The Story 10 The Story 10 Scattered to the Nations- Scattered to the Nations-

Singing the Lord’s Song in a Singing the Lord’s Song in a Strange LandStrange Land

The Fall of JerusalemThe Fall of Jerusalemand Exileand Exile

To Recap – The Story So FarTo Recap – The Story So Far• God the Risk-taking AdventurerGod the Risk-taking Adventurer• Obligated by self-sacrificial covenantObligated by self-sacrificial covenant• To embrace all nations through To embrace all nations through

Abraham’s seedAbraham’s seed• Refusal of Israel to listenRefusal of Israel to listen• When monarchy misleads, prophets When monarchy misleads, prophets

speakspeak• Empires rising around Israel-JudahEmpires rising around Israel-Judah• Judah has lost the plotJudah has lost the plot• God speaks to the NationsGod speaks to the Nations

2 Chronicles 362 Chronicles 36

The Siege The Siege and Fall of and Fall of JerusalemJerusalem

586 - 586 - 583BC583BC

Exiled in Exiled in BabylonBabylon

Sown to the NationsSown to the Nations

Daniel interprets Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s DreamNebuchadnezzar’s Dream

Queen Queen Esther Esther intercedes intercedes for Jewsfor Jews

Jeremiah’s Letter – Jer.29Jeremiah’s Letter – Jer.29

Psalm 137Psalm 137

What This Means for UsWhat This Means for Us• The Church is not ‘in power’The Church is not ‘in power’• We have to be Daniels and We have to be Daniels and

EsthersEsthers• We are called to make a differenceWe are called to make a difference• The Inevitability of PersecutionThe Inevitability of Persecution• ‘‘Blessed are you when Blessed are you when

persecuted..’persecuted..’• Beware of moderation being Beware of moderation being

compromisecompromise

Three QuestionsThree Questions• How Good has State How Good has State

Involvement Been for Christian Involvement Been for Christian Faith? Faith? • How can we better Advertise How can we better Advertise

Jesus to the Nation around us?Jesus to the Nation around us?• Are Christians Being Are Christians Being

Persecuted in UK today? If not, Persecuted in UK today? If not, why not?why not?