Title: Purpose of Trials
Contents
purpose of trials
(Jeremiah 50:1-16)
In Jeremiah 50, God's grace to judge Babylon and restore Israel is prophesied. Why! Did God temporarily give Israel into the hands of Babylon? Not because Babylon was good, but because she used Babylon as a tool. So Babylon also suffered the cost of suffering God's people and eventually suffered destruction.
Look at verse 2 of the text. “Advertise ye among the nations, publicize it, set up a banner, proclaim it without hiding, and say, Babylon is taken, Bel is put to shame, Merodach is crushed, its idols are put to shame, and idols are broken.” is a name related to Baal, and Merodach is the god of Babylon, and it can be said that Bel and Merodach are actually the same god.
In the end, Babylon will fall and their idols will also fall.
Who will strike and destroy Babylon? In reality, Babylon is destroyed by the Persians. The situation of Babylon's destruction is well described in verses 9-16.
What will the Israelites do when Babylon is destroyed?
In verses 4-8 of the text, there are words about how the Israelites will act when Babylon is destroyed. These verses give us some lessons on how to behave during trials.
First, we must turn to God.
Look at verse 4 of the text. “In those days and those days, saith the Lord, the children of Israel will return” God grants trials to the saints in order to turn them around. But when you turn to God, you should not just turn away. You should not turn your back on the brother you should love while saying you are turning to God.
When the Israelites return, do they just come back? Continue reading the text: “Then the children of Israel returned, and the children of Judah returned with them” About 400 years ago, when the nation was divided into north and south, Israel and Judah were not at peace with each other. I mean.
When we turn to God, it means turning to God and at the same time breaking down the wall between us and the brother we should love. If you do not have this, God does not see you as having completely turned to God. What parents want most is for their children to do well and for their children to be in harmony with each other. In the same way, God wants us to live in harmony. We should try not to grieve God over this matter.
Also, when we turn to God, we must truly turn. Continue to verse 4. “They weep and walk in their ways” These weepings are full of realization and repentance. When we turn to God, we do not have to cry, but we must turn around with a heart of mourning and earnestness. We must never forget that repentance is our greatest power to repair and restore broken parts of our lives.
Second, we must pray more.
Look at the second half of verse 4 of the text. “I will ask the Lord his God” God wants us to realize how powerless we are and how precious God's grace is through trials. Those who realize that fact have absolutely no choice but to pray. The desire to pray to God in a more humble manner is one of God's important purposes in allowing us to try.
Prayer is not a magical power, but an expression of trust in God. Those who know prayer as a magical power will have a higher heart the more they pray, but those who know prayer as an expression of trust will be humbled the more they pray. Even through the ‘opportunities of prayer through trials’ that God has granted, Eden will never be opened to those who do not have humility.
Third, we must live church-centered.
Look at verse 8 of the text, “Flee from the midst of Babylon, come out of the land of the Chaldeans, like the goats that go before the herd.” It wasn't like that. Therefore, when the time is right, we must leave Babylon as soon as possible and return to Jerusalem.
Look at the first part of verse 5 in the text, “They turned their faces toward Zion and asked for their way” Zion symbolizes the city where God is with Him. Spiritually speaking today, it means the church, the body of the Lord. God wants us to see a church-centered life that values the church even more when we are faced with trials, and that is one of the purposes of our trials.
God wants us to live church-centered. What does a church-centered life look like? It's not just about 'going to church'. It refers to a life that loves the church, loves the members, strives to gather, and always strives for the peace of the church. In addition, understanding the shortcomings of other members of the church, accepting them generously, forgiving them, putting others ahead of themselves, and trying to hide one's name is a church-centered life.
Fourth, we must strive to become fully one with God.
Look at the second half of verse 5 of the text. “Come, let us make a covenant with the Lord in an everlasting covenant that we will never forget.” Making a covenant with Jehovah God in an eternal covenant usually does not mean a serious relationship.
This covenant relationship is a kind of marriage relationship. So it becomes very difficult to sell one's eyes. Even if a couple is married, they face great difficulties if they lose sight of each other. Making a covenant with God is a warning not to lose sight of it. “If you sell your eyes, I will bear any difficulties!” He confessed and even said, “If you sell your eyes, you can take my life!” This is the true meaning of the covenant relationship.
Of course, God does not kill us just because we lose sight of it. Until you can bear it, you are patient and watching. But we must not forget that there are limits to God's patience. Sometimes trials and difficulties are given to us to remind us of that covenant relationship. Therefore, when faced with trials, we must strive to restore our relationship with God.
Also, a covenant relationship is a relationship that aims only at Jesus. The most unfortunate thing in this world is a life without a goal. If you say, 'It's hard to make a living, what's your goal?' It's a tragedy. To believe means to make Jesus the goal of our existence.
Jesus said, “I know where I come from and where I am going” (John 8:14). Jesus had a clear goal. Jesus lived a clean and proud life because he knew where he was coming and he knew where he was going. A person who lives with such a clear sense of where to go is not discouraged by any difficulties.
Jesus sacrificed himself for God's will because the goal of God's glory was clear. So the people of the world were not attracted to cheers and admiration, and even criticism, slander, betrayal, and death could not destroy Jesus. If we also consider the covenant relationship and live with the Lord as our goal, then no trials in the world will be able to shake us. Rather, when we encounter a certain trial, we will use that event as an opportunity to approach the Lord.
How could the world shake a person who takes every event that comes to him as an opportunity to come to the Lord? Therefore, you do not know how great a blessing it is that we have made Jesus the goal of our existence. So, if someone asks us, “What is the goal of life?” we should be able to say firmly, “Jesus is the goal, and God’s will is the goal.” Then you will have a very powerful life.
In the trials we are given, there is the voice that God loves me, the purpose of getting closer to me, and God's wish that he needs me more. However, I hope that you will become blessed people who think of God anytime, anywhere, not through trials, pray to God, strive to accomplish the things that please God, and live fully in harmony with God.