“Is Israel a servant? Is he a homeborn slave? Why is he plundered? The young lions roared at him, and growled; They made his land waste; His cities are burned, without inhabitant. Also the people of Noph and Tahpanhes Have broken the crown of your head. Have you not brought this on yourself, In that you have forsaken the LORD your God When He led you in the way? And now why take the road to Egypt, To drink the waters of Sihor? Or why take the road to Assyria, To drink the waters of the River? Your own wickedness will correct you, And your backslidings will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing That you have forsaken the LORD your God, And the fear of Me is not in you,” Says the Lord GOD of hosts.
Jeremiah 2:14-19
The question is asked, is Israel a servant or is Israel a slave? Is Israel powerless to do what was right? Does Israel have no ability to think for themselves and decide on actions that will bring satisfaction into their souls? The answer is no, Israel is not a slave. Israel is God's firstborn son, the inheritor of the wealth that God has to give them. The wealth are God's blessings. Israel as a freeman, and the son of the King, will decide its fate for themselves. The King wants the son to be established and to have good things. Yet Israel is plundered. Why? Why have the young lions attacked him and laid waste the land of promise, burning the cities and carrying away as slaves the people of God? According to the footnote, Noph is Memphis. Memphis and Tahpanhes represent Egypt, the nation to the south of Israel that Israel hoped would save them from the attacking Babylonians. Egypt turned to be a false hope, as it also attacked and injured Judah. What caused Israel to be destroyed? Even the son of the King has choices to make. How often do we turn what God means to be blessings into pain. God shares with His people that they brought this destruction upon themselves. Instead of trusting upon God and obeying His word, they have forsaken God. Israel made alliances with the surrounding nations for their protection. Egypt and Assyria would protect them they thought. So instead of trusting in the God who had always protected them when they turned to Him, they symbolically went to Egypt and drank the waters of Sihor and symbolically went to Assyria and drank the waters of the Euphrates. Instead of drinking of the life giving waters that God was ready to pour out upon them, the decided to drink the waters of nations that would be complicit in their destruction.
Israel's own wickedness would correct them. Forsaking God was leading them into the bitter punishment of captivity. The lessons God was willing to teach them in peace and in prosperity they would learn in the fire of servitude to enemies of their peace. It is an evil and bitter thing to forsake God and to be indifferent to Him. The results of turning their backs on Him and saying that they would do what they desired instead of what God desired would bring the same results as those who ignored Him. Some deliberately choose to fight against God, others just ignored God. The results were the same for both groups. They bitterness of Israel's destruction came because both groups made choices that led them away from God and His protection. The hope of restoration would come because the survivors learned to trust and follow God.
Lord,
Help me today to trust You and allow You to come into my life. Help me to follow where You lead me. I don't want to fight against You and I don't want to ignore You. The conflict within me I seem powerless to control. I need You to come into me and give me strength and power to overcome the evil desires, and the wisdom to acknowledge You as my only hope. Please help me to let You cleanse away the sins and restore me to the relationship You desire for me.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Jeremiah 2:7-13
I brought you into a bountiful country, To eat its fruit and its goodness. But when you entered, you defiled My land And made My heritage an abomination. The priests did not say, ‘Where is the LORD?’ And those who handle the law did not know Me; The rulers also transgressed against Me; The prophets prophesied by Baal, And walked after things that do not profit. “Therefore I will yet bring charges against you,” says the LORD, “And against your children’s children I will bring charges. For pass beyond the coasts of Cyprus and see, Send to Kedar and consider diligently, And see if there has been such a thing. Has a nation changed its gods, Which are not gods? But My people have changed their Glory For what does not profit. Be astonished, O heavens, at this, And be horribly afraid; Be very desolate,” says the LORD. "For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.
Jeremiah 2:7-13
God had blessed Israel by giving them the land of promise with its natural fertility. The bunches of grapes so large that two spies had to carry them, the bountiful crops of grain, pastures for their herds, figs and olives. It was a good land. Israel allowed those who remained of the heathen peoples to influence them for evil. Instead of allowing God to use them to be a light to all peoples, they embraced the darkness of those who had given themselves completely into the rule of Satan. The land of promise became an abomination instead of a blessing. The priests, instead of modeling the simplicity of trusting in God and encouraging the abhorrence of sin, failed to direct the people to the Lord. Those responsible for the law forgot the lawgiver, and turned what law they wanted to obey into a system of regulations for their own convenience. The rulers led the path to apostasy instead of guiding the people towards service to their faithful God. The prophets prophesied by false gods instead of sharing life enhancing messages of the true God. Instead of walking in the path of light and being a light to the nations around, Israel joined the nations around as they stumbled through the spiritual darkness of service to the false gods and every man doing what was right in their own eyes. They walked after things that did not profit instead of letting God lead them into the peace and mission He had planned for them.
God said that He would bring charges against them. Their continuous backsliding would not always be overlooked. They would be held accountable for the responsibilities they had been given. God seems almost to be in anguish as He asks if there are any other examples where a nation changed its gods. Israel changed its Glory for that which did not profit. Blessed with the knowledge of the true God who could actually give them life and prosperity, they left Him and followed after rocks and stones for the sole reason they could see them and they gave them a false impression of control. They wanted to believe that these gods affected their lives, so they saw them as being in control, and yet controllable by the people following rigid rules of subservience. Whenever they had needed God, He was there to help them. His protection was always available and He demonstrated his love and caring for them time after time. It seems impossible to believe that Israel would turn their backs on the true God and worship gods of stone and wood that could never do anything for them. Yet they just accepted what those around them accepted and worshipped what those around them worshipped. They just wanted to fit in and be like everybody else. I see that this is also my tendency. It seems that doing like everybody else instead of doing what God asks is easier. If I look objectively at the results of following these false gods, there is only pain and unhappiness. But I convince myself that I am happy and content, all the while I desperately run after things that are not profitable to fill the void in my soul. I need God, I attempt to fill that need with gods that are unable to help me. My inclination is to forsake the true God who provides the life giving water that I need and hew cisterns that turn out to be broken and unable to hold water. The water I need to live seeps away into the dry ground and I perish for lack of moisture. Yet God offers to make me a well, with His life giving water continuously bubbling up through me and spilling out to give water those around me. If only Israel had stood with God and let the waters of life flow threw them, what a light for the world they would have been.
Lord,
Help me today to be a well for Your water today. Forgive me for allowing my sins to take me away from Your love. Help me to change my desire for those things that do not profit for the Glory of Your love.
Jeremiah 2:7-13
God had blessed Israel by giving them the land of promise with its natural fertility. The bunches of grapes so large that two spies had to carry them, the bountiful crops of grain, pastures for their herds, figs and olives. It was a good land. Israel allowed those who remained of the heathen peoples to influence them for evil. Instead of allowing God to use them to be a light to all peoples, they embraced the darkness of those who had given themselves completely into the rule of Satan. The land of promise became an abomination instead of a blessing. The priests, instead of modeling the simplicity of trusting in God and encouraging the abhorrence of sin, failed to direct the people to the Lord. Those responsible for the law forgot the lawgiver, and turned what law they wanted to obey into a system of regulations for their own convenience. The rulers led the path to apostasy instead of guiding the people towards service to their faithful God. The prophets prophesied by false gods instead of sharing life enhancing messages of the true God. Instead of walking in the path of light and being a light to the nations around, Israel joined the nations around as they stumbled through the spiritual darkness of service to the false gods and every man doing what was right in their own eyes. They walked after things that did not profit instead of letting God lead them into the peace and mission He had planned for them.
God said that He would bring charges against them. Their continuous backsliding would not always be overlooked. They would be held accountable for the responsibilities they had been given. God seems almost to be in anguish as He asks if there are any other examples where a nation changed its gods. Israel changed its Glory for that which did not profit. Blessed with the knowledge of the true God who could actually give them life and prosperity, they left Him and followed after rocks and stones for the sole reason they could see them and they gave them a false impression of control. They wanted to believe that these gods affected their lives, so they saw them as being in control, and yet controllable by the people following rigid rules of subservience. Whenever they had needed God, He was there to help them. His protection was always available and He demonstrated his love and caring for them time after time. It seems impossible to believe that Israel would turn their backs on the true God and worship gods of stone and wood that could never do anything for them. Yet they just accepted what those around them accepted and worshipped what those around them worshipped. They just wanted to fit in and be like everybody else. I see that this is also my tendency. It seems that doing like everybody else instead of doing what God asks is easier. If I look objectively at the results of following these false gods, there is only pain and unhappiness. But I convince myself that I am happy and content, all the while I desperately run after things that are not profitable to fill the void in my soul. I need God, I attempt to fill that need with gods that are unable to help me. My inclination is to forsake the true God who provides the life giving water that I need and hew cisterns that turn out to be broken and unable to hold water. The water I need to live seeps away into the dry ground and I perish for lack of moisture. Yet God offers to make me a well, with His life giving water continuously bubbling up through me and spilling out to give water those around me. If only Israel had stood with God and let the waters of life flow threw them, what a light for the world they would have been.
Lord,
Help me today to be a well for Your water today. Forgive me for allowing my sins to take me away from Your love. Help me to change my desire for those things that do not profit for the Glory of Your love.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Jeremiah 2:4-6
Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob and all the families of the house of Israel. Thus says the LORD: "What injustice have your fathers found in Me,
That they have gone far from Me,
Have followed idols,
And have become idolaters?
Neither did they say, ‘Where is the LORD,
Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt,
Who led us through the wilderness,
Through a land of deserts and pits,
Through a land of drought and the shadow of death,
Through a land that no one crossed
And where no one dwelt?’
Jeremiah 2:4-6 NKJV
God pleads His case against Israel. What injustice did they find in Him? What had He done that caused them to reject their God and take other gods, idols, and worship them? God is faithful and always was faithful to Israel. God had been faithful when He brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them through the wilderness. He had been faithful to provide them with their needs of food, water, and protection against their enemies along the way. He gave them a light to guide them by night and a cloud to guide them by day. He protected them from serpents both reptilian and human. At some point Israel's gratitude dissipated. They no longer remembered who had blessed them as they journeyed through the harsh desert land towards the land of God's promise for them. They no longer thanked God for His protection. Instead of being grateful for everything God has done for them and praising Him, they had chosen to turn their backs on Him and run after false gods. Instead of being faithful worshippers of the true God, they became idolaters and worshipped rocks and trees. I too need to remember where I come from and be thankful that God leads me through the desert of sin and my bad choices. I need only look around me to see the results of what happens in their lives when people turn away from doing God's will. Those who choose to go their own way and ignore God are left in the desert without water. The shadow of death hangs on them and there is no hope. They are in a land that is impossible to cross and where only death awaits them. All of humanity are in that desert. God is able and willing to lead us safely through that land of desserts and pits. Without Him we wander in the desolate dessert until we die. The water we need for life is given to us by God as we follow Him. Each drop of water God provides us gives us the strength to move after Him to the next drop of water to the pools of abundant water. God is faithful to lead us, will we follow Him? He shows us the way around the pits and through the inhospitable wilderness, will we see?
Lord,
Help me today to be thankful and remember all the things you have done in my past to care for me and protect me. Help me to hold to You. I am tempted to think that I have some control in my life and that I can do good things without you. I am tempted to worship idols, gods of sports or people or things. Help me to be faithful to You and remember the desert my life is, full of pits and without the peace of knowing Your love and protection, when I choose to worship things or people other than You. Take away the drought and fill me with Your living water. Use me to show others where they can acquire the living water they need to live.
That they have gone far from Me,
Have followed idols,
And have become idolaters?
Neither did they say, ‘Where is the LORD,
Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt,
Who led us through the wilderness,
Through a land of deserts and pits,
Through a land of drought and the shadow of death,
Through a land that no one crossed
And where no one dwelt?’
Jeremiah 2:4-6 NKJV
God pleads His case against Israel. What injustice did they find in Him? What had He done that caused them to reject their God and take other gods, idols, and worship them? God is faithful and always was faithful to Israel. God had been faithful when He brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them through the wilderness. He had been faithful to provide them with their needs of food, water, and protection against their enemies along the way. He gave them a light to guide them by night and a cloud to guide them by day. He protected them from serpents both reptilian and human. At some point Israel's gratitude dissipated. They no longer remembered who had blessed them as they journeyed through the harsh desert land towards the land of God's promise for them. They no longer thanked God for His protection. Instead of being grateful for everything God has done for them and praising Him, they had chosen to turn their backs on Him and run after false gods. Instead of being faithful worshippers of the true God, they became idolaters and worshipped rocks and trees. I too need to remember where I come from and be thankful that God leads me through the desert of sin and my bad choices. I need only look around me to see the results of what happens in their lives when people turn away from doing God's will. Those who choose to go their own way and ignore God are left in the desert without water. The shadow of death hangs on them and there is no hope. They are in a land that is impossible to cross and where only death awaits them. All of humanity are in that desert. God is able and willing to lead us safely through that land of desserts and pits. Without Him we wander in the desolate dessert until we die. The water we need for life is given to us by God as we follow Him. Each drop of water God provides us gives us the strength to move after Him to the next drop of water to the pools of abundant water. God is faithful to lead us, will we follow Him? He shows us the way around the pits and through the inhospitable wilderness, will we see?
Lord,
Help me today to be thankful and remember all the things you have done in my past to care for me and protect me. Help me to hold to You. I am tempted to think that I have some control in my life and that I can do good things without you. I am tempted to worship idols, gods of sports or people or things. Help me to be faithful to You and remember the desert my life is, full of pits and without the peace of knowing Your love and protection, when I choose to worship things or people other than You. Take away the drought and fill me with Your living water. Use me to show others where they can acquire the living water they need to live.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Jeremiah 2:1-3
Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD: “ I remember you, The kindness of your youth, The love of your betrothal, When you went after Me in the wilderness, In a land not sown. Israel was holiness to the LORD, The firstfruits of His increase. All that devour him will offend; Disaster will come upon them,” says the LORD.’”
Jeremiah 1:1-3 NKJV
God wanted Jerusalem to know that He remembered them. God had fond memories of the times that His people were faithful to Him and allowed Him to establish them in the wilderness as His people. Israel was holiness to the Lord, allowing God to cleanse their hearts and embed in them a new heart. Like a bride newly married, Israel had gone after God, following where He led. They had been in relative comfort in Egypt even though they were slaves. From the fertility of Egypt God had led them trough the harsh wilderness, where they would have died except for God's supplying of their need of food and water and life itself. Despite their complaints and murmurings, Israel had relied on the Lord for everything. Without Him they had nothing. Through the leading of God they came to the land of promise. A new generation had let God bring them into their inheritance with Joshua at their head. The people of Israel trusted and followed God as He established them in their new land. They were faithful to Him as they joined with Joshua in serving the Lord. God gave them peace and prosperity and they worshipped and honored Him in thankfulness. They were the firstfruits of the nations of the world, whom God planned that all nations would serve Him and have His blessings. God said that any nation that attempted to swallow up Israel would offend God, and disaster would come upon that nation. God had big plans for His bride, just as He has plans for us. He wants those who have given their hearts and lives to Him to know that He remembers them. He hears our thankfulness and remembers those thoughts of trust in Him that we express when we first experience the rush of love for Him as we realize that He loves and saves us. The kindness we show towards God as we accept His plans for us and show our gratitude for His blessings is returned to us a thousand times in more blessings and protection. God loves us and He remembers us even when we turn our backs to Him. He remembers the love we had for Him when we first accepted His proposal of marriage and became His bride. He loved us first, and He remembers when we first returned His love. We became His fruit and His holiness.
Lord,
Help me today to renew my vow of love for You. I am thankful that You remember me and will never forget me. Help me to remember You and all the blessings you have bestowed on me in the past and help me to accept the blessings you have for me today. Wash me of my sins so that I may be Your holiness and a fruit of Your increase. Help me to share the knowledge and love You have given me, so that others may also desire to have You as their Lord and Your fruit will increase even more.
Jeremiah 1:1-3 NKJV
God wanted Jerusalem to know that He remembered them. God had fond memories of the times that His people were faithful to Him and allowed Him to establish them in the wilderness as His people. Israel was holiness to the Lord, allowing God to cleanse their hearts and embed in them a new heart. Like a bride newly married, Israel had gone after God, following where He led. They had been in relative comfort in Egypt even though they were slaves. From the fertility of Egypt God had led them trough the harsh wilderness, where they would have died except for God's supplying of their need of food and water and life itself. Despite their complaints and murmurings, Israel had relied on the Lord for everything. Without Him they had nothing. Through the leading of God they came to the land of promise. A new generation had let God bring them into their inheritance with Joshua at their head. The people of Israel trusted and followed God as He established them in their new land. They were faithful to Him as they joined with Joshua in serving the Lord. God gave them peace and prosperity and they worshipped and honored Him in thankfulness. They were the firstfruits of the nations of the world, whom God planned that all nations would serve Him and have His blessings. God said that any nation that attempted to swallow up Israel would offend God, and disaster would come upon that nation. God had big plans for His bride, just as He has plans for us. He wants those who have given their hearts and lives to Him to know that He remembers them. He hears our thankfulness and remembers those thoughts of trust in Him that we express when we first experience the rush of love for Him as we realize that He loves and saves us. The kindness we show towards God as we accept His plans for us and show our gratitude for His blessings is returned to us a thousand times in more blessings and protection. God loves us and He remembers us even when we turn our backs to Him. He remembers the love we had for Him when we first accepted His proposal of marriage and became His bride. He loved us first, and He remembers when we first returned His love. We became His fruit and His holiness.
Lord,
Help me today to renew my vow of love for You. I am thankful that You remember me and will never forget me. Help me to remember You and all the blessings you have bestowed on me in the past and help me to accept the blessings you have for me today. Wash me of my sins so that I may be Your holiness and a fruit of Your increase. Help me to share the knowledge and love You have given me, so that others may also desire to have You as their Lord and Your fruit will increase even more.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Jeremiah 1:18-19
For behold, I have made you this day A fortified city and an iron pillar, And bronze walls against the whole land— Against the kings of Judah, Against its princes, Against its priests, And against the people of the land. They will fight against you, But they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you,” says the LORD, “to deliver you.”
Jeremiah 1:18-19 NKJV
Strength. God promised Jeremiah that he would be stand strong against the opposition that was going to be thrown against him. God did not promise Jeremiah that his life would be easy. If there were no danger from enemies, a city would not need walls. A fortified city would be able to stand against the armies of attacking nations and protect its people. An iron pillar stands straight and invincible. Bronze walls would provide so much more strength than the normal stone walls that it could be considered impossible to penetrate. Jeremiah did not give himself this strength, God made Jeremiah strong. Those who would oppose him included everyone who was anyone in Judah, the kings and princes with the political power and the priests and prophets with the religious power. And, all the rest of the people would oppose him for good measure. Jeremiah would be able to stand against them and they would be stymied in each and every attack. This strength was not the physical strength of Samson, but a spiritual strength that made it possible for Jeremiah to continue to speak the words of the LORD each day. Physically, Jeremiah could not stand against any of those who opposed him. Into the dungeon whenever the priest and princes decided he needed to be silenced. Into the miry pit, so no one would have to listen to his treasonous sentiments. No, physically Jeremiah could do nothing against the opposition. Spiritually they could not silence him. Verse 19 tell us why, "For I am with you," says the LORD, "to deliver you." Jeremiah could stand because God stood with him. They would fight Jeremiah, but they would not prevail against him, because God stood with him. After all the kings and princes and priests and prophets ere long dead and everything they said was forgotten, Jeremiah lives on. The words of God that he spoke and Baruch wrote are here for us to examine. The story of his faithful life is ready for us to study to glean the lessons of faithful service to God. His body could be beaten and mangled and even his life blood could be spilled. He was an iron pillar because he stood with God. He will again some day stand with God and be delivered forever from the woes of the sinful world, replaced with the joys of heaven and the new earth. Jesus took his sin and washed him clean. Jeremiah, in the strength God gave to him, had stood with God to speak all that he was commanded. He completed his mission, never faltering, because God was with him to deliver him. Jesus has taken our sins also, Jesus is offering to wash us clean and deliver us from the woes of this sinful world. May we, like Jeremiah, allow God to make us strong so that we too can be a fortified city, standing against all evil.
Lord,
Today make me strong. Not strong physically, but strong in the power of Your word. Strong to stand with You against the opposition of Satan and his allies. Doing Your will, and serving You in all that I do. Forgive my failures and give me the strength to cling to You and allow Your will to be done in my life.
Jeremiah 1:18-19 NKJV
Strength. God promised Jeremiah that he would be stand strong against the opposition that was going to be thrown against him. God did not promise Jeremiah that his life would be easy. If there were no danger from enemies, a city would not need walls. A fortified city would be able to stand against the armies of attacking nations and protect its people. An iron pillar stands straight and invincible. Bronze walls would provide so much more strength than the normal stone walls that it could be considered impossible to penetrate. Jeremiah did not give himself this strength, God made Jeremiah strong. Those who would oppose him included everyone who was anyone in Judah, the kings and princes with the political power and the priests and prophets with the religious power. And, all the rest of the people would oppose him for good measure. Jeremiah would be able to stand against them and they would be stymied in each and every attack. This strength was not the physical strength of Samson, but a spiritual strength that made it possible for Jeremiah to continue to speak the words of the LORD each day. Physically, Jeremiah could not stand against any of those who opposed him. Into the dungeon whenever the priest and princes decided he needed to be silenced. Into the miry pit, so no one would have to listen to his treasonous sentiments. No, physically Jeremiah could do nothing against the opposition. Spiritually they could not silence him. Verse 19 tell us why, "For I am with you," says the LORD, "to deliver you." Jeremiah could stand because God stood with him. They would fight Jeremiah, but they would not prevail against him, because God stood with him. After all the kings and princes and priests and prophets ere long dead and everything they said was forgotten, Jeremiah lives on. The words of God that he spoke and Baruch wrote are here for us to examine. The story of his faithful life is ready for us to study to glean the lessons of faithful service to God. His body could be beaten and mangled and even his life blood could be spilled. He was an iron pillar because he stood with God. He will again some day stand with God and be delivered forever from the woes of the sinful world, replaced with the joys of heaven and the new earth. Jesus took his sin and washed him clean. Jeremiah, in the strength God gave to him, had stood with God to speak all that he was commanded. He completed his mission, never faltering, because God was with him to deliver him. Jesus has taken our sins also, Jesus is offering to wash us clean and deliver us from the woes of this sinful world. May we, like Jeremiah, allow God to make us strong so that we too can be a fortified city, standing against all evil.
Lord,
Today make me strong. Not strong physically, but strong in the power of Your word. Strong to stand with You against the opposition of Satan and his allies. Doing Your will, and serving You in all that I do. Forgive my failures and give me the strength to cling to You and allow Your will to be done in my life.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Jeremiah 1:17
“ Therefore prepare yourself and arise, And speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces, Lest I dismay you before them. "
Jeremiah 1:17
Prepare yourself.
I wonder what it was that God was telling Jeremiah to do to prepare himself? Ground himself in God's word? If this message came when Jeremiah was just beginning his mission, then the only word of God that the people had must have been oral. Jeremiah's ministry started the 13th year of Josiah and it was an extremely big deal when they found the Book of the Law in the 18th year of Josiah. Obviously much was known about God or Josiah would not have known to destroy the idols and groves and attempt to stamp out false worship of other gods. So I suppose part of Jeremiah preparing himself would involve learning about God from whatever sources that were available to him. Jeremiah also probably needed to establish a close relationship with God. How did Jeremiah know it was God speaking when he was told to be messenger for God? A relationship must have existed for Jeremiah to recognize God's voice. Since God told Jeremiah to prepare himself, then this must be something that Jeremiah could do that God could not do for him. What is it that Jeremiah had to do for himself, that God could not do for him? God could and would give Jeremiah many gifts that were necessary for Jeremiah's mission. God would give Jeremiah courage and strength. God would give Jeremiah the words to speak. God would give Jeremiah protection from those who would try to stop him from sharing God's words and who would even try to kill him. God would give Jeremiah encouragement and give Jeremiah a faithful scribe and friend in Baruch. What must Jeremiah do for himself? It could only be accept God's gifts and give all of himself to God. Jeremiah could only prepare himself by accepting what God was doing and was going to do for him and letting God's will become his, Jeremiah's, will. Jesus has paid the penalty for our sins, we cannot pay it for ourselves. We cannot give ourselves talents, we can only take the talents God gives us and let God use them. God desires to give us many gifts, and He blesses us in many ways. We cannot give these gifts and blessings to ourselves, but we can accept them and let God use the gifts through us to bless others. The work that we must do, the only work that we have to do for ourselves because God cannot do it for us, is to give ourselves to God. After that, God does the rest.
Arise. Speak to them all that I command you.
After preparing himself by accepting God's mission and accepting the gifts God was giving him to carry out that mission, Jeremiah had to take action. It wasn't enough to tell God he would give his life into the hands of God and obey Him. Jeremiah would need to carry out with action the mission God gave him. Jeremiah would have to get up, go to the rulers and people of Judah, and speak to them the words God gave him. Good intentions were not going to be enough for God. Once God had given Jeremiah his command, Jeremiah would have to actually go and speak. And not just speak the good parts of what God told him to speak. Jeremiah could not just pick and choose and only speak the things that Jeremiah liked and maybe the people would like also. Jeremiah must speak all that God commands him. Jeremiah would need to speak the unpopular parts, and there were some very unpopular parts. Jeremiah would have to speak the things that would offend his hearers and maybe even offend Jeremiah. Jeremiah would have to speak words that would cause him to be labeled a traitor to his country and cause the people to think he wanted evil things for them.
Do not be dismayed before their faces, lest I dismay you before them.
Perhaps Jeremiah was a naturally fearful man, so God kept making sure that Jeremiah knew he was not to give in to opposition. Maybe Jeremiah wondered just how scary the faces of those to whom he was to speak would be! God certainly knew what the reaction of the people and rulers would be to the message Jeremiah was to give them. God was warning Jeremiah and giving Jeremiah the means to overcome his fear. The text says that God would dismay Jeremiah before the enemies if Jeremiah let himself be dismayed. I think that Jeremiah being dismayed would be the natural result of letting his fear of the opposition dissuade him from carrying out his mission. Had Jeremiah wilted under the opposition of the rulers or people and not accepted the courage and strength God gave him, then the mission would have fallen flat. Jeremiah would have been proven to be a weak and ineffectual spokesman, and would have returned back to Anathoth in shame. By allowing God's strength to work from his heart outwards, Jeremiah would be able to stand courageously for God. God was promising Jeremiah that whatever courage and strength Jeremiah needed, God would give him. Jeremiah just had to accept the strength and act, and the strength God put in him would keep Jeremiah upright against all the hurricanes of opposition.
Lord,
Help me today to prepare myself by accepting Your gifts for me. Help me to accept Your gift of life through Jesus. Help me to accept the other blessings and gifts You desire to give me so that I may fulfill the mission You ordained for me before I was born. Whatever mistakes I have made in the past when I allowed fear and sin to keep me from doing Your will, I give to you. Today I ask that You will speak to me. Help me be prepared to accept Your mission for me, and when I hear Your voice, help me to arise and do all that You command me.
Jeremiah 1:17
Prepare yourself.
I wonder what it was that God was telling Jeremiah to do to prepare himself? Ground himself in God's word? If this message came when Jeremiah was just beginning his mission, then the only word of God that the people had must have been oral. Jeremiah's ministry started the 13th year of Josiah and it was an extremely big deal when they found the Book of the Law in the 18th year of Josiah. Obviously much was known about God or Josiah would not have known to destroy the idols and groves and attempt to stamp out false worship of other gods. So I suppose part of Jeremiah preparing himself would involve learning about God from whatever sources that were available to him. Jeremiah also probably needed to establish a close relationship with God. How did Jeremiah know it was God speaking when he was told to be messenger for God? A relationship must have existed for Jeremiah to recognize God's voice. Since God told Jeremiah to prepare himself, then this must be something that Jeremiah could do that God could not do for him. What is it that Jeremiah had to do for himself, that God could not do for him? God could and would give Jeremiah many gifts that were necessary for Jeremiah's mission. God would give Jeremiah courage and strength. God would give Jeremiah the words to speak. God would give Jeremiah protection from those who would try to stop him from sharing God's words and who would even try to kill him. God would give Jeremiah encouragement and give Jeremiah a faithful scribe and friend in Baruch. What must Jeremiah do for himself? It could only be accept God's gifts and give all of himself to God. Jeremiah could only prepare himself by accepting what God was doing and was going to do for him and letting God's will become his, Jeremiah's, will. Jesus has paid the penalty for our sins, we cannot pay it for ourselves. We cannot give ourselves talents, we can only take the talents God gives us and let God use them. God desires to give us many gifts, and He blesses us in many ways. We cannot give these gifts and blessings to ourselves, but we can accept them and let God use the gifts through us to bless others. The work that we must do, the only work that we have to do for ourselves because God cannot do it for us, is to give ourselves to God. After that, God does the rest.
Arise. Speak to them all that I command you.
After preparing himself by accepting God's mission and accepting the gifts God was giving him to carry out that mission, Jeremiah had to take action. It wasn't enough to tell God he would give his life into the hands of God and obey Him. Jeremiah would need to carry out with action the mission God gave him. Jeremiah would have to get up, go to the rulers and people of Judah, and speak to them the words God gave him. Good intentions were not going to be enough for God. Once God had given Jeremiah his command, Jeremiah would have to actually go and speak. And not just speak the good parts of what God told him to speak. Jeremiah could not just pick and choose and only speak the things that Jeremiah liked and maybe the people would like also. Jeremiah must speak all that God commands him. Jeremiah would need to speak the unpopular parts, and there were some very unpopular parts. Jeremiah would have to speak the things that would offend his hearers and maybe even offend Jeremiah. Jeremiah would have to speak words that would cause him to be labeled a traitor to his country and cause the people to think he wanted evil things for them.
Do not be dismayed before their faces, lest I dismay you before them.
Perhaps Jeremiah was a naturally fearful man, so God kept making sure that Jeremiah knew he was not to give in to opposition. Maybe Jeremiah wondered just how scary the faces of those to whom he was to speak would be! God certainly knew what the reaction of the people and rulers would be to the message Jeremiah was to give them. God was warning Jeremiah and giving Jeremiah the means to overcome his fear. The text says that God would dismay Jeremiah before the enemies if Jeremiah let himself be dismayed. I think that Jeremiah being dismayed would be the natural result of letting his fear of the opposition dissuade him from carrying out his mission. Had Jeremiah wilted under the opposition of the rulers or people and not accepted the courage and strength God gave him, then the mission would have fallen flat. Jeremiah would have been proven to be a weak and ineffectual spokesman, and would have returned back to Anathoth in shame. By allowing God's strength to work from his heart outwards, Jeremiah would be able to stand courageously for God. God was promising Jeremiah that whatever courage and strength Jeremiah needed, God would give him. Jeremiah just had to accept the strength and act, and the strength God put in him would keep Jeremiah upright against all the hurricanes of opposition.
Lord,
Help me today to prepare myself by accepting Your gifts for me. Help me to accept Your gift of life through Jesus. Help me to accept the other blessings and gifts You desire to give me so that I may fulfill the mission You ordained for me before I was born. Whatever mistakes I have made in the past when I allowed fear and sin to keep me from doing Your will, I give to you. Today I ask that You will speak to me. Help me be prepared to accept Your mission for me, and when I hear Your voice, help me to arise and do all that You command me.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Jeremiah 1:16
I will utter My judgments Against them concerning all their wickedness, Because they have forsaken Me, Burned incense to other gods, And worshiped the works of their own hands.
Jeremiah 1:16
God informs Jeremiah of His coming judgments upon Judah and gives His reasons for these judgments. The judgments would be uttered against them because of their wickedness. Here the specific things mentioned are that the people forsook God, burned incense other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands. My first thought when reading this is God makes the peoples faults all about them not worshipping Him and giving Him the respect He insists He deserves. Of course, if it isn't about God, then it would have to be about me. When I don't like the judgments God gives me, I say that I have as much right to do what I want to do as God has to tell me what to do. Selfishness wins out in my heart and I rebel against Him. I suppose I would have a valid argument if I were an equal to God. But God is my personal creator and the creator of all the universe. I am so unequal to God. An amoeba floating in pond scum is closer to deserving respect in comparison to me than I am in deserving respect in comparison to God. In other places in Jeremiah and in Kings and Chronicles we are told some of the other specific evils that the nation of Judah did. Such things as sacrificing their children to false gods, shedding of innocent blood until the streets ran red, the enslaving of their fellows in bitter bondage, the adulteries, and dishonesty, and profaning the Sabbath, and taking what they wanted when they wanted. Depravity existed in Judah and it really all stemmed from what God talks to Jeremiah about in this verse. When I turn from God and doing His will and do what I want, then all the other sins follow. Experience tells me that when I let God work in my heart for my salvation and good, I do things and act in ways that are beneficial to me and to those around me. When I allow myself to be self centered, doing what I want, thinking that I have rights as much as anyone else including God, then I do things that hurt myself and those around me. The more I allow me to think I am somebody that is in control, without a need for a God to lead and guide and inform me, the more selfish I become. The further I go away from the ideal of God, then the more willing I am to do things that cause destruction in my life and in the lives of those around me.
This was really the problem with Judah is the problem with most of us today. We forsake God. We have to have something to fill the void where God should be so we create false gods and worship them. False gods cannot help us maintain our moral balance and integrity, so we think, act, and say things that push us further from God. The void gets bigger, so we create more false gods. It only gets worse as the false gods can never fill the void. Jesus is ready to step in and fill the emptiness of our hearts. God has given us a choice, we can choose to hang onto and worship the false gods and to continue to create new false gods in a desperate need for love, or we can choose to let Jesus into our hearts and to fill the void with His love. The rulers and people of Judah made their choice. They would hang onto their idols to their destruction. I have to make a choice also, I must choose -
the love and wisdom and salvation of Jesus
or -
the TV, car, nice house on the lake, fat checking account, pile of gold in the safe deposit box, computer images, and the worship of a sulking rock star
The same things stands between God and myself as stood between the people of Judah and God, I. I will do what I want, when I want, the way I want. God tells me that He will utter His judgments against me. Justice demands it. His love for me may not waver, but justice goes with love. The happiness of innumerable created beings depends on the justice of God prevailing over the chaos of my selfcentereness. God has earned the right to respect and worship, I have earned the right to death. Jesus will impart the right to life upon me and stands now offering me the good way. He lived the life I could not live and offers me the life I do not deserve.
Lord,
Help me to accept your gifts of peace and life today. Help me to destroy the false gods I have created with my own hands. Help me to worship You with the respect and love You deserve. The void in my heart drives me to have something there, help me to let You in to fill that void. Take away the things, whatever they be, that are my false gods and replace them with You.
Jeremiah 1:16
God informs Jeremiah of His coming judgments upon Judah and gives His reasons for these judgments. The judgments would be uttered against them because of their wickedness. Here the specific things mentioned are that the people forsook God, burned incense other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands. My first thought when reading this is God makes the peoples faults all about them not worshipping Him and giving Him the respect He insists He deserves. Of course, if it isn't about God, then it would have to be about me. When I don't like the judgments God gives me, I say that I have as much right to do what I want to do as God has to tell me what to do. Selfishness wins out in my heart and I rebel against Him. I suppose I would have a valid argument if I were an equal to God. But God is my personal creator and the creator of all the universe. I am so unequal to God. An amoeba floating in pond scum is closer to deserving respect in comparison to me than I am in deserving respect in comparison to God. In other places in Jeremiah and in Kings and Chronicles we are told some of the other specific evils that the nation of Judah did. Such things as sacrificing their children to false gods, shedding of innocent blood until the streets ran red, the enslaving of their fellows in bitter bondage, the adulteries, and dishonesty, and profaning the Sabbath, and taking what they wanted when they wanted. Depravity existed in Judah and it really all stemmed from what God talks to Jeremiah about in this verse. When I turn from God and doing His will and do what I want, then all the other sins follow. Experience tells me that when I let God work in my heart for my salvation and good, I do things and act in ways that are beneficial to me and to those around me. When I allow myself to be self centered, doing what I want, thinking that I have rights as much as anyone else including God, then I do things that hurt myself and those around me. The more I allow me to think I am somebody that is in control, without a need for a God to lead and guide and inform me, the more selfish I become. The further I go away from the ideal of God, then the more willing I am to do things that cause destruction in my life and in the lives of those around me.
This was really the problem with Judah is the problem with most of us today. We forsake God. We have to have something to fill the void where God should be so we create false gods and worship them. False gods cannot help us maintain our moral balance and integrity, so we think, act, and say things that push us further from God. The void gets bigger, so we create more false gods. It only gets worse as the false gods can never fill the void. Jesus is ready to step in and fill the emptiness of our hearts. God has given us a choice, we can choose to hang onto and worship the false gods and to continue to create new false gods in a desperate need for love, or we can choose to let Jesus into our hearts and to fill the void with His love. The rulers and people of Judah made their choice. They would hang onto their idols to their destruction. I have to make a choice also, I must choose -
the love and wisdom and salvation of Jesus
or -
the TV, car, nice house on the lake, fat checking account, pile of gold in the safe deposit box, computer images, and the worship of a sulking rock star
The same things stands between God and myself as stood between the people of Judah and God, I. I will do what I want, when I want, the way I want. God tells me that He will utter His judgments against me. Justice demands it. His love for me may not waver, but justice goes with love. The happiness of innumerable created beings depends on the justice of God prevailing over the chaos of my selfcentereness. God has earned the right to respect and worship, I have earned the right to death. Jesus will impart the right to life upon me and stands now offering me the good way. He lived the life I could not live and offers me the life I do not deserve.
Lord,
Help me to accept your gifts of peace and life today. Help me to destroy the false gods I have created with my own hands. Help me to worship You with the respect and love You deserve. The void in my heart drives me to have something there, help me to let You in to fill that void. Take away the things, whatever they be, that are my false gods and replace them with You.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Jeremiah 1:14-15
Then the LORD said to me: “Out of the north calamity shall break forth On all the inhabitants of the land. For behold, I am calling All the families of the kingdoms of the north,” says the LORD; “They shall come and each one set his throne At the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, Against all its walls all around, And against all the cities of Judah."
Jeremiah 1:14-15 NKJV
God begins to tell Jeremiah the warning that He has for Judah. The period of peace that the nation is undergoing will not last forever. Because of the decisions that are being made in the nation, because of the rebellion against God that the people let stay in their hearts, because of the desire to worship that which was a lie instead of the truth that was God; calamity would come upon the land. It was not too late for anyone individually or for the nation as a whole. King Josiah would attempt to rid the nation of the idols and groves that were the outward evidence of the faithlessness of the people. But their hearts belonged to them. Each would have to choose for themselves whether to worship the true God or to worship gods made by man for man. Most would choose to worship wood and stone, to the destruction of the nation. God in His love would send His faithful prophets, men like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, to give the final warning and the final invitation to turn to God with a true desire to obey and serve Him in love. Some would listen and be saved. Daniel and his friends would grow to their youth while Josiah led his reformation and Jeremiah warned of the destruction that would be brought on by the failure to give true worship to God. They, and others like them, would choose to serve God faithful. God let the Babylonians carry some like Daniel and his friends into captivity before the final harrowing days of the final siege and destruction of Judah, so that they would be saved from the hardships that were to come.
God warned that from the north the kingdoms would come, and rulers would set their thrones at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem to give judgment on God's people. Judah had to choose between being judged by God or by pagan kings. They would choose whether God, who loved them and desired the best for them, would judge them or whether Nebuchadnezzar, who wanted them for his slaves to abuse and drain of all self respect, would judge them. Jeremiah's mission is to present the people with the warning and the invitation to choose God. Calamity and destruction and slavery, or life and peace with God. Which would I choose, which do I choose today?
Lord,
Help me to choose to worship You today. Give me a thankful and honest heart. I know that calamity and destruction awaits the world as Jesus told us in Matthew 24. I can choose to trust in You, and You will give me the strength to honestly give my life into Your hands. Help me to allow You to change my heart and reflect Your love on those around. Help me to be willing to give the warning to those around me, that they also can be saved by Your grace and know Your love.
Jeremiah 1:14-15 NKJV
God begins to tell Jeremiah the warning that He has for Judah. The period of peace that the nation is undergoing will not last forever. Because of the decisions that are being made in the nation, because of the rebellion against God that the people let stay in their hearts, because of the desire to worship that which was a lie instead of the truth that was God; calamity would come upon the land. It was not too late for anyone individually or for the nation as a whole. King Josiah would attempt to rid the nation of the idols and groves that were the outward evidence of the faithlessness of the people. But their hearts belonged to them. Each would have to choose for themselves whether to worship the true God or to worship gods made by man for man. Most would choose to worship wood and stone, to the destruction of the nation. God in His love would send His faithful prophets, men like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, to give the final warning and the final invitation to turn to God with a true desire to obey and serve Him in love. Some would listen and be saved. Daniel and his friends would grow to their youth while Josiah led his reformation and Jeremiah warned of the destruction that would be brought on by the failure to give true worship to God. They, and others like them, would choose to serve God faithful. God let the Babylonians carry some like Daniel and his friends into captivity before the final harrowing days of the final siege and destruction of Judah, so that they would be saved from the hardships that were to come.
God warned that from the north the kingdoms would come, and rulers would set their thrones at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem to give judgment on God's people. Judah had to choose between being judged by God or by pagan kings. They would choose whether God, who loved them and desired the best for them, would judge them or whether Nebuchadnezzar, who wanted them for his slaves to abuse and drain of all self respect, would judge them. Jeremiah's mission is to present the people with the warning and the invitation to choose God. Calamity and destruction and slavery, or life and peace with God. Which would I choose, which do I choose today?
Lord,
Help me to choose to worship You today. Give me a thankful and honest heart. I know that calamity and destruction awaits the world as Jesus told us in Matthew 24. I can choose to trust in You, and You will give me the strength to honestly give my life into Your hands. Help me to allow You to change my heart and reflect Your love on those around. Help me to be willing to give the warning to those around me, that they also can be saved by Your grace and know Your love.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Jeremiah 1:13
And the word of the LORD came to me the second time, saying, "What do you see?" And I said, "I see a boiling pot, and it is facing away from the north."
Jeremiah 1:13
The LORD uses another illustration to show Jeremiah what is going to happen in the future. I can picture a cooking pot on the fire, water boiling rapidly, with the pot leaning over seemingly held upright by an invisible string, ready tip over and pour the scalding water out at any moment. Jeremiah recognized the direction the pot was leaning was away from the north. Babylon was to the east, but their armies would come from the north when Babylon attacked Judah. The desert between Judah and Babylon was not conducive for marching armies. So God showed Jeremiah that the danger lay to the north, where the fierce armies of Assyria, Babylon, and Syria had historically come to attack God's chosen people when they refused God's protection. At this time Egypt to the south was also powerful and fighting for domination of the area around Judah. God told Jeremiah that His judgments on Judah and the final, horrible, destruction of Judah would not come from the south, or Egypt, but from the north. Even though Judah was unfaithful to God and deserved nothing good, God still was going to warn them of the coming calamity and give the rulers and people an opportunity to repent. God still wanted to save Judah and its people. They felt secure in the position they were in, working Egypt against Assyria and Babylon. They didn't see the giant boiling pot leaning their way, with the boiling water ready to spill out and engulf them in an agonizing horror. God is giving Jeremiah a message of warning to Judah. It is to be the last warning before God will let the pot tip over and let Judah reap the justice it deserves.
Lord,
Help me to see and understand the warnings you give me, and take heed of them to repent each day. The signs are here today that the world I live in has a boiling pot of justice leaning towards it. Help me to be willing to tell others of the danger and to point them towards You, the salvation from the calamity that is coming upon the world. Help me to assist those upon whom the destruction is even now coming, to relieve their pain and tell them about Your love for them. I am weak, give me of Your strength to serve as You see best.
Jeremiah 1:13
The LORD uses another illustration to show Jeremiah what is going to happen in the future. I can picture a cooking pot on the fire, water boiling rapidly, with the pot leaning over seemingly held upright by an invisible string, ready tip over and pour the scalding water out at any moment. Jeremiah recognized the direction the pot was leaning was away from the north. Babylon was to the east, but their armies would come from the north when Babylon attacked Judah. The desert between Judah and Babylon was not conducive for marching armies. So God showed Jeremiah that the danger lay to the north, where the fierce armies of Assyria, Babylon, and Syria had historically come to attack God's chosen people when they refused God's protection. At this time Egypt to the south was also powerful and fighting for domination of the area around Judah. God told Jeremiah that His judgments on Judah and the final, horrible, destruction of Judah would not come from the south, or Egypt, but from the north. Even though Judah was unfaithful to God and deserved nothing good, God still was going to warn them of the coming calamity and give the rulers and people an opportunity to repent. God still wanted to save Judah and its people. They felt secure in the position they were in, working Egypt against Assyria and Babylon. They didn't see the giant boiling pot leaning their way, with the boiling water ready to spill out and engulf them in an agonizing horror. God is giving Jeremiah a message of warning to Judah. It is to be the last warning before God will let the pot tip over and let Judah reap the justice it deserves.
Lord,
Help me to see and understand the warnings you give me, and take heed of them to repent each day. The signs are here today that the world I live in has a boiling pot of justice leaning towards it. Help me to be willing to tell others of the danger and to point them towards You, the salvation from the calamity that is coming upon the world. Help me to assist those upon whom the destruction is even now coming, to relieve their pain and tell them about Your love for them. I am weak, give me of Your strength to serve as You see best.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Jeremiah 1:11-12
Moreover the word of the LORD cam to me, saying, "Jeremiah what do you see?" And I said, "I see a branch of an almond tree." Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word."
Jeremiah 1:11-12
The significance of seeing the almond tree was hard for me to understand until I read about it in the SDA Bible Commentary. According to the Commentary there is a play on words in the original Hebrew between the almond tree and the being ready to perform His word. The name of the almond tree in Hebrew comes from a word that means "to be wakeful". The almond tree is the first tree to "wake" in the spring, blossoming in Palestine as early as January. What is translated in verse 12 as "am ready", also comes from the same Hebrew root word. So, according to the commentary, what was said in verses 11 and 12 would be something like "I see the twig of a wake-tree... You have seen aright, for I am wakeful over my word to perform it."
It seems God is using imagery to bring his point to Jeremiah that Jeremiah would understand much better than I do. God showed Jeremiah the wake-tree, the almond, to illustrate that just as the almond wakes in the early spring and brings forth its blossoms, so God was waking to perform His word. In God's time frame, it is now the correct time to awaken and do what He has been warning about. God has continuously warned Judah that they needed to repent or judgment would come upon them. God is ready to bring this judgment on Judah. Jeremiah will be His instrument to give a final warning. It is still not too late for the nation to turn and give their hearts to God. Later God will make it clear that He desires that the people will turn from their destructive path and let Him change the outcome from horror to happiness. But if Judah continues to choose wrongly, God is ready to perform His word.
Lord,
Help me to be awake to Your word and to your leading. Also, let it be said of me that I see well. I want to see and obey Your word for my life. Give me the strength and courage today that I need to do the things You give me the wisdom to see and understand.
Jeremiah 1:11-12
The significance of seeing the almond tree was hard for me to understand until I read about it in the SDA Bible Commentary. According to the Commentary there is a play on words in the original Hebrew between the almond tree and the being ready to perform His word. The name of the almond tree in Hebrew comes from a word that means "to be wakeful". The almond tree is the first tree to "wake" in the spring, blossoming in Palestine as early as January. What is translated in verse 12 as "am ready", also comes from the same Hebrew root word. So, according to the commentary, what was said in verses 11 and 12 would be something like "I see the twig of a wake-tree... You have seen aright, for I am wakeful over my word to perform it."
It seems God is using imagery to bring his point to Jeremiah that Jeremiah would understand much better than I do. God showed Jeremiah the wake-tree, the almond, to illustrate that just as the almond wakes in the early spring and brings forth its blossoms, so God was waking to perform His word. In God's time frame, it is now the correct time to awaken and do what He has been warning about. God has continuously warned Judah that they needed to repent or judgment would come upon them. God is ready to bring this judgment on Judah. Jeremiah will be His instrument to give a final warning. It is still not too late for the nation to turn and give their hearts to God. Later God will make it clear that He desires that the people will turn from their destructive path and let Him change the outcome from horror to happiness. But if Judah continues to choose wrongly, God is ready to perform His word.
Lord,
Help me to be awake to Your word and to your leading. Also, let it be said of me that I see well. I want to see and obey Your word for my life. Give me the strength and courage today that I need to do the things You give me the wisdom to see and understand.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Jeremiah 1:10
See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant.
Jeremiah 1:10
According to the SDA Bible Commentary the word set in this verse means to "make" a man an overseer, superintendent, or governor. God was telling Jeremiah that Jeremiah would be in a position of authority of the nations and kingdoms. Jeremiah would not personally rule over them, but would speak to them God's words, explaining how God would rule over them and use them to do His will with the nations. Jeremiah was to stand in the place of God as an assistant to God with authority deriving from God's ultimate authority over all nations and kingdoms. The purposes of God would be fulfilled and Jeremiah would be the one who would be the voice to the world's kingdoms of God's rule in the affairs of not just Judah, but also the surrounding nations. There were four phrases of destruction in God's commission to Jeremiah; 'root out', 'pull down', 'destroy', and 'throw down'. God was going to use Babylon to root the sin out of the nation of Judah, pull down the peoples lofty attitude of superiority, destroy their lives of decadence and wickedness, and throw down Judah's pride into the humbleness of captivity and slavery. With these words of the coming punishment upon Judah, God also included the promise of the future restoration of His people. God told Jeremiah that he would 'build' and 'plant'. God's people would learn valuable lessons while they as a people were in subjection in Babylon, and God in His mercy and love would bring them back to the land of promise and plant the nation again. God, through the tribulation of captivity, would build a character of hope and love in the people. They would once again be planted as a nation at the crossroads of the world as a shinning beacon of God's love for the world. Jeremiah was to be the spokesman for what God was going to do to, and for, the nation of Judah. Jeremiah would speak the words of warning and the call to repentance that God wanted the people to hear. God also would have Jeremiah speak of the hope of the new covenant that God would establish with His people, a new covenant where the people would truly love God and obey Him from the motive of love because of the recognition of God's love for them.
Lord,
Help me today to be willing to say the words you give me to say, whether they are words of destruction or words of building. Help me to not speak any words that either tear down or build up unless they are the words you give me to speak.
Jeremiah 1:10
According to the SDA Bible Commentary the word set in this verse means to "make" a man an overseer, superintendent, or governor. God was telling Jeremiah that Jeremiah would be in a position of authority of the nations and kingdoms. Jeremiah would not personally rule over them, but would speak to them God's words, explaining how God would rule over them and use them to do His will with the nations. Jeremiah was to stand in the place of God as an assistant to God with authority deriving from God's ultimate authority over all nations and kingdoms. The purposes of God would be fulfilled and Jeremiah would be the one who would be the voice to the world's kingdoms of God's rule in the affairs of not just Judah, but also the surrounding nations. There were four phrases of destruction in God's commission to Jeremiah; 'root out', 'pull down', 'destroy', and 'throw down'. God was going to use Babylon to root the sin out of the nation of Judah, pull down the peoples lofty attitude of superiority, destroy their lives of decadence and wickedness, and throw down Judah's pride into the humbleness of captivity and slavery. With these words of the coming punishment upon Judah, God also included the promise of the future restoration of His people. God told Jeremiah that he would 'build' and 'plant'. God's people would learn valuable lessons while they as a people were in subjection in Babylon, and God in His mercy and love would bring them back to the land of promise and plant the nation again. God, through the tribulation of captivity, would build a character of hope and love in the people. They would once again be planted as a nation at the crossroads of the world as a shinning beacon of God's love for the world. Jeremiah was to be the spokesman for what God was going to do to, and for, the nation of Judah. Jeremiah would speak the words of warning and the call to repentance that God wanted the people to hear. God also would have Jeremiah speak of the hope of the new covenant that God would establish with His people, a new covenant where the people would truly love God and obey Him from the motive of love because of the recognition of God's love for them.
Lord,
Help me today to be willing to say the words you give me to say, whether they are words of destruction or words of building. Help me to not speak any words that either tear down or build up unless they are the words you give me to speak.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Jeremiah 1:9
Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth."
Jeremiah 1:9
God had called Jeremiah to be His messenger. Now God touches Jeremiah. God's hand touches Jeremiah's mouth, telling Jeremiah that the words he would speak were to be the words that God would inspire through His Spirit. Jeremiah must have been thrilled and terrified at the touch of God. What form God appeared to him in is not spoken of in the scripture, but Jeremiah had no doubt that it was God who called him and sanctified him and touched him. I can assume that Jeremiah had already gotten to know God well enough to recognize God's voice and to recognize Him when God appeared to him. Jeremiah would never need to doubt the message that God would give him to speak. Jeremiah would remember for the rest of his life the feel of the hand of God upon him. When tempted to wonder if his unpopular message was actually from God or from an imagination, Jeremiah would recall the touch of God upon his mouth and be sure. This touch was another special gift God gave Jeremiah to help him have the confidence in God to fulfill the mission God was giving him to do. God can touch is in many ways, and this tells us that sometimes a physical touch from God can be a special blessing to let us know that God is with us.
Lord,
Help me to know You so well that I will always recognize Your voice when I hear it. Help me to recognize Your touch when I feel it. Take away my sin and my sinful desires, cleanse me so that I can walk with you and do all that you want me to do.
Jeremiah 1:9
God had called Jeremiah to be His messenger. Now God touches Jeremiah. God's hand touches Jeremiah's mouth, telling Jeremiah that the words he would speak were to be the words that God would inspire through His Spirit. Jeremiah must have been thrilled and terrified at the touch of God. What form God appeared to him in is not spoken of in the scripture, but Jeremiah had no doubt that it was God who called him and sanctified him and touched him. I can assume that Jeremiah had already gotten to know God well enough to recognize God's voice and to recognize Him when God appeared to him. Jeremiah would never need to doubt the message that God would give him to speak. Jeremiah would remember for the rest of his life the feel of the hand of God upon him. When tempted to wonder if his unpopular message was actually from God or from an imagination, Jeremiah would recall the touch of God upon his mouth and be sure. This touch was another special gift God gave Jeremiah to help him have the confidence in God to fulfill the mission God was giving him to do. God can touch is in many ways, and this tells us that sometimes a physical touch from God can be a special blessing to let us know that God is with us.
Lord,
Help me to know You so well that I will always recognize Your voice when I hear it. Help me to recognize Your touch when I feel it. Take away my sin and my sinful desires, cleanse me so that I can walk with you and do all that you want me to do.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Jeremiah 1:8
"Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you," says the LORD.
Jeremiah 1:8
Evidently those to whom God was going to send Jeremiah to speak to would not only be opposed to Jeremiah, but they would be full of such hatred toward him that their faces would be marred into faces that were full of contempt and anger. Angry, snarling faces, showing hatred towards him would be the faces that Jeremiah would evidently become accustomed to. We find later that even those from Anathoth , Jeremiah's hometown, would plot to kill him. Even those with whom he grew up and whom at one time were his friends would become obsessed in their hatred of Jeremiah and the message he was to bring to his nation. Most of the 'respected' leaders of Judah opposed him and many plotted to have him killed. As Jeremiah stood before the people and spoke the words God had given him, words that warned of the coming destruction of the nation of Judah unless the people and their leaders turned from their sinful ways and followed God with a heart religion, one can imagine that the faces of the people would be filled with rage and hate toward the messenger. In looking at the faces of those who opposed him, Jeremiah would often have good reason to fear for his life. God, understood what the faces looked like that Jeremiah would soon become accustomed to seeing. God warned Jeremiah at the beginning of his call of the animosity and hatred that he would soon see daily. Then God in His love for Jeremiah, made Jeremiah a promise. God said to Jeremiah, "I am with you to deliver you." I think this was more than just God promising to deliver Jeremiah physically. I can see God wanting Jeremiah to know that He would deliver Jeremiah physically, spiritually, and emotionally. After accepting the call to speak God's words to the people, Jeremiah would be tempted to give up. He would be tempted to take an easier path that would seem to make him less a despised person, but a path that would eventually take him away from God. I can see the results of Jeremiah's daily choice to follow God looking from my perspective 2600 years later, but Jeremiah was living it daily. At times he was to become discouraged and perhaps somewhat depressed. Where was the fruit of his work for God? Where were the signs of the people turning away from their sins and turning toward God? Where was any evidence that the people were going to start obeying God instead of deliberately turning their backs on the God who wanted so badly to save them? When Jeremiah was in the pit of despair (both literally and figuratively), this promise from God to Jeremiah was probably his lifeline. The promise was something Jeremiah could cling to as the faces around him showed Jeremiah was despised by those whom Jeremiah was warning of the results of their path away from God. God promised Jeremiah He would deliver him from those who opposed him and from his temptation to be discouraged. God makes the same promise to us. It is the delivering from our sin that is important to us. God promises to deliver us from our slavery to that which will destroy us. We, like Jeremiah, can choose to be faithful to the mission God gives us and to accept His deliverance from all that would eternally destroy us.
Lord,
Help me today to not be afraid of the faces of those who oppose me when I work for you. Help me to be wise in understanding Your mission for me and faithful in doing Your will, without fear of those who oppose me. Help me to remember and accept your promise of deliverance from sin in my life each day.
Jeremiah 1:8
Evidently those to whom God was going to send Jeremiah to speak to would not only be opposed to Jeremiah, but they would be full of such hatred toward him that their faces would be marred into faces that were full of contempt and anger. Angry, snarling faces, showing hatred towards him would be the faces that Jeremiah would evidently become accustomed to. We find later that even those from Anathoth , Jeremiah's hometown, would plot to kill him. Even those with whom he grew up and whom at one time were his friends would become obsessed in their hatred of Jeremiah and the message he was to bring to his nation. Most of the 'respected' leaders of Judah opposed him and many plotted to have him killed. As Jeremiah stood before the people and spoke the words God had given him, words that warned of the coming destruction of the nation of Judah unless the people and their leaders turned from their sinful ways and followed God with a heart religion, one can imagine that the faces of the people would be filled with rage and hate toward the messenger. In looking at the faces of those who opposed him, Jeremiah would often have good reason to fear for his life. God, understood what the faces looked like that Jeremiah would soon become accustomed to seeing. God warned Jeremiah at the beginning of his call of the animosity and hatred that he would soon see daily. Then God in His love for Jeremiah, made Jeremiah a promise. God said to Jeremiah, "I am with you to deliver you." I think this was more than just God promising to deliver Jeremiah physically. I can see God wanting Jeremiah to know that He would deliver Jeremiah physically, spiritually, and emotionally. After accepting the call to speak God's words to the people, Jeremiah would be tempted to give up. He would be tempted to take an easier path that would seem to make him less a despised person, but a path that would eventually take him away from God. I can see the results of Jeremiah's daily choice to follow God looking from my perspective 2600 years later, but Jeremiah was living it daily. At times he was to become discouraged and perhaps somewhat depressed. Where was the fruit of his work for God? Where were the signs of the people turning away from their sins and turning toward God? Where was any evidence that the people were going to start obeying God instead of deliberately turning their backs on the God who wanted so badly to save them? When Jeremiah was in the pit of despair (both literally and figuratively), this promise from God to Jeremiah was probably his lifeline. The promise was something Jeremiah could cling to as the faces around him showed Jeremiah was despised by those whom Jeremiah was warning of the results of their path away from God. God promised Jeremiah He would deliver him from those who opposed him and from his temptation to be discouraged. God makes the same promise to us. It is the delivering from our sin that is important to us. God promises to deliver us from our slavery to that which will destroy us. We, like Jeremiah, can choose to be faithful to the mission God gives us and to accept His deliverance from all that would eternally destroy us.
Lord,
Help me today to not be afraid of the faces of those who oppose me when I work for you. Help me to be wise in understanding Your mission for me and faithful in doing Your will, without fear of those who oppose me. Help me to remember and accept your promise of deliverance from sin in my life each day.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Jeremiah 1:7 - part 3
But the LORD said to me: "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' For you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak."
Jeremiah 1:7
God didn't accept Jeremiah's excuse. God knew that once Jeremiah accepted his mission, his task, that Jeremiah would be obedient and fulfill the work of being a prophet faithfully. While God had known Jeremiah before he was born and had sanctified him and ordained him to be a prophet, Jeremiah still had to make the choices and decisions every day to do what God taught him was right. God knew in advance what Jeremiah would choose with every decision he faced. Yet Jeremiah had freedom to choose. God's knowledge was like us looking at what has happened in the past, except God could see Jeremiah's future. When Jeremiah was called to be a prophet, he had to choose. His age and lack of experience made him afraid to accept the call. God had watched as Jeremiah grew up and as Jeremiah learned the lessons that God wanted him to learn. Unlike many others in Judah at that time, Jeremiah was willing to do what was right. He no doubt had difficulties just all do, but he was able to trust in God and rely on God's strength to overcome the difficulties. Jeremiah had shown God that he had a heart open to accepting the truth that God gave him. Jeremiah was teachable and Jeremiah was willing to stand with and for God. God knew Jeremiah's character. During the time that Jeremiah was growing up, Judah was a very sinful place. Even with the reforms of Josiah, most people only outwardly did what was right, in their hearts they still were in rebellion against God. God had a plan and purpose for each, but the choices they made did not allow those plans to be fulfilled. God worked on the hearts of all, yet the majority decided to turn away from God and do the things that they wanted to do instead of living lives in accordance with God's wisdom for what was best for them. They embraced the sins of the flesh and the sins of power because they thought that was where their satisfaction and happiness lay. God knew Jeremiah's character, knew what he would do in various arenas of his life when faced with a problem. So God knew that Jeremiah would be obedient and true. Jeremiah would go to all to whom God sent him. He wouldn't decide to go to the poor and not the rulers, or choose to go to the rulers and ignore the average man. Jeremiah would go to all that God sent him to go to. Jeremiah would speak what God told him to speak. Jeremiah would not speak the words that came from inside himself or the words that he knew people wanted to hear that would bring accolades from the people upon himself, but would speak what God told him to say. This would not be easy. There were many false prophets who told the people things the people and rulers wanted to hear. These false prophets spoke in the name of God and they spoke with authority. The people liked what they heard and they honored the false prophets and turned hatred upon God's true prophets. God knew that Jeremiah would be faithful to obey Him and speak the words that God gave him, because Jeremiah had spent his few years obeying God and doing what was right. Jeremiah had accepted the new heart at some time after he was old enough to know for himself right from wrong. He had lived a faithful life in the power of God. Jeremiah let God work at removing the sins from his life and teaching him the true way of obedience. God made Jeremiah into a young man willing to follow God through the fires of hatred that would soon engulf him. God did this not in spite of Jeremiah's will, but because Jeremiah was willing to allow God to be in him, to change his character from one of selfishness to one that was becoming more and more in accord with the character of God.
Lord,
Help me to be faithful to do your will. Cleanse my life of all that is sinful and evil. Make my character like Yours so that I may be faithful in my service to You in all that I do.
Jeremiah 1:7
God didn't accept Jeremiah's excuse. God knew that once Jeremiah accepted his mission, his task, that Jeremiah would be obedient and fulfill the work of being a prophet faithfully. While God had known Jeremiah before he was born and had sanctified him and ordained him to be a prophet, Jeremiah still had to make the choices and decisions every day to do what God taught him was right. God knew in advance what Jeremiah would choose with every decision he faced. Yet Jeremiah had freedom to choose. God's knowledge was like us looking at what has happened in the past, except God could see Jeremiah's future. When Jeremiah was called to be a prophet, he had to choose. His age and lack of experience made him afraid to accept the call. God had watched as Jeremiah grew up and as Jeremiah learned the lessons that God wanted him to learn. Unlike many others in Judah at that time, Jeremiah was willing to do what was right. He no doubt had difficulties just all do, but he was able to trust in God and rely on God's strength to overcome the difficulties. Jeremiah had shown God that he had a heart open to accepting the truth that God gave him. Jeremiah was teachable and Jeremiah was willing to stand with and for God. God knew Jeremiah's character. During the time that Jeremiah was growing up, Judah was a very sinful place. Even with the reforms of Josiah, most people only outwardly did what was right, in their hearts they still were in rebellion against God. God had a plan and purpose for each, but the choices they made did not allow those plans to be fulfilled. God worked on the hearts of all, yet the majority decided to turn away from God and do the things that they wanted to do instead of living lives in accordance with God's wisdom for what was best for them. They embraced the sins of the flesh and the sins of power because they thought that was where their satisfaction and happiness lay. God knew Jeremiah's character, knew what he would do in various arenas of his life when faced with a problem. So God knew that Jeremiah would be obedient and true. Jeremiah would go to all to whom God sent him. He wouldn't decide to go to the poor and not the rulers, or choose to go to the rulers and ignore the average man. Jeremiah would go to all that God sent him to go to. Jeremiah would speak what God told him to speak. Jeremiah would not speak the words that came from inside himself or the words that he knew people wanted to hear that would bring accolades from the people upon himself, but would speak what God told him to say. This would not be easy. There were many false prophets who told the people things the people and rulers wanted to hear. These false prophets spoke in the name of God and they spoke with authority. The people liked what they heard and they honored the false prophets and turned hatred upon God's true prophets. God knew that Jeremiah would be faithful to obey Him and speak the words that God gave him, because Jeremiah had spent his few years obeying God and doing what was right. Jeremiah had accepted the new heart at some time after he was old enough to know for himself right from wrong. He had lived a faithful life in the power of God. Jeremiah let God work at removing the sins from his life and teaching him the true way of obedience. God made Jeremiah into a young man willing to follow God through the fires of hatred that would soon engulf him. God did this not in spite of Jeremiah's will, but because Jeremiah was willing to allow God to be in him, to change his character from one of selfishness to one that was becoming more and more in accord with the character of God.
Lord,
Help me to be faithful to do your will. Cleanse my life of all that is sinful and evil. Make my character like Yours so that I may be faithful in my service to You in all that I do.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Jeremiah 1:7 - part 2
But the LORD said to me: "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' For you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak."
Jeremiah 1:7
God didn't seem to pay much time listening to Jeremiah's excuse. Jeremiah says 'I'm too young to speak Your words to the nations" and God said 'Don't give me an excuse." Sometimes God must be impatient with us. He can see the positive result for us of our obeying Him and accepting the challenge He gives us to do a 'great' thing for Him. We whine and moan, 'I can't do that, I'm scared, its too hard, somebody will get mad at me, I'm not smart enough, somebody else can do it better, I can't speak, I don't know what I'm doing, there are too many things that won't let me do that." On and on we go, thinking up every excuse to give ourselves a reason why we can't do whatever it is that God wants us to do. The only thing that can keep us from doing what God wants us to do, is us choosing not to do it. Are there any examples of God giving someone a mission that they could not complete with the tools He also gives them? I think that's why God didn't validate Jeremiah's excuse by discussing it with him. Jeremiah thinks being too young is a reason to not be a prophet. God says, "being too young is not a valid reason for refusing My calling, let's move on." God gives Jeremiah the promise of the results of Jeremiah's acceptance of the mission. "You will go to all to whom I send you." God promises Jeremiah that Jeremiah will go to all to whom he sends him. God doesn't promise anyone will listen to Jeremiah. He doesn't promise Jeremiah that Jeremiah will see any positive results. He just promises that Jeremiah will do it if Jeremiah accepts the words of God. Now Jeremiah has to choose. Continue to make excuses, or believe God when He says that Jeremiah can, will, fulfill the mission God has for him to be a prophet to the nations. The choice is there before Jeremiah, and Jeremiah drops the excuse. Jeremiah stood with God. Jeremiah accepts the mission.
Lord,
Help me today to not look for reasons to fail You, but to accept Your strength and power to accept the mission You give me.
Jeremiah 1:7
God didn't seem to pay much time listening to Jeremiah's excuse. Jeremiah says 'I'm too young to speak Your words to the nations" and God said 'Don't give me an excuse." Sometimes God must be impatient with us. He can see the positive result for us of our obeying Him and accepting the challenge He gives us to do a 'great' thing for Him. We whine and moan, 'I can't do that, I'm scared, its too hard, somebody will get mad at me, I'm not smart enough, somebody else can do it better, I can't speak, I don't know what I'm doing, there are too many things that won't let me do that." On and on we go, thinking up every excuse to give ourselves a reason why we can't do whatever it is that God wants us to do. The only thing that can keep us from doing what God wants us to do, is us choosing not to do it. Are there any examples of God giving someone a mission that they could not complete with the tools He also gives them? I think that's why God didn't validate Jeremiah's excuse by discussing it with him. Jeremiah thinks being too young is a reason to not be a prophet. God says, "being too young is not a valid reason for refusing My calling, let's move on." God gives Jeremiah the promise of the results of Jeremiah's acceptance of the mission. "You will go to all to whom I send you." God promises Jeremiah that Jeremiah will go to all to whom he sends him. God doesn't promise anyone will listen to Jeremiah. He doesn't promise Jeremiah that Jeremiah will see any positive results. He just promises that Jeremiah will do it if Jeremiah accepts the words of God. Now Jeremiah has to choose. Continue to make excuses, or believe God when He says that Jeremiah can, will, fulfill the mission God has for him to be a prophet to the nations. The choice is there before Jeremiah, and Jeremiah drops the excuse. Jeremiah stood with God. Jeremiah accepts the mission.
Lord,
Help me today to not look for reasons to fail You, but to accept Your strength and power to accept the mission You give me.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Jeremiah 1:7 - part 1
But the LORD said to me" "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak."
Jeremiah 1:7
Jeremiah had his excuse. It seemed reasonable to him. He was too young. A more experienced man was needed for the job. God could surely find someone else. God was making a mistake. I doubt Jeremiah thought it through enough to realize he was telling God that he knew better at what he, Jeremiah, was capable of than God did. It was a pride thing I guess. Jeremiah was afraid to do what God wanted him to do, Jeremiah felt inadequate to do what God was asking, Jeremiah figured God must not be looking at things the way He should be. It is a little overwhelming that God knows what we are able to do better than we do. We think, I can't speak to my neighbor about Jesus, because .... God knows better. He sees past our fears and what we feel are our inabilities. God looks at us and sees us as we can be if we accept His power, courage, and strength. He will give us the words, He will give us the muscles, He will give us the wisdom, He will give us the brothers and sisters to help. We just need to accept the gifts He wants to give us that will allow us to carry out our mission. We need to look past the fear and excuses that often seem to spring to mind immediately when God gives us a mission. Look past our frailties to God's strength. He promises to give us whatever it is we need to complete the task that He needs done.
Lord,
Help me to not make excuses. Help me to trust in You to provide whatever is needed to allow me to do the assignment you give me.
Jeremiah 1:7
Jeremiah had his excuse. It seemed reasonable to him. He was too young. A more experienced man was needed for the job. God could surely find someone else. God was making a mistake. I doubt Jeremiah thought it through enough to realize he was telling God that he knew better at what he, Jeremiah, was capable of than God did. It was a pride thing I guess. Jeremiah was afraid to do what God wanted him to do, Jeremiah felt inadequate to do what God was asking, Jeremiah figured God must not be looking at things the way He should be. It is a little overwhelming that God knows what we are able to do better than we do. We think, I can't speak to my neighbor about Jesus, because .... God knows better. He sees past our fears and what we feel are our inabilities. God looks at us and sees us as we can be if we accept His power, courage, and strength. He will give us the words, He will give us the muscles, He will give us the wisdom, He will give us the brothers and sisters to help. We just need to accept the gifts He wants to give us that will allow us to carry out our mission. We need to look past the fear and excuses that often seem to spring to mind immediately when God gives us a mission. Look past our frailties to God's strength. He promises to give us whatever it is we need to complete the task that He needs done.
Lord,
Help me to not make excuses. Help me to trust in You to provide whatever is needed to allow me to do the assignment you give me.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Jeremiah 1:6
Then said I: "Ah, LORD GOD! Behold I cannot speak, for I am a youth."
Jeremiah 1:6
Jeremiah was afraid when he heard God's call. We don't know exactly how old he was, but it seems likely that he was less than twenty years old. His call to be a prophet came about a year after Josiah began his work of reform in Judah. It is likely that Jeremiah was a help to Josiah, speaking the messages of repentance that the LORD gave him for the people in Judah. But first, Jeremiah had to accept the calling of the LORD. Jeremiah did not have an immediate acceptance of the mission God had called him to with a 'Yes, Sir' and a marching forth to do the work God had for him. Jeremiah was young, and evidently felt that he was much too young to speak for God. Who would listen to him? God needed an older, more respected, person to speak for him. Jeremiah perhaps felt he was not talented in the area of public speaking, he didn't have the charisma and way with words that caused everyone to listen and understand and want to follow his leading. Jeremiah felt that he needed time, time to grow in wisdom and time to practice his speaking skills and time to become someone worthy of the call to be a prophet. He was respectful to God in turning Him down, but he was forceful in explaining His shortcomings. Jeremiah couldn't speak, he was just a youth. Of course God knew Jeremiah's age and He knew Jeremiah's weaknesses. God had called Jeremiah anyway. God knows our weaknesses and our age when He calls each one of us to fulfill His plan for us. We, I, have many excuses of why we cannot do what God is calling us to do. But God knows our excuses and He has an answer for every excuse or reason we have that we cannot complete the mission He gives us.
Lord,
Help me to accept the mission you have for me. Take away my fears and my excuses. Give me the courage to stand and do what You are calling me to do. I am weak and afraid. You have the power and courage I need and You are ready to give them to me. Help me accept these gifts, and serve You as best I can.
Jeremiah 1:6
Jeremiah was afraid when he heard God's call. We don't know exactly how old he was, but it seems likely that he was less than twenty years old. His call to be a prophet came about a year after Josiah began his work of reform in Judah. It is likely that Jeremiah was a help to Josiah, speaking the messages of repentance that the LORD gave him for the people in Judah. But first, Jeremiah had to accept the calling of the LORD. Jeremiah did not have an immediate acceptance of the mission God had called him to with a 'Yes, Sir' and a marching forth to do the work God had for him. Jeremiah was young, and evidently felt that he was much too young to speak for God. Who would listen to him? God needed an older, more respected, person to speak for him. Jeremiah perhaps felt he was not talented in the area of public speaking, he didn't have the charisma and way with words that caused everyone to listen and understand and want to follow his leading. Jeremiah felt that he needed time, time to grow in wisdom and time to practice his speaking skills and time to become someone worthy of the call to be a prophet. He was respectful to God in turning Him down, but he was forceful in explaining His shortcomings. Jeremiah couldn't speak, he was just a youth. Of course God knew Jeremiah's age and He knew Jeremiah's weaknesses. God had called Jeremiah anyway. God knows our weaknesses and our age when He calls each one of us to fulfill His plan for us. We, I, have many excuses of why we cannot do what God is calling us to do. But God knows our excuses and He has an answer for every excuse or reason we have that we cannot complete the mission He gives us.
Lord,
Help me to accept the mission you have for me. Take away my fears and my excuses. Give me the courage to stand and do what You are calling me to do. I am weak and afraid. You have the power and courage I need and You are ready to give them to me. Help me accept these gifts, and serve You as best I can.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Jeremiah 1:4-5
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:4-5.
Jeremiah in telling us this message of purpose for his own life and mission gives us all hope. The awesome thought that God has a mission and a plan for each of us before we are even the joining of two cells, is both sobering and overwhelming. The direction our lives take is dependant on many factors and the many choices we make as we face decisions every day. From the moment we are born, the truth of a plan for us operating with every breath we take and every step we walk gives both self esteem and responsibility. God's plan for each of us may be different in some respects from the plan He has for another, but the goal and end result of the mission for each of us is the same.
In Ephesians 4:11-16 Paul tells us "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love."
The plan for each of us is to work toward the strengthening of the people of God. The details of that plan is different for each of us, but the end result is the same. I may not fulfill the plan because of my fears or my desire to control my own life, but God has given me a valuable mission and He will give each the strength and power to fulfill that mission. Jeremiah was told at an early age what the mission for his life was. But just having the knowledge of the mission is not enough, we must act on the plan. We, like Jeremiah, must be willing to take the small steps daily that begin to fulfill that plan for us in our lives.
Lord,
Help me to listen today for your leading in my life. Help me to accept the mission you have for my life. Help me to work your plan for me to strengthen your people in some way, however small or great. You Lord are the King, help me to be faithful in my service.
Jeremiah in telling us this message of purpose for his own life and mission gives us all hope. The awesome thought that God has a mission and a plan for each of us before we are even the joining of two cells, is both sobering and overwhelming. The direction our lives take is dependant on many factors and the many choices we make as we face decisions every day. From the moment we are born, the truth of a plan for us operating with every breath we take and every step we walk gives both self esteem and responsibility. God's plan for each of us may be different in some respects from the plan He has for another, but the goal and end result of the mission for each of us is the same.
In Ephesians 4:11-16 Paul tells us "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love."
The plan for each of us is to work toward the strengthening of the people of God. The details of that plan is different for each of us, but the end result is the same. I may not fulfill the plan because of my fears or my desire to control my own life, but God has given me a valuable mission and He will give each the strength and power to fulfill that mission. Jeremiah was told at an early age what the mission for his life was. But just having the knowledge of the mission is not enough, we must act on the plan. We, like Jeremiah, must be willing to take the small steps daily that begin to fulfill that plan for us in our lives.
Lord,
Help me to listen today for your leading in my life. Help me to accept the mission you have for my life. Help me to work your plan for me to strengthen your people in some way, however small or great. You Lord are the King, help me to be faithful in my service.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Jeremiah 1:1-3
"The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month." Jeremiah 1:1-3
A brief biography of the ministry of Jeremiah, telling where he came from, and tells of his many years of prophesying by connecting to the years of the kings of Judah.
The key statement to me in this passage is "to whom the word of the LORD came". It specifies that it was not just Jeremiah's words that we are going to be reading, but the LORD's words. While we will hear about Jeremiah and his life and read some of his words, the main focus of this book will be the words of the LORD. Jeremiah had a special mission, to tell the people of Judah the words that the LORD spoke to them using Jeremiah as His mouth. Jeremiah tells us at the beginning that the message he is sharing with his people are the words of the LORD.
Hilkiah the father of Jeremiah was not necessarily the high priest who served in the days of Josiah and who figured prominently in the restoration of the temple and its service under Josiah. The SDA commentary says that Hilkiah was probably not the high priest, I presume because it is not specified that he was.
Anathoth was about 3 miles from Jerusalem in the land of Benjamin. Anathoth with its common land was one of the cities given to the sons of Aaron. (Joshua 21:18). Abiathar the priest in the days of Solomon was exiled to Anathoth for his role in Adonijah's conspiracy against Solomon.
Jeremiah's main messages were warnings to Judah to return to the Lord and to worship Him in truth and with all their hearts and not just in words. Judah was rapidly heading towards destruction and only by truly turning to the Lord and obeying Him would they be able to save the nation and their freedom. Jeremiah was sent to warn the people and the rulers of what was to come, and tell them how they could save themselves.
Lord,
I ask that You will help me to hear the words that You give me, whether You speak to me in a dream or vision, speak to me through Your words in the Bible, speak to me through Your creation, or speak to me through the people around me. Please help me to share the words You give me to share, and to allow You to guide me to know when and to whom You want me to share those words.
A brief biography of the ministry of Jeremiah, telling where he came from, and tells of his many years of prophesying by connecting to the years of the kings of Judah.
The key statement to me in this passage is "to whom the word of the LORD came". It specifies that it was not just Jeremiah's words that we are going to be reading, but the LORD's words. While we will hear about Jeremiah and his life and read some of his words, the main focus of this book will be the words of the LORD. Jeremiah had a special mission, to tell the people of Judah the words that the LORD spoke to them using Jeremiah as His mouth. Jeremiah tells us at the beginning that the message he is sharing with his people are the words of the LORD.
Hilkiah the father of Jeremiah was not necessarily the high priest who served in the days of Josiah and who figured prominently in the restoration of the temple and its service under Josiah. The SDA commentary says that Hilkiah was probably not the high priest, I presume because it is not specified that he was.
Anathoth was about 3 miles from Jerusalem in the land of Benjamin. Anathoth with its common land was one of the cities given to the sons of Aaron. (Joshua 21:18). Abiathar the priest in the days of Solomon was exiled to Anathoth for his role in Adonijah's conspiracy against Solomon.
Jeremiah's main messages were warnings to Judah to return to the Lord and to worship Him in truth and with all their hearts and not just in words. Judah was rapidly heading towards destruction and only by truly turning to the Lord and obeying Him would they be able to save the nation and their freedom. Jeremiah was sent to warn the people and the rulers of what was to come, and tell them how they could save themselves.
Lord,
I ask that You will help me to hear the words that You give me, whether You speak to me in a dream or vision, speak to me through Your words in the Bible, speak to me through Your creation, or speak to me through the people around me. Please help me to share the words You give me to share, and to allow You to guide me to know when and to whom You want me to share those words.
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