Lamentations

Chapter 1- Israel is personified as a woman who " has become like a widow". 
She was once a princess, but is now a slave.
She has been abandoned by all her lovers.
She can find no comfort.
She has been conquered by her foes.
She is alone, despised, and aware of her guilt.
She confesses her transgressions, her rebellion, and her uncleanness.

Chapter 2 - This chapter reveals God's anger -
It covered "the daughter of Zion"  like a cloud. v1
It cast her out of His favor.
It caused Him to "not remember" her.
It threw her down to the ground, v2
It cut off her strength and burned her like a "flaming fire". v3
It struck her like a bow and hit her like a fist. v4
It swallowed her up and destroyed her shelters. v5
It tore down her tabernacle and erased her festivals. v6
It despised the kings and priests. v6
It rejected what was once sacred. v7
It sunk her gates and destroyed her bars, so the walls were destroyed. v8

The wrath of God resulted in the ruin of Zion.
The elders sat in silence, girded in sackcloth, throwing dust on their heads. v10
The virgins bowed with their heads to the ground.
The little ones and infants fainted. v11
They died for lack of food in their mother's arms.
All who passed by mocked and hissed at them. v15
The enemy rejoiced at her downfall. v17
Their tears ran down day and night... but it was too late.
Mothers sacrificed their own children for food. v20

"On the ground in the streets lie young and old, my virgins and my young men have fallen by the sword. Thou hast slain them in the day of Thine anger , Thou hast slaughtered, not sparing."

"The Lord has done what He purposed; He has accomplished His word which He commanded from days of old...."  Jeremiah writes.  But, it breaks his heart.  Verse 11 " My eyes fail because of tears, my spirit is greatly troubled; my heart is poured out on the earth, because of the destruction of the daughter of my people...." 

Chapters 3-5 Bring more of the lament for Israel's failings.  "The Lord has accomplished His wrath", Jeremiah writes in chapter 4:11.  He completely destroyed them because of their great sin.. "For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom". ( v6)

Yet, even in this somber dirge,  Jeremiah calls on the Lord to hear their cries.  It is in the middle of this horrible picture of utter destruction and devastation - far worse than what happened in the concentration camps - we find a message of hope:

"Surely my soul remembers

and is bowed down within me. 

This I recall to mind,

Therefore I have hope.

The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,

For His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

Great is His faithfulness.

The Lord is my portion, says my soul.

Therefore I have hope in Him.

The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,

To the person who seeks Him. 

It is good that he waits silently

for the salvation of the Lord." 

(3:20-26)

Jeremiah testifies of God's faithfulness to him, personally.  He called and the Lord answered.  He prayed for relief and was comforted by God's presence.  "Thou O Lord, dost rule forever; Thy throne is from generation to generation." 

Father,  Your wrath will be poured out once more at the judgement seat.. and all those who remain wicked, rebellious, and full of iniquity.. will experience worse than what we have read here.  That thought is deeply troubling and like Jeremiah, we cry for those who are lost.  O Father, thank You that  Your loving-kindnesses never cease and Your compassion never fails.  Bring more souls to salvation in Christ Jesus.  May Your word be scattered abroad and fall on good soil so that many more will bring glory to Jesus and praise to You forever.  We pray in Jesus' name. amen. 

Jeremiah 51-52  We come to the end of Jeremiah's accounts, the last recorded here is the vengeance that would be carried out on Babylon because of her destruction of Zion.  Chapter 52 appears to be a summary written afterward, perhaps by someone else. All of Jerusalem was burned or taken away.
Bronze that was "beyond weight"...was carried away to Babylon.  4,600 Jews were taken into exile.

A final note tells us that Jehoiachin was shown favor by Eval-merodach, the king of Babylon at that time, and finished his days comfortably.

Jeremiah is thought to have written the book of Lamentations also. A dirge or a prayer.. or both.
It is a book used to mourn the destruction of Jerusalem.

I find the end of Jeremiah's accounts sad.  I also find relief to be done with it... many lessons to learn from the history of Israel and Judah.. but hard to bear.  Especially when we see similar destruction ahead for our contemporary world.  How long will our Lord wait until the time is up for America?

 I think that  the most important lesson from this book is - LISTEN to the Word of God and turn to Him.  We must continue to pray that more people will hear the Word of God and turn from their wickedness and listen!

Father, thank You for being so patient, for not wanting any to perish but for all to come to You and be saved from the wrath to come.  Open our ears to hear, our hearts to receive and our wills to conform to Your ways. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Jeremiah 49-50  These two chapters are prophecies against the nations of Ammon, Edom, Damascus , Kedar and Hazor, Elam, and Babylon.  Each one of these areas surrounded Israel, except for Elam which covered the area that is now Iraq/ Iran.  Each nation would be judged by the Lord for its sinfulness. Each would experience devastation at the hand of its enemies.  And, each would be conquered by another.  None of them remain a nation today... although Damascus remains a city in Syria.

Within these words of prophecy against these nations, there is a word of encouragement for Israel. Jeremiah 50:4-5 ".. In those days and at that time, declares the Lord, the sons of Israel will come, both they and the sons of Judah as well; they will go along weeping as they go, and it will the Lord their God they will seek. They will ask for the way to Zion, turning their faces in its direction; they will come that they may join themselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten. " And 50:19-20  " And I shall bring Israel back to his pasture, and he will graze on Carmel and Bashan, and his desire will be satisfied in the hill country of Ephraim and Gilead. In those days and at that time, declares the Lord, search will be made for the iniquity of Israel, but there will be none; and for the sins of Judah, but they will not be found; for I shall pardon those whom I leave as a remnant." 


"Their Redeemer is strong, the Lord of hosts is His name."  50:34  All that has happened and all that is yet to come is according to the plan and purposes to the Lord, Jeremiah writes. " For who is like Me, and who will summon Me into court? And who then is the shepherds who can stand before Me?" 
The Lord will do as He has planned.  We can rest in that truth.  We can have peace in Him as we know that He will bring all things, all nations, all people.. everything under the authority of Christ our King.  Even in the midst of personal struggles, or the national crisis of the month, our God, our Redeemer is strong.

Thank You God our Father, for the Truth of Your Word that allows us to know who You are.. the King of Glory, the Lord of hosts, the Creator of all things and the Sovereign Ruler of all of Your creation. Open our eyes to see You more clearly.  Fill our hearts with Your love and our minds with Your Truth.  Spirit of God, guide us in the ways of the Lord. You are our God, our Rock, our Savior, Lord Jesus, and it is in Your name that we pray. Amen.

Jeremiah 48  This prophecy describes the destruction of the nation of Moab.  This territory is now part of the country of Jordan.  It was a place of contention throughout its history, constantly at risk from other nations, including Ammon to the north and Israel to the west.  Eventually Assyria took over.  After that it was part of the general area called Arabia and then the Nabataens moved in and took over. Finally, it was taken by the Romans and eventually became part of Jordan.
  Several important parts of Moab's history :

1.  It is  the location of Mount Nebo, where Moses went up into the mountain and died.
2. It is the birthplace of Ruth, the ancestor of David.. and Jesus.

This passage in Jeremiah declares the end of Moab as a nation. Several  verses point to the reason  that Moab was being judged:

v7 " For because of your trust in your own achievements and treasures you yourself will be captured." 
v26 " Make him drunk, for he has become arrogant toward the Lord.." 
v 29 " We have heard of the pride of Moab - he is very proud- of his haughtiness, his pride, his arrogance and his self-exaltation ." 
v42 " And Moab will be destroyed from being a people because he has become arrogant toward the Lord." 

Verses 11-12 are an interesting description of this nation: " Moab has been at ease since his youth; he has also been undisturbed on his lees, neither has he been emptied from vessel to vessel, nor has he gone into exile.  Therefore he retains his flavor, and his aroma has not changed.  Therefore behold the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I shall sent to him those who tip vessels, and they will tip him over, and they will empty his vessels and shatter his jars." 

The Bible Knowledge Commentary explains this - when  grapes were stomped to produce their juice, it was put into bottles or skins to ferment.  After about 40 days, the wine was carefully poured into another container to separate it from the lees or dregs which had settled on the bottom.  If left as is the wine would be ruined by its sweetness and thickness.  Moab had sat too long in its complacency.
It trusted in a false god that could not save it and in its army that could not survive.  The Lord would send destruction upon Moab and it would lose everything.


Pride, arrogance toward the Lord, trust in its own achievements - sounds very familiar.  Has America sat on its lees too long also?   Are we complacent - trusting in our government to solve every problem and our army to defend us from every enemy?  Even when we don't like what our government does or doesn't do - we expect them to keep our nation running.  Hmm..

Father, open our eyes!  May we trust in You alone.
Amen.

Jeremiah 47  This prophecy is against Philistia.  The land of Canaan was once invade by a group called the "Sea Peoples".  Among them came the Philistines, thought to have come originally from Crete. They were a fierce people who settled mainly in 5 city-states, including Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ashdod.

We know of the battles between Israel and the Philistines during the days of Samson, David, and Solomon.  Ashkelon was a major seaport, . a stronghold, and a business center.  Nebuchadnezzar came and conquered Ashkelon speedily and completely.  Verse 7 says it this way, " How can it ( the sword of the Lord) be quiet, When the Lord has given it an order? Against Ashkelon and against the seacoast - there He has assigned it."

Today, this area is under Israel's rule, but it is strongly Palestinian ( thought to be related to the Philistines)  and a continued area of conflict.  It is called the Gaza strip. This place still reflects the words of Jeremiah, " And the men will cry out, and every inhabitant will wail. Because of the noise of the galloping hoofs of his stallions, the tumult of his chariots and the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers have not turned back for their children, because of the limpness of their hands." ( v2-3)

Father in Heaven, Your word is the truth that we walk by, that we cling to, and that we will believe always.  Generation after generation there has been conflict in the land promised to Your people.  One day, that conflict will be over forever.. when Jesus returns to this earth to rule!  We lift our eyes once again and pray, "Come Lord Jesus!"  Yet, we also are so thankful that You are compassionate and slow to anger, abounding in love.. patiently waiting for the lost sinners to come home.  Thanks and praise to You, our God.. perfect in wisdom, power, and grace. Amen.

Jeremiah 46  Here Jeremiah is described as "the prophet concerning the nations".   The rest of his book is focused on what the Lord is going to do to the nations surrounding Israel.  This chapter is about Egypt.  Prior to this, Egypt had come up against Israel and had fought with Josiah where he died.  Now, the remnant from Judah had run to Egypt to escape from the rule of Babylon. However, this displeased the Lord and He would bring " a day of vengeance" against Egypt.

Included in this prophecy are these declarations :

"And the sword will devour and be satiated and drink its fill of their blood." v10b
"In vain have you multiplied remedies; there is no healing for you." v11
"Why have your mighty ones become prostrate? They do not stand because the Lord has thrust them down." v15
".. Memphis will become a desolation". v19
"The daughter of Egypt has been put to shame, given over to the power of the north." v24
Whatever hope the Jews had to find peace in Egypt.. was in vain.

Nebuchadnezzar would be given victory.  Egypt would come under Persian rule in 525 BC.  After that it would be dominated by one empire after another until it emerges from being a British protectorate in the early 1900's to become an independent nation once again.  " Afterwards, however it will be inhabited as in the days of old, declares the Lord." v26

"But as for you O Jacob My servant, do not fear, nor be dismayed, O Israel!"  The Lord declares -
"For, see, I am going to save you from afar, and your descendants from the land of their captivity, and Jacob shall return and be undisturbed and secure, with no once making him tremble.  O Jacob My servant, do not fear, declares the Lord, For I am with you." ( v27-28)

The day came when Israel returned from exile in Babylon. Like Egypt they would be dominated by various empires... until the day when they became an independent nation once again.  Yet, we have not seen them "undisturbed and secure" completely as God has promised.  That day will come when Jesus comes to rule on earth!

So, what can we learn from this?  God is in control of every nation and every people.  He has a plan and a purpose for each and every one.  He is King of the world and He will punish the wicked, correct the disobedient, and restore the repentant.  History is a witness to the truth of God's word. God's word directs the past, present, and future.  So thankful that we can trust Him with our every heartbeat!

Father in heaven,  Lord of all, we give You thanks and praise for You are our Mighty God and our gracious Savior.  Show us your ways and teach us Your paths.  Guide us in your truth!  You desire for us to listen to Your Word and to live accordingly.  May we abide in You and please You in all we do and say.. and even think.. today and every day.  We pray this in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Jeremiah 44-45  After being forced to go to Egypt with the remnant of Jews, Jeremiah continued to pronounce the Lord's word of warning and judgment .  These people were so hard-hearted and hard-headed that they couldn't even accept the fact that Judah had been destroyed because of  their wickedness and idolatry.  When Jeremiah tells them that destruction is coming to them in Egypt they stoically refuse to give up their  worship of the "queen of heaven".  The women are the ones insistent on this and their husbands are agreeing with them.  Finally, the Lord just says go ahead and do it, but know this.. none of you will ever return to Judah.

The Lord does say that  a few would be able to return, but I cannot find a reference as to whether or not Jeremiah was one of them.

Chapter 45 is a short message expressly for Baruch.  This man was the writer and keeper of Jeremiah's prophecies.  Baruch may have been one of those few allowed to return to Judah.  ".. I will give your life to you as booty in all the places where you may go." the Lord declares.   Just don't seek great things for yourself.

Even as the words of Jeremiah were meant for the people of Judah, they always seem so relevant for our world today.  The "queen of heaven" that the women offered their sacrifices to - burning incense and making cakes in her image, and offering drinks to - supposedly provided for them material goods and fertility.  They were "well off and saw no misfortune", the women boasted. They gave the Lord no acknowledgement or honor.  The Lord did not even want them to say His Name any more.

 Our society refuses to give up its false gods, just like the Jews did.   As in this passage, we find hard-hearted and hard-headed women in our day.. bent on doing what they want to do.. and trying to force it on everyone else.  Yet, we know that God's Word will stand firm and He will not be moved.   Sin is still sin, even if our society wants to throw it into every media venue, into every city, town, and state, or even into the laws of our land.  Lord, help us.

Father in heaven, show us Your ways  and teach us Your paths. Guide us in Your truth and teach us, for You are God our Savior.  We put our hope in You all day long!  Lord, Your Word is like a hammer that shatters rock.. and we ask that You break the hard hearts of the wicked.  Turn our world back to the truth. May they see You and acknowledge that You alone are God and there is no other.  I pray specifically for family members that are still walking in rebellion and ignorance, Lord; asking that You would have mercy and open their eyes and ears.. to see You and to hear Your voice and to turn to You.  I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Jeremiah 40-43 Nebuzaradan, the "captain of the bodyguard" under the authority of Nebuchadnezzar, allowed Jeremiah to stay in Judah after they had taken the majority of the Jews into chains and led them to Babylon.   Jeremiah went to Mizpah where Gedaliah was living, having been appointed governor of Judah.  Gedaliah tried to help all those who were left in Judah.. this consisted of the poorest of the land, Jews who had returned from Moab, Ammon, and Edom, and some of the king's daughters.

Unfortunately, Gedaliah refused to listen to a warning from Johanan, and was killed by Ishmael who was sent from the Ammonite king.  Johanan then went after all the remnant that Ishmael had taken captive, and returned them back to Judah.  However, he then led them all to Egypt in rebellion against the Lord's command. He even forced Jeremiah to go with them.   Once again the Lord gives Jeremiah a word of prophecy telling them that they will be judged for this disobedience.  Egypt will also be conquered by Babylon.

Over and over again, the same pattern emerges.  They want to know what the Lord has to say, and then when He speaks, they turn around and refuse to listen! Jeremiah 44:4 " Yet I sent you all My servants the prophets, again and again, saying, 'Oh do not do this abominable thing which I hate. But, they did not listen or incline their ears to turn from their wickedness, so as not to burn sacrifices to other gods. " 

"Why are you doing great harm to yourselves ?"  God cries out to His people.  Even the remnant has not learned from the destruction of their city and their temple!  Calamity after calamity has come over them.. and they still would not listen.

Disobedience to the word of God will result in judgment.  The Lord offers every good and perfect gift to those who will listen to His voice and obey His Word.  But, again and again, He warns that rebellion and disobedience will result tin punishment.  This is what the fear of the Lord is all about.
A godly and righteous fear..  is more than just reverence .. although it is that also.  It is an understanding that God is holy and His will is for us to be holy.  We can only be holy as we walk by faith in Christ and by obedience to His perfect will. Trust and obey.. there is NO other way.

Psalm 25: 4-5 " Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. " 

The ways of the Lord.. His paths are paths of righteousness .  Not according to our world's interpretations.. but according to His Word.  The ten commandments are still standards to be observed.. but it goes beyond even those.  Jesus boiled it down to two essentials - Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength; and love your neighbor as yourself.
The path of righteousness is the way of Truth .  Truth according to the Bible, God's Word.
We must listen .. and determine to live by His word, rejecting the voices of men.

Father in heaven, You are holy and righteous in all Your ways.  Guide us in Your truth and help us to live according to Your will. Keep our hearts pure and our hands clean as we seek to live for You and walk by Your Spirit who lives in us.  Forgive us our trespasses, O Lord. Search out and remove all unrighteousness from our hearts.  Be exalted O Lord, for You alone are God and there is no other.
Amen.

Jeremiah 36-39  There are several  events recorded here as the time of judgement draws near.  Jeremiah dictated all of his prophecies to Baruch, a scribe.  This scroll was read in the Lord's house, then was sent to the king - Jehoiakim at that time - who proceeded to cut it up and throw it into the fire.  Jeremiah was then instructed to rewrite it and add the word that Jehoiakim would not be spared, and would lose the throne for his descendants.

Zedekiah seemed to listen to Jeremiah, and even allowed his rescue when some had thrown him into a muddy cistern, but  he ultimately rebelled against God and against Nebuchadnezzar .  Jeremiah pleaded with Zedekiah to surrender and be taken into exile, but he refused and was captured trying to flee.  All his son's were killed as he watched and then his eyes were blinded. All of the palaces, the walls, and the temple were burned down by the Babylonians.

Jeremiah was spared.  Somehow, Nebuchadnezzar commanded that Jeremiah not be harmed.  They put him in the care of Gehaliah,  who was made governor by Nebuchadnezzar .  Ebed-melech, an Ethiopian, who had helped Jeremiah be removed from the cistern is mentioned again at the end of chapter 39 - "Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, 'Behold, I am about to bring My words on this city for disaster and not for prosperity; and they will take place before you on that day. But I will deliver you on that day... because you have trusted in Me..'" 

Again we are reminded that God looks at every heart and judges according to each person's deeds.
Some are spared, some are not. Those who trust the Lord and live in obedience to His Word can stand firm on this truth!  God is able to deliver us - in the fire and in the storm - in wars and in famines and  in times of sickness.  How great is our God.. how kind to show us compassion and mercy.

Father in heaven, even as we look around our country today and see the sinfulness and are exposed to the falsehoods of our society's thinking - we know that You are True and Your Word has not changed.
Sin is still sin. Rebellion against Your Word is still punishable by death.  My heart breaks to see how our children's lives are being pulled into immorality and lies by the philosophy of those who deny You. But, they will not win.  Darkness cannot overcome Your Light.  We put on the armor again Lord - truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and we take up the sword of Your Spirit.. the word of God.. and we pray!  Bring revival, Lord.  Bring repentance and salvation to our towns and states.. to our senators and governors.  Let Your church awake and rise up to proclaim the Truth.  Help us to be faithful and to persevere, we pray, in Jesus' name, amen.

Jeremiah 35  The Lord uses the example of a family, the descendants of Jonadab, who were called the Rechabites.  Their introduction into the tribe of Judah came when the descendants of Moses' father-in-law( particularly Hobab, his son - Numbers 10:29)  joined with Judah.. perhaps by marriage or adoption.. and took possession of their territory during Joshua's days. ( Judges 1:16)

This family had a patriarch, Jonadab, who was a man of God. He had commanded his family to not drink wine, not build a house, not plant a vineyard, and not plant seeds.  They were to dwell in tents.. always.  This family continually obeyed Jonadab's commands.

Jeremiah was told to bring the house of Rachabites into the house of the Lord and to offer them wine.
But, even then, they would not do it. They stayed committed and obedient to their "father".  But, the Lord, God of Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem.. spoke " again and again"... and they would not even listen!

The Lord rebukes Judah strongly:

"Will you not receive instruction by listening to My words?" v13
"But I have spoken to you again and again; yet you have not listened to Me." v14
"Also I have sent to you all My servants and prophets, sending them again and again, saying; Turn now every man from his evil way and amend your deeds, and do not go after other gods to worship them... but you have not inclined your ear or listened to Me." v15
".. but this people has not listened to Me." v16
".. because I spoke to them but they did not listen, and I have called them but they did not answer." v17

And because of this reason.. disaster has been pronounced.

The descendants of Jonadab, the Rechabite, are promised this,  they " .. shall not lack a man to stand before Me always" v19 They listened and obeyed.. and they were saved and given a position of standing in the Presence of the Lord!

Father in heaven,  Your Word tells us that when we call on You, You hear us.. You incline Your ear to us.. You lean in to hear our cries.  How awesome is our God!  Thank You!  Lord, Your voice is all we want to hear.. when You speak to us, may we lean forward, inclining our ears to hear every Word.  Help us to not only hear, but to obey.  May our words and deeds be pleasing to You.  May we bear fruit in good works that bring You glory.  Grant to us wisdom from above... pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, merciful, unwavering, and without hypocrisy.. wisdom that is not of this world, but from You.  Live and move in us, Lord God. Speak and we will listen.
We give You ourselves for Your will to be done.  Amen.

Jeremiah 34  King Zedekiah was given another opportunity to obey the Lord and survive the Babylonians. He seemed to obey, by making a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to release any Jewish slaves as required by the Law.  But, "afterward they turned around and took back the male servants and the female servants, whom they had set free, and brought them into subjection.." 

Disobedience brought severe judgement. "Therefore thus says the Lord, 'You have not obeyed Me in proclaiming the release each man to his brother, and each man to his neighbor.  Behold, I am proclaiming a release to you,' declares the Lord, 'to the sword, to the pestilence , and to the famine; and I will make you a terror to all the kingdoms of the earth .'"

Why would they make a covenant that they did not intend to keep?  Why would they make their fellow Jews their slaves.. at the price of their own lives?  I can think of several reasons:
1. Unbelief - they continually denied the authority of God's Word and did not believe that God would do what He said He would do.
2. Greed - without their servants they would not have all that they wanted -no one to plant or harvest food, no one to cook or care for them, no one to lord over and boast of their success.
They were so foolish!  For they were about to lose everything! Including their own lives.

 The people of Jeremiah's time forfeited everything for the sake of the "world".  Zedekiah in particular lost so much for his disobedience  - instead of living in Babylon and having an honorable funeral at his peaceful death - he watched his sons be killed in front of him and then had his eyes blinded.  He gained nothing and lost everything.   Do we also fall into these false ways of thinking?

Jesus spoke these words, " For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?" ( Mark 8:36) He tells us to deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Him.  He tells us that if we try to save ourselves we will lose.. but if we lose ourselves for His sake, for the gospel - then we will live.  What is our soul worth?   If we were in Zedekiah's place would we decide that having our own way is worth more than our souls? Do we understand that for ourselves?

What do we do?  First of all, we must make the decision to believe God's Word - to believe that He is who He says He is and He will do what He says He will do.  Second, we must obey His Word - following Jesus. Persevering.. overcoming.. surrendering all to Him.. Walking by His Spirit living in us.  Nothing in this world is worth losing Him! No amount of money or power or selfish wishes.. nothing!

Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name.  You are worthy of all our praise and worship.  May we keep every covenant with You.  May we walk in Your paths and lean on Your understanding and not our own.  Fill us Spirit with spiritual wisdom and understanding so that we may live a life worthy of You, pleasing You and bearing fruit in every good work.  We pray this with great thanksgiving in our hearts for You are able to do all things and we belong to You.  amen.

Jeremiah 33   In spite of the sins of Israel, the Lord has not rejected them.  Instead,  He promises to restore them completely.

Verse 2 " Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it, the Lord is His name."   - This is WHO the promise is coming from... Yahweh, the self-existent One who has revealed Himself to us.. Our Maker, our Sustainer, our King.. all powerful, all knowing, and always present... He is proclaiming what He will do. 

V3. " Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things which you do not know."   What an invitation!  The future was uncertain for Jeremiah.  He was imprisoned, his country was falling down around him, and he was hated by just about everyone.  Yet, God invited him to ask what he wanted to know.. and promised to tell him things he couldn't even imagine.

v6 " Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them; and I will reveal to them an abundance of peace and truth."   What a promise!   The broken will be made whole.  The sick will be made well.  The lame will walk. The blind will see... Israel will be restored.  Jerusalem will once again be the City of God.. " And it shall be to Me a name of joy, praise, and glory before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear of all the good that I do for them, and they shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace that I make for it." 

v14 " Behold, days are coming.. when I will fulfill the good word which I have spoken.. "  the Lord declared to Jeremiah.  " In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth." ( v15)  The Lord had made a promise to David and that promise is fulfilled in Jesus Christ.   The covenant is as solid as the "covenant for the day .. and the night."   The One who fixed the "patterns of heaven and earth" is the One who has sworn to fulfill His Word to David, and has promised to restore Israel and have mercy on them.

What does that mean for you and me?  It means that we can stand on the Rock, and  have confidence in all the Word of God.  He loved Israel, His people, even though they broke His covenant and rebelled against Him time after time.  His love was strong enough to see their transgressions and plan for their restoration at the same time.  He sees us and knows us each, just as we are.. but He chooses to love us and proclaim us spotless, because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ that we now wear!

Again, we are reminded that His plan is to do good for us.
Romans 8:28-32 " And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?"

God, our Father, our good and mighty  and loving Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, we belong to You. You have known us since the beginning of time.  You have called us according to Your plan and purpose.  You have predestined us to be like Jesus.  You have justified us by His sacrifice.  You have glorified us in His righteousness.  You have taught us that nothing can separate us from Your love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Hallelujah!  We praise You and we thank You in His precious Name.  Amen.

Jeremiah 32  Nebuchadnezzar and his troops are outside the gates of Jerusalem, building "siege mounds".. ready to take the city.  Jeremiah has been put into the prison house at the king's palace.  Yet, God does something incredible...  He asks Jeremiah to buy a piece of property from his cousin.  Jeremiah pays 17 shekels of silver, signs the deeds in front of witnesses, registers the deed and puts it in a clay pot to keep it safe "a long time"..

This is a testimony to the nation, that God is not through with Israel.  They are going into exile.. they will suffer judgement because of their idolatry.. but the nation will one day be rebuilt. They are still God's people.  They have turned their back on Him, but He will not turn His back on them.

God's plan has not been changed.  "And they shall be My people, and I will be their God; and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good, and for the good of their children after them." 

" And I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul." ( v41)  " I'm going to bring on them all the good I am promising them." The Lord declares. ( v42)

This reminds me of Romans 12:2 "... that you may prove ( or discern) what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."  God's will for Israel was always and still is for their good.  His will for each of us is still the same.. He wants "good" for us. That which benefits us and makes us well. He also desires that we "do good".. overcoming evil with good. He commands us to do good works and bring forth good fruit.  His will for us is that we be like our Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ.... good. 

God our Father, You are good.. Your very nature is goodness - from which flows love and blessing, forgiveness and mercy.  How small our faith is sometimes, Lord.  Forgive us.  Enlarge our understanding of Who You are!   May we cling to You.. to Your goodness... fully and without any doubt.  Thank You for the Word of Truth.  Fill us with Your Spirit to live out Your goodness to the world around us today.  We are Your people and You are our God. Your will be done. Amen.

Jeremiah 30 Throughout this chapter the Lord reveals Himself as:

"God of all the families of Israel.." (  v1)
The One who " loved you with an everlasting love.." v3
The rebuilder of Israel.. v4
The gatherer of the scattered.. v8
The Father to Israel.. v9
The Shepherd to His flock.  v10
The Ransomer and Redeemer of Jacob.. v11
The bountiful provider.. v12
The One who turns mourning into joy and their comforter v13
The One who satisfies with His goodness.. v14
The Rewarder of the faithful v16
The Giver of a hope for the future.. v17
The Father of "My dear son..." whose heart "yearns for him." v20
The Father of the "faithless daughter"
The Creator of a "new thing" v22
The One who satisfies the weary ones and refreshes those who languish. v25
The Giver of a New Covenant v31
"The Lord of hosts is His name." v35

" I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God and they shall be My people." v33  The Lord's promise to Jeremiah was fulfilled by the coming of Jesus.. His life, death, and resurrection made the way for "all" to know God.. "from the least of them to the greatest of them... for I will forgive their iniquity and their sin I will remember no more."  The Holy Spirit was sent to fill us inside and inscribe His truth deep in our inner beings.

"Behold, days are coming..."  the Lord continues to declare.. A new city will be built.. not made by human hands.  A city that will be holy to the Lord forevermore.  Like Abraham, we too look for the city to come.  May we be ready for that day!

Father in Heaven,  You are near and not far off.  You are our refuge and strength.  You are the Lover of our souls.  You are God and there is no one like You.  Glory to Your Name.  Fill us anew with Your Spirit of Truth and Grace for the day ahead.  May we abide in Your rest today.  In Jesus we pray. amen.

Jeremiah 30  Though all that the Lord has said will happen - the exile, the destruction, and the judgements - God is not through will Israel.  He reveals to them once again, His good plan for the future. There will come a day when Israel will return to the Lord.  They will serve Him and will be restored. Their "incurable" wound will be healed - by the Lord.  Their "great" iniquity and their numerous sins brought on this punishment, but that is not the end. God has a future plan.

In that day, " .. their leader shall be one of them, and their ruler shall come forth from their midst. And I will bring him near, and he shall approach Me; For who would dare risk his life to approach Me? declares the Lord. And you shall be My people, and I will be your God". ( v21-22) 

Who would dare approach the Holy One?  Who would not only risk his life, but give it freely?
Jesus, only Jesus! O how wonderful is our God!
He can cure the incurable!
He can save those whose iniquity is great and whose sins are numerous!
He can accomplish His plans for our good... even when we have gone into exile.

Our God is Mighty to save.  It is the "intent of His heart"  to accomplish the restoration of His people.
He loves with an everlasting love!
He has sent us a perfect Mediator!

Thank You Father for saving us.  Thank You that Your promises are true and You will accomplish Your will in us.  You are good and You are just. You are gracious and merciful.  We give You praise and once again bow in humble adoration to You, our God and King. Amen.

Jeremiah 29  One of the most well known verses from this book is found here, part of Jeremiah's letter to the Jews in exile.  They went to Babylon.. sent there by the Lord ( 29:4)  The Lord commands them to:

1. "Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens, and eat their produce." ( v5)  This will be their home for 70 years.  They needed to settle in and believe what the Lord has said.

2."And seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare." (v7)  Not only were they to make Babylon their home, but they were to pray for the city!  They were commissioned to be peacemakers in the heart of the enemy's capital.

3. They were also to have hope for the future. " For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope."  Here is the Lord's promise - He will take them back to Israel.  He will restore them, not only to their homeland, but to Himself.

We are not sent into exile.. at least not at this time.. but we are also "aliens and strangers".. for our home is in Heaven.  Jeremiah's words are just as important to us, wherever we are.. May we;

Settle in where the Lord has sent us and believe His Word.
Pray for and seek the peace of the city in which we live.
Keep our eyes on our Hope - an Eternal City - our true Homeland.


Jeremiah's letter also confronts the false prophets.  Even in captivity they are speaking their lies.
The Lord did not send them.
The Lord Himself is a witness to their lies.
The Lord will punish those who have "preached rebellion".
Truth is vital!  God will defend His Word from those will in any way misuse it!


Father in Heaven, thank You for the Word that leads us into Your paths of righteousness. Thank You that You do have a plan for each of us - a good plan for those who belong to You and walk in faith. Thank You that when we seek You with all our heart, You let us find You!  Thank You for the hope we have in Christ Jesus.  No matter how long our days on this earth, no matter where our journey may take us.. we have You with us.. Even as You promised Joshua, " Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." ( Joshua 1:9)  You are with me, here and now.. in my uncertain future( as far as this world is concerned).. and in my eternal future.. forever in Your home. Hallelujah!  Thank You Lord. Amen!

Jeremiah 27-28  Yokes.. We know that oxen are yoked together; joined by a simple bar so that they can work together.  Here, Jeremiah is told to make a yoke for himself and to bind it to his own neck.  It is a visual message of God's Word - all the nations who will come under the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar  will be preserved;  all those who refuse, will be destroyed.  " I have made the earth, the men and the beasts which are on the face of the earth by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and I will give it to the one who is pleasing in My sight."  the Lord declares.  And that is Nebuchadnezzar...

"Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him and his people, and live.." Jeremiah pleads with Zedekiah.. ".. as the Lord has spoken..."  Even as Jeremiah pleads for them not to listen to the false prophets.. Hananiah pushes his way into the Lord's house and proclaims, " Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, ' I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.'"

Jeremiah had set up a test of sorts... The prophets would say that the vessels of the Lord's house would be returned from Babylon shortly..  but that is a lie.  But ask them to do this.. ".. if they are prophets, and if the word of the Lord is with them, let them now entreat the Lord of hosts, that the vessels which are left in the house of the Lord, in the house of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem, may not go to Babylon."  Let them at least say something worthwhile if they have to speak..

Hananiah is the one who comes proclaiming that the vessels would be returned to Jerusalem within 2 years.  Jeremiah's response is perfect, " Amen! May the Lord do so; may the Lord confirm your words which you have prophesied to bring back the vessels of the Lord's house and all the exiles from Babylon to this place.. "  But, " hear now the word... The prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then that prophet will be known as one whom the Lord has truly sent."   

Hananiah does not quit.  He takes the wooden yoke that Jeremiah has been wearing and breaks it; continuing to proclaim that Nebuchadnezzar would be removed and the vessels returned in two years.
Jeremiah leaves, but comes back to Hananiah privately.  Not only will the yoke not be removed, but it will become a yoke of iron instead of wood.  Not only was the prophesy of Hananiah a lie, but it was a counsel of" rebellion against the Lord."  Because of this, Jeremiah prophesied,  Hananiah would die within a year.  This prophesy was fulfilled within 2 months, proving that Jeremiah is the true prophet.

Deuteronomy 28: 47-48.. in the list of "curses" that will come upon Israel for disobedience to God's word is this.." Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and a glad heart, for the abundance of all things; therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord shall send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness and in the lack of all things; and He will put an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you. " 
 Once again we see that God is doing what He said He would do!

Jesus also talked about a yoke.. " Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My load is light." ( Matt. 11:29-30)

We either willingly put our necks under the yoke of Jesus.. or we will find ourselves under a yoke of iron in service to our enemy.  Satan lusts for our submission to him.  His aim is to keep up locked up until we are destroyed.  But, Jesus came to rescue us for all time and eternity! He has set us free from the dominion of darkness and brought us into His Kingdom of Light!  Praise the Name of our Lord!!!

Father,  I am willing.. to take the yoke of my King, to learn from Jesus, to be bound to Him and serving in unity with my wonderful Savior.  Once again, I am reminded to offer myself, my body, soul, mind, and spirit.. as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable.. in worship to You, the God of Creation, my Maker. Do as You have said You would in me.. sanctify me through and through that I might stand before You, blameless and complete in Christ on that day.  Use me as You choose, I am Your servant..  I ask this in the Name above all names, Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

Jeremiah 26  Once again Jeremiah is given a message for the nation of Judah.  " Thus says the Lord, 'If you will not listen to Me, to walk in My law, which I have set before you, to listen to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have been sending to you again and again, but you have not listened; the I will make this house like Shiloh, and this city I will make a curse to all the nations of the earth.'" ( v4-5)

The priests, prophets, and the people were so angry at this message that they seized Jeremiah and wanted to kill him.  Shiloh had once been the place of the tabernacle.. the place of God's presence after Joshua finally brought Israel into the promised land.  It was in the days of Samuel that Shiloh was forsaken.  Eli's sons had taken the Ark of the Covenant into battle where it was taken by the Philistines.  Because of the terrible consequences of this action, the Philistines had to send it back.. but it did not ever return to Shiloh.  Shiloh became nothing but a wilderness.  To think that this would happen to Jerusalem was more than the people in Jeremiah's day could believe.  So they decided to shoot the messenger!

Jesus was accused of this same thing.  He told them that there would not be a stone left of the Temple in Jerusalem.  The religious leaders in His day also wanted to kill Him, using this message as their excuse. The temple meant more to them than the God Who's Presence it was meant to symbolize.

Jeremiah is rescued by Ahikam the son of Shaphan.  This family, one of very few, chose to believe and obey the Word of the Lord.  Later on Ahikam's son, Gedaliah, would take in Jeremiah and care for him. ( 39:14) God was preserving a remnant for Himself, a promise that He would always keep.

Jeremiah continued to listen to and speak the Word of God, even when it was met with such hostility.
I am reminded once again of how important it is that we do not omit, dilute, or in anyway diminish the Word.  It is not popular and is sometimes hated in our world today.. but it is the only Truth and we are responsible to speak it out as well as to live according to it.  In this chapter, one thing that we can speak out and live by is verse 13 , " Now therefore amend your ways and your deeds and obey the voice of the Lord your God; and the Lord will change His mind about the misfortune which He has pronounced against you."   It is not too late to speak of God's grace.. of His willingness to forgive us our sins; of the truth that if we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us and cleanse of from all unrighteousness.  He still is calling for His people to repent and turn back.  Jesus makes this all possible.... what a wonderful message we have.. even if others may want to hate us for it.

Father in Heaven, You are a loving God.  You are Mighty and Powerful and Holy.. yet You are gentle and merciful and kind.  How thankful we are to know You.  We bless Your Name. Father, empower us by Your Spirit to speak Your words of truth.. Your call of repentance to those whom we come into contact with.  May we be faithful to use every opportunity to speak truth and turn others back to You. We need Your Presence filling us to overflowing.. fill us now we pray, in Jesus' name. amen.

Jeremiah 24 -25  "What do you see, Jeremiah?"  the Lord said once again.  This time Jeremiah sees 2 baskets of figs.  One basket is full of the best figs on earth.  The other is filled with the worst - rotting and not eatable.  The Lord declares that those who had gone into exile as He had commanded - would end up being the ones blessed with His goodness.

 " And I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the Lord; and they will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart."  ( v7)

But, all the rest, the rotten, the disobedient, will be destroyed.

For 23 years Jeremiah had spoken the Word of the Lord. For 23 years the people would not listen.  They would not turn away from their evil ways.  They would not stop worshiping idols.  70 years of captivity would keep them from the land of Israel.   But, Israel would not be the only nation under judgement... " all the kingdoms of the earth"  would also be made to drink the cup of God's wrath.  "Thus says the Lord of hosts: 'You shall surely drink!'" ( 25:28)

The cup of the Lord's wrath - "Drink, be drunk, vomit, fall, and rise no more because of the sword which I will send among you."  Calamity comes by way of the sword,  but it is from the Lord.
He will" roar from on high."  It will be a mighty roar.  A shout.  A clamor to the ends of the earth. "Because the Lord has a controversy with the nations. He is entering into judgement with all flesh." 
"On that day".. the Lord says, "those slain by the Lord.. shall be from one end of the earth to the other."  The Lord's anger is fierce... like a lion who has left lair and has become a horror.

The book of Revelation describes what the wrath of God entails.. 7 seals, 7 trumpets, and 7 bowls of wrath.  Judgements will come to the whole earth because they will not repent... Death, destruction... plagues worse than those in the days of Moses and Pharaoh... The wrath of God will be completely poured out on this planet.. on that day. Only those who are in Christ Jesus will survive...

The Gospels tell us that Jesus went to the place called Gethsemane.  He was deeply "grieved and distressed", even to the point of death.   His prayer was this, " My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt." ( Matthew 26:39)  Jesus prayed again, twice more,
"My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it,  Thy will be done." ( v42)   Jesus did drink the cup of God's wrath, judgement for all sin.. on our behalf.  Because He did.. and because we are in Him, covered by His sacrifice.. we will not drink of God's wrath.  It is that covenant of Love, uniting us with the Lord Jesus, our Savior, that delivers us from the wrath to come.

He has truly given us a "heart to know Him." We are His people and He is our God, because of Jesus. We have life.. because He lives.  We have salvation because He paid the price for us.. He drank the cup for us.  Hallelujah what a Savior!

Father in Heaven, we praise You!  You have done all that You said.  There is coming a day when it will all be finished.. when the final judgements will be poured out upon the earth because of the wickedness found here.  May we stand firm in our Lord Jesus, clothed in His righteousness alone.. faultless to stand before Your throne!  Thank You for a heart that has been shattered by Your Word, replaced by Your Spirit, inscribed with Your Law, and ruled by Your Son.. May I know You and forever be in Your Presence.  I ask this in the Name of my Lord, Jesus Christ.  amen.

Jeremiah 23 From verse 9 the rest of this chapter is a judgement against the false prophets of Israel and Judah.  The Lord's anger is fierce against those who claimed to know His truth, but really were proclaiming their own lies.  They broke Jeremiah's heart and the Lord's heart as well.  "Because of the Lord and because of His holy words" , Jeremiah was reeling.  O that we might know God's Word and honor it so much!

The Lord called the prophets and priest adulterers.  They polluted the House of the Lord and the land as well.  They filled His house with wickedness.  They offended the Lord with their idolatry and led the people astray.  Their falsehoods were "horrible" things to the Lord.

 " And they strengthened the hands of the evildoers, so that no one turned back from his wickedness." 
What a statement.  The prophets and priests had the responsibility of preaching and teaching the Word of God.  They were ordained and responsible to lead the whole nation to know what was holy and what was profane according to the Word of the Lord. Because they failed to do what they were supposed to do, the whole nation was lost in their sin... therefore their judgement would be the harshest. They were:
False shepherds that led the sheep astray.
False healers who could not heal anyone.
False preachers, preaching peace when there was no peace coming.
False prophets who claimed to speak for the Lord, but had never even listened to His Word.

Our world is full of the same kinds of people.  Men and women who claim to be Christians, who rationalize sin in their sermons, who fail to speak Biblical truth because it doesn't agree with modern (wicked )"cultural" viewpoints... Churches and whole denominations are "strengthening the hands of evildoers" by not turning them back from their wickedness. God's judgement will be upon them.

"But if they had stood in My council, then they would have announced My words to the people, and would have turned them back from their evil way and from the evil of their deeds.  Am I a God who is near... and not a God far off?  Can a man hide himself in hiding places, so I do not see him?.. Do I not fill the heavens and the earth? declares the Lord."

God's Word is the truth and we must be careful to speak it in Truth.   His Word is like a fire.. and like a "hammer which shatters rock".   The false speakers, "perverted the words of the living God, the Lord of hosts, our God."  They received punishment for their wickedness in Jeremiah's days and they will in our day also.

The Word of God is "the sword of the Spirit". (Ephesians 6:17) "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and the intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from his sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. "  ( Hebrews 4:12-13)

James wrote this warning, " Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgement."  Paul wrote about false teachers who "want[ed] to distort the gospel of Christ."  ( Gal. 1:6-7) Peter wrote about those who  were "untaught and unstable [who] distort.. the Scriptures, to their own destruction." 

There is such an immensely important truth that we must heed from God's Word here - God's powerful Word is able to turn people away from sin and to the Lord - if it is not distorted or perverted or in any way diluted. We, as followers of Christ, must never allow ourselves or any others to teach  anything but the Truth, The whole Word of God.. . even when it is not politically correct or culturally acceptable.

Father in heaven,  I worship You and praise Your Name.. Holy and Almighty God, the Lord of hosts.
Guard my tongue and my fingers.. as I type these words.. Take captive my thoughts to abide only in Your Truth.. in Christ Jesus my Lord.  Bring repentance to those who are called by Your name but who have diluted or perverted the truth of Your Word.  Revive us and renew us by Your Word and Your Spirit.  Forgive us for not taking heed of Your word and not guarding it carefully as we should. Give us wisdom to discern those who want to lead us astray with falsehoods.  Protect us and our children from all false teaching.
Thank You for this Truth that You have shown us today.  May all who read this, take heed.  In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.