The year was 586 BC and the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, had captured the city of Jerusalem. Upon breaching the walls, Nebuchadnezzar went on to slaughter the nobility of the city, destroy the temple, leave the city in ruins, and take with him to Babylon the merchants and artisans who were now forced to work in a foreign land. It was this experience that led the prophet Jeremiah to write Lamentations and perhaps Psalm 137, one of the more famous of imprecatory psalms.
By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget [its skill]. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy. Remember, O LORD, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. "Tear it down," they cried, "tear it down to its foundations!" O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is he who repays you for what you have done to us-- he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.
(Psalm 137)
When it comes to villains, king Nebuchadnezzar could certainly occupy a spot at the very top of the list. Yet God used this great evil to bring about tremendous good. Men like Daniel reached the very top in the empire and were able to share about God with some of the most influential people in the world. The exiles laid the foundation for what later became known as the synagogues, and it was that network of synagogues that was used by God to quickly spread Christianity. Last but not least was the personal fate of the king Nebuchadnezzar who was humbled before the Lord and brought to a personal knowledge of Him.
These days it is very easy to demonize President Putin. I am not his fan. I never voted for him. Yet I pray for him, for his leadership, for his salvation and his repentance. It may not be easy for you to join me in this prayer. But even if President Putin is at the very top of your personal list of villains, think of king Nebuchadnezzar and about what God can do with the heart of the king… or president for that matter.
The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord
(Proverbs 21:1)
From Russia with Christ’s love,
Constantin on behalf of myself and Alexandra Lysakov
P.S. You may be wondering what we as the church are doing in spreading the Good News of the Gospel. Well I’m going to share about that next, so stay tuned.
Please join us in praying for God:
- To bring peace to Ukraine and Russia.
- To raise necessery funds and make a wise purchase of an appartment that would be a place to raise our boys and to serve Christ in proclaiming the Gospel.
- To bless our youth and kids camps that are starting in a couple of weeks.
GIVING TROUGH ICC-E (INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES OF EURASIA):
You can donate to the Lysakovs’ ministry via ICC-E by check or autopay from your bank (see address below), or with your credit card via the ICC-E web site http://icceurasia.com/
Website: http://icceurasia.com
Email: icc.eurasia@gmail.com:
Mailing Address:
ICC-Eurasia
P.O. Box 34035
Bethesda, MD 20827-0035
Phone +1 (301) 514-7433
