As
Jeremiah looked over Jerusalem's destruction, he saw the regret they
displayed because they had no forethought about the consequences of
their sinful behavior and were judged because of it. Though they
sought comforters, there were none, and their enemies and adversaries
were in control of them. In chapter one and verse ten we see the
adversaries' dominance in not only their pleasant things, but also in
their sanctuary. We read:
The
adversary has spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for
she has seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary,
whom you did command that they should not enter into your
congregation.
The
verse begins, “The adversary has spread out his hand upon all
her pleasant things:” At one time the people of Jerusalem
enjoyed “pleasant” and desirable things, but now their
“adversary” was in control of “all” of them. Where
there was once prosperity, luxury, and sometimes opulence, the people
of Jerusalem watched as others seized their precious things.
The verse goes on to say, “for she has seen that
the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom you did command that
they should not enter into your congregation.” In addition to
the loss of “pleasant things” the people of Jerusalem saw
their enemies, “the heathen” or those ungodly nations,
enter into their sanctuary. This was never to be so with the people
of Judah who were commanded by God to be separate from the heather in
their congregations. When the pillage over Jerusalem came, the temple
was not off limits, and the people of the city watched in sorrow as
their sacred things were destroyed.
When our
enemy, the devil, attacks us, he not only desires to take away our
“pleasant things” but also to take away those things that
are sacred as well. It is one thing to attack our material
possessions, and it is quite another to raid our relationship with
God. There is no sacred ground for him, and as it was for the people
of Jerusalem as they watched their enemies take over their
possessions and spiritual places, so the enemy of our soul wishes to
“spread out his hand” upon ours. We should use this
illustration of Jerusalem to keep ourselves constantly aware of the
consequences of sin. Perhaps as we think upon these things there are
a few areas we should extrapolate to their natural end before our
enemy takes control of our lives both materially and spiritually. May
the Lord Jesus keep us constantly aware of the enemy's attacks, and
may we keep ourselves in the love of Christ Jesus.
Next
time we will see the reaction of the people who were left in
Jerusalem, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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