The Exile #1
Jim reflects on the exile of the Jews from Judah to Babylon, emphasizing that God's actions stem from His essence of love. He discusses the reasons for the exile, highlighting idolatry as a significant factor. Jim explains that God's judgment is not merely condemnation but a form of correction aimed at restoring His people. He draws parallels between the historical exile and contemporary experiences, suggesting that God may be purging His church today. Jim stresses the importance of understanding God's discipline as an expression of His love, urging believers to submit to His correction. He cites biblical examples, including the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel, to illustrate how God uses trials to strengthen faith. Ultimately, Jim encourages the congregation to seek righteousness and meekness, reminding them that God's love and holiness are intertwined. He concludes with a prayer for mercy and guidance, emphasizing the need for the church to represent God's name honorably in the world.
Introduction to the theme of God's love and judgment
Reflection on the exile of the Jews
Idolatry as a reason for exile
Understanding judgment as correction, not condemnation
Contemporary parallels to the exile
Importance of submitting to God's discipline
Examples from biblical prophets
Call to seek righteousness and meekness
Conclusion with a prayer for mercy and guidance
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: 12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
