As Jeremiah continued his
list of hardships endured by the defeated people of Jerusalem, he
included their servant-hood to other nations just for water, wood and
bread. In chapter five and verse eight of Lamentations he shares more
of their troubles as those who were once servants now ruled over
them. He wrote:
Servants have ruled
over us: there is none that delivers us out of
their hand.
The
verse begins, “Servants have ruled over us:” If
we use our imaginations for a moment we can picture this scene. At
one point the people of Jerusalem had servants who were caring for
them. Their “menial” chores were attended to by others who served
them, but now those who once served them were in charge.
The
verse continues, “ there is none that
delivers us out of their hand.” In
addition to the psychological weight of having those who were once
servants now rule over them, there was “none that
delivers them” which means “to
tear apart or away, tear off, break away or rescue” from their
plight. They were in the “hand”
or “control, strength or power” of those whom they managed. Where
the people of Jerusalem used to be in control of those who served
them, they were now under their servants' power, and no one freed
them from their jurisdiction.
What
would it be like to have those whom we once directed, managed and
basically told what to do to suddenly have control over us? It was as
though the roles were reversed for the people of Jerusalem, and where
they once enjoyed the “power” over their servants, their servants
were now in control of them. As we ponder this idea perhaps we will
survey our minds and explore the areas wherein God Almighty has given
us authority over others. As we remember that the Lord is the
absolute authority and power is given by Him, we may manage those who
“serve” us in a different manner if we knew they would soon have
control over us. May the Lord Jesus help us to know and understand
from whom true authority and deliverance comes.
Next
time we see how the people got their bread, 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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