Jeremiah 21  King Zedekiah sends Jeremiah to "inquire of the Lord on our behalf... "  Nebuchadnezzar is at the door.. only God can rescue them now.  But... it is too late.  Jeremiah is given an answer to tell Zedekiah that he didn't want to hear.  God, Himself was against him.. " And I, Myself shall war against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm, even in anger and wrath and great indignation."

The sword of Babylon, pestilence and famine would ravage Jerusalem. God declared it and it would happen as He commanded.  "For I have set My face against this city for harm and not for good, declares the Lord." (v10)

God told them " I set before you the way of life and the way of death."  Staying in the city.. would bring death..  while fleeing.. giving up.. and surrendering would bring exile.. but life. This was the only choice left to make. 

The Lord had another word for the king... " O house of David.. Administer justice every morning; and deliver the person who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. that My wrath may not go forth like fire and burn with none to extinguish it, because of the evil of their deeds." (v12) 

There was still evil happening.. they wanted God's "wonderful acts" to rescue them.. but they hadn't stopped their sinfulness!  

Surrender..to "fall away " .. to cast down self.. to cease... to die.   Jesus said, "Whoever seeks to keep his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life shall preserve it." (Luke 17:33) "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me." ( Matthew 10:38)   It was a time for Judah to surrender.. to stop fighting and to stop trying to manipulate God.  The chance to change the outcome of God's judgement had passed.  They would be punished "according to the results of [their] deeds". The only path to life was surrender.. 

How often we see this same attitude today.. we want.. we expect God to bless and help us.. yet we are unwilling to surrender to His will and His ways...  Our nation is in the same shape as Judah was in that day.. is there justice?  Have the poor been delivered from the oppressor?  Have our leaders surrendered to God?  Is there truth spoken any more?

Father in heaven, we confess that we live in a land where evil has been sanctioned by our leaders.. and we are deeply ashamed.  We know that oppression and immortality; murder and robbery are rampant and that Your wrath has been kindled.  We want to surrender to You, Lord God.  To take up our crosses and follow You, Jesus.  We do not seek to keep ourselves.. but to lose our lives in complete surrender to You.  Have Your way.. Your Kingdom come and Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.  Holy and Righteous God.. be exalted in our nation today..let Your word be heard before it is too late. Be glorified in us, Your children.. Father... for we ask this in the Name that is above all names,  Jesus Christ the King of glory and our Rock. Amen.