UNMERITED FAVOR

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

 In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin, king of Judah, in the year Awel-Marduk became king of Babylon, on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, he released Jehoiachin, king of Judah, and freed him from prison. He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat of honor higher than those of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. So Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes and for the rest of his life ate regularly at the king’s table. Day by day, the king of Babylon gave Jehoiachin a regular allowance as long as he lived, till the day of his death.

Jeremiah 52:31-34

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Today, it ends as we finish out journey through the Book of Jeremiah. It started just a little less than nine months ago on August 13th, 2015, with the devotion titled “When the Word of the Lord Comes” and ends today in a fitting way as we look at the good fortune of one of Judah’s kings after 37 years of the Israelite exile to Babylon and in looking at his story, catch a glimpse of our own good fortune today.

First, let’s look at our scripture passage again:

 In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin, king of Judah, in the year Awel-Marduk became king of Babylon, on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, he released Jehoiachin, king of Judah, and freed him from prison. He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat of honor higher than those of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. So Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes and for the rest of his life ate regularly at the king’s table. Day by day, the king of Babylon gave Jehoiachin a regular allowance as long as he lived, till the day of his death.  Jeremiah 52:31-34

Before we move forward to examine the events we just read, we need to go back and get the back story, back to the introduction of Jehoiachin as king. Look at these words:

Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Nehushta daughter of Elnathan; she was from Jerusalem. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father had done. 2 Kings 24:8-9

First of all, note that Jehoiachin was very young when he came to power, a mere eighteen years old. Secondly, notice that his reign wasn’t all that long, a paltry three months. And finally, even though his time on the throne was short, Jehoiachin didn’t exactly have a great reputation. Rather, he chose to sin and so evil in the sight of the Lord, something that always brings a cost for the Lord hates evil as we examined in yesterday’s devotion.

Scriptures tell us that Jehoiachin surrendered to King Nebuchadnezzar after the Babylonians attacked Jerusalem and he along with his mother, his attendants, his nobles and his officials were taken off into exile into Babylon. We know that God had prescribed that captivity as punishment for the way His people had rejected and disrespected Him through their worship of false gods and idols. The behavior of Jehoiachin and his fellow Israelites didn’t warrant any favor from God. None whatsoever. But as we see in today’s passage, God doesn’t exactly work in ways one would think He does.

For go back to the closing verses of Jeremiah. For a reason unknown, King Nebuchadnezzar gave Jehoiachin a major pardon, freeing him from His imprisonment, speaking kindly to him, and giving him a seat of honor above any other king that was under captivity. The former Judean king ate regularly at the king’s table and was given a daily allowance which endured until the day he died.

What a surprise this should have been for Jehoiachin! It was a real blessing of unmerited favor.

Fast forward to where we stand today. All of us are sinners who fall short of God’s glory. The scriptures tell us as much. We have all done evil in the sight of the Lord and none of us merit any fraction of His favor.

And yet, God, not wishing for us to perish at the hands of His judgment, freed us from the shackles of our sins and liberated us through the shed blood of His Son Jesus who He gave as a living sacrifice to pay the price for sin that we rightfully deserved. Instead of making us suffer and die, God used His Son as a substitute, pardoning us when we didn’t deserve it and making a way for us to dine at His table forever, like Jehoiachin, but our outcome is even better because we will dwell with the King of kings and commune with Him forever. All we need to do is accept Jesus as Savior.

Friends, we deserved to suffer and die for our transgressions but God showed us unmerited favor through His Son Jesus and provided us an opportunity to abide with Him eternally. Rejoice and be glad in this as we end Jeremiah on a positive note, a note of good news.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark
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