2 Kings 25:18-24: a reflection

18The captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold; 19and out of the city he took an officer who was set over the men of war; and five men of those who saw the king’s face, who were found in the city; and the scribe, the captain of the army, who mustered the people of the land, and sixty men of the people of the land who were found in the city. 20Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah. 21The king of Babylon attacked them and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away captive out of his land. 22As for the people who were left in the land of Judah whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, governor. 23Now when all the captains of the forces, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, Johanan the son of Kareah, Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men. 24Gedaliah swore to them and to their men, and said to them, “Don’t be afraid because of the servants of the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will be well with you.”

The fall of Jerusalem is complete: the leaders are taken and put to death, and Judah is carried away captive out of its land. Yet even in this devastation, a remnant is left in the land, and to them Gedaliah, made governor, gives counsel: Don't be afraid because of the servants of the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will be well with you. After the great loss, a remnant remains; and they are counseled not to despair, but to settle, to dwell in the land and live, even in their reduced circumstances. God preserved a remnant even after the judgment, and called them to live faithfully where they were.

Notice the remnant preserved after the judgment, and the call to live where they were. The nation had fallen, its leaders taken, its people carried off; the loss was devastating. Yet God did not make a full end; a remnant was left in the land, and they were counseled to settle and live, not to despair or flee, but to dwell where they were, in their diminished state, and it would be well. God preserved a remnant through the calamity; and their calling now was not to grand things, but to dwell faithfully in the land, living where God had left them. Even after great loss, there was a life to be lived, faithfully, where they were.

That is worth taking to heart, for after our own losses, God can preserve us, and call us to live faithfully where we are. After a great loss, when much has been taken from us and our circumstances are reduced, we can despair, as though there were nothing left to live for; but God preserved a remnant after Jerusalem's fall, and called them to dwell and live where they were. There is a faithful life to be lived even after great loss, in reduced circumstances, where God has left us. When you have suffered great loss and your circumstances are reduced, do not despair as though nothing remained; God can preserve you, and call you to live faithfully where you are. Settle to live faithfully where God has left you, even after great loss and in reduced circumstances, as the remnant was counseled to dwell in the land and it would be well; for God preserves a remnant even through judgment, and there is a faithful life to be lived where he has left us, even after much has been taken away.

Lord, the fall of Jerusalem is complete: the leaders are taken and put to death, and Judah is carried away captive out of its land. Yet even in this devastation, a remnant is left in the land, and to them Gedaliah, made governor, gives counsel: don't be afraid because of the servants of the Chaldeans; dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will be well with you. After the great loss, a remnant remains; and they are counseled not to despair, but to settle, to dwell in the land and live. You preserved a remnant even after the judgment. Show me the remnant preserved after the judgment, and the call to live where they were. The nation had fallen; the loss was devastating. Yet you did not make a full end; a remnant was left, and they were counseled to settle and live, not to despair or flee, but to dwell where they were, and it would be well. Their calling now was not to grand things, but to dwell faithfully in the land. Even after great loss, there was a life to be lived. Take that to my heart, for after my own losses, you can preserve me, and call me to live faithfully where I am. After a great loss, when much has been taken from me and my circumstances are reduced, I can despair, as though there were nothing left to live for; but you preserved a remnant after Jerusalem's fall. There is a faithful life to be lived even after great loss. When I have suffered great loss and my circumstances are reduced, keep me from despairing as though nothing remained; you can preserve me, Lord, and call me to live faithfully where I am.