08.27.14
Jeremiah 52. 31-34 31 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 began to reign, graciously freed Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him
out of prison. 32 And he spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat above the
seats of the kings who were with him in Babylon. 33 So Jehoiachin put off his
prison garments. And every day of his life he dined regularly at the king's table,
34 and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king,
according to his daily needs, until the day of his death, as long as he lived. (ESV)
A friend of mine loves this passage – he has written
about it and I’m sure, because of his pastor-ly ways, he’s preached on it.
Whodda thought that upon the fall of Jerusalem and the overthrow of the people
of Judah that there’d be any good news. Y’know though, bad news don’t last
forever.
One of the last “kings” of Judah was deported to Babylon
and subsequently thrown into prison. Not real sure how long he languished there, but one day (I’m sure it was Christmas day the 25th day of the 12th
month) he was graciously freed.
What could be more happy than being freed from prison?
What could be more happy than to exchange grubby prison clothes for regal
robes. Jehoiachin (jeh-hoy-a-keen), a conquered king, was released and treat
kindly and mercifully, and allowed to eat at the king’s table the rest of his
life, (and as the narrative reads) as
long as he lived.
Friends if ever we needed to be treated graciously and
kindly and allowed to eat at the King’s table, it’s today. Our world is in
serious trouble and yet the King of Glory has graciously spoken to us and
called us to dine with Him for the rest of our lives and beyond. Like even to
eternity – however long that is…’sounds like a long, long time.
And how do we dine with such a King? We spend time in His
presence and feast upon His word. We read stories like this and remember: if human kings can pull off this kind of
freeing – then just imagine what God can do!
In Christ – regardless of how I look or feel – I am freed
from the prison of this world with all its crap and invited graciously by the
King of kings to spend time with Him and become His friend. My garments stained
with sin (past, present, and future) are washed clean by His sacrifice and I am
given the white robe of His righteousness to wear forever. And just like a
happy ending on a Christmas Day, I have a hope and a future. And I get to dine
with the King everyday forever.
Let’s not over-analyze a Bible story – but let’s remember
the significance of it (for a pathetically overly-analytical soul like me) even the date it was done! I know it
wasn’t Christmas Day but the story sure
reads like it should’ve been…
Great and Merciful God, You are not constrained by
anything except love and grace and mercy and kindness and providence and
extravagance (and everything else good). Thank You for freeing this captive and
countless others down through the ages and on into the future. Amen.
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