Read Jeremiah 25:12-38, 1 Peter 4:17-19
Jeremiah must have been a sight prophesying about the cup of the Lord’s wrath. While it’s not plausible that he actually visited each of the kings mentioned in
But judgment would fall on more than just the nations. God had ordained that His people in Judah would be exiled in Babylon for 70 years because of their stiff necked disobedience to the Lord God Almighty. Verses 8-9 of Chapter 25 show clearly why the judgment has come.
Therefore the LORD Almighty says this: “Because you have not listened to my words, 9 I will summon all the peoples of the north and my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,” declares the LORD, “and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and against all the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy them and make them an object of horror and scorn, and an everlasting ruin.
Following Judah’s punishment God declares that the nations will also bear the wrath of God. Jeremiah 25:29 shows this very clearly.
See, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears my Name, and will you indeed go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword upon all who live on the earth, declares the LORD Almighty.’
Verse 31 expands the picture for us.
The tumult will resound to the ends of the earth, for the LORD will bring charges against the nations; He will bring judgment on all mankind and put the wicked to the sword,’ ” declares the LORD.
While there is no historical precedent to suggest that the world in its entirety has already been judged by the Lord, the New Testament does show that the great judgement will come with the second coming of our Lord and Saviour. None of this is surprising.
But what may surprise us is that the judgement has already begun. Meditate a while on the words of 1 Peter 4:17–19.
17For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
The judgment we face is not an exile for our disobedience as it was for the people of Judah but it is a judgement that purges the evil from us. It is a judgement that grows us in holiness and righteousness. It is a judgment that prefigures the worse judgement that is coming upon the disobedient and unbelieving world.
There are two applications that stand out for us in 1 Peter 4:17-19. We must commit ourselves to our Creator, trusting that He knows what’s best for us and we must continue to do good.
Prayer:
Using today’s passage and the reading notes spend time in prayer.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
· Pray that the MOPS and Playpals ministry that runs at our church each Wednesday would continue to be fruitful and that more families would come to know Jesus as Lord through these ministries. Pray that God would provide much needed resources for these vital ministries.
· Pray that the work of Shiloh Ministries would continue in India through the Lord’s constant provision of resources and finances.
1. A Christian family sits around the dinner table sharing today’s reading and one of the younger children aged around 10 tells Dad and Mum that she is scared of the coming judgment. What is a biblically correct and sensitive way to respond?
2. What effect should the coming judgment have in our lives?
3. If someone were to say to you that they don’t believe in this judgement stuff from a loving God, how do you respond?
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