Stress Test Devotional May 11
May 11, 2024
DANIEL 1:1-3| 1 In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 The Lord let King Jehoiakim of Judah fall into his power, as well as some of the vessels of the house of God. These he brought to the land of Shinar, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his gods. 3 Then the king commanded his palace master Ashpenaz to bring some of the Israelites of the royal family and of the nobility,
Psalm 137:4| 4 How could we sing the Lord's song in a foreign land?
Disaster! Absolute disaster. No other way to describe the fall of Jerusalem and its “decapitation.” One way to punish and enfeeble an adversary is to incapacitate their leadership. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, besieged and conquered the capital of Israel, Jerusalem. He desecrated the Temple and he took the leadership of the nation and many citizens back to Babylon where they had to live in exile. Jerusalem lost its government and temple, its political and religious life were nullified. For the exiles it was worse—they lost their capital, their culture, their vocations, and their freedoms. Disaster!
What is the worst thing that ever happened to you?
Read Psalm 137 to see the emotional impact of these events. How many emotions can you identify?
