“Thus says the Lord who made it, the Lord who formed it to establish it (the Lord is His name): ‘Call unto Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you do not know.'” Jeremiah 33:3
In the book of Jeremiah, we find him recounting his experience in “the court of the prison,” having been incarcerated for doing the will of God, and declaring the Lord’s word to an unreceptive people with its leaders. It is there, in that place of solitude that God reveals the truth that His word is NOT bound. God speaks where He chooses, and will declare that which is in His mind, heart, and soul to those who seek and hear Him. At the time, Jerusalem was under siege by Nebuchadnezzar the Babylonian King. Soon would begin the period of the deportation which would last seventy years, just long enough for those who had resolved to rebel against the Lord, to die, their children then becoming the beneficiaries of the fulfilled promises of God. So, how does God work at this time of limited, terrible circumstances, and for what purpose? He will give to Jeremiah, to write down in a book, His words concerning events that are to come, which God, and God alone can bring about. These declarations by the Lord to Jeremiah, for the people to read, will be filled with hope, and a certainty of blessing to come. In this darkness, God calls on Jeremiah to pray. In answer to his obedient prayer, that of calling upon the Lord, the Lord will speak of “…great and mighty things” which are not known.” (v.3) Herein is the mercy of God revealed in that He will provide hope to the hopeless, the certainty of good things to come.
The prayer of Jeremiah was not a complicated one, nor was it lengthy. It was not filled with the “thoughts and ways of men,” encumbered by the complicated, confusing reasonings of men. It is a prayer which gives to God the “horizon,” and the “boundless height of heaven,” to declare all that He desires to accomplish in Jerusalem after the siege and deportation. When God calls upon Jeremiah to pray simply, “Call upon Me,” He is giving to Jeremiah a key that will unlock a tremendous door of blessing. However, God will reveal first the cause of the present siege of Jerusalem: “I have hidden My face from this city.” (33:5) With the revelation of Israel’s rebellion comes at the same time, God’s promise: “Behold, I will bring it health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth.” The Almighty God whose judgments are just and right, is also the God of mercy and grace, waiting and willing to bless, to give life, and to reveal His glory to those who will believe. So, with the call to pray simply: “Call upon Me,” comes the certain promise: “…and I WILL answer you, and SHOW you great and mighty things which you do not know.”
Year later in Babylon, the captive Daniel was reading the words that were given to Jeremiah at that time, the result being that Daniel realized that, though he and the deported people were captives in a foreign land. Yet, the eternal and sovereign God was upon His throne, and would bring His will to pass. Out the ashes, blessing would come, even the “beauty of the Lord.” It would be then and there that Daniel would begin to pray, first for forgiveness and cleansing for himself and the people, but also for the restoration, that realization of the promises of God. Though he was far from Jerusalem, the God of Jerusalem heard him. Though an older man at the time, Daniel would see realized the proclamation by the king of Persia for the foundation of the temple to be laid again, and the city rebuilt.
God is the eternal God of hope, a very present help. He reveals Himself to those who are willing to hear, believe, and obey Him.
Dear Father, Fill us with faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.