“If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.” (Jer 26:3 AV)
Manasseh was the king of Judah that stirred God to proclaim judgement upon her and the temple. After his father died, Manasseh introduced idol worship and desecrated the temple. His father, Hezekiah, cleansed Judah and the temple of all ungodliness. Yet Manasseh thought it best to do a one-eighty. Because of his rebellion, God pronounced judgement that could and would not be rescinded. Even when Manasseh’s grandson went beyond his great grandfather’s revival to purify Judah from every single wicked influence, God would not change His mind. Babylon is coming. Now we read Jeremiah’s words above. We read it after the death of Manasseh and the death of his grandson. Following the last revival and just before Babylon comes, it appears God is changing His mind. If the people repent and forsake their wicked ways, He will not bring judgment. Is that a contradiction? Did God change His mind? Exactly what is going on here? To find that answer means there is a significant application for the child of God.
God pronounced judgment on Jerusalem and the temple. Each man rises and falls by the merits of his own life. We mentioned the Rechabites in an earlier blog. The Rechabites were a family who made a vow. This vow was to keep themselves separated from the wickedness of the people. As a result, God protected them from captivity. They were allowed to remain on the land and care for it. They lived godly and, as a result, were allowed liberty that others did not enjoy. This is what is going on above. The challenge, if heeded, would save the individual. But it would never save the city or temple. These two were doomed. No amount of revival was going to change that. If the individual Hebrew repented of their wickedness, perhaps the LORD would spare them hardship in a foreign land. What that does not mean is that those who lived right before the LORD would have it easy. On the contrary. Their countrymen were gone. There was no support at home. They would have been open to wandering nomads who victimized them regularly. Gone would be their dominate culture. No more temple. No more temple priests. All that was uniquely Jewish would have disappeared with the captives. They would not have it easy. But they would be free from much worse.
I cannot help but compare this situation with our current world. The saints are suffering because the world hates God. I just read this morning how the entire world is reorganizing itself to counter American dominance. If successful, there are darker days ahead for the U.S.A. We cannot kill the preborn, mutilate our children, and affirm sodomy without God having something to say about it. Our nation, despite its greatness, will fall to the wrath of God unless serious revival sweeps through. Unless the people forsake their wicked ways, the hand of God has already begun to fall. What that does not mean is that all will suffer equally. Those who are called by the name of God and seek to live separate and apart for the wickedness of our nation can expect a measure of grace. If we repent of our sin and forsake it with all passion, then perhaps the LORD will show a bit of tenderness towards those who love Him. Just because our nation has refused to worship God, does not mean those who do must equally suffer with those who do not.
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