Jeremiah 22:24-25 – A Persevering Purpose
24 “As I live,” says the Lord, “though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, were the signet on My right hand, yet I would pluck you off; 25 and I will give you into the hand of those who seek your life, and into the hand of those whose face you fear—the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the hand of the Chaldeans.
In one of his books providing memorable character sketches, I believe it was the one on David, Chuck Swindoll also provides candid personal disclosure. He says he had an early formative assignment as the assistant to a national ministry figure. In that capacity, he enjoyed great access and respect. A kind intervening figure, however, warned him against allowing the pride which looked around that particular job to warp the young minister's character for future usefulness.
I consider that example when I hear the Lord's verdict in Jeremiah 22:24-25. He says in no uncertain terms that Jehoiakim has been His empowered representative, His signet ring. Unlike so many, even in the Bible, who SAY they speak and act for the Lord but to do so in their own interest, this king's glory and authority was, for a time, a reflection of God's own. This signet ring upon wax served the same function as a signature or launch code would today.
Jehoiakim is to go from being on the very hand of the Lord, a close witness and participant in His work, to being handled by Nebuchadnezzar. Jehoiakim is to go from acquaintance with the Lord's face and purposes over time too, says the Word with sad honesty, fearing the face of the Babylonians.
As Jehoiakim's fall is given to us for our instruction, I wonder what corruption can happen in a person's heart when we find ourselves useful, fruitful, proven of the Lord in a particular station and begin to reflect too often that we are His signet ring. Do we begin to get our validation in the responses we expect from men because we are a reflection of God as the true power? Internalizing the results rather than the relationship with God that makes them possible, do we begin to fear the day when He, in His sovereign goodness, moves us to a more obscure position to prove Himself there? What will people think?
In this state, Charles Spurgeon in Morning and Evening offers assurance. He writes, "Perhaps it is because we have been living too much without Him, and He therefore takes away everything upon which we have been in the habit of depending, that He may drive us to Himself. It is a blessed thing to live at the fountain head."
By the Holy Spirit's deepening work, we can assure our hearts that we are more than a one-use tool in God's hands destined for obsolescence as soon as men's responses begin to shift. Ours can be the redoubtable heart Gabriel displayed in response to Zacharias' doubt. Gabriel knew his value because, as he said, he stood in the presence of the Lord. Not even his mission to carry the tidings of the incarnation could eclipse that, and not even the obstacles between its delivery and grateful reception could erode his scent of the Lord's Presence. So it is, certainly, with the believer, Spirit-indwelt now and forever.
In one of his books providing memorable character sketches, I believe it was the one on David, Chuck Swindoll also provides candid personal disclosure. He says he had an early formative assignment as the assistant to a national ministry figure. In that capacity, he enjoyed great access and respect. A kind intervening figure, however, warned him against allowing the pride which looked around that particular job to warp the young minister's character for future usefulness.
I consider that example when I hear the Lord's verdict in Jeremiah 22:24-25. He says in no uncertain terms that Jehoiakim has been His empowered representative, His signet ring. Unlike so many, even in the Bible, who SAY they speak and act for the Lord but to do so in their own interest, this king's glory and authority was, for a time, a reflection of God's own. This signet ring upon wax served the same function as a signature or launch code would today.
Jehoiakim is to go from being on the very hand of the Lord, a close witness and participant in His work, to being handled by Nebuchadnezzar. Jehoiakim is to go from acquaintance with the Lord's face and purposes over time too, says the Word with sad honesty, fearing the face of the Babylonians.
As Jehoiakim's fall is given to us for our instruction, I wonder what corruption can happen in a person's heart when we find ourselves useful, fruitful, proven of the Lord in a particular station and begin to reflect too often that we are His signet ring. Do we begin to get our validation in the responses we expect from men because we are a reflection of God as the true power? Internalizing the results rather than the relationship with God that makes them possible, do we begin to fear the day when He, in His sovereign goodness, moves us to a more obscure position to prove Himself there? What will people think?
In this state, Charles Spurgeon in Morning and Evening offers assurance. He writes, "Perhaps it is because we have been living too much without Him, and He therefore takes away everything upon which we have been in the habit of depending, that He may drive us to Himself. It is a blessed thing to live at the fountain head."
By the Holy Spirit's deepening work, we can assure our hearts that we are more than a one-use tool in God's hands destined for obsolescence as soon as men's responses begin to shift. Ours can be the redoubtable heart Gabriel displayed in response to Zacharias' doubt. Gabriel knew his value because, as he said, he stood in the presence of the Lord. Not even his mission to carry the tidings of the incarnation could eclipse that, and not even the obstacles between its delivery and grateful reception could erode his scent of the Lord's Presence. So it is, certainly, with the believer, Spirit-indwelt now and forever.
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