Psalms 8:1 and 16:2
My Shepherd called me into HIs green pastures and laid me down in Jeremiah 52. The Mind of the Spirit met with the spirit of my mind in verse 16:
Jeremiah 52:16 But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left certain of the poor of the land for vinedressers and for husbandmen.
GOD put His sword in the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon (Jeremiah 27:8; Ezekiel 30:24-25), but the judgment was from GOD: “For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass” that the Chaldeans drove out His people “till he had cast them out from his presence” (Jeremiah 52:3).
Nebuchadnezzar’s captain executed the judgment. He broke Jerusalem and took Judah captive. And he spoiled the House of GOD, removing all the artifacts dedicated to worship the One true GOD (Jeremiah 52:17-23). The Temple was robbed of its treasures, and burned to the ground.
Nevertheless, God directed that some vinedressers (gardeners) and husbandmen (plowmen) should be left to tend the vines and work the soil of the fields. He did not utterly desolate the Land. God left the vinedressers to prepare their fruit unto GOD (Matthew 21:43), and husbandmen to take the plow and break up the fallow ground (Jeremiah 4:3; Hosea 10:12; see Isaiah 28:24).
Along the still waters, I reflected on the goodness of God Who will “in wrath remember mercy” (Habakkuk 3:2).
Our body is the New Testament Temple (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19-20). He who will “defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (1 Corinthians 3:17). The enemy, our adversary (1 Peter 5:8; 1 Timothy 5:14), who comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10), conquers and captures the spoils the Temple. He takes away its treasures: Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, and Temperance (Galatians 5:22-23), burned and consumed in the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16; 2 Peter 2:10; see 1 John 2:16).
But He will always leave behind a poor-in-spirit gardener and a plow! When the believer is broken in his spirit and humbled, “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:18; see Isaiah 66:2). Don’t defile His Temple. If by some means the enemy has robbed you, spoiled your joy, and left you spiritually and emotionally poor in spirit, remember what David did. He presented the sacrifices of a “broken spirit” (Psalm 51:17). “Keep thy heart” (Proverbs 4:23—keep: a gardening term), and take the Word of GOD, His plow, and “break up the fallow ground” (Jeremiah 4:3; Hosea 10:12). Let us “humble [ourselves] under the mighty hand of GOD (1 Peter 5:6), so “that he may exalt [us] in due time” (1 Peter 5:6).
Praise God! Jesus always leaves us enough to return. The foolish prodigal spent all his substance, but had enough to return home. Satan might “spoil” the Temple, but GOD will always leave a poor-in-spirit gardener and a plow!
In the valley, I rejoiced to hear His strong, commanding voice: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). I rose to embrace my cross and to follow Him.
At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. We left together into the harvest fields. And, yes, I checked: goodness and mercy followed close behind.
Praying for revival! 🙏
Going live as soon as I can set up the livestream.
Amen