God again spoke to Jeremiah as he was imprisoned
in the guard house of the palace. Even as God spoke to him the city of
Jerusalem was in shambles. For months the city was besieged by the Babylonians.
The siege ramps of the attacking army had been built around the city. How do we
know? Jeremiah 33:4 hinted that Jerusalem was about to cave in and was at the
critical point of being taken. God’s words in this verse started with
“…concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the
kings of Judah which are broken down to make a defense against
the siege ramps and against the sword….” From this verse, we learn of the
condition of Jerusalem when God came to speak to Jeremiah a second time.
In one last desperate attempt to defend the city,
the people of Jerusalem tore down their houses and the palace and used them as
material to fortify the city walls. Jerusalem was being ruined and piles of
rubble and debris had filled the city. It was at such a time that God’s words
came to Jeremiah. God told Jeremiah many things but for this reflection, we will
dwell on Jeremiah 33:1-3.
The first thing to take note of was the way Jeremiah refers to
God. He was none other than the One who had made and set the earth on its
foundation. the Lord is
His name, Israel’s
covenant God. The point Jeremiah was making was that the God who spoke with him
was none other than the Creator God Himself. The same God who had made a
covenant with Israel to make them His unique people. What a privilege for
God;'s people to have excess to the Creator God. We need to know this is our
privilege and every time we come before God in prayer, we are literally
engaging in a conversation with the Creator God Himself. This should motivate
us and make us no longer reluctant to engage Him in
prayer.
Before giving
information concerning the future of Jerusalem and Judah, This
Creator God, the covenant Lord of Israel issued an invitation to Jeremiah. His
invitation captured in verse 3 says, “Call to Me and I will answer you, and I
will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” What
do we get out of this invitation?
Firstly, God desires us to come and call upon Him. The best source
of how to do life can never be clearer than from the Lord God
Himself. Secondly, He promises to tell us when we approach Him. He
is willing to reveal to us divine secrets. Quoting Isaiah, Pauls said in 1 Corinthians
2:9, “Things
which eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and which
have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love
Him.” God has a plan unique to us and He invites us to ask Him so that He can
reveal it to us. Why don’t we learn to ask and seek God’s plan for our lives?
He knows best. We can choose to remain ignorant of God’s plan for
us, or we can call on Him and let Him show us His great and mighty plan for our
lives. Jesus said, “Ask and you shall be given, seek and you shall find, knock
and the door shall be open to you.” Why don’t we speak to Him about our
lives?
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