September 5th, 20

HE IS STEADFAST

Today’s readings are Ezekiel 29 – 32 and Revelation 11.  We are reading from the New Living Translation.

Jehoiachin, the king of Judah, has been taken into captivity, and Ezekiel is marking time, based on the days of Jehoiachin’s captivity.  We hear this refrain over and over again:

In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth day of the month… (29:1)

In the twenty-seventh year, in the first month, on the first day of the month…(29:17)

In the eleventh year, in the first month, on the seventh day of the month…(30:20)

Jehoiachin means, God will uphold.  God will be steadfast.  God will uphold his servants, even during their captivity.  He will be steadfast to his promises to his people.  Ezekiel foretold of this captivity, but he also told of a restoration of God’s people – that God would indeed be steadfast and uphold.  The gods of war are not steadfast. They come and they go.  They’re all resident in the grave – as Ezekiel has just told us.  The gods of Assyria, Egypt, Tyre, Lydia, Ethiopia, Elim, and Tubal – all these gods of war are in the grave now.  They failed to be steadfast and uphold.  But our God is steadfast.  Jehoiachin – God is steadfast.  He will uphold and prevail.

Like Ezekiel, the prophet, we, too, can rest assured in the steadfast love of our God.  He will prevail.  The kingdoms of the world that now lie in the pit, all but forgotten, have now become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ.  And he will reign forever.  That’s what we hear in John’s great vision, recorded in Revelation.  

The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever. (Rev 11:15 NLT)

He will reign forever.  God was steadfast and did uphold King Jehoiachin.  This king was imprisoned in Babylon for over 30 years, but when Nebuchadnezzar died, a new king came.  And he favored Jehoiachin.  He released him, dressed him in purple, and gave him a permanent place at the king’s table.  

Are you going through a hard time, my friend?  Are you measuring time by the days of your captivity?  Remember Jehoiachin. Remember that God will uphold and he is steadfast.  He is steadfast in keeping you, my friend.  He will be faithful to you and release you from the pit, dress you in purple and give you a place at his table, too.  That’s the kind of God we serve.  He is the God who upholds and who is steadfast.  

Live in the light of the steadfast God of your salvation.  His faithful love endures forever!

Here’s a song to remind you of His steadfast love for you, today.  It’s called Steadfast, by Sandra McCracken.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlsFC6RzUNk

You are loved!