He Rules the Agents of Your Discipline

The discipline of the Lord is not pleasant. Scripture affirms this in Hebrews 12. 

Hebrews 12:11 (ESV) For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Yes, that "fruit of righteousness" is to come, but the admission is clear. Before the fruit, there's a lot of hurt. 

The difference between the Lord's discipline and how life can shape us is simple: God is 100% in control of the agents of your discipline. And when the work is finished, the Lord will do with them or it as He pleases. This is what Jeremiah taught the exiles who suffered mass deportation under the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. 

Jeremiah 50 opens after a long list of proclamations of woe against Israel, Judah, and the nations surrounding her, each of which states clearly that their time of judgment had come at the hands of Babylon, and this was God's doing. 

Now, it's Babylon's turn.

Jeremiah 50:1–2 (ESV) The word that the LORD spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by Jeremiah the prophet: 2 “Declare among the nations and proclaim, set up a banner and proclaim, conceal it not, and say: ‘Babylon is taken, Bel is put to shame, Merodach is dismayed. Her images are put to shame, her idols are dismayed.’

It's wonderful to know that God is over all. We forget it so much. We get nervous about who might win an election, what war might break out, and what may happen to the country we now enjoy. But peace is available if we can get to that place Jeremiah finds in chapter 50 to put God where He always is - on the Throne of the universe, regardless of what we see. 

The verdict is in, and the punishment is rendered:

Jeremiah 50:3 (ESV) “For out of the north a nation has come up against her, which shall make her land a desolation, and none shall dwell in it; both man and beast shall flee away.

We know from history that the Persians came in and destroyed Babylon. Ever since, they have been sitting on the ashbin of time. A once overwhelming empire became dust. Yet the same Babylon spirit remains. A willful disregard for God's Word and a lust for world domination exists and has existed in many kingdoms and nations since. They will always come to an end. 

The result of this judgment is a good word for Israel. Listen to verse 4. 

Jeremiah 50:4 (ESV) “In those days and in that time, declares the LORD, the people of Israel and the people of Judah shall come together, weeping as they come, and they shall seek the LORD their God.

The Lord's people will return with repentant hearts and seek God. That's the true aim of all discipline. God wants to root out sin, restore your life to Him, and put your priorities in order. 

The interesting thing about this text is that it was handed to the King of Israel BEFORE the exile. So God wanted to let His people know that all that is about to happen is not only my doing but for your good, and I will change your heart through all of it. 

We need these reminders before the discipline comes. Otherwise, we will let those agents God uses speak louder than Him. In fact, Jeremiah calls them out. 

Jeremiah 50:7 (ESV) All who found them have devoured them, and their enemies have said, ‘We are not guilty, for they have sinned against the LORD, their habitation of righteousness, the LORD, the hope of their fathers.’

Imagine how hard it would have been for Israel to hear only their enemies shouting, "You deserve this for what you've done." God did not want them to experience that.

This is why scripture reading is so imperative. We have written down for us the end of days and the constant reminders of God's sovereign control over our situation. Let us listen to Him so the naysaying voices of our time do not cause us undue alarm.