Opinion

Stuck in an Impossible Situation Part 1

Thursday, July 20, 2017

In Jeremiah 29:1-4 we read, “Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon; (After that Jeconiah the king, and the queen, and the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the carpenters, and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem;) By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon;”

The Background was this. It was 597 BC and Nebuchadnezzar had led an army up to the gates of Jerusalem. The Babylonian army of Nebuchadnezzar quickly defeated the army of Judah. They took the city. They captured the wicked king Jehoiakin. They put him in shackles and took him to Babylon. They looted the temple built by Solomon. They took from it the articles of silver and gold. Johoiachin reigned only 3 months before he too was taken to Babylon. 10,000 people were taken to Babylon as exiles. Meanwhile a man named Zedekiah became king in Jerusalem. He was a puppet king. He reigned 11 years until Nebuchadnezzar decided to deal once and for all with the Jews. So in 588 he set up a siege against the city that lasted 2 years. In 586 the city fell. He then destroyed everything.

He tore down the city walls. Burned the temple and other important buildings. He left the city in ruins. Took whatever he wanted and destroyed everything else. He captured Zedekiah. Killed his sons before his eyes then poked his eyes out and marched him in shackles to Babylon. He took another large group as exiles to Babylon.

Now keep in mind that there were three deportations to Babylon of God’s people. The first was in 605 BC when Daniel and his friends were exiled. The second was 597 BC which is the background of Jeremiah 29. The third was 586 BC when the city was turned into a wasteland.

So here were God’s people. Stuck in an impossible situation that is not going to turn around anytime soon. They have their backs against the wall. Their situation is bleak and no promise for it to change anytime soon. Now I want to ask you a question. What do you do when you are stuck in an impossible situation?

Here is a man who is outwardly successful and reasonably happy. He is well respected in the community. He is a very good man. You sit to talk with him and he confides in you that 30 years before he seriously thought about entering the ministry. That thought has never left his mind. He wonders if he made a mistake.

I think of the circumstances my family faced several years ago after my sister was hit by a car while riding a road bike. She nearly died and the accident, a hit and run, caused the loss of mobility and freedoms that she will never recover. And there are other situations, perhaps in your family that do seem as if they will ever turn around.

Look around and ponder the faces you see. People all around us are in situations that don’t seem as though they are going to change anytime soon. So what do you do? One thing you must do is find where God is in the midst of your situation. Good theology can save you. We know it can save your soul. It can also save you from despair. If you know the truth and can remember the truth it can save you from despair.

The Bible tells us, “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” You say, “Well that is easier to say that actually do.” You may be right, but it is a fact. And what truths are we talking about? God is good. God is faithful. God knows what is best. He is quick to forgive. He will never leave us nor forsake us. His mercy endures forever. He makes no mistakes. God has a purpose. He is working out his plan for you and me. God still loves us. The Holy Spirit indwells those who are saved. Jesus is alive and is returning soon.

So regardless of your situation remember those things. See where God is in the midst of it all. That is what the people of Judah needed to do and it is what we need to do. Over the next few weeks I want to examine this passage in more detail. In part two I want to examine why the people of Judah found themselves in their impossible situation. Until then remember that God loves you and so does First Baptist Church.

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