Obey right away ~ Bob Coy

Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Because you have not heard My words . . . . this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.'"-Jeremiah 25:8-11 (NKJV)

Allow me to set the stage. The year is approximately 600 B.C. The kingdom of Judah is ripe for judgment after having turned its back on God for the past several decades. Spiritually speaking, the temperature is tepid. In the midst of this, a lone prophet speaks out concerning the judgment to come. His name is Jeremiah, and he prophetically proclaims that the people of Judah will be captured by the king of Babylon and exiled to Babylon for 70 years.

This prophecy concerning Judah's captivity is actually the fulfillment of another prophecy. Nearly 900 years ago, as the children of Israel were delivered out of Egypt, God gave them specific instructions on how they were to cultivate the land they would inherit. They were to work the land for six years and allow it to rest every seventh year (Leviticus 25:7). If they failed to observe this commandment, God prophesied that they would be scattered among other nations until the land had sufficient time to rest (Leviticus 26:34).

The Israelites neglected this commandment for several centuries, and 2 Chronicles 36:21 indicates that their 70-year captivity was God' s way of setting things straight. As the people waited in Babylon, their land finally received the rest it had been robbed of. When the full 70-year term expired, God moved in the heart of the king of Medo-Persia (who had defeated the king of Babylon) to allow the Israelites to return to their homeland.

There's an important lesson in all of this: God means what He says. He told the Israelites to let the land rest every seventh year, and He made sure they did, even if it meant forcing them out of the land. Let's learn from their mistake by obeying God the first time He tells us to do something.

Discuss with your group the importance of obedience. Share with the group how God has recently reminded you of how obedience brings blessing. What has God taught you about obeying Him?

Dig into Jeremiah 25:8–11. Why does God declare this judgment? What does this prophecy reveal to you about the heart of God? Is your life characterized by first-time obedience?

Decide as a group to commit to obedience. Determine what obstacles you face as you strive to follow hard after God. Define some practical ways you can encourage each other to overcome these challenges and walk in obedience. Take time to pray together about obeying God’s calling in your life.