The Captivity And The Return Of The Remnant

by J. Lindsay | Category: God's Centre And Man's Centre | Jul 1963

The prophecy of Jeremiah covered the last years of God's people prior to their carrying away into captivity in Babylon.

Last days, wherever found, whether they are the last days associated with Jeremiah's prophecy, or the last days of the apostolic period, or the days in which we find ourselves now, are always dark and difficult days.

Paul in writing to Timothy concerning these difficult days penned these words, "But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come" (2 Timothy 3.1). The word for "grievous" is used only once again in the Scriptures. Describing the two demoniacs of Gadara, Matthew tells us that "there met Him two possessed with devils (or demons), coming forth out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man could pass by that way" (Matthew 8.28). Carry this thought into the days in which we find ourselves now, and we realize we are living in days of great trial destined to become more difficult later on. The last days will become fierce, and unless we keep near to the Lord, feeding on His word, and enjoying the holy calm of His presence, we shall inevitably be turned aside.

The days in which Jeremiah prophesied were marked by many of the features which characterize our own days. There certainly was a turning away from God's truth then. Of king Zedekiah we read, "He humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the LORD" (2 Chronicles 36.12). "All the chiefs of the priests, and the people" (verse 14) were involved in this turning away from God's truth, for "they mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy" (2 Chronicles 36.16).

How sad to think of God's people turning away from the faithful ministry of God's word, spoken through His servant Jeremiah! At an earlier time he had been told to "stand in the court of the LORD'S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD'S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; keep not back a word" (Jeremiah 26.2). This occasion would possibly be at the time of one of the feasts of Jehovah. How we are reminded of Paul's words to the elders of Ephesus, "I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20.27)! May the Lord, the Spirit, impress us with the need for faithful ministry! The Scriptures are as silver purified seven times, (Psalm 12.6), they are the perfection of purity. In them there is nothing lacking and nothing superfluous. Only through obedience to God's word will we be saved from losing the position of being God's remnant people.

The sad reaction to Jeremiah's faithful ministry was that the priests and the prophets, the men who most of all should have welcomed God's word, actually said, "This man is worthy of death" (Jeremiah 26.11).

Jeremiah lived to see the judgement of God carried out on His people in their being carried away into Babylon, although in His mercy God set a time limit of seventy years. He allowed them to go into captivity, no doubt to teach them very necessary lessons, and yet He promised that after seventy years He would bring them back to their land.

Other men had prophesied as Jeremiah did, but the judgement did not come in their day. No wonder he is called the weeping prophet! What happy experiences some men had in association with God's house! Moses had the great joy of building the tabernacle. David had the joyful experience of receiving the pattern of God's house. Solomon had the joy of building it. Josiah had the great privilege of restoring things in God's house which had gone wrong, while later Ezra and Nehemiah had the joy of being associated with the rebuilding of the house and the city and the wall. In contrast to these Jeremiah lived to stand among the blackened ruins of Jerusalem. With bitter lamentation he said, "The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn assembly" (Lamentations 1.4).

How this man loved God's house! Could we ask the questions, "Would you miss the house of God?" "Would you miss the remembrance and the coming together in the prayers?" "Would there be a blank in your life?" "Are God's house and truth your life?" To take these precious realities away would be to take our life away. It was so to Jeremiah, despite the fact that he knew of the restoration to their land in seventy years, though possibly he did not live to see it.

The seventy years being ended, God began to work once more with and for His people. The going back of the Remnant was a divine movement. It began with God and was carried on by God. How important it is in any age to be assured that what we are associated with is of God! Note how the LORD, who is the "God of the spirits of all flesh," began with Cyrus. "The LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia" (Ezra 1.1), and consequently he could say, "He hath charged me to build Him an house in Jerusalem" (2 Chronicles 36.23). At this time the LORD also began to work in the hearts of His people in captivity. "Then rose up the heads of fathers' houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, even all whose spirit God had stirred to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem" (Ezra 1.5).

The commandment to go and build the house of God in Jerusalem came as a very solemn challenge to the captive Jews. On the one hand it raised the solemn issue as to whether their hearts were so towards their God and His house that they were prepared to brave reproach and scorn, ~o suffer hardships and dangers, to give up their homes and businesses in Babylon and to undertake the long journey to Jerusalem to build the house of God. On the other hand were they so unconcerned about God's house that they would rather remain in Babylon in shameful captivity? We learn from the Scriptures that the mass of the people chose to remain in captivity: but a remnant of about forty-two thousand whose spirit God had stirred left Babylon and returned to Jerusalem.

Psalm 126 tells us something of the experience of the remnant as they returned to the place of the Name. They could hardly believe their experience. They felt as though they were in a dream. Their mouth was filled with laughter and their tongue with singing. Truly indeed they could say, "The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad" (verse 3). This was all of the LORD'S goodness, not because of their uprightness, but because He had set His love upon them.

The building of God's house was the great objective in their return to Jerusalem. This was the centre of their spiritual life. It was vital to their existence as God's people and to their testimony for Him. Their fortunes ebbed and flowed just in measure as they neglected or prosecuted this great project (Haggai 1.9).

The account of the cessation of the work of building the house as recorded in Ezra and Haggai makes interesting but sad reading.

Ezra tells us what the enemy did. Their holy separation was declared in the words of Zerubbabel and others to their enemies, "Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD, the God of Israel" (Ezra 4.3). This godly attitude caused the rage of their enemies to burst on the remnant and we are told, "Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem" (Ezra 4.24).

Haggai, who was used of God to stir up the Remnant to recommence the building of the house, tells us nothing of the work of the adversaries, but he uncovers the condition of the people.

This servant of God, "the LORD'S messenger in the LORD'S message," was used by God to send five separate messages inside the space of about four months. Two of these were delivered on one day (Haggai 2.20). We learn from Haggai what the people were saying, "It is not the time for us to come, the time for the LORD'S house to be built" (Haggai 1.2). They were taken up with their own things to the neglect of God's things. This is an inevitable alternative at all times.

How encouraging was the ministry through Haggai! If they would consider their ways and build, the LORD promised, "I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD" (Chapter 1.8). Later, in verse 18, they are told, "I am with you, saith the LORD." The LORD was with the Remnant, His power was present to uphold them and His wisdom to direct them. Had Solomon in the heyday of his glory when he built the temple more than this? The answer is, No

Although there was no outward manifestation of power associated with the Remnant, such as God's people enjoyed at an earlier time in the wilderness, the pillar of cloud, the manna, the smitten rock and so forth, yet they had the assurance, "I am with you, saith the LORD of Hosts, according to the word that I covenanted with you ... and My Spirit abode (abideth R.V.M.) among you: fear ye not" (Haggai 2.4, 5). How encouraging to the Remnant to realize the presence of the Divine Spirit ministering strength as they sought to do God's will, albeit in much weakness and reproach!

The closing message of Haggai in chapter 2 must have been particularly cheering to the remnant. The work they were engaged in was in the eyes of the nations as nothing, and indeed was as nothing in the eyes of many of their own brethren, yet it is linked with the purposes of God associated with Christ's coming glory and kingdom. Then the true value of their work will be manifested. We learn from Hebrew 12 how this same truth is applied to God's remnant people in our own day. As we consider these things may we give heed to the injunction, "Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe: for our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12.28, 29).

J. Lindsay | Jul 1963
God's Centre And Man's Centre