Category: Jeremiah–BibleTrekToday
“Feel-good” messages can be deceptive!
Scripture reading for August 9th: Jeremiah 26-29
It takes discernment to hear the voice of God. What sounds good is not always truth and only truth will make us free! In Jeremiah 28 we have a story that always makes me stop and consider what I might have done as I listened to these two prophets share. One had a message of victory and hope, and the other a message of judgment and captivity. One message was true and the other was false. God allowed the contest to take place in the temple of the Lord in front of the priests and all the people. After the messages were given, the people had to decide which one to believe. Were they to prepare for captivity or deliverance?
In the fifth month of the fourth year of King Zedekiah, all the people were gathered with the priests in the temple. Hananiah, a prophet from Gibeon spoke to Jeremiah in front of all the people. Jeremiah had been wearing a wooden yoke around his neck for a long time telling the people of their coming captivity. Hananiah spoke that within two years, God would remove the yoke of the Babylonians and Judah would be free. To illustrate that message, he took the yoke off Jeremiah and broke it in front of the people. (Jeremiah 28:1-4,10-11)
Jeremiah responded initially with an ‘amen’ to the message. But he added some prophetic insight. Most prophets are sent to warn of coming disaster and turn the people back to God. This prophecy of peace will only be from the Lord if it actually happened. (Jeremiah 28:6-9)
Jeremiah went his way and then the Lord spoke to him to go back with a word for Hananiah. He was to tell Hananiah that he was not sent by the Lord and that his prophecy was not true. God was going to remove the wooden yoke and place an iron yoke on his rebellious people. Hananiah would die because he preached rebellion against the Lord!
How would you decide which was true? In time, the truth became apparent. In the seventh month, three months later, Hananiah died! Please take time today to thank God for His word and the blessing of knowing the truth. Ask Him for discernment in these last days that you will not be deceived by messages that simply make you feel good but are not of God!
Hammer and fire!
Scripture reading for August 8th: Jeremiah 21-25
“Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. for what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord. “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” Jeremiah 23:28-29
When we were much younger and had small children we were in a church that sang Scripture songs. One of the songs we sang was from these verses in Jeremiah. It was a catchy tune and my younger son Marshal picked it up and was always singing it. It is interesting to note that Marshal is preaching God’s word today!
Jeremiah had to deliver some hard messages to his own peers in the ministry. He spoke a word to the shepherds of that day and accused them of scattering the sheep and destroying them. (Jeremiah 23:1-3) They were not caring for God’s people and were bringing about their death and captivity. The shepherds he was talking about were the kings of Judah. He warned them repeatedly but few appreciated his warnings! (Jeremiah 22:11-12) (Jeremiah 22:28-30) Some accused Jeremiah of being a traitor because of his strong words.
God, Himself, promised to raise up a ‘righteous Branch’ from the line of David who would restore justice and save the nation. (Jeremiah 23:5-6) This righteous king would bring God’s people out of captivity in the lands where they would be scattered and bring them into their own land. (Jeremiah 23:7-8)
The godless priests and prophets were the cause of the people going astray. They committed adultery and lived a lie. They prophesied by Baal, the false idol of the Canaanites. (Jeremiah 23:13-14) They told people who were living in sin that they would have peace when God’s word said they would have trouble. (Jeremiah 23:16-17) God was about to send a storm that would destroy the wicked and the prophets were not warning them to repent!
Jeremiah saw the word of God as a fire. The fire would burn out the dross and burn up the chaff as it swept the wicked away. Jeremiah saw God’s word as being a strong hammer that could shatter the Isrealites hardened hearts. Jeremiah’s heart was broken and his bones trembled at the thought of God’s holy words. (Jeremiah 23:9) Let the Spirit and life of God’s word keep you from the fire and hammer!
Arguing with the Potter!
Scripture reading for August 7th: Jeremiah 16-20
“Then the word of the Lord came to me: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.” Jeremiah 18:5-6
One of the most interesting object lessons I have seen is that of a potter working on his clay while talking about God’s work on us. Watching as the clay was formed gave me a new appreciation of God’s forming me– and a realization that sometimes I failed to cooperate. How ridiculous is the idea of the clay resisting the potter?
God sent Jeremiah down to the potter’s house and had him watch. As the potter was working, his pot was flawed, and he formed it into another pot, as it suited him. (Jeremiah 18:1-2) God then spoke to Jeremiah about his people being like the clay in the hand of the potter. God was in charge of the clay and the shaping of the vessel that was formed! If the flaws that were in the clay were not eliminated, then the potter would have to reshape the pot! It was as simple as that!
After Jeremiah preached this message, the people plotted against him. They attacked him with their tongues and then ignored him. (Jeremiah 18:18) They had viewed his message as evil and plotted to do away with him! (Jeremiah 18:19-20) Jeremiah became angry and asked God to not forgive them! (Jeremiah 18:23)
In response to all of this, God gave Jeremiah another object lesson. He was to go and buy a pot from the potter and take it to the valley of Ben Hinnom, near the entrance of the Potsherd Gate. Ben Hinnom was the city garbage dump where there were fires burning all the time. It was a picture of hell. There Jeremiah was to tell the people about all the ways that they had resisted the hand of their Potter and angered Him. Then he was to smash the pot as an graphic lesson. (Jeremiah 19:1-10)
It doesn’t pay to argue with the Potter! He is in charge and can do with the clay as He pleases. His desire is to make a beautiful vessel of honor for His house. An uncooperative clay pots will end up smashed in the valley of Ben Hinnom!
The lesson of the dirty underwear!
Scripture reading for August 6th: Jeremiah 11-15
Object lessons employ the principle that a ‘picture is worth a thousand words’. God has always given object lessons through His prophets. Some of these were pretty graphic. In today’s reading God instructed Jeremiah to go and buy a linen belt and put it around his waist. This belt was a type of underwear that Jeremiah would wear close to his body in the most intimate place. He was to wear it for a period of time but not wash it in water. (Jeremiah 13:1) Can you picture in your mind how the body sweat and the dust of walking on the roads of that day caused the white linen underwear to soil?
Next God instructed Jeremiah to take the underwear and hide it in a crevice of a rock. After many days he was to go and retrieve it. (Jeremiah 13:3-6) There were no surprises for the linen belt was ruined and completely useless. This object lesson would require some thinking on the part of the people!
God was saying that His people were like the white linen underwear. He wanted to keep them close to Him in intimacy and as a special treasure. They refused to listen and instead were filled with stubborn pride and rebellion. They went after other gods and worshiped them and became useless, just like the linen undergarment. They were called and prepared to be God’s people for ‘renown, praise and honor’, but fell far short of their calling. (Jeremiah 13:11) Their intimacy with Him had not consecrated their hearts as He dwelled in their midst! God would ruin their pride just like the soiled undergarment!
The New Testament book of 1st Peter contains a similar idea. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praise of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” (1st Peter 2:9-10) Another version uses the term “peculiar people”. This term speaks of a special treasure–“pocket change” that God can use for His special purposes. We belong to God and must choose to stay close to Him. Intimacy requires purity! God wants to us to dwell close to his heart and declare His praise to a dark world! He won’t wear ruined underwear!
Preaching at the church door!
Scripture reading for August 4th: Jeremiah 7-10
Jeremiah was told to preach to his people and warned they would not listen! (Jeremiah 7:27) God told him on several occasions not to pray for his people because their sins. Jeremiah wept rivers of tears for them anyway! (Jeremiah 7:16) (Jeremiah 9:22-23) His preaching was straight and he used interesting object lessons in 40 years of ministry!
He stood at the door of the temple and preached as God instructed him. “Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the Lord. This is what the Lord Almighty, The God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. Do not trust in deceptive words and say, “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!” If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, and in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever. But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless.” Jeremiah 7:2-7
His people were going through the motions of religion and were deceived! They were using religious activities to justify selfish lifestyles. Their trust was in their attendance at the temple. God called for a change in ways and actions that would align the people’s hearts with His. God cared about orphans and widows. He cared about the alien and the poor. His heart was broken for injustice and innocent bloodshed. God wanted His people to reflect His heart of love. They were in idolatry to their own selfish ways!
God was watching over His word! He saw hypocrisy and used Jeremiah to call them to repentance. 600 years later, Jesus Christ went into the temple of the Lord and saw similar things with his people and the money changers. He quoted from Jeremiah: “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations, but you have made it a ‘den of robbers’.” (Mark 11:17) (Jeremiah 7:11) He cleansed the temple and drove them out! Do we need more preaching at the church door?
Set apart before the womb!
Scripture reading for August 3rd: Jeremiah 1-6
When does life really begin? Some say life begins at conception while others say it begins when the fetus is able to maintain life on it’s own outside of the womb. Others say that life begins at a live birth. God tells us His perspective!
“The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:4-5) This scripture and others in the Bible indicate that God knows each person before they are formed in the womb! The New Testament states that God chose us to be in Christ before the creation of the world! (Ephesians 1:4) God knew everything before anything visible was created! He has a plan for each of us!
Jeremiah was set apart by God for a specific mission: “prophet to the nations.” Prophets listen to God and then speak His word to people. God doesn’t do anything by way of judgment without warning people by the prophets. (Amos 3:6-7) God spoke to Jeremiah when he was a child. God told him not to worry about his youth and inexperience, but to speak the word God gave him.
God would be with Jeremiah and deliver him. I don’t know about you, but if God told me that he would deliver me, I would be asking what I would be doing that called for deliverance! God was going to use Jeremiah to uproot and tear down or to build up and plant. (Jeremiah 1:7-9) These activities would bring conflict that caused the need for God’s deliverance!
God gave Jeremiah a vision of an almond tree. The almond tree was the first tree to bloom in the spring in Israel and it was known among the people as a sign that spring was coming. God spoke to Jeremiah through that vision that God Himself would watch over His word to bring it to pass. (Jeremiah 1:12-12)
Jeremiah is one of my favorite prophets! This book speaks clearly to us about our time and day! Listen closely for God speaking to you and confirming His call. Let Him show you how He has watched over His word for your life and future. It will revolutionize your faith and daily walk! He knew you before you were formed and has a plan!
Hope From the Ashes
Scripture reading for August 18th: Lamentations 1-5
“How deserted lies the city, once so full of people! How like a widow is she, who once was great among the nations! She who was a queen among the provinces has now become a slave.” . . “Jerusalem has sinned greatly and so has become unclean. All who honored her despise her, for they have seen her nakedness: she herself groans and turns away.” (Lamentations 1:1,8)
Jerusalem, the once proud city of the nation of Israel was turned to rubble! Those who lived there were either killed or taken captive by their enemies and the rest were slaves of a foreign occupying power. Jeremiah wrote this book of Lamentations as a funeral song over the death of a city and nation. He knew why this had happened and repeatedly told the people what was coming and why! Their sins had piled up and God had allowed them to reap the consequences!
The consequences of sin were horrible and sad! Jerusalem was destroyed and burned by fire, and its walls broken down. The children and infants suffered in the siege and had no food to eat. Many starved to death and some were actually eaten by their parents in order for them to survive! (Lamentations 2:11-12, 19-20) Others were murdered or slaughtered by the conquerors. The ravages of war and siege left a deposit of hopelessness and bitterness in the hearts of the survivors and even in Jeremiah’s own heart! (Lamentations 3:5-7, 19-20)
But Jeremiah found cause to hope in the midst of all the destruction and depression. “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, “the Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.” (Lamentations 3:21-24) God’s great love and mercy brought hope to the prophet. He knew that God was faithful to His word and the many promises He had made for His people and holy city.
In his grief, Jeremiah was comforted by God’s mercy. It is the same in our day. God’s love through Jesus Christ will sustain us through life’s trials and save us from the consequences of our many sins. He is our portion and we can trust in the God of all hope! (Romans 15:13)
Babylon’s Promised Retribution
Scripture reading for August 17th: Jeremiah 46-52
Vengeance belongs to the Lord alone; only He can repay people and nations for their sins. His judgments are right and true because He alone knows the truth about motives and actions. As we read these last chapters of Jeremiah, we see that God has the final say concerning judgment on each nation and people mentioned. He does nothing by judgment unless He warns people by prophetic word. Even Gentile nations were warned by Jeremiah of God’s coming judgment. Egypt, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Syria, and Israel were all spoken to. The final warning was sent to Babylon, the nation God used to punish Israel and who had destroyed God’s temple and killed many of His people. Although God used them to accomplish His purposes, they still stood accountable for their attitudes and actions.
This retribution would come from repentance by God’s people. “In those days, at that time, declares the Lord, “the people of Israel and the people of Judah together will go in tears to seek the Lord their God. They will ask the way to Zion and turn their faces toward it. They will bind themselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten.” (Jeremiah 50:4-5) This repentance would be followed by a new covenant that would not be forgotten. They would petition God for Zion and seek God with all their hearts and He would hear them!
Babylon would be punished because they opposed the Lord. (Jeremiah 50:24) He would punish them because of their arrogance. (Jeremiah 50:31-32) He would punish them because of their false prophets and idols. (Jeremiah 50:36-38) They would feel His wrath because they destroyed His temple and did wrong in Zion. (Jeremiah 51:11, 24) They would fall because of Israel’s slain at the hands of the wicked in Babylon. God does repay and is a God of retribution! (Jeremiah 51:56)
This punishment for Babylon was written down 70 years before it would happen and Jeremiah sent it by messenger to Babylon to be read aloud. (Jeremiah 51:60-63) After the reading of the scroll, the messenger was to tie a rock to it and throw it into the Euphrates River. He was to proclaim, “So will Babylon sink to rise no more because of the disaster I will bring upon her. And her people will fall.” (Jeremiah 51:64) God’s word is always right, and 70 years later, Babylon fell as Jeremiah predicted!
Back to Egypt!
Scripture reading for August 16th: Jeremiah 40-45
“Then all the army officers, including Johanan son of Kareah and Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest approached Jeremiah the prophet and said, “Please hear our petition and pray to the Lord your God for this entire remnant. For as you now see, though we were once many, now only a few are left. Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do.”…“May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything the Lord your God sends you to tell us.” (Jeremiah 42:1-3,5)
This is a preacher’s and a prophet’s dream: people coming to them for God’s direction and vowing to obey whatever God says! These people were a small remnant that was left from the captivity and had survived the assassination of their appointed leader. It seemed like they were ready to hear, so Jeremiah went away to pray. Ten days later, he brought them God’s directions. God told them in no uncertain terms what they were to do. They were to stay in the land and care for it and God would care for them. If they chose to go to Egypt, they would suffer and die there, never to return to the land. (Jeremiah 42:7-18)
It was a simple word and easy to understand. There was one problem, however. These people did not believe it because they had already decided what they wanted to do. The wanted to return to Egypt and felt that there they would have plenty to eat and protection. They loaded up all their possessions and the people and headed for Egypt in defiance to God’s word and instructions! (Jeremiah 43:1-7)
Egypt represents a type of the world and the ways of the flesh. When God’s people live in fear rather than faith, they often run to Egypt. Egypt represents man’s strength and dependence on the works of his own hands. Egypt was full of idols and its religion was sensuous and lust-driven. This group of Israelites that went to Egypt had been worshiping the “Queen of Heaven”, a female fertility goddess, even while in Israel. They were drawn to Egypt where they could indulge more freely! (Jeremiah 44:15-19) God in judgment, gave them what they chose, resulting in their destruction!
Sunday Rest and Reflection:Recabites!
Dear Friends of Jesus,
Greetings in the Wonderful Name of Jesus Christ! No other name offers salvation and eternal life! No other person has shown such great love to all of mankind and is now alive praying that we might enjoy this love forever! It’s time to worship Him and gather to celebrate our life in Him! It’s time to worship and bow down in honor and thanksgiving to the King of Kings!
I want to reflect today on a very obscure passage of scripture, Jeremiah 35. In this passage, God instructed Jeremiah to tempt a family to drink wine. They refused because of a command of their forefather, Jonadab. They chose to fully obey their forefather and enjoyed blessing for doing so. This was a simple command, but one not easy to obey in the culture of the Middle East of that day. The Recabites went against the culture and customs of the land to obey, and continued to do so even when tempted to do otherwise!
This is the lesson God was and is still teaching us through these simple people, “Therefore, this is what the Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Listen! I am going to bring on Judah and on everyone living in Jerusalem every disaster I pronounced against them. I spoke to them, but they did not listen; I called to them, but they did not answer.” (Jeremiah 35:17) We must listen to God and heed His word, just like the Recabites of old listened to their father and obeyed. They were rewarded for this simple obedience by God. He longs to reward us as well, as He is no respecter of persons!
Are you a good example like the Recabites, that God could use to call others to obedience? Why not make the changes you need today as you attend worship and hear the word of the Lord? God will reward you too!
In His Love,
Pastor John