Jeremiah 51-52  These final two chapters of Jeremiah once again remind us that God judges sin, yet, He is  faithful to keep His promises to Israel.  Babylon was used by God.. because of Israel's sinfulness.. to remove them from their land.   Jerusalem was destroyed.. the temple and the palace burned down.. the wall torn down.. and the people led away or killed.  But, Babylon would be judged because of this destruction. 

What God purposed, He performed.  What He spoke was accomplished.  We would do well to remember this!  "It is He who made the earth by His power, Who established the world by His wisdom, and by His understanding he stretched out the heavens."(51:15) Our God is a God who reigns! Everything is in His Hands. He has not changed. He still is at work in this world!

".. the Lord is a God of recompense, He will fully repay.."  All that was done to Israel back then.. all that is being done now.. will not escape the Lord's notice and will not go unpunished. 

Judah was taken away in exile.. but also returned according to God's word.  We remember these events and gain understanding.. that God is involved with everything that is happening in this world.. He sees.. He has a purpose.. and He will bring about His plans according to His promises. 

Father in heaven, You are our Maker and our King.. the Lord of hosts is Your Name. We worship You alone and turn to You, waiting on You to accomplish Your purposes in us, Your people, the sheep of Your pasture.  Lead us in the path of righteousness, deliver us from evil.. fill us with Your Spirit.. may our cup runneth over! May the Name of Jesus Christ be made known, exalted, and lifted up.. drawing people to the True God of heaven and earth. Amen. 

 Jeremiah 49-50  Jeremiah is given prophecies regarding Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar, Hazor,  and Babylon.. and all were found lacking. They were boastful, they were idolators, they were wicked, and they were guilty for their treatment of Israel.  For these reasons, God would judge them and their lands would become worthless.. "A wilderness, a parched land, and a desert.. " (50:12) 

The people of God would return to Zion.. they would once again find the covenant relationship with their God.  They would once again know their Redeemer, "the Lord of hosts is His name."  When God chooses to move.. no one will stop Him.  There are none who can oppose Him.. His purposes will be fulfilled. 

We know that these nations are no long called by those names.. all were removed from any power that they might have had.  But, in place we have nations like Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Iran.. The region is still full of turmoil.. the nations have not learned that God is Sovereign and He has chosen Israel to be His. "For who is like Me, and who will summon Me into court? And who then is the shepherd who can stand before Me?" (50:44) 

If God judged the arrogant in those olden days.. will He not judge the arrogance of today? He has a plan and a purpose for every nation.. even as He did for Babylon..  

Father, we watch and we wait upon You.. for we know that You are at work in Your people. You have a plan and it will be carried out.. by Your Almighty Hand.  Nations will bow.. as every knee will bow before You. We rest in this truth.  Father, keep us in Your ways.. prepare us for the days ahead, and empower us by Your Spirit to run the race that You have set before us.. that  we will be ready to stand before You on that day.. with no regrets.. only thankful hearts for the grace of Jesus that has overflowed in our lives.  May our lives of faith bear much fruit.. to the glory of His Name. Amen.

 Jeremiah 48  "Concerning Moab"   This region had the Dead Sea to its west and the desert to its east.  In present times it is encompassed by the country of Jordan.  Moab is no more.  This passage tells us that the Lord judged Moab  " .. because of [their] trust in [their] own achievements and treasures.. "  They were proud, arrogant , boastful, and haughty.  There are several references to their love of drunkenness..  They worshipped Chemosh.. a false god. 

Arrogance, pride, and boasting... sounds familiar, doesn't it?  Drunkenness and immorality.. also way to prevalent in our society today.  We know that the Lord made an end to Moab.. we do not know when the day will come when the sins of America will bring about judgement too. 

Father, we pray for our country, for repentance and restoration.. that we might be a land where Your Truth is spoken, where Your ways are honored and obeyed, where we will join ourselves with You and be Your people. Bring humility and surrender to our leaders.  Make Your servants bold to speak the truth.  Protect those who are being persecuted for their faith. Show us what things we must do.. that Your Name will be honored in our land once more.  We ask these things in the mighty Name of Jesus Christ who has been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Amen. 

Jeremiah 47  This chapter is a prophecy the the Lord gave Jeremiah against the region of Philistia.. which is the exact area that is in our current news.  The main city of Philistia was Gaza. Another that we still hear of is Ashkelon. 

The Lord told Jeremiah that destruction was coming to Philistia.. it would overflow the land, it would make the men so weak that they wouldn't even try to save their children, it would destroy all of the Philistines, and would leave Gaza and Ashlelon "ruined".  They would begin to cry out to the Lord, "Ah, sword of the Lord, How long will you not be quiet?"  They would beg for rest from the Lord's sword. 

His answer?  "How can it be quiet, when the Lord has given it an order?" The Lord is at work.  We may not understand.  We do pray for peace.. but until the Lord has completed His perfect and holy work, the war will not cease.  What is the Lord's order for this current stretch of land? We do not know... but this we do know.. God is at work for His good purposes and He will carry out His will.  So, we pray... 

Father in heaven, holy and hallowed is Your Name.. above every other name on earth or in the heavens. We ask that Your Kingdom come.. reign in this world.. reign over Jerusalem and over the Gaza strip. Reign in our hearts.  We ask that Your will be done on earth.. in every inch of this earth.. as it is in all of heaven!  We ask for daily bread.. for everything we need comes from Your Hands.. You are our Shepherd and we do not lack. Thank You.  Provide food for those who are hungry, Lord God.  Provide shelter for those without homes.. lost to the bombs and fires.  Father, forgive us our sins.  Bring to repentance those who have still not recognized the sins of their nation.. as well as our own. .. repentance from shedding innocent blood.. repentance from immortality and greed and brutality.  May we forgive our enemies.. pray for our enemies.. and see our enemies turn from their sins. Deliver us from evil and lead us in paths of righteousness.. for Your Name's sake.  Yours is the power, the glory, and the honor, Father.  For You have lavished Your grace on us through the Lord Jesus Christ, the Beloved Son of God.  And it is in His name that we pray. Amen.  

 Jeremiah 44-46  The remnant of Judah kidnapped Jeremiah and moved to Egypt. They still refused to listen to the Word of the Lord.  They refused to repent.  They would not even believe that they were causing the calamity that happened because of their idolatry!  They even went as far as to vow to offer sacrifices to the queen of heaven.. because they considered their lack of everything because of not worshipping her!   They seemed to have completely forgotten the God who had brought His people out of Egypt.. astonishing!

But, what would happen next.. they could not deny... for God sent Nebuchadnezzar to attack Egypt.  Egypt would be terrified, would fall back, would stumble.  There would be no refuge for Judah in the land of Egypt.  Very few would survive and return to Israel. 

Yet,  God is still not finished with His people .. " But as for you, O Jacob My servant, do not fear, nor be dismayed, O Israel! For, see, I am going to save you from afar, and your descendants from the land of captivity; and Jacob shall return and be undisturbed and secure, with not one making him tremble. " 

God promises correction.. punishment.. but restoration.  Even now, as we watch the news about Israel.. we see that Israel still has not fully returned to her God.. has not learned the lessons of God's Word.. and is still trying to do things her own way.  May God open the eyes of His people.. May their ears listen to His Voice and turn to their God and His Anointed One. 

Father in heaven, may we hear Your voice today in Your Word. May we know that You alone are God and that there is NO other. May we worship and serve You alone.  May we know the security and peace of being the sheep of Your pasture.. Your children, resting in You, trusting You, and obeying Your Word. We cast our cares on You, for we know that You care for us!  We will not be anxious about anything, but in everything, bring our prayers and petitions to You, with thanksgiving!  We will rest in the arms of Jesus who will defend us and keep us in His perfect peace. All glory and praise and thanks we give to You, our Almighty and Gracious King. Amen. 

 Jeremiah 42-43  Johanan and his forces came to Jeremiah and asked him to pray.. "Please let our petition come before you, and pray for us to the Lord your God.. "  If God would tell them what to do next.. they promised.. "whether it is pleasant to unpleasant, we will listen to the voice of the Lord our God to whom we are sending you, in order that it may go  well with us the we listen to the voice of the Lord our God." 

Sounds good!  So, Jeremiah went to pray.. and after 10 days he heard from the Lord.  "Thus says the Lord the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your petition before Him: 'If you will indeed stay in this land, then I will build you up and not tear you down, and I will plant you and not uproot you; for I shall relent concerning the calamity that I have inflicted on you.. ' "  He told them to not be afraid. To trust in His provision and protection. " I will also show you compassion, so that he ( Nebuchadnezzar ) will have compassion on you and restore you to your own soil."  What wonderful promises!

But, there was also a warning.. if they would not obey.. if they went down to Egypt like they wanted.. "then in that case listen to the word of the Lord of hosts... then it will come about that the sword, which you are afraid of will overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, about which you are anxious, will follow closely after you there in Egypt; and you will die there."

Jeremiah made it clear.. this is what God was telling them.. stay and He will provide.. go to Egypt and they would die... "But it came about, as soon as Jeremiah whom the Lord their God had sent, had finished telling all the people all the words of the Lord their God - that is, all these words- that Azariah.. Johanan.. and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, ' You are telling a lie!' "  They "did not obey the voice of the Lord, so as to stay in the land of Judah."  They took everyone.. including Jeremiah.. and went to Egypt.  The result would be destruction.. from the hands of Nebuchadnezzar.. upon Egypt too. 

Father, You make a way for us.. You show us Your paths of righteousness.. and yet in arrogance and deceit, many turn away.. refuse to listen.. and refuse to obey.  Oh help us Lord, to repent and turn to You, no matter what.. whether pleasant or unpleasant.. whether we understand or not.. let us follow our Good Shepherd!  May we not just say that we will do Your will...but, let us do it. Help us to remember that You will provide all the strength we need to face the obstacles of life.  You are with us always and will never forsake us.  Make Your presence and compassion known to those who are struggling today, Father. Help us, Your children, to contend earnestly for the faith that is ours in Christ Jesus. May we remain steadfast in Him.. who keeps us from falling.. for it is in His mighty Name we pray. Amen. 

Jeremiah 36-41  The Lord told Jeremiah to write down all His words.. so Jeremiah sat down with Baruch, his scribe and dictated all the words the God had spoken to him... but, when it was finally brought to Jehoiakim, the king at that time, he destroyed in a the fire.  Then Jeremiah and Baruch started over again and rewrote it... adding more to it.  God's Word will never pass away.... no matter what men want to do about it. 

The next few chapters tell about Jeremiah being arrested, beaten, moved, thrown in a muddy cistern, rescued, and finally spared by Nebuchadnezzar... Over and over Jeremiah spoke what the Lord told him to say, and over and over Judah refused to listen, repent, and turn back to the Lord. Even when the king Zedekiah asked Jeremiah point blank what he should do.. and Jeremiah told him.. he still tried to run from Nebuchadnezzar instead of surrender.  This led to a terrible sentence.. " Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes.. then he blinded Zedekiah's eyes and bound him in fetters of bronze to bring him to Babylon." ( 39:6-7)

Only the poorest people were left in Jerusalem.. and those who had "nothing" were given "vineyards and fields at that time."  Jeremiah was taken into the home of Gedaliah. The kings palace was burned down, the city wall broke down, and the rest of the population taken into exile. 

All that Jeremiah prophesied came to be.. but it was not over yet. Gedaliah was appointed by the Chaldeans to be in charge, so he gathered the remnant and things were going well.. until a man named Ishmael rose up and killed him and many others.  Then Johanan heard what happened and brought an army against Ishmael and rescued all the people he had captured. 

And even then..they would not listen to the Lord's word..

Father in heaven,  will Israel ever seek You and listen to You?  O Haste the day when they will finally see the Truth!  Father, help us to ever seek Your face and receive Your Word and obey.  Thank You for the Word of God, recorded by faithful men, preserved from ancient times.. and relevant for this very day.  May the Spirit of God fall fresh on us, so that we might have understanding and wisdom to walk according to the Truth and to honor You in all we do and say.  We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Jeremiah 34-35  These two chapters have a common theme.. obedience.   

The king of Judah, Zedekiah, led his people to make a covenant with the Lord, to release every male and female Hebrew servant according to the Law.  They all obeyed and set the servants free... but.. some regretted this decision and took the servants back into  bondage.  This "profaned" the name of the Lord.. for this was a promise made in the Temple of the Lord.  "Therefore thus says the Lord, ' You have not obeyed Me in proclaiming release to each man to his brother, and each man to his neighbor. Behold I am proclaiming release to you.... to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine.. ' " 

Vows and promises made before God are sacred.  Jesus said it would be better to make no vows.. or oaths at all... than to make a vow you do no keep. ( Matthew 5:33-34)  

In chapter 35 Jeremiah tells of the Rechabites.. a clan that descended from Rechab; who all vowed to not drink wine.. or build houses.. or sow seed.. or plant vineyards.  For many generations these families obeyed the instructions of their ancestor. Even when Jeremiah was told to take them into the Temple and set wine before them, they would not compromise their vows.  In contrast to this the Lord says of His people, " Will you not receive My instructions by listening to My words?"

The Rehabites obeyed their father's commands, but the family of Judah would not obey their God's commands. " But I have spoken to you again and again; yet you have not listened to Me."  The message had been made clear.. " Turn now every man from his evil way, and amend your deeds; and do not go after other gods to worship them, then you shall dwell in the land which I have given you.. but you have not inclined you ear or listened to Me." 

Disaster would come upon Jerusalem because God spoke and His people would not listen.. " I have called them but they did not answer."

What vows have we made? What promises have we not kept? Are we obeying the Word of God? Are we listening to His voice and keeping His commands? Has He called me and I have not answered?

God speaks to us.. again and again.. but we need to incline our ears, we need to receive His instructions. We need to be "doers" of the Word as well. Like the Rechabites, we need to stay firm in our obedience, not compromising.. but living according to His Word .. by His Spirit.. every moment of every day.  It is not mistake they He calls us to "pray continually".. for how else can we do this?

Father in heaven, lead us in paths of righteousness, keep us from evil.  Open our ears to hear and our hearts to receive all You long for us to hear. Help us to keep our covenants with You and to worship You  alone for You are the Lord, the God of heaven and earth and there is no other!  Fill us Spirit of God that we might walk in righteousness, in love, and in obedience to Your Word,  today. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 

 Jeremiah 33  I love this message:  "Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it, the Lord is His name,  Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know." (v2-3)

He is speaking to His people who brought Him to anger by their sinfulness.. so much so that many were killed.. and He hid His face from them because of their wickedness...  to these people He says, "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."  He will restore them, rebuild them, and "cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned against Me, and by which they have transgressed against Me." ( v6-8)

What a promise!  Let no one ever think that they are too bad.. too sinful.. for God to forgive. Our God is excellent...Psalm 148:14 "Let them praise the name of the Lord; for His name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven," ( KJV)  I have a little book called Wonderful Names of our Wonderful Lord that has put this verse in my thoughts to meditate on..  he writes.. "All the glory of the Lord is that in which He excels all others. His name is 'Excellent', and all His names that represent some feature of His grace are glorious because the excel any other name ever uttered among men.  What friend, what helper do we know on earth who ever has or can approach His excellence?"  Our God excels in redeeming the lost and healing the hurting.. in saving the sinner.. in restoring those cast down! 

And, Jeremiah gives us more! " And it (Judah ) 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." ( v9)  The day is coming.. He tells us.. when He will "fulfill the good word which I have spoken.. " 

As we look at Israel today.. we wonder how that can be.. but there is a "Branch of David" who is coming to "execute justice and righteousness on the earth".  He is coming to restore His people.. it is as certain as the "fixed patterns of heaven and earth.. " (v25)  As long as day and night continues according to their appointed times.. the Lord says.. His promises will be fulfilled.  Hallelujah !

Father in heaven, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!  Thank You for the precious promises of Your word. Thank You that Jesus Christ is coming back again to receive us for Himself.  Thank You that we can rest in Your faithfulness and trust in Your mercy and compassion. Draw us closer to Your heart.. fill us with Your Spirit.. and lead us in Your paths today we pray.. Amen. 

 Jeremiah 32   Zedekiah put Jeremiah into a prison in the royal house.  He didn't like Jeremiah's prophecies and refused to listen.  Yet, Jeremiah seemed to have some freedom while imprisoned... for when his cousin came to ask him to redeem his father's field in the land of Benjamin..the Lord told him to do it and he was able to pay seventeen shekels of silver for it.  

This purchase was a sign to Israel that the Lord was going to do something more... He was not through with His people... for His covenant with David would be fulfilled.  Jeremiah obeys God's command to purchase the land and then he prays.. "Ah Lord God!  Behold Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and by Thine outstretched arm!  Nothing is too difficult for Thee... " 

Jeremiah doesn't understand all that will happen.. but he trusts God.  The Lord's reply is one we can also hold on to... " Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?" 

The Lord would give the Chaldeans victory over Jerusalem.. and everything would be ruined.. because of the great sins of Judah.. "Indeed this city has been to Me a provocation of My anger.. that it should be removed from before My face.."  Their evil ways provoked God. They defiled the temple. They sacrificed their children to Molech. They worshipped Baal. Their sins were detestable.   

Yet.. after all that.. God would bring them back.. He would forgive them. He would restore them.. He would bless them. "And I will rejoice over them to do good.. " Amazing!

Blessed and gracious Father, Lord, the God of all flesh.. there is nothing too difficult for You!  We are not too far gone for You to recover us.  We are not too lost that You cannot find us. We are not too sinful that You cannot forgive us, restore us, and make us clean.  You are the God of great power and Your arms are stretched out towards us.. to bring us back to You.  Gracious and loving God, You see us.. You know us.. and You choose to love us!  You have made a way where there was no other way.. giving to us a Savior, Jesus Christ, Your beloved Son.. our Redeemer and Lord forever. Thank You, Lord.  Thank You for encouraging us through the darkest times.. those valleys of shadows.. making Your Presence known in so many ways. We give You all praise.. for Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever! Amen. 

 Jeremiah 30-31 These chapters turn our thoughts to a future.. to a time of restoration.. to a day when mourning will be turned to joy!  The people of God will find "grace in the wilderness".  They will hear these glorious words, " I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness."  There is a day coming when One is come to ".. keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock."

Jeremiah gives us the words of the Lord that bring hope and joy and restoration.  Iniquity will be punished, but it will also be forgiven and remembered no more!  The City of God will be rebuilt, a new covenant will be established and the Lord of hosts will complete His plans for His people. 

"Behold the days are coming..."  the Lord reminds us. He yearns for us. He loves us. He redeemed us and He gives us "hope for [our] future".  Hallelujah! 

I am reading Robert Morgan's book, The Lord is my Shepherd, based on the 23rd psalm.  Listen to this quote..

"What if you knew for certain that your every need would be met? What if you knew that the Creator of eternity was your best friend? What if you were convinced that a heavenly mansion awaited your earthly mission? What if you knew that your life had meaning? What if you had God's guarantee that everything would turn out well in the end? What if you had total access to His throne twenty-four hours a day? What if you had someone who died for you and rose again from the grave to give you a life that was more than abundant? What if you knew that the Lord was your Shepherd? Well, He is; and if He is, then all those things are realities." 

All that Jeremiah prophesied.. all that David wrote.. all that Jesus gave to us in His teaching.. in His sacrifice and resurrection... all this is leading us to that Day that is coming when every promise will be fulfilled and every hope realized. Until then, may we be His contented sheep.. lying down in green pastures.. resting in His everlasting love.. trusting Him for our every need. 

Father in heaven, we praise Your Name and give You thanks, for You have given us a Redeemer who is our Good Shepherd.  He leads us in paths of righteousness and anoints our heads with oil.. He prepares a place for us.. and He will come again to take us Home to be with You forever and ever. Father, fill us with faith and joy and love today, that we might serve You well.  Let us grow deeper in love with You, filled with Your Spirit of grace. We ask this in Jesus' name.. Amen and amen. 

 Jeremiah 29 The Lord gave Jeremiah a message to send to the exiles in Babylon.. they were to settle down, "build houses.. plant gardens.. take wives.. multiply.. and do not decrease".  They were to "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."  The false prophets were saying that the exile would not be long, but Jeremiah reminded them that the Lord said it would be 70 years. 

It is in this letter that we find these beautiful words.. " 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. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you.. and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations.. and bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile." (v11-14)

The false prophets would be removed and never see the good that the Lord planned for His people...Because they "have spoken words in My name falsely, which I did not command them; and I am He who know, and am a witness.." (v23) 

This letter reminds us of the most important things.. to listen to God's Word, to trust Him for the future,  to speak only the Truth.. and to be still.. at peace.. knowing that in His time He will make all things well!  Daniel heeded these words of Jeremiah.. he knew when the 70 years were about to end.. and he called on the Lord, sought Him with all his heart, and found a future and a hope in God.. even while he served in Babylon.. 

Father, grant us faith like Daniel, may we be diligent  in listening to and obeying Your Word.   May we not pay attention to those who spout false words.. making excuses for their own sins.  May we have perfect assurance in Jesus Christ our Lord.. our Almighty Shepherd.. to lead us in righteousness and find hope and rest in You.. in Your plans for each of us.  Thank You for being our Mighty God who is worthy of all our praise and worship. Thank You for leading me to seek You and to find You.  How precious is Your love to me, O Lord.  Father, we bring our petitions before You, asking for Your Kingdom to come and Your will to be done.  We also pray that You would help Israel in its distress.. that they might seek You and find You when they search for You with all their heart.  In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. 

 Jeremiah 28  A prophet named Hananiah came to Jerusalem and claimed to hear from the Lord. He prophesied that with the next 2 years Nebuchadnezzar would be removed from power and everything and everybody would be returned to Jerusalem.  Just what everyone wanted to hear!  Even Jeremiah said "Amen"!  But... 

He said, "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." 

Unfortunately for Hananiah.. his prophesies were false.  The Lord said to him, "you have broken the yokes of wood, but you have made instead of them yokes of iron."  He made things worse.. he "counseled rebellion against the Lord."  Because of this, Hananiah would die.. and 2 months later, he was gone. 

False hope.. false teaching.. false words that lead people away from the Truth will result in severe judgement.  It  begins with those who have been given the responsibility of leading God's people. Peter wrote, "For it is time for judgement to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner?"( 1 Peter 4:17-18)

Peter  also wrote this.. "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bring swift destruction upon themselves." He reminds his readers.. and us.. to be diligent to stay in the Word.. to listen carefully and obey His Truth and not be swept away by those who indulge the flesh.. despise authority.. are daring and self-willed. ( 2 Peter 2) 

Father in heaven, lead us in Your Truth and speak clearly to our hearts that we might walk in obedience and not rebellion.. that we might do what is right in Your sight and not follow lies and false teachings.  Our world is full of rebellion and deceit.. but we have a Savior who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and we belong to Him.  Guard our thoughts, Lord!  Fill us with Your Spirit who will lead us in Your ways.. who convicts of  "sin and righteousness, and judgement".  We desire to live according to Your Word in faith, to glorify You in all we do and say, and to be Your light in the midst of a darkened world.  May Your church rise Lord Jesus, proclaiming the Truth of the Gospel to a world facing yokes of wood and iron, and the judgement to come..  which is certain.  And Father, according to Your great mercy.. please set the prisoners free.  Lord God, we pray this in the Name of the Holy One, Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen. 

 Jeremiah 27  God said, "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." (v5)

Surprisingly, at that time, He gave it to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.  This was a temporary gift. It was only for a season. Ultimately all of creation belongs to One so much greater.. "For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:16-17)

Jeremiah's message was to all the nations around Israel.. submit to the one that God put in power, or perish.  Judah was still trying to rely on outside help.. but God was bringing that all to an end.  They could submit to Him or perish.  

And, ultimately, that is each person's choice too.. we either submit and surrender to our Creator, who happens to love us and want us.. or we perish.  In these days, we are seeing what is happening in Israel.. and we know that God is in the middle of this... He loves His people and wants them to listen to His Word and surrender to His will.  May they not reject the Messiah any longer, but call on Him, who made them and holds them together.

Father in heaven, glorious and gracious, just and merciful.. we call on You .. praying for Your Kingdom to come and Your will to be done. May Jesus, the King of glory reign in Jerusalem and in all the earth we pray.  Bring home the captives.. set the prisoners free, Lord God.  Protect the children and the women, please Lord God!  Make Your Name great in the nations.. every nation.. we pray.  Thank You for making the way of salvation plain.. the glorious gospel.. let it be shouted above the roof tops.  Be glorified in all of this today, Lord.  In the name of Jesus Christ the Lord we come.. amen. 

 Jeremiah 26  The Lord gave Jeremiah another message.. oh how patient our Lord is... "Stand in the court of the Lord's house, and speak... Do not omit a word!.. Perhaps they will listen and everyone will turn from his evil way, that I may repent of the calamity which I am planning to do to them because of their evil deeds." 

And so, Jeremiah spoke everything the Lord told him to say.. and the result was that they sentenced him to die!  They did not heed the warnings.. they didn't even consider their need to repent.. or be thankful that God was giving them another chance.. they just wanted to kill the messenger.. and ignore the warning.  They certainly did not consider repenting from their evil ways..

Yet, there were some who intervened on Jeremiah's behalf.. the "princes of Judah"  came to hear the charges against Jeremiah.. They listened to Jeremiah's defense.. "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. But as for me, behold, I am in your hands; do with me as is good and right in your sight. Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves, and on this city, and on its inhabitants; for truly the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing." ( v13-15)

Jeremiah stood on the Word of the Lord.. even in the face of a death sentence.  He did not waver or omit a word. The princes listened and revoked the sentence against Jeremiah. They told of the time that Hezekiah listened to the prophet Micah and the Lord answered that prayer.. and of the time that Jehoiakim heard from the prophet Uriah and did not listen but killed him. A choice needed to be made.. and they chose to listen this time.. 

"But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that he was not given into the hands of the people to put him to death." One man stood with Jeremiah. Sometimes one person can make all the difference in the hands of the Lord! 

Father, there is a message here for us from Your holy Word today.. as there is always!  May we be as Jeremiah.. standing firm on the Word in spite of the anger and threats and accusations of the world.. those who want to ignore the warnings of scripture to repent and turn from evil ways.  May we be like Ahikam.. standing with those who speak the truth.. when you give us the opportunity to make a difference.  Lead us in Your ways, Lord... in paths of righteousness and truth and grace.. in the ways of Jesus Christ our Great Shepherd and King.  Father, we pray for the peace of Jerusalem today.. and we pray with great urgency that they would heed Your Holy Word and turn from sin and rebellion.. to call upon the Name of Yahweh, their God.. and Yeshua, the Messiah.  We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Jeremiah 25   He spent 23 years giving the same message.. "Turn now every one from his evil way and from the evil of your deeds, and dwell on the land which the Lord has given to you... and do not go after other gods to serve them and to worship them, and do not provoke Me to anger with the work of your hands." (v5-6)

"Yet you have not listened....in order that you might provoke Me to anger with the work of your hands to your own harm." (v7)

There is a cup.. that contains all of God's wrath against sin.. a cup that every nation will drink, Jeremiah wrote.. a cup that will cause men to reel, fall, and rise no more. (v27)

This passage always makes me think of Gethsamane.. Jesus prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt." (Matthew 26:39-42)

Jesus drank the cup of God's wrath.. because we provoked the Father to anger.. because we would not listen.. because of the work of our hands.. He took it for us.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Father in heaven.. forgive us our sins, our trespasses, our evil ways. Turn our hearts back to You.. turn our ears to hear Your Word, and turn our wills.. that we might use our hands and feet and voices to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ the Lord. You are a God of compassion and mercy.. yet we know that You are a God who will bring judgement on all the earth. There are so many that are still not listening.. still using their hands to their own harm.  Send forth workers into the harvest field, Lord... that more people will come to repentance and turn to Jesus Christ who died for their sins.  Amen!

 Jeremiah 24  The Lord shows Jeremiah two baskets of figs.  One is filled with the best figs.. perfectly grown and picked.  The other is filled with old rotten, worthless figs.  The message given is this:

The good figs represent those people who have been taken captive and sent to Babylon. "For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them again to the land; and I will build them up and not overthrow them, and I will plant them and not pluck them up. And I will give the 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." ( v6-7) 

The bad figs represent those who were not carried away into exile.. Zedekiah, the king and his officials and the "remnant of Jerusalem".  They are the rotten and worthless lot.  They were evil in the Lord's eyes and He would send sword, famine, and pestilence "until they are destroyed". 

In my thinking it is the ones sent away from the promised land that seem to be cursed.. but they were actually the blessed ones.  The ones who stayed.. they were the ones deemed to be worthless and evil.. rotten!  Seems kind of backwards...

We may have found ourselves in a situation like this.. the loss of a job.. or a home.. being moved where we don't want to go.. yet, afterwards we find out that God had something better for us in the new place.  He made a way.. uncomfortable as it was.. to accomplish His greater  purpose for us!

The ones who stayed in the city.. those who refused the Lord's words.. remained in their sin and died in their wickedness. 

What about us?  We sometimes fight against change.. it is uncomfortable.. it is sometimes heartbreaking.  We don't know that God has a greater purpose.. we forget to trust Him in the exile... in the change..   

This message is so encouraging for us who are in that season of our lives..  He has set His eyes on us for good!  Praise the Lord! He plans on building us up.. on planting us deep.. making us fruitful and secure. He has given us a heart to know Him.. to be His people .. He is our God!  Hallelujah! 

Father,  bring us through the trials and storms.. help us remember that You are faithful and trustworthy to accomplish Your purposes through every situation!  We can even rejoice in the times of "exile".. when change happens.. when life becomes overwhelming... when our hearts are breaking.  You see us and You will cause all things to work together for good!  You are our amazing Lord, God of heaven and earth and there is no other!  Praise to Your Holy Name and to the Son, our Savior in who's name we come.. Be glorified, Lord Jesus we pray.. Amen

 Jeremiah 23  "Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!" This chapter is a powerful condemnation of the "shepherds" of Judah.  Prophets and priests... those who were called to lead the people according to God's Word..  had failed horrifically! "You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds, declares the Lord." 

They had a greater responsibility.. so their judgement would be the greatest.. the Lord's heart was broken and His anger pours out in this message.. "For the land is full of adulterers; and the land mourns because of the curse.. for both prophet and priest are polluted; even in My house I have found their wickedness.." 

The Lord is very specific about the offensive and horrible things that He will punish them for:

They "prophesied by Baal and led My people Israel astray."

They committed adultery and spoke falsehoods.

They encouraged evildoers and did not turn anyone back from doing evil.

They spoke false prophesies.  They spoke of their own visions.. "of their own imagination ". 

They said that the Lord would give them peace.. even to those who were walking " in the stubbornness of his own heart."

"But who has stood in the council of the Lord, that he should see and hear His word? Who has given heed to His word and listened?" (v18)

They spoke for the Lord without hearing from Him. They proclaimed their own dreams and visions.  they "perverted the words of the living God, the Lord of hosts, our God." 

"But if they had stood in My council, then they would have announced My words to My 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, declares the Lord, and not a God far off?  Can a man hide himself in hiding places, so I do not see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill the heavens and the earth? declares the Lord." (v22-24) 

".. Let him who has My word speak My word in truth."  His Word, the Lord says is like "fire.. and like a hammer which shatters a rock.."  The prophets would be punished severely for their false dreams and messages that could not "furnish this people the slightest benefit." 

Let those who are shepherds.. church leaders.. teachers.. pastors.. anyone who has the responsibility to speak God's Word take heed of this passage.  God does not take lightly those who fain to speak for Him without hearing from Him! We are accountable to the One who sees and knows our hearts.. for every word that we speak for Him. 

Father, we live in a land where too many are speaking of their own dreams and visions.. false words that do not comfort and do not turn sinners back from their sins.  Forgive us Lord!  Change hearts and minds that we should come to You and stand in Your council and speak Your Word in truth.  Oh Jesus, the living Word, the Lord our righteousness,  come and reign as king.. to do justice and righteousness in the land. We pray for Your Kingdom to come and Your will to be done. Amen. 

 Jeremiah 22  Once again the Lord sends Jeremiah to the king to speak His Word.. "Thus says the Lord, 'Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also, do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place.' "  

It doesn't seem like too much to ask.. how hard the heart and how evil the man who would refuse to turn away from doing wrong.. in order to save his nation ?  Yet, this is what happened. 

"But if you will not obey these words, I swear by Myself.. that this house will become a desolation."   The Lord  brought Nebuchadnezzar against  Judah and its king..  and "hurled"  them  "into another country where you were not born and there you will die." (v26)

Listen to what God says to kings... "Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness and his upper rooms without justice, who uses his neighbor's services without pay and does not give him his wages, who says, ' I will build myself a roomy house with spacious upper rooms, and cut out its windows, paneling it with cedar and painting it bright red.'  Do you become a king because you are competing in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink, and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy; Then it was well. Is not this what it means to know Me?  But your eyes and your heart are intent only upon your own dishonest gain, and on shedding innocent blood and on practicing oppression and extortion." 

God makes it so clear.. doing what is right.. will bring great blessing.  But, doing what is self-serving, evil, and against God's Word will bring only desolation and destruction.  It is the same word that He speaks over and over again.. yet we see the same attitudes.. the same selfish, rebellious, and evil leadership around our world today.  The "kings"  do not care about justice for the oppressed, the orphan and the widow.  They do not care about the shedding of innocent blood.. They only care about their own houses and prosperity.  They won't interfere with the power of the oppressor.. for that is their power too. 

God will bring judgement.  It is not a matter of if but when.. He gave many warnings to Judah and Israel and they did not repent. They did not choose righteousness and compassion. And they were destroyed.  This needs to be heard today.. by those in our nation who are choosing unrighteousness and sin.. who refuse God's Word.  Time is running out... 

Father in heaven, open up the ears of our president and other government leaders.. that they might hear the voice of Your servants warning them of the results of their sinful choices.  They have not done justice.. they have not delivered the poor.. they have condoned the shedding of innocent blood.. Oh God, may they repent and turn back to You.. to Truth.. to righteousness.  May they hear the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and find that You are willing to forgive and restore if they will call upon You.  Father, we seek Your Kingdom and Your righteousness.. waiting on You to accomplish all of Your perfect and holy will in us, Your children. Make us bold in declaring Your Word! May we persevere to the end...  Let Your name be exalted in all the earth. Amen!

 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.