MORNING MANNA 8-8-21
A PICTURE OF PROVIDENCE
“….Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant….”– Jer. 25:9 , 27:6, 43:10
Considering the time in which we live people are in great need of comfort. I realize that need has always existed, but somehow it seems to be greater than at any time in my lifetime. Having recently spoken about the comfort we derive from thinking about divine providence today I want to give you an example – a picture of providence.
Three times in the Bible God refers to Nebuchadnezzar as “my servant“. It raises no eyebrows when we read the same of Job, Jacob, Moses, David, and the prophets, but it seems shocking when this heathen king is called “my servant” by the Lord. We are amazed that God would use such language to describe the man he used as an instrument to punish Judah. That wicked king sacked the city of Jerusalem, carried many away into captivity, and kept the Jews under his foot for 70 years. Yet He calls him “my servant”.
Although Nebuchadnezzar did not think of himself as God’s servant, God did. The king was unwilling, undeserving, and unable to render any service for God, yet God used him to accomplish His purpose. This in no wise speaks of any greatness on the king’s part, but it speaks loud and clear about the greatness of God. And it was important for the Jews to keep that in mind – especially when God told them to not resist, nor rebel. He told them that they would be in captivity for 70 years, so just make the best out of a bad situation. I say “bad” because it wouldn’t have been necessary had they obeyed God. But considering what they did, that which was bad – difficult and hard to bear, was actually “good” because it was used to accomplish God’s purpose which was to correct them.
Sometime ago I preached about “Living in Babylon”. I did so to show how we are to conduct ourselves in this wicked world. We need to understand that “the king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will” ( Prov. 21:1). That should be a comfort to God’s people! It reminds us that things are not whirling madly out of control as they seem. All things, including wicked kings, are under the control of the One who created all things. That being the case it is just a matter of time until this is seen by all. Until then let us trust the One who never fails. – HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
