Finding Hope in the Midst of a Prophecy of Judgment

This morning I finished my study on the Book of Jeremiah. The amazing thing about our God is that He is a God of hope. As one reads through Jeremiah it is easy to get bogged down by its continual prophecies that speak of the judgment that a life of sinful rebellion against God will bring. Jeremiah himself is known as “a man of sorrows”. It is easy to see a parallel of America today and its blatant rejection of God and wonder just how much longer God will allow us to be so blessed when as a nation we have turned our back on Him.

Yet the final words of Jeremiah take an incredible turn.  I offer them here.

Jeremiah 52:31-34
And in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he became king, lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison. And he spoke kindly to him, and gave him a seat above the seats of the kings who were with him in Babylon. So Jehoiachin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life he dined regularly at the king's table, and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king according to his daily need, until the day of his death as long as he lived.

God is a god of hope and in the final words of Jeremiah comes a picture of hope and that hope is Jesus Christ.  Though the name of this king of Babylon sounds ominous, Evil-merodach, the literal meaning of his name means servant of son of God. Go back over that passage and see the picture of Jesus in his actions toward Jehoiachin.

1. He lifted up the head of Jehoiachin. This first act of compassion we see reminds us that no matter how dark we fallen into the dungeon of sin, Jesus will lift us up.

2. Next we see he brought him out of prison. Jesus sets us free from the prison of sin. Jesus preached publically first from the Book of Isaiah as we read in Luke 4:18, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.”

3. Next we see that Evil-merodach “spoke kindly to him.” Jesus always comes to us with kind words, even when He calls attention to our sinfulness.

4. Next we see that Evil-merodach “gave him a seat above the seats of the kings who were with him in Babylon.” Jesus gives His children a place of prominence as well, having made us ambassadors and saints in His kingdom.

5. Because of the prominence given Jehoiachin, he “put off his prison garments.” Jesus has done the same for us. He has given us His robe of righteousness so that we can stand before our holy God. Isaiah 61:10, “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

6.  And finally we see that Jehoiachin “dined regularly at the king's table” and he was given “a regular allowance… by the king according to his daily need, until the day of his death as long as he lived.” Jesus feeds us continually and as Christians we are invited to the great feast of communion where we remember the great things He has done for us as our king.

God is a God of hope and that hope is available to all who will call on the King of Kings, Lord Jesus. Seek Him today and let Him lift your head and free you from the chains of sin as He speaks kindly to you. Let Jesus raise you up to sit with Him, the King of all and rejoice as you receive the robe of righteousness He longs to place upon you. Then come and dine with Him at the table He has prepared for those who accept the invitation for if you do you shall dwell in the House of the Lord forever and mercy and goodness shall follow you all the days of your life.