Slices
Prepare
Name a part of the world today suffering from war and conflict, of personal concern to you. Ask God to use that concern in your study today.
Bible passage
1 in the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army and laid siege to it. 2 And on the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, the city wall was broken through. 3 Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came and took seats in the Middle Gate: Nergal-Sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-Sarsekim a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer a high official and all the other officials of the king of Babylon. 4 When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled; they left the city at night by way of the king’s garden, through the gate between the two walls, and headed towards the Arabah.
5 But the Babylonian army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They captured him and took him to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced sentence on him. 6 There at Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes and also killed all the nobles of Judah. 7 Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.
8 The Babylonians set fire to the royal palace and the houses of the people and broke down the walls of Jerusalem. 9 Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard carried into exile to Babylon the people who remained in the city, along with those who had gone over to him, and the rest of the people. 10 But Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard left behind in the land of Judah some of the poor people, who owned nothing; and at that time he gave them vineyards and fields.
11 Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had given these orders about Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard: 12 ‘Take him and look after him; don’t harm him but do for him whatever he asks.’ 13 So Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard, Nebushazban a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer a high official and all the other officers of the king of Babylon 14 sent and had Jeremiah taken out of the courtyard of the guard. They handed him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him back to his home. So he remained among his own people.
15 While Jeremiah had been confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him: 16 ‘Go and tell Ebed-Melek the Cushite, “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfil my words against this city – words concerning disaster, not prosperity. At that time they will be fulfilled before your eyes. 17 But I will rescue you on that day, declares the Lord; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear. 18 I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord.”’
Explore
Amidst the horrors, did you notice how, in verse 10, the new military governor gave land to the poor, ‘who owned nothing’? Perhaps their poverty, ignored previously by those in power, was one more reason for God’s judgement to fall as it did. The extinction of the Judaean royal family line is brutal, but the head of the Babylonian king’s guards shows Jeremiah great respect and offers him freedom to either stay with his people or go with the hostages into exile (40:1–6). The foreign courtier who rescued him from the cistern is also told not to fear, for the Lord has remembered him too.
When the political and military powers of our world realign themselves, it’s easy to feel helpless, but maintaining personal integrity in times of war and conflict might be more significant than we will ever know. Who will be picking up the pieces afterwards, binding up the wounds and rebuilding shattered walls? Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers and (most especially) those persecuted for seeking righteousness (Matthew 5:6– 10). Whatever happens, it is they, not the warriors, who will win in the end, because they serve God’s kingdom.
Respond
Pray for a part of the world that is suffering from war and conflict today and consider making a donation to an agency supporting ‘kingdom work’ in that place.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Ezekiel 1; John 21
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for Mission Partner Reach in Reading asking for protection and good health for their workers, Sarah, Anne and Aaron – and their families. Pray that they will see responses in the Christian Clubs and that as they sow seeds in RE lessons pupils will engage.
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