Tues.’s Devo - God’s Goodness to His Faithful

Read: Jeremiah 39:41-18; 2 Timothy 1:1-18; Psalm 90:1-91:16; Proverbs 26:1-2
Just as Jeremiah had prophesied, the Babylonians besieged Jerusalem for six months. When they broke through the wall, King Zedekiah and his men tried to escape against Jeremiah’s warning. Zedekiah was captured, brought back to face Nebuchadnezzar and made to watch his children and nobles killed. Then they put Zedekiah’s eyes out and marched him to Babylon. The Babylonians set fire to Jerusalem and took the good people to Babylon. They left the poor people who owned nothing to keep the land.
Nebuchadnezzar had given specific orders concerning Jeremiah. He was to be looked after and not harmed. He was to have whatever he asked. It was to be his choice where he went and what he did. He was honored because they knew that he had predicted Jerusalem would fall by their hands.
Jeremiah sent word to Ebed-Melech that he would be saved. He had spared Jeremiah’s life because he feared God.
The imperial guard found Jeremiah in Ramah in chains and set him free. He went back to Jerusalem to help Gedaliah who had been set to rule over Jerusalem.
When the Babylonians left and the Jews that had been refugees in Moab learned that Gedaliah was the governor of Jerusalem so they returned. God blessed their harvest and all was well until Ishmael staged a coop. He killed Gedaliah and his officers and led the people captive to the Ammonites.
God sent Johanan as their deliverer who met Ishmael on their way. When the people defected to Johanan, Gedaliah escaped with eight of his men to the Ammonites and Johanan took the rest of the people to Egypt. They were afraid of the wrath of the Babylonians since one of their own had killed the governor Nebuchadnezzar had set up. What a mess!
Paul writes a second letter to encourage young Timothy. He reminds him of the strong faith he was raised under in his grandmother. He tells him that God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and self-discipline. Paul had suffered for the gospel and had seen the power of God and the fulfillment of serving Christ and he didn’t want Timothy to shrink away because of fear. Paul knew that his life meant nothing on this earth. He was living for eternity. He wanted Timothy to do the same.
Lord, may we rest in the shadow of your wings today and fear no evil.