“So Jehoiachin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life he dined regularly at the king’s table, 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.” Jeremiah 52:33-34
So first of all, I was a bit excited this morning to see the end of Jeremiah, it’s ALWAYS a good feeling to finish another book. But what a GREAT way to end a book so filled with war and discord and struggle! The king of Judah had been taken captive and placed in prison. To see him released, invited to sit at the king of Babylon’s table AND given a daily allowance for anything he needs. Talk about a Cinderella story!
It makes me smile, because it’s our story too. We were created for fellowship with true royalty, but cast into darkness because of one man’s sin. We were wandering in deserts and arid places looking for the “thing” that completes us, only to find nothing truly does. Then one man stands up and says He will pay the penalty for our transgression against the King of kings. And BOOM! No more prison, no more rags, no more stale bread and dirty water, no more mud, no more war, no more darkness. In one weekend, Jesus took care of thousands of years of sin so that we would no longer be called slaves, but friends. (John 15:15)
Have you taken off your prison garments? Do you dine at the King’s table? You can you know, it’s called the Bible. Your table has been prepared in the presence of your enemies, with your cup flowing over and the oil is ready to anoint your head. Did you know that goodness and mercy have been following you all the days of your life? (Psalm 23:5-6) Today, choose to dwell in the house of the LORD, by remembering that you ARE the house of the LORD! (1 Corinthians 6:19) He lives IN you! He is always with you and will NEVER forsake you. No matter how grim your circumstances may appear, you have to remember, they’re just circumstances. They are ALWAYS subject to change at any given moment. Whatever you’re going through, it’s not forever. It’s like my mom always says, “This too shall pass”. And before you know it, it will be a distant memory. Good or bad? Well, that’s up to you and how you choose to remember it. Will you remember how harsh your circumstances were? Or will you focus on how gracious your God was in this very circumstance? I guarantee you that He IS there with you right now in your circumstance, working His love into the entire thing. Will you choose to see it, to feel it, to allow it to permeate your being enough to change the way you’re reacting to your circumstances?
You are royalty; you are a child of THE one true King of kings and Lord of lords. Does your circumstance know who you are? Do you? I tell you the truth; it will change your outlook on things. Knowing whose you are and where you come from, it changes the way you react to your circumstance. Remember that we do not wage war against flesh and blood but against the powers and principalities at work in the world around us. No matter what is going on around you right now, you are not fighting with a person; you are battling against the dark powers of this world. And you know what; they have NO POWER OVER YOU. (1 John 4:4)
Tamar Knochel 