This week we begin worship with:
Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name. He will surely plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, but unrest to the inhabitants of Babylon.
We have been taught to fear over-population. Yes, Abraham and Lot separated because their flocks grew too large to graze together (Genesis 13:8-11), but the true spoil of war was often people. The victor led captives back to their city. Abraham (Genesis 14:16), Moses (Numbers 31:9), and David (2 Samuel 8:2) returned with captives after victories, for one needs people to prosper.
Our verse today follows the devastating defeat of Israel at the hands of the Babylonians, where the best of the best were taken captive:
. . . The king of Babylon . . . carried away all Jerusalem and all the officials and all the mighty men of valor, 10,000 captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths. None remained, except the poorest people of the land. And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon. The king's mother, the king's wives, his officials, and the chief men of the land he took into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon. And the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon all the men of valor, 7,000, and the craftsmen and the metal workers, 1,000, all of them strong and fit for war . . .
We are today in a battle for the soul. Many have loved ones who have stepped away from the faith, who were led captive by Satan. As the prophet Jeremiah reminds us in our verse this week that battle will soon end and rest will once again return to the earth. In fact, Paul tells us that process has begun:
Ephesians 4:7-8
But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says,
“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”
So with fervent hearts and with this week's promise in mind join our Redeemer in pleading their cause and pray they might be in that number.
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