Our Never-Failing God

It feels like we’re walking a tightrope out there. Pollsters, statisticians, and commentators on American culture and civic life tell us that our nation – at the present moment – is more divided than at any point since 1850. (By way of reminder, the American Civil War was fought between 1861 and 1865.) The ideological divide is real, and mounting. We face internal divides over gender, equality, race, and immigration. Simultaneously, we face external divides over wars that seem unwinnable, and over broader economic policies and alliances perceived as ill-advised and hostile by people from across the political landscape.

And I just learned these numbers. 40% of self-professed “strong Democrats” believe that another civil war is likely within the next decade. That number is an even higher 54% among self-professed “strong Republicans.” What I’m trying to say is something you already know: Division is alive and well.

Last Wednesday, as I was reading, I stumbled across a passage that I’ve read many times. It’s the last chapter of Jeremiah, and the last four verses of that chapter (Jeremiah 52:31-34). If you’re unfamiliar with the context there, Jerusalem fell in 586 B.C., and God’s people have been exiled to Babylon. It’s a terribly dark chapter of our history, but one which – as I considered it again – spoke fresh hope into my heart for our present moment. The passage describes Jehoicahin, the exiled king of Judah. Jehoiachin may have been the longest-imprisoned foreign king in Babylon (see also 2 Kings 25:27-30).

Quite strangely, in my opinion, the Bible records that the king of Babylon – Evil-merodach, who had succeeded Nebuchadnezzar on the throne – decided to release Jehoiachin from prison. God’s Word says, in fact, that Jehoiachin was “graciously freed.” I marvel at that. This is not the kind of behavior by Babylon’s king that we would expect toward an enemy hostage. This was, after all, the kind of brutal regime that was known for forcing a conquered king to watch all of his kids be murdered, and then gouging out the king’s eyes (reported in the very same chapter).

But, rather matter-of-factly, here’s what the Bible says … “Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, graciously freed Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison. And he spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat above the seats of the kings who were with him in Babylon.”

What’s going on here? Let me tell you what I think: God is keeping His promises! For 37 years, Jehoiachin has been forgotten in prison – but not by God. All the way back in Genesis 3:15, right after our first parents failed and fell, the Lord promised to send us a Messiah. The Christ would come from Eve’s offspring to crush Satan’s head. Not only that, but God promised that our Deliverer would come from King David’s offspring, and that He would sit on David’s throne (Gen 49:10; 2 Sam 7:16; Is 9:6-7; 11:1; Jer 23:5; 33:17; Mic 5:2; Mt 1:1-22; 2:6; 15:22; 21:9; Lk 1:32; 2:11; 3:23, 31-32; Jn 7:42; Heb 7:14; Rev 5:5).

Here’s where I’m headed today. Our gracious God sometimes does His best work in the midst of total political chaos. The northern kingdom of Israel had been known for its pervasive idolatry, and now the southern kingdom had followed suit. Judah’s spiritual degeneracy had become as bad as or worse than Israel’s. And God was using Babylon, like an unknowing pawn in a chess game, to bring all of His people to their knees. It was judgment, for sure, but it was also love.

The last four kings of Judah played their parts in a downward spiral of wickedness that ultimately resulted in the Babylonian exile. They willingly participated in a pattern of sinful rebellion with serious consequences – some of which God’s people did not escape. This is a warning for us, but it’s also a great word of hope – because I want you to see that our God never stopped keeping His promises. As the Lord did more than once in our history, He took miraculous measures to make sure that His promised Seed was protected and preserved.

Friends, we can trust Him. But, in order to do that, we have to rid ourselves of any idea that our ultimate trust is in anyone or anything else. The Bible calls our misplaced trust idolatry, and it never works out well.

I just watched an interview on Sports Spectrum. Nick Mingione, the head baseball coach for the University of Kentucky Wildcats, shared his testimony explaining how he’s learning to trust the Lord in every corner of his life – especially when it comes to surrendering his idols. Every follower of Christ can relate to that dilemma, as we know how easy it is to chase a plethora of idols without even realizing how distracting they are from our love for Christ. Here are Mingione’s words: “I was a beat-down coach, and God taught me a valuable lesson … I had to make changes … I surrendered … It’s not what you’re playing for – it’s who you’re playing for.”

If we are in Christ, by faith, then you and I play for an audience of One. We live and die for the risen and reigning Lord Jesus Christ! And, just for the record, who we live for is a whole lot more important than who we vote for. So the time is right now to make absolutely certain where our highest loyalties lie.

The English poet and hymnwriter, William Cowper (1731 – 1800), expressed the truth like this …

“God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill,
He treasures up His bright designs,
And works His sov’reign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.”

And here’s the rest of the story of the once-forgotten king with which I began … “So Jehoiachin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life he dined regularly at the king’s table, and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, according to his daily needs, until the day of his death, as long as he lived.”

Imagine that … an undeserving prisoner set free! Grace upon grace! No matter what may happen in this tightrope-walkin’ world – because of Jesus – you and I will always have a place at the table of the King.

Our. God. Never. Fails.

Pastor Charles