithful, but there are also multitudes who say "Lord, Lord," and do not know Him. I wonder if/when it will happen in this country (USA) that we are no longer free to worship publically, but in order to safeguard our families lives we will have to worship behind closed doors. May God grant that we don't have to hit this bottom, before the people will turn and receive His Kingdom, His power, His love, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
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