Skip to main content

Violence Upon Violence

Today's readings are from Jeremiah 38, 39, 40, 41

The warnings of Jeremiah concerning the impending Babylonian invasion largely went unheeded. He was even thrown in a muddy cistern because he was unwilling to say the "patriotic" thing. Rescued from the cistern by a Cushite (a man from Egypt), he is brought before the King and once again delivers the awful truth - Israel is going to be attacked and destroyed by the Babylonians. Eventually what Jeremiah prophesies starts to happen.

39.1 "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. And on the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah's eleventh year, the city wall was broken through."

It took the Babylonians a little over 18 months as they built a siege ramp to the walls and entered through the broken down walls. The violence connected to all of this could have been avoided if they had listened and obeyed the word of the Lord Jeremiah had given.
Once the Babylonians succeed King Zedekiah's sons are killed - more violence. King Zedekiah is taken captive after his eyes are gouged out - more violence. The King who is appointed to take over is Gedaliah. eventually a band of Israeli army who had manage to flee from the Babylonian army come and assassinate Gedaliah - more violence.

The sad fact is - all the way through history - that those who live by the sword die by the sword. Violence begets more violence. Our inner city gangs, Muslim jihadists, wife-beating husbands, and more all get caught in a web of violence, from which there seems to be no escape.

Jesus states it clearly - "bless those who curse you, pray for those who despitefully use you". Active love is that which overcomes violence. Violence will continue until Christ's kingdom is set upon the earth to rule, simply because the enemy of God is "a liar, a thief, a destroyer". We do well to practice active love instead of allowing the enemy to take over our anger with violence - which never will do anything more than lead to more violence.

Peace


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Comments

Paul said…
In my humble opinion Webster's definition of love should be changed to what 1 Corinthians 13 says. The dictionary says love is a deep and tender feeling of affection for a person. It sounds like it is right on. But what if that person wrongs you? The definition of love I am trying to learn is that love is not easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs. That said, the fact is that I blow it sometimes and forget the very definition I care about the most. I want to know the right definition of love; so I have faith that God will not only help me understand what real love is, but will show me how to love his people better.(according to him) To do it I must be willing to listen to God and not to myself. If not, violence WILL always lead to more violence.
May 28, 2011 at 7:25 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Loving Well

As Jesus came to  his last hours on the earth, he spent them with his disciples - a show of his dedication to their special relationship with him.  If it were me and I knew this was my last night, I might want to take time to talk about what's important, and what they must remember....and perhaps it would be about doctrine, or beliefs, faith, etc.  Jesus goes a different direction: John 13:1-17 (NIV) 1 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. 2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured w...
Post a Comment
Read more

Betrayed by Failed Expectations

No one names their children Judas.  No other name is more recognized as anathema than his name.    It's hard to sort out what to do with Judas.  He walked with Jesus, learned from him, saw the miracles, knew what Jesus was up to early on.  Yet when it came down to it he betrayed Jesus. What's perhaps more amazing is that it doesn't surprise Jesus at all. John 13:18-32 (NIV) 18 "I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: 'He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.' 19 "I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. 20 I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me." 21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me." 22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Joy to the World - Help is On the Way

It’s the first day of Advent– while you prepare for Worship this morning at church take a minute to ask God to direct you through this season that you might be prepared to “receive your King”. In the first week of Advent we celebrate the PROMISE of His Coming. His promise is based on our need. We were made in his image, but there is emptiness in our soul that is the result of the Fallen nature of sin. But why did Jesus come? What in his coming announces God's heart? His desire for us to know and experience? 10 BUT THE ANGEL SAID TO THEM, "DO NOT BE AFRAID; FOR BEHOLD, I BRING YOU GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY WHICH WILL BE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE; 11 FOR TODAY IN THE CITY OF DAVID THERE HAS BEEN BORN FOR YOU A SAVIOR, WHO IS CHRIST THE LORD. GREAT JOY! Did you know that God is Joyful? 1 CHRONICLES 16:23-27 (NASB) 23 SING TO THE LORD, ALL THE EARTH; PROCLAIM GOOD TIDINGS OF HIS SALVATION FROM DAY TO DAY. 24 TELL OF HIS GLORY AMONG THE NATIONS, HIS WONDERFUL DEEDS AMONG ALL THE PEOPLES....
46 comments
Read more