God spoke to his people in Babylonian captivity. Their captivity was God's punishment for their idolatrous practices, and God predicted that when it came to pass, his people would acknowledge their sins and repent. While they honored the LORD with their lips, their hearts were far from him. God told them his new plan to set them free from Babylon through Cyrus, but they were not ready to listen to his word. They were stubborn and treacherous. However, God did not wipe them out entirely. He refined them in the furnace of affliction in Babylon because he wished to preserve the honor of his own name. It was to let the world know that Babylon does not rule, but God does. God disciplines his people to refine them and lead them to repentance so that they may be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

God is the Creator and Redeemer. He would raise Cyrus who would permit God's people to return to their homeland. However, Israel was unwilling to listen to God. If only they had paid attention to God's commands! Their peace would have been like a river, their righteousness like the waves of the sea. Even now, what they most needed was to leave Babylon-its moral and spiritual corruption-for there is no peace for the wicked.


Application: Lord, thank you for your divine love towards me. Help me to listen to your word and repent so that your peace may fill my heart like a river.
One Word: "Come near me and listen"