The Cycle of Renewal: A Remnant's Promise
2 Kings 19:30
And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.
Over and over again, God’s people are brought low, partly due to persecutions and perils, but also many times due to stubbornness and rebellion. So is the case with Israel yet again! Their history seems to be like a broken record, repeating itself over and over again; They are delivered by God, then they prosper, then they forget God’s commandments, then they rebel, then they are chastised and lose their prosperity, then they are held captive by their enemies again by way of judgement, then they repent in desperation, then they are delivered again, then REPEAT, over and over and over again! This time is not much different than all the others. It looks like they would have learned their lesson, wouldn’t you think? But if you’re like me, the very second I criticize them for their hard-headed ways, I’m gently reminded by The Holy Spirit of my own! Are we not often tempted in the same manner, and do we not often go through a similar cycle of victory to defeat to victory, in direct correlation to our obedience or lack thereof? And so it will always be so long as we choose to repeat such a vicious cycle.
However, the good news is, if and when we have been wrecked and ravaged by sin, there is still hope! In our text, there was a remnant. This means, basically, that all was not lost! This means that there were still a few of the house of Judah that remained after the devastating consequences of God’s judgment had its full effect on the nation of Israel as a whole. And, as long as God saved a remnant, there was hope of true revival! This is good news, because all God needs is ONE remaining seed left over after all the carnage. And there was! And, it just so happened to come through the tribe of Judah. In like fashion, regardless of where you are with God today, dear backslidden Christian, as long as there is ONE seed of faith remaining in your heart of hearts, there is hope for revival and restoration! You may have been brought low, but no fear, as God will use your lowliness to give your seed of faith a head start in getting deep beneath the surface; deep enough to take root and sprout forth newness of life!! Let God bring you back up now from your depth!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.
Over and over again, God’s people are brought low, partly due to persecutions and perils, but also many times due to stubbornness and rebellion. So is the case with Israel yet again! Their history seems to be like a broken record, repeating itself over and over again; They are delivered by God, then they prosper, then they forget God’s commandments, then they rebel, then they are chastised and lose their prosperity, then they are held captive by their enemies again by way of judgement, then they repent in desperation, then they are delivered again, then REPEAT, over and over and over again! This time is not much different than all the others. It looks like they would have learned their lesson, wouldn’t you think? But if you’re like me, the very second I criticize them for their hard-headed ways, I’m gently reminded by The Holy Spirit of my own! Are we not often tempted in the same manner, and do we not often go through a similar cycle of victory to defeat to victory, in direct correlation to our obedience or lack thereof? And so it will always be so long as we choose to repeat such a vicious cycle.
However, the good news is, if and when we have been wrecked and ravaged by sin, there is still hope! In our text, there was a remnant. This means, basically, that all was not lost! This means that there were still a few of the house of Judah that remained after the devastating consequences of God’s judgment had its full effect on the nation of Israel as a whole. And, as long as God saved a remnant, there was hope of true revival! This is good news, because all God needs is ONE remaining seed left over after all the carnage. And there was! And, it just so happened to come through the tribe of Judah. In like fashion, regardless of where you are with God today, dear backslidden Christian, as long as there is ONE seed of faith remaining in your heart of hearts, there is hope for revival and restoration! You may have been brought low, but no fear, as God will use your lowliness to give your seed of faith a head start in getting deep beneath the surface; deep enough to take root and sprout forth newness of life!! Let God bring you back up now from your depth!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill