Jeremiah 16-17  The price of sin has always been and will always be - death.  Jeremiah is told not to take a wife or have children because of the coming calamity.  Men, women and children will die and there will be no one to bury them or have a funeral for them, or even to mourn their loss.  Everything that they valued would be eliminated by the fire of the wrath of God.

The people are so far from God that they do not even know what they have done wrong! The Lord boils it down to this: " ... but Me you have forsaken and have not kept My law.  You too have done evil, even more than your forefathers; for behold you are each one walking according to the stubbornness of his own evil heart, without listening to Me." 

No longer will the Lord show them favor.  No longer will He hear their prayers or look on their sacrifices.  He would have given them help and restoration if they would listen and obey even one of His commandments - if they would keep the sabbath day holy by not working or carrying a load through the city gates - but they couldn't even do that.  Business.. money.. greed.. was too much to give up in obedience to the One who owns it all....

The Lord does not leave Jeremiah without hope.  One day, He promises, He will restore His people to Jerusalem.  One day His name will be known again.  His throne still stands and He is still the "hope of Israel".   He is still the healer and the Savior.  He is still our praise.  Our Lord searches hearts and tests our minds.  He judges us according to our ways and deeds.  Like Jeremiah we pray,  " .. but as for me, let me not be put to shame... let me not be dismayed.. "  

Father, may Your Name be known and exalted in all the earth.  Let the nations come to You and find truth and salvation in Christ the Lord.  Let Your Kingdom come, O Lord.. where all are brought into right relationship with You, through Jesus Christ our Savior.  Let Your will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.  Today Lord, I seek daily bread.  I seek Your favor and Your comfort, Your strength and Your healing touch.  You are my praise.
Amen.