In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing: - 2 Chronicles 36:22

Today's Scripture Reading (May 24, 2023): 2 Chronicles 36

From Jeremiah's perch in history, he watched the desolation of Israel. Everything that he fought for was gone. The prophet watched as the Babylonians tore the walls of the city down and likely wept as he saw Jerusalem's Temple destroyed. At the time of Jerusalem's destruction, Jeremiah planned to stay in the city until his death. But that wouldn't happen either. Ultimately, Jeremiah would be kidnapped by his supporters and forced into Egypt, where the prophet would spend the rest of his life.

A friend reminds me that if a prophet's prophecies did not come true, the prophet would be put to death. And it is true, but there is also a problem. Many prophets didn't live long enough to see their prophecies come true. And Jeremiah stands among them. Jeremiah made several statements that he did not live long enough to see fulfilled. And that included what might be his most famous proclamation. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11). The realization of the truth of these words was not for the generation who received then, but rather for the next generation that was born in exile.

But Jeremiah also spoke of the victory of Cyrus over the Babylonians.

I will make her officials and wise men drunk,
    her governors, officers and warriors as well;
they will sleep forever and not awake,"
    declares the King, whose name is the Lord Almighty.

 

This is what the Lord Almighty says:

"Babylon's thick wall will be leveled
    and her high gates set on fire;
the peoples exhaust themselves for nothing,
    the nations' labor is only fuel for the flames" (Jeremiah 51:57-58)

But Cyrus's defeat of Babylon wouldn't happen until Jeremiah had been in the grave for over fifty years. Our hope might be that the prophecies will come true swiftly, but regardless of the prophet, God keeps his own timeline, and we all play by his rules. 

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 13