Babylon: A 70-year 'Time Out'

"All Israel was listed in the genealogies recorded in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. They were taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness."

1 Chronicles 9:1

When God put His rebellious, idolatrous children in Time Out  -- that is, had them taken into captivity to Babylon -- it was because they relentlessly pushed the limits of the loving, long-suffering character of the Father! 

This book of the Bible is rampant with descriptions of evil behavior. It was an evil culture!  Kings were seeking and creating idols to guide them and bless them. Generations of idolaters puffed up with pride. 


Yes, God never changes. He will always be the One and Only True God. Jesus prayed, "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" (John 17:3). 

He is holy and wants us to be holy. He will lovingly discipline His children for choosing to grow prideful, hard hearts instead of cultivating humble hearts.

Look, we read "they were taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness"  Yep. He sent His beloved children into exile. 

He will send us to a place to remind us He is the One and Only True God. He will not tolerate us worshiping the things of this world. As it was in the days of the Israelites,  so it is with Christians in 2019, because God never changes. "He is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).  

Just studying this reminded me God is a merciful, long-suffering God. "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness rebellion and sin" (Exodus 34:6-7).

But this culture described in Scripture, whoa, angry prideful people are ruling the nation with their man-made gods and rules. God watches everything and keeps giving them chances to repent, but no! And their sins carried on through generations! We can read it all in detail in 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, for starters.  "Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished; He punishes the children and their children for the sins of their fathers to the third and fourth generation" (Exodus 34:7).

This is why we need a Savior. This is why we need to repent of our sins and turn our hearts toward Jesus. This is why we need to be washed by the blood of Jesus and cleansed from our sins. Here is good news: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

Forgiven. Yes! We will be freed from captivity and begin to truly worship our Redeemer with joy and thanksgiving! Free to love God wholeheartedly and to love others with His love in us. Free to serve others and to fight for those who cannot fight themselves. Free to make this world a better place with the love of God that is thriving inside us.

"If  my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14). 

We need to believe Him. That's the freedom. Cuz ain't nobody got time for captivity!

If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, 

O LORD, who could stand? 

But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.

Psalm 130:3-4

Polly 💖

Matthew 5:16