S) "22 'They will be carried to Babylon and they will be there until the day I visit them,' declares the LORD. 'Then I will bring them back and restore them to this place.'"
Jeremiah 27:22 (NASB)
O) The legitimacy of of a prophet is completely tied to the outcome of his prophecies. While Jeremiah had been prophesying the overthrow of Jerusalem, and the exile of the inhabitants, there were many false-prophets, soothsayers, etc., assuring the king and people that no such conquest would befall them. The issue with believing one or the other, is that if (when) Jeremiah was proved a genuine prophet, it would be too late for the people to believe. In God's grace, another prophecy was given and Jeremiah presented a test, to show he was a righteous and all the rest were evil. Nebuchadnezzar had already carried away a lot of valuables from the temple of the LORD, but had left behind many notable bronze articles (the pillars, the sea, etc.). He challenged the false prophets to declare that those articles were safe (which was a wise challenge, since they were prone to positive prophecies). Meanwhile, Jeremiah delivered the prophecy from the above verse.
A) God's grace gives every opportunity to believe. The prophecy above reminds me that, while there is a final judgment for every person, there are divine interventions along the way, when God creates miraculous opportunities for people to believe. So, this is what I'm praying for the unbelievers that I love. What I must remember, though, is that this opportunity of grace that came for these Judeans, came at the cost of all the rest of the significant articles of the temple. Sometimes, God will strip is of everything that matters, if that's what it takes to get our attention. However, in that same grace, He may restore those things to us. Even if He doesn't, the beautiful truth is that we who believe, learn thT He alone is enough.
P) Father, thank You for being such a gracious God! You gave me grace, and took enough from me that You got my attention, and then You restored me to souch more than I could have understood. I pray for this same intervention of grace, for the loved ones in my life who do not believe, yet. Take from them, whatever is required, and get their attention. Restore what You will, but take what You must. Open their eyes and ears, soften them to the gospel. Let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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