Imprisoned

Imprisoned

Women Going Into Exile

Read: Psalm 137:1-4

As the guard slid the heavy metal door closed, Jennifer felt as if she were shut away from the rest of the world forever. Would her friends forget her as they went on with their lives? Would the number on her jumpsuit make her forget her own name? The hardest part is knowing that I chose this, she thought. Jennifer knew that she’d had plenty of warnings from her friends and family, and also from the judges. The first time, she had been given probation, and the second time, she did community service. Now Jennifer couldn’t deny the fact that she was in prison because of her own poor choices.

The people described in this passage from Psalms also went into captivity because of their choices. They couldn’t claim ignorance of God’s laws. As the people turned away from God to worship idols and imitate the evil practices of the surrounding nations, God repeatedly called them to return to him. He had given them written warnings in the Law and sent prophets to remind them of the penalty for disobedience and idolatry. When the people continued to reject him, God allowed them to be taken captive. As they were led away to exile in a strange land, the women must have thought that they would never feel joy again.

When we turn away from God, he calls us back to him in all sorts of ways, but he never violates our right to choose. If we continue in sin, we eventually pay the price of ignoring his warnings. Sometimes we suffer temporary consequences, and sometimes the effects of sin are irreversible. When we feel we’re in a prison of our own making, God still waits for us to call on him in repentance, and he promises to be with us. Even if we’re shut away from the rest of the world, we are never shut off from God’s love.

The LORD is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.

Psalm 145:18