You Brought It On Yourself

The first two verses in Daniel speak volumes to my heart already. The first verse describes the capture of Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar. The second verse tells us why. This happened because God wanted it this way. This is not something that god allowed to happen or that slipped past Him without Him knowing—God caused this to happen! God gave the land of Judah, its king, its holy relics and the Jewish people (His people) over to a King that did not serve Him, in fact King Nebuchadnezzar worshipped other Gods. This was hard to understand why God would do this to His own. The thing is that His people were not acting like His people. They had been sinning against Him as individuals and as nations for a long time. He had sent the prophets to warn them and to bring them to repentance and they refused. Most (close to all) of the kings of both Israel and Judah sinned against God and led their nations in sin against God. Because of the sinfulness and refusal to repent, God judged them and disciplined the nation of Judah with captivity to Babylon for 70 years.

The first thing that popped out to me was that when we veer off the trail God has for us, He lets us know. He nudges our spirit and when that doesn’t work He brings people into our lives to help us remain accountable to the walk we have started with Him. When we continue to walk on our own, we do so at our own risk. Another prophet even said “woe to them for they bring judgment on themselves” (paraphrased of course). Some people wonder why God allows things to happen to His people. I understand it here that sometimes He does allow it to happen, but there are also times that He causes it to happen. As humans we discipline our own children, why should Father God be any different?

Along those lines it is interesting that God would use someone who was at war with His principles to judge and discipline His people. What I understand from this is that God will use whatever tools He has available to Him. In another prophet’s book in the Old Testament, King Nebuchadnezzar is called God’s servant, because though he was evil God still used him to accomplish His will for His people. God will do what it takes to get His people to return to their first love. It’s amazing that he could love us that much and be that jealous to go through such lengths to keep us close.

Father I pray that I will continue to be faithful to your calling and to your will for my life. Amen.