July 18, 2011 A Shield Around You

Shield Around You
Jeremiah 40 – 42

Jer 40:11-12 When all the Jews in Moab, Ammon, Edom and all the other countries heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, as governor over them, 12 they all came back to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, from all the countries where they had been scattered. And they harvested an abundance of wine and summer fruit.

IN THE midst of death and destruction, God is giving his people hope. He is giving his people the opportunity to be born again! Yes, in his love, God wants to create new birth from Israel’s destruction in the form of Gedaliah, a Jew, appointed governor and in the form of a bountiful harvest as they “harvested an abundance of wine and summer fruit”.
But God would continue this only if they obeyed him. Then something horrible happened. They again turned from God. They left the bounty of their land for Egypt, when God specifically said not to go there.
Then Assyria sent Ishmael to kill Gedaliah, the new leader. Disobedience lead to death in the midst of God’s promises. And the remnant people were scattered again.
This is a picture of our world. Every day a loving God offers new life through Jesus Christ. He sends new leaders into an “exiled” world. And every day Satan sends the evil of doubt, despair and disobedience to destroy that new leader.
We must guard ourselves against the assassins. We must listen to the warnings of faithful people who preach and teach his Word. We must lock out death and invite in the life our King offers.
God gives you life when you trust his Words of faith, hope and love. May it be a shield around you always.


Pause and Consider: how obedience is a life and death matter.