November 3

“They were brought into subjection to Babylon, and scattered through the lands of the heathen. In affliction many renewed their faithfulness to His covenant. While they hung their harps upon the willows, and mourned for the holy temple that was laid waste, the light of truth shone out through them, and a knowledge of God was spread among the nations. The heathen systems of sacrifice were a perversion of the system that God had appointed; and many a sincere observer of heathen rites learned from the Hebrews the meaning of the service divinely ordained, and in faith grasped the promise of a Redeemer.”

           Desire of Ages, page 28  from the chapter, 'The chosen people'

     On Friday we saw that despite all of God’s desires, for his people to prosper, God’s longed for family on earth chose to divorce themselves from God. Prosperity was not their fate. It is not that God decided to hurt them because they were away from Him. The people’s own choices harmed them.

     In our passage for today we see what can happen when things go wrong. A succession of bad kings, making poor decisions – and the people following like sheep without a shepherd, resulted in the invasion of the Babylonian army and the deportation of thousands to a land well to the north and east of Jerusalem.

     The wealth of the country and the advantages afforded the people there (God did want them to prosper) was set alongside the heathen worship that God’s people encountered. How were they to behave?

     Our reading shows that in the midst of prosperity and bounded by heathen worship some people renewed their commitment to God. They lived a faithful life and shared their faith.

     That some listened, including the Emperor of Babylon, reveals a lot. Wealth and uninspiring worship do not create real satisfaction. There are people who want something better.

     God does not abandon us to harm. He wants better for us – and not just His chosen people. God wants better things – even for Babylonians!

     It would be so easy to look upon our age and our setting and mourn because we are in such a state. We could look upon our society and recognise that we are in the same situation as those ancient people deported to Babylon. We could simply sing our sad songs and hope for the new Kingdom we pray for to arrive quickly.

     There is another way. We can share our faith. Last week Ludy and I visited a lady, a Jehovah’s Witness. This lady told us, “I’m a Bible student”. She was fishing for us to reply. She was wisely trying to develop a Christian conversation. What was evident to me was that she was so proud that she had chosen to study God’s word – and was so proud of God’s work that she wanted to share her faith.

     Your task, for this week, should you choose to accept it, is to decide with your prayer partner, that you will work out a way in which you can say to someone you know, “I’m a Bible student”. I don’t mean that you say words somewhat like, “I’m a Bible student”. I don’t want you to say, “Would you like to be a Bible student?” I would like you to slip into a conversation, this week, the words, “I’m a Bible student”.

     You might take a little courage and advice from the words of Paul,

^“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.”

          Colossians 4:2-4

     See what happens. Tell me what happens. You never know, someone you speak to this week may learn from you, “the meaning of the service divinely ordained, and in faith grasp the promise of a Redeemer.”