“2026: Year of the Explosion” Day 5: Act on what God says and get what God promised.

“And David inquired of God, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up, and I will give them into your hand.” And he went up to Baal-perazim, and David struck them down there. And David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like a bursting flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim.”

‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭14‬:‭10‬-‭11‬a ESV‬‬

In the book of Jeremiah, primarily chapters 37 and 38, we find the story of King Zedekiah of Judah, who secretly and repeatedly asked Jeremiah to tell him what the word of the Lord was for him. However, each time Jeremiah gave him the word of the Lord, he rejected it and failed to follow through in obedience. The final time that Zedekiah secretly called for Jeremiah, Jeremiah told him that the only way to escape destruction, was to surrender to Babylon and be taken into captivity. Yet, Zedekiah again rejected Jeremiah‘s word, explaining that he was fearful of what would happen to him if he was taken into captivity:

“King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I am afraid of the Judeans who have deserted to the Chaldeans, lest I be handed over to them and they deal cruelly with me.” Jeremiah said, “You shall not be given to them. Obey now the voice of the Lord in what I say to you, and it shall be well with you, and your life shall be spared.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭38‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Although Jeremiah assured Zedekiah that evil would not befall him if he followed the word of the Lord, Zedekiah still refused to surrender. Tragically, the result was just as Jeremiah had warned: Jerusalem fell to Babylon and Zedekiah witnessed the death of his sons, just before his eyes were poked out and he was taken into captivity.

This story rather dramatically illustrates the crucial nature of being obedient to what God has said. Last time, we discussed the fact that all of our decisions should be submitted to the Lord. However, it does absolutely no good to ask the Lord about what we should do, if we don’t obey what we hear. Jesus told a parable about just such an occurrence:

““Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭24‬-‭27‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Child of God, let’s not only submit our lives to the word of God, let’s also be open to what He says. Indeed, obedience to what God has said, brings what He has promised. Failing to be obedient, leads us to places we never wanted to go.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!