Very few things can rally a group of people to a cause like seeing a leader right there in the fight with them. Conversely, very few things can lower the morale of a group like seeing their leader be removed from the situation that they are facing. Leadership is not easy by any stretch of the imagination. However, there are certain aspects of leadership that easier, and I would argue more necessary than other aspects. The one aspect of leadership, at least in my opinion, that is the most vital is this, the people must know that the leader cares for them and is with them no matter what. What we will see in today’s text is the opposite. Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had been seizing the city of Jerusalem. The Babylonians were starving the people of Jerusalem, and then they decided it was time to attack. When this occurred, Zedekiah, the king of Judah, thought it was time to run away as we see in Jeremiah 52. Jeremiah 52:7-8 says, “Then the city wall was broken through, and all the men of war fled and went out of the city at night by way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king’s garden, even though the Chaldeans were near the city all around. And they went by way of the plan. But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king, and they overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. All his army was scattered from him.”
I will not dispute that conditions in Jerusalem were bad and they were getting worse. The biblical account makes this abundantly clear. However, when the people needed a leader the most, the king was nowhere to be found. To be fair, I think anyone who has ever served in a leadership position has had the temptation at one time or another to run away. However, it is the true calling on their life to serve, and their love for their people that keep them from doing that. This story reminds me of what Jesus taught in John 10. He contrasted Himself with the religious leaders of His day. He said that the religious leaders were hired hands, and that they didn’t really love the people. Jesus said that at the sight of the wolf, they would run away. However, as the Good Shepherd, Jesus said He would lay down His life for the sheep. When the hired hands would run away from danger, Jesus said He would step in front of His people, and be between His people and the wolf. Praise God for the Good Shepherd! Because of His love for His people, God has promised that there will never be a time in which we are alone. No matter what we face, God is with us. He will fight for us, and He will bring us through the danger.
There is no doubt that this nation is in the midst of a tumultuous time. This is why it is so vital that the church, especially pastors, step forward and step up. Sometimes the greatest ministry you can have is a ministry of presence. When people are in the midst of a crisis, they aren’t necessarily looking for you to fix it, or to tell them how to get out of the current situation. They just want to know that they are not alone, that someone genuinely cares for them. This is where you can step in, even if you aren’t in an official leadership capacity. You know those around you who are hurting, reach out to them. You can text them, call them, email them, or go visit them; just make contact with them and let them know you are there for them. America needs leaders right now, and we as Christians have the greatest leader ever, the Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s follow His example, and let’s see if some of the hurt, anger, and violence doesn’t subside. Instead of trying to fix it, let’s start by listening and loving.
By His grace and for His glory,
Pastor Justin
Amen and Amen!!!