SUNDAY February 19, 2018

A Series of Unfortunate Events

…and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. - Nehemiah 1:2

According to biblical prophecy, Jerusalem was a very important capital. The Babylonians made three sieges against Jerusalem, and then took God’s people into captivity. Seventy years of judgment was determined against Israel. These series of unfortunate events, take us back to Deuteronomy 28-30, where we find the reason for these seventy years and why they needed to be fulfilled.

God’s chastisement also came because God’s people failed to keep the Sabbath years––their hearts were greedy. The people were to work the land six years, and then on the seventh year, they were to let the land rest. In doing so, the land would not be over worked and the poor could eat (Exodus 23:10-11). Over a four hundred and ninety year period they had not kept seventy of the Sabbath years. They had also worshipped other gods––which God had warned them not to do (Judges 2:11-15). Due to their direct disobedience they went into captivity for seventy years.

God had warned both the Southern and Northern Kingdoms of Israel but they did not listen.  In 722 B.C. the Northern Kingdom first went into captivity; and then two hundred and twenty years later, the Southern Kingdom also went into captivity. Now, both Jerusalem and the Jews were desolate. There was no place for their feasts, and their enemies went in and out because they had no walls of protection. The people had to come to a place where they understood they had sinned against God.

This whole scenario gives to us a picture of the life of a person who has left their God. You see, their spiritual walls are broken down and they are left unprotected before the enemy. It is important to understand that we must first acknowledge and confess our sins, before God can rebuild our lives. Only then can He can wash and cleanse us from sin and do a brand new work.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
~1 John 1:9~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!