This evening, I was reflecting on the prophetic books of the Bible. A majority of them where written in the time of the Kings. Israel was never supposed to have a king, but the people wanted one to be like the other nations. Despite the warnings against it, they got their king.

The first one, Saul was an absolute disaster. The second, David had a heart after God, but still managed to be turned by power. He murdered his friend to cover up the affair with his wife. His son Solomon started out hopeful, asking for wisdom to lead his people. Despite having vast knowledge, he too just couldn’t handle the wealth and privileges that aristocracy brought. After that, it was just a parade of awful kings and queens. The people also abandoned their morals and values and became corrupt in their interactions with others.The prophets warned and pleaded.

“Thus says the LORD: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place. For if you will indeed obey this word, then there shall enter the gates of this house kings who sit on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their servants and their people.” Jeremiah 22:3-4

Neither the people nor their leaders changed their course. So, the prophets just started announcing consequences. The palaces and temple would be destroyed, the cities burnt and the people dragged off to foreign lands. No one believed it, but then it happened.

Here’s the good part though. God was still with them. In Babylon, Daniel prayed every day facing the direction of where the temple used to be. God heard him from his room and joined him in the lion’s den. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were tossed into the fiery furnace, the son of God came to be with them there. When Esther approached the pagan king to beg for the life of her people, her prayers were answered too

No matter what we are going through and no matter what we or others did to bring about our situation, God is just one prayer away. We aren’t alone, we aren’t abandoned, he is standing by.

“For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.” Jeremiah 29:10-12