Our Provision

And he spoke kindly to him and gave him a more prominent seat than those of the kings who were with him in Babylon.

Now it came to pass in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, that Evil-Merodach king of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison.

So Jehoiachin changed from his prison garments, and he ate bread regularly before the king all the days of his life.

And as for his provisions, there was a regular ration given him by the king of Babylon, a portion for each day until the day of his death, all the days of his life. Jeremiah 52:32-34

What a cool scripture. How amazing is it that after 37 years of captivity that the evil king of Babylon saw fit to release and free the king of Judah and to show him favor. He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat ABOVE the kings who were captives with him in Babylon. These people didn’t belong in Babylon but yet God had them there for a season. How often do we feel like we don’t belong and yet we are growing where we’re planted even though it’s uncomfortable and seems unfair. It’s often in those hardest times that we not only find the most surrender but the greatest deliverances and most growth, if we will just obey God and stay put!

This man didn’t have a chance to leave. He was imprisoned but nevertheless, God came through. A lot of the others left out of fear after told not to and so didn’t see the mighty deliverance that was promised. Often times we move when God says stay because we don’t want to wait or think we know a better or more faster way. If He says whoa, I’ve learned it’s worth the wait. There’s nothing worst than being out of Gods will. That’s why the word says that the beginning of wisdom is to fear The Lord. We must fear not pleasing Him more than we do fear itself because He is God, and He is good. He has a plan for your life and a plan for your deliverance, even when it don’t make sense. We don’t have to use faith when it does make sense. Think about it. A lot of our life is spent waiting and having faith for what we cannot see but looking for it anyway.

I can’t help but think of Joseph. He was sold out unfairly because he spoke too soon about a dream that his brothers would bow down to him. Nevertheless, it was supposed to be this way because God had a plan and that plan included prison. Had he not went through this rough time of persecution, being sold out by his own family, being falsely accused by a mad woman and being stuck where he didn’t belong, he wouldn’t have been over the food supply when there was a food shortage. He got to decide who got what when it was needed the most. And thus, his brothers wouldn’t have had or needed to bow down to him for food. Listen, he was supposed to be there. It was no accident and sometimes things aren’t easy but God plants us where He wants us, even if just for a season to do what He needs to do! Are you willing to stay?!

I love it that this king spoke kindly to King Jehoiachin. He obviously had a soft spot and was drawn to him. He give him a high spot and treated him like royalty. No doubt God moved the kings heart because He uses who He wills.

The heart of the king is like rivers of water in the hand of the Lord. He turns it where He wishes. Proverbs 21:1

Joseph too was moved up. He was advanced. Yeah, he fell back into prison for quite a while but eventually was put over the whole lands food supply! He was made into a high leader, a high position under the king. He was wise in advance to save enough for what was coming and God knew he could be trusted for this position. In all those years of being imprisoned, he no doubt grew and become strong and wise in the Lord. He didn’t have all the distractions of the world but a narrowed mind to do what God was calling Him to do. Sometimes these hard places not only fix our mindset and change our point of view (POV), but they draw us closer to God and what really matters.

I love the part where it says that he (king J) PUT OFF his prison garments. God doesn’t want us going around with the grave clothes that the enemy shamed us with. Jesus was wrapped in grave clothes but after He rose, He broke out of them. They signify the death of your old self and they no longer belong. We must not wear the lies that the enemy has given us. When God sets us free, we are free indeed. Weeping may endure for a night (or a season, some longer than others ) but joy comes in the morning. We can trade our garments!

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Isaiah 61:3

The word tells us how to do it. It’s not enough just to take off the old but to put on the new. It’s an exchange. And no doubt King J had new attire because he dined regularly at the kings tables/royalty. We have to get this through our minds. We are His. We are the Kings children. No matter where God puts us, we are still His and so we are royalty no matter how the outside world treats or sees us. We don’t have to wear the clothes of shame and regret of the past. We are new creations and we are His!

I love it that he dined at the kings table. No doubt, he wasn’t starving in this time. I’m sure he tasted not so good times and horrible food when he was imprisoned but oh how he must have more than appreciated the new! When we get through what we’re going through, we’re going to appreciate and see things from a different POV. We’re also going to be at new heights we’ve never experienced or seen, only in our visions and dreams. And even more than that because God says so!

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

See it there! Above all that we can even ask or think! He’s got a bigger plan than what you can imagine IF YOU will just stay in alignment with Him. Trust Him with all your heart. Lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. He will provide! He is our provider even in the valleys and He is streams in the desert. It’s more than just food and delicacies. His Word is bread that food can never provide. It’s truth. It’s a a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. It helps us through.

And for his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of Babylon,.... This seems to design not food only, and for himself, which he had daily at the king's table, but all necessary provisions for himself, family, and servants: ~ Gill’s exposition.

More than enough!

There’s two more verses that are very special to me and prove that God will provide for His people/His sheep.

He has given food to those who fear Him; He will ever be mindful of His covenant. Psalm 111:5

One version says “He has given food and provision to” and another says “meat”. The good stuff. He gives us meat. He gives us what we need to more than survive. He goes deeper than that. Meat is weighty and only mature spiritual adults can handle meat, not babes. Do you fear Him and want to follow Him? He fills those who are hungry and thirsty for Him. He supplies. There’s honey in the rock, in the places we least expect, we find Him. He doesn’t forget His covenant. He is faithful. Remember Moses and the people in the desert? He provided supernaturally and wanted them to grow in their faith out of His provision and ability to supply. He was faithful to show them He was with them and wherever they went, He’d not only be with them, but to supply for them.

Problem was, they never went. Only in circles and keep ending up in the same place, year after year. Going but going nowhere. Only because their attitude stank and their faith never grew because they never trusted God to step out until 2 brave men came along and the unbelievers got left behind and never experienced the promise. Their clothes never  wore out! Never! After 40 years! They had an abundance of food. Water from a rock! He literally led them by a cloud at day time and fire at night. He was right there and they still refused to believe. If He has you in the wilderness it’s for a reason. He was protecting and providing for them. Feeding them physically and trying to grow them spiritually. But yet they never grew in the spiritual area. They only got fat in pride and stubbornness and refused!

I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 34:15

I love that! I can picture when we are worn out, God will feed us that which we need and cause us to rest even in the places that aren’t so good. He won’t leave or forsake us and He is provision in that very place. Just read psalm 23. In the midst of chaos, He is peace. He is Father and The Father supplies what His children need. He calls us by name.  All earthly fathers may not reflect this but don’t give up on God because He doesn’t give up on His children, and that’s you! He is Father. He is God. He is able and lacks nothing. We must change our mindset and POV.

The verses go onto say:

“I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.” Ezekiel 34:16

GOD IS ABLE to take care of those who have done you wrong and used you wrongfully to get what they want, in His time and in His way. That’s why we have hope to hold onto each and every day. He always comes through so no matter how long you have to wait, don’t give up or in.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

Don’t give up for not everyone reaps the harvest, only the one who endures till end. We must trust God to provide for us but we must do our part to obey.

Those under oppression will find it is not in vain for them to hope and quietly to wait for the salvation of the Lord. Our times are in God's hand, for the hearts of all we have to deal with are so. May we be enabled, more and more, to rest on the Rock of Ages, and to look forward with holy faith to that hour, when the Lord will bring again Zion, and overthrow all the enemies of the church. ~ Matthew Henry commentary on Jeremiah 52:31-34

Let none say that they shall never see good again, because they have long seen little but evil: the most miserable know not what turn Providence may yet give to their affairs, nor what comforts they are reserved for, according to the days wherein they have been afflicted. Even in this world the Saviour brings a release from bondage to the distressed sinner who seeks him, bestowing foretastes of the pleasures which are at his right hand for evermore. Sin alone can hurt us; Jesus alone can do good to sinners. ~ Matthew Henry commentary on 2 Kings 25:22-30

And lastly, King J received a regular allowance,  a daily portion or a continual allowance until the end of his days. We have that same promise till the end of ours BUT sometimes we don’t hang onto it. It’s a promise. We may not be where we think we’re supposed to be or like it, but God has sent His Son to die. So, we no longer have to wear the grave clothes and though we may suffer for a while, He will always do what He said He’d do and come through. It might not be when we think or how but nevertheless, He will do what He said if we will just hold onto His promises for provision and His hand. He is right there with you. He is our portion. He is our daily bread. He does supply what we need, maybe not all we want but all we need. He is able to do all that and more. He is God. He is good.

Like David may we have the same attitude as he had in Psalm 23 that “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”

He was a man that trusted God and realized that He was provision and He was Shepherd. David was only a sheep, a follower, in a position to receive.

He said “The Lord is my shepherd.”

He declared: “I shall not want.”

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.”

“He restoreth my soul:”

His soul was dry and thirsty. Not just his stomach, but his spiritual appetite.

“He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for Him name's sake.”

It’s all for Him. He has our best interest in mind because we are His!

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

Even though we’re going through it, we don’t have to fear because He is right there with us bringing comfort along the way to help us not to quit.

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”

Yes, even in the presence of our enemies. Just like king J, God can show us favor anywhere and to anyone and He will use anyone and anything He wills! Often when we least expect it.

He’s more than enough. Our cup runs over.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”

It’s not where we’re at or where we’ve been but where we’re going, and where we are is leading us there. So, we must make the most of every single day and we must make sure we’re following Him and not feelings or opinions or fear.

Even Jesus prayed. We must pray for guidance and strength.

I know we all pray in different ways and it should be earnest and sincere. But this is our guideline and we must first give honor to Him and pray in accordance to His will. To realize He is our daily portion and without forgiveness (receiving or giving) we really aren’t going anywhere. It’s why He came and why He died and the only way we’ll be set free or it’s why we are bound and bound to die. Only He can lead us away from danger because without His Spirit and wisdom, we have no true sense of direction. He is with and in us and His Spirit will not only lead us but sustain us because He is: “I AM”, whatsoever we need. He is and He has. His is the Kingdom, The Power, and the Glory - Forever! Amen!

In this manner, therefore, pray:

“Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.

And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9