It’s Reading Week at Heritage College and Seminary. Classes are not in session all week, giving students a chance to catch up on studies (and get some rest).
I do have several important prayer requests that I would ask you to remember.
Student Refueling: The courses at Heritage are rigorous; we push our students to get to know God through a deep study of His Word. Please pray that students would have grace to persevere and get maximum benefit from their courses. Ask the Lord to refresh them this week so they will be able to finish the semester well.
Student Recruitment: We in the midst of receiving new student applications for next fall. While September may seem like a long way off, this is the time students make decisions about where they will enroll for the coming year. Ask the Lord to direct many keen students to Heritage. At this point, we are encouraged by the number of young men and women applying to the College. Pray for a bumper crop of students to be trained and sent out into God’s harvest field.
Thanks for praying!
This chapter continues to chronicle the political and spiritual collapse of the Jewish remnant left in the land after the fall of Jerusalem. Seven months into Gedaliah’s governorship, Ishmael returns to meet with Gedaliah. Ishmael, who is almost always referred to as “son of Nethaniah”, had been one of Zedekiah’s (“the king) officers and was “of royal blood” (1). In the previous chapter, Johanan had privately met with Gedaliah, accusing Ishmael of being an assassin working for Baalis, king of the Ammonites (40:14). That accusation, dismissed by Gedaliah, now proves true.
The following day, before word of the assassination spreads, he continues the slaughter. Eighty men come by Mizpah, headed for the “house of the Lord” (5). Several curious things are reported about these men: they are headed for the Temple with “offerings and incense” (5) but the temple has been recently demolished. Perhaps an altar for sacrifice had been rebuilt in the intervening months. They come from “Shechem, Shiloh and Samaria”—places not associated with faithful worship of YHWH. They had “shaved off their beards, torn their clothes and cut themselves” (5). These were all signs of mourning, though cutting was expressly prohibited by the Mosaic Law (Lev. 19:28).
It’s hard to imagine the trauma they have experienced and the fear that grips them. They have lived through the carnage of the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of many of their friends and countrymen. They had barely begun to try and rebuild their lives when Ishmael brought further death and captivity. They want to run away, to get as far from the sound of battle and war as possible. Egypt seems to offer some stability so they decide to head south. While such a trek will be dangerous and difficult, they have concluded that staying put in Israel will mean certain death at the hands of the Babylonians.
It’s been quite a week for us in Cambridge. Like much of the province, we’ve had our share of winter weather; classes at Heritage had to be cancelled on Tuesday due to freezing rain and ice. In the midst of it all, the warmth of God’s love has been shining through. Linda and I hosted an Alpha Bible study in our home on Sunday evening. What a joy to see a number of these friends warm up spiritually and begin a new life with Christ. There is rejoicing in heaven and in our hearts.
I’ve also been greatly encouraged by our Heritage Board members. You may recall that Heritage has been carrying institutional debt for decades. Over the past few years, we’ve seen God’s amazing provision help us lower the debt. Where the debt was once over 3.5 million dollars, it has come down to $250,000. At our January Board meeting, the men and women on the Heritage Board of Directors made a faith commitment to completely demolish the remaining debt over the coming months. Through the generous gifts of these Board members and their contacts, we are moving closer to being debt free as a school. This will be a year of Jubilee!
Chapter 40 focuses on the release of Jeremiah by the Babylonian officials (summarized briefly in 39:13-14), providing significant details that validate Jeremiah’s ministry and “reward” him for his service—something the Jewish leaders had not done. The second half of the chapter begins the account of the “rest of the story”—what happened to the remnant left behind in Judah after the destruction of Jerusalem and the deportation of most of the survivors (7-16).
Nebuzaradan not only grants Jeremiah freedom to go to Babylon or stay in Judah, he also gives Jeremiah “provisions and a present.” Again, this action is an ironic rebuke to the Jewish leaders—a pagan official honours the prophet who had been mistreated by his own people. Behind Nebuzaradan’s action is the faithfulness of God who was keeping His promise to care for Jeremiah.
This is the first of two recounting of the fall of Jerusalem; the final chapter in the book (52) gives a more detailed version of the same events. Chapter 39 tells the grim news in chronological sequence with the surrounding chapters. Chapter 52 concludes the book with a rehearsal of God’s promise through Jeremiah to bring judgment on his stubbornly rebellious people. Both chapters end with a reminder that God is not finished with His people: chapter 39 ends with the promise of rescue to Ebed-Melech; chapter 52 ends with the kindness shown to Jehoiachin. In this way, the book ends with hope. Amidst the devastation, God’s mercies are still new every morning; great is His faithfulness (Lamentations 3:23).
By contrast, this chapter highlights the protection God afforded Jeremiah. Amidst the carnage and chaos, God keeps his promise to preserve Jeremiah’s life (15:20-21). Zedekiah runs from the captured city, but can’t get away. Jeremiah is confined in a burning city but is kept safe. While the rest of the people are put into chains (“bronze shackles”—7), Jeremiah has his removed (11-14). Where Zedekiah and the Jewish captives were forced into exile, Jeremiah is free to choose where he will live. Where others have no say in their future, Jeremiah is given “whatever he asks” (12). Where Nebuchadnezzar pronounces harsh judgment on Zedekiah (5), he commands that Jeremiah be treated well (“Take him and look after him; don’t harm him but do for him whatever he asks”—12). The chapter is emphasizing, through contrast, God’s judgment on a faithless king and His protection of a faithful servant.
It’s weather outside has been frigid this week; but inside Heritage, the spiritual climate inside has been warm and inviting. Over the past week, I’ve (Rick) enjoyed teaching a pastoral leadership course as well as a preaching course to sharp young seminary students. Linda and I also had the joy of speaking on marriage and ministry to a gathering of pastors and ministry leaders.
Missions Conference: Next Monday through Wednesday is our annual Missions Conference—one of the highlights of the year at Heritage. We cancel classes for several days to focus on God’s heart for the world and our part in sharing gospel locally and globally. Please ask God to work through the Conference to send out workers into His harvest field (Luke 10:2).
ESL Outreach: Linda works with Heritage students to offer several ESL (English as a Second Language) classes each week. One class meets in the local library and the other on our campus. It’s been a joy to meet the new Canadians who come to the classes. Pray for the friendship outreach that takes place through these classes.