The Pursuit of Power (4)
Babylon was a golden cup in the hand of the Lord, making the whole earth drunk; the nations drank of her wine, therefore the nations went mad. Jeremiah 51:7
In The Hand – Babylon was an instrument in the hand of YHWH for His purposes. The text tells us quite clearly that the power of Babylon was no accident, no serendipitous political occurrence. It was be-yad YHWH, “in the hand of YHWH.” He is the Master of history. Should we forget that, we will suffer the same stupor that accompanied the nations who drank Babylon’s wine.
Did you notice that God Himself provided the golden cup that intoxicated the nations? His purposes were served in the dulled consciousness and drunken actions of the nations. Their alcoholic addiction to power provided the necessary environment for God’s display of sovereignty. The nations did not fall simply because they were disobedient. They fell because God allowed them to pursue madness. He removed His protective shield. Without the Spirit’s restraint, men became what they desired. Yetzer ha’ra directed their actions. But that does not mean the consequences did not serve God’s purposes.
Jeremiah provides the proper response to this madness. “Wail for her; take balm for her pain; if perhaps she may be healed” (v. 8) for the Lord is about to bring vengeance (v. 6). “Do not be silenced by her iniquity” (v. 6). Suddenly, the distillery of the world’s intoxication is broken. The barrels have split. The wine is spilled. Disaster peers from the horizon. What must the righteous do? Anything but remain silent!
Cry out to the Lord. Take pity on those who are about to expire. Offer healing wherever needed. Do something about this madness! Plead on behalf of the inmates that God might yet spare them. Perhaps God will turn away His wrath. Perhaps. Declare the righteousness of YHWH in Zion. Purify yourselves. Prepare for His victory.
We need Jeremiah today. Why? We need Jeremiah because we live in Babylon, that great empire that refused to acknowledge the sovereignty of the Lord. Because we live in such a place, we are removed from the blessings of His land – our land. We are strangers in a strange place, but we are not abandoned. Babylon is in our hand too. We are here to manifest His righteousness in a world gone mad. We are here to restrain drunken behavior, to resist addictions to power, to clean up the vomit of those whose indulgence exceeds their capacity. Silence is tantamount to sinful endorsement. Failure to act is the equivalent of faithlessness.
Today you will certainly encounter someone who is drunk on the wine of this godless culture. Your first reaction maybe one of revulsion and a desire to flee. But if you are to serve the purposes of the coming King, you must wail, plead, and heal. Today is the day. Tomorrow He comes.
Topical Index: drunk, mad, in His hand, be-yad, Babylon, sovereignty, Jeremiah 51:7
Skip,
I think it is notable that you prepared these daily studies well in advance of your trip, not knowing then that as they are published, they would serve as spotlights on the events of the day. Well, we all know Who directed them. 🙂
As soon as I saw today’s headlines, I thought back to this Today’s Word. THE PURSUIT OF POWER, and also THE HOUR OF POWER. Now, as it has developed, that is quite a misnomer. The tower of power, named, THE CHRYSTAL CATHEDRAL, seemed to be at the top of the world when it was built. For many years, it was amazing that the ‘beautiful people’ were invited to speak, and even to ‘perform.’ But, didn’t we think, “Something about this doesn’t seem right . . .” ? Now, we know that there was not integrity, it was a facade. It pains me to see them begging for $43 million dollars so they can continue in this orgy of excess. It is abhorrent to me that those who do not know our King might think that all who are His would behave in such a way. Yes, I have a revulsion and a desire to flee from this type of association. God help me; surely in my own way, I am one of them.
Joshua 4:22-24 -“Tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the LORD your G-d dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your G-d did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your G-d.
“I pray that He will give light to the eyes of your hearts, so that you will understand the hope to which He has called you, what rich glories there are in the inheritance He has promised his people, and how surpassingly great is His power working in us who trust Him. It works with the same mighty strength He used when he worked in the Messiah to raise Him from the dead and seat Him at his right hand in heaven, far above every ruler, authority, power, dominion or any other name that can be named either in the ‘olam hazeh or in the ‘olam haba. Also, He has put all things under His feet and made Him head over everything for the Messianic Community, which is His body, the full expression of Him who fills all creation. (Ephesians 1.18-23)
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in Thy presence humbly I bow.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!
Power, all power, surely is Thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit ’till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me.
“And when they saw Him they worshiped Him, but some doubted. (Matthew 28.17)
“Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!”
Yes, Brother Carl, This is my prayer as, I am certain, is yours and all who are sold out lock stock and barrel to YHWH. For those who “buy the truth and sell it not”, the call to walk the highway of holiness carries also the responsibility to obey the Voice of the Master. Apparently, today with the mis-appropiation of His Word, or the absence of “shema” for those having ears to hear, we have been led to believe that we can just live and move according to our own values, intents and purposes and expect to be blown away by the showers of blessings. Yes He does shower us with blessings, BUT do we actually recognize them for what they are? Do we view the loss of job, status, relationship(s), material possessions, etc. as the benevolence of a Father who knows how to get us to the place we belong? BUT will we get with His program?
Bob Dylan sang, “You’ve got to serve somebody” and this is so true!
“Plead on behalf of the inmates that God might yet spare them.” Yes, prisoners of war taken captive by the enemy, the adversary, the god of self. YHWH made no mention of the devil when he spoke to Cain in Gen 4:7, He did not tell Cain to “put Satan under His feet” or to do an exorcism or that the excuse “the the devil made me do it” was the problem. He posed the question to Cain referencing the established law(Noachide) that had been given to his parents before they sinned. Cain chose to ignore it and thus sinned again. Sin, unless countered with repentance-turning to YHWH-obeying Him and not our own self-righteousness, is the only acceptable means whereby we must be saved. YHWH-REMEMBER MERCY!
If I had one “trade-secret” to give away- it would be this.. I have been a Christians since the age of 10. Yes, I was “saved” at the age of 10 and several lifetimes ago. I was one of the 153 caught and tossed in the boat with no discipleship- “zip.” I attended church with my family and knew Jesus died on the cross for me, but that was about the extent of what I knew.. (not that this is a bad thing- esp. according to Rabbi Sha’ul- “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (I Corinthians 2.2).
Sin will take you over 11 miles of bad road, but G-d is faithful. Through all these years, He has remained faithful. So forty years later what word do I have to offer? It is this.. (Oh how I could wish someone would listen and same themselves much sorrow and help themselves to much joy.. ) The “only” way this thing called Christianity will work, is through total abandonment and surrender to the Lordship of Jesus (who is the) Christ. All or none, please do not “dabble” in this thing, or dip your toe in it -so to speak. There must be an “absolute surrender” to Christ. Jesus, you can have everything- in totality.
I still remember the prayer I prayed. I do not know how, I do not know exactly why, but I found myself lifting my empty hands toward heaven and asking- what do I have to offer you LORD? I knew then, He wanted my total surrender. My “everything.” He gave His all for me- why shouldn’t I give my all to Him? I really felt a close parallel to the little lad who offered his lunch to Y’shua. Remember- he offered “all” of it. That is the key- “all.” The widow with the two mites- a “mighty” offering was made that day because she gave “all” to Him.
(True) Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship. I do hope you realize this. It is a relationship with the G-d who now is. If you are married (or would hope to be married one day) I have a question for you. How much of your spouses love and affection and faithfulness would you desire? Ninety per cent? or better yet- how ’bout ninety-five per cent? No, anything less than “all” just won’t do. It is the same with Christ,- He wants the “all” of us. Not ten percent, not one day out of seven, not when we enter a “special” building, but at all times and in all places- as you have alluded to Mary, “lock, stock and barrel.”
Until this happens- this “absolute surrender” to Christ,- we will wallow in sterility and sameness. Christian “blahs” if there is such a thing. Remember the Father “toward the son?” (the only recorded event in our wonderful Bible where G-d was in a “hurry!”
Adonai loves a repentant heart.Even our ability to repent is a gift from Him. He provides it all, -y’all! We need to provide His with our all. As the scriptures say- (we do live according to His words, right?)- “they first gave their ownselves to the LORD.” It is a very simple, yet necessary daily prayer- this prayer of surrender- “Trembling and astonished he asked, -Lord, what do You desire me to do?” (Acts 9.6) What is your will, your desire, your purpose, your pleasure for me? Wear me today- like a suit of clothes, or like a hand in a glove. Since you formed and fashioned me and are intimately and intricately aware of all of my needs and have promised to conform me to the image of the Son, you have my permission my Creator and Sustainer to accomplish in me and through me that which pleases Yourself.” This is a very necessary prayer to pray. Why? Because Love does not force itself and G-d is love. We must give Him our “permission.” If this sounds strange to you- it is even stranger that I am sharing this. This is the inner core of who I am- I am His. My email begins with “bought1”. I have been bought and I have been redeemed by a very high price, and so have you if you belong to the Good Shepherd. Is He worthy? According to Revelation 5.12 “In a loud voice they sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Who is “they?” They is us!! -Shouldn’t we go ahead and get some practice in?? lol!