September in Jeremiah, Psalms, Lamentations, Habakkuk, 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and Ezekiel

1. Jeremiah 48
2. Jeremiah 49
3. Jeremiah 50
4. Jeremiah 51
5. Jeremiah 52
6. Psalms 85 & 102
7. Psalms 120 & 137
8. Lamentations 1 & 2
9. Lamentations 3
10. Lamentations 4 & 5
11. Psalms 116 and 71
12. Habakkuk 1 & 2
13. Habakkuk 3
14. 2 Kings 24 & 25
15. 2 Chronicles 36
16. Psalms 74 & 79
17. Ezekiel 1
18. Ezekiel 2 & 3
19. Ezekiel 4 & 5
20. Ezekiel 6 & 7
21. Ezekiel 8 & 9
22. Ezekiel 10
23. Ezekiel 11
24. Ezekiel 12
25. Ezekiel 13
26. Ezekiel 14-15
27. Ezekiel 16
28. Ezekiel 17
29. Ezekiel 18
30. Ezekiel 19

August in Jeremiah

1. Jeremiah 7
2. Jeremiah 8 & 9
3. Jeremiah 10
4. Jeremiah 11 & 12
5. Jeremiah 13
6. Jeremiah 14
7.  Jeremiah 15
8. Jeremiah 16 & 17
9. Jeremiah 18 & 19
10. Jeremiah 20 & 21
11. Jeremiah 22
12. Jeremiah 23
13. Jeremiah 24 & 25
14. Jeremiah 26 & 27
15. Jeremiah 28 & 29
16. Jeremiah 30
17. Jeremiah 31
18. Jeremiah 32
19. Jeremiah 33
20.  Jeremiah 34
21. Jeremiah 35
22. Jeremiah 36
23.  Jeremiah 37
24. Jeremiah 38
25. Jeremiah 39
26. Jeremiah 40
27. Jeremiah 41
28. Jeremiah 42
29. Jeremiah 43
30. Jeremiah 44 & 45
31. Jeremiah 46 & 47

July in 2 Kings & 2 Chronicles with Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, Zephaniah, and Jeremiah

1. Isaiah 49
2. Isaiah 50
3. Isaiah 51
4. Isaiah 52 & 53
5. Isaiah 54
6. Isaiah 55 & 56
7. Isaiah 57 & 58
8. Isaiah 59
9. Isaiah 60
10. Isaiah 61 & 62
11. Isaiah 63 & 64
12. Isaiah 65
13. Isaiah 66
14. Micah 1
15. Micah 2
16. Micah 3-5
17. Micah 6
18. Micah 7
19. Nahum 1 & 2
20. Nahum 3
21. 2 Kings 22
22. 2 Chronicles 34
23. 2 Kings 23
24. 2 Chronicles 35 & Zephaniah 1
25. Zephaniah 2 & 3
26. Jeremiah 1
27. Jeremiah 2
28. Jeremiah 3
29.  Jeremiah 4
30. Jeremiah 5
31. Jeremiah 6

Put Jeremiah Back on the Prophets Shelf

Yahoo! You are done with another book.

 JESUS is coming!

Jeremiah 52 - The Hope and Lesson from Jeremiah

LINK: Jeremiah 52

BACKGROUND

This chapter contains more detailed information about the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple already recorded in Jeremiah 39 and is nearly identical to 2 Kings 24:8-25:21 so we will not go into any background here. This chapter was probably put at the end of the book to show that Jeremiah's prophecies of judgment were fulfilled and his words about Judah's release from Exile were about to be fulfilled. It is believed this was added to encourage the remnant still in captivity.

The important addition to this chapter is that King Jehoiachin was released from prison in Babylon on March 21, 560 BC (Jeremiah 52:31) signifying that Jeremiah's prophecies of future blessings for the exiles were beginning to come true. In the favor shown on this covenant-breaking king, there was hope for future restoration by a covenant-keeping God!

No doubt these words of hope echoed in the ears of two young deportees named Daniel and Ezekiel whom God would use to continue His message to the exiles. Stay tuned for them later in September and October. 

REFLECTION

Jeremiah's life inspires and encourages me to endure a life of loving truth before God and man regardless of how "popular" that truth may be with others.

I thought this was a very beautiful summary of Jeremiah's life:

Endurance is not a common quality. Many people lack the long-term commitment, caring, and willingness that are vital to sticking with a task against all odds. But Jeremiah was a prophet who endured.

Jeremiah's call by God teaches how intimately God knows us. He valued us before anyone else knew we would exist. He cared for us while we were in our mother's womb. He planned our lives while our bodies were still being formed. He values us more highly than we value ourselves.

Jeremiah had to depend on God's love as he developed endurance. His audiences were usually antagonistic or apathetic to his messages. He was ignored; his life was often threatened. He saw both the excitement of a spiritual awakening and the sorrow of a national return to idolatry. With the exception of the good King Josiah, Jeremiah watched king after king ignore his warnings and lead the people away from God. He saw fellow prophets murdered. He himself was severely persecuted. Finally, he watched Judah's defeat at the hands of the Babylonians.

Jeremiah responded to all this with God's message and human tears. He felt firsthand God's love for his people and the people's rejection of that love. But even when he was angry with God and tempted to give up, Jeremiah knew he had to keep going. God had called him to endure. He expressed intense feelings, but he also saw beyond the feelings to the God who was soon to execute justice, but who afterward would administer mercy.

It may be easy for us to identify with Jeremiah's frustrations and discouragement, but we need to realize that his prophet's life is also an encouragement to faithfulness. (The Life Application Bible, p. 1287)

APPLICATION

What have you learned from your study of Jeremiah? Take some time to reflect upon this and journal about it. I highlighted some important points in the character analysis.

PRAYER

Lord, we know that the Scriptures were not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives. Lord, teach us lessons for our own lives through the life of Jeremiah. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Jeremiah 51 - More Bad for Babylon

LINK: Jeremiah 51

BACKGROUND

"Leb Kamai" is a cryptogram for Chaldea which is Babylon. Even though Babylon was the "gold cup" of judgment from which God made the whole earth drink (Jeremiah 25:15-29; Revelation 17:3-4; 18:6), they would experience judgment through the king of the Medes (539 B.C. by Darius [Daniel 5:31] and subsequent kings). God's vengeance was strong because of "all the wrong they had done in Zion" (51:24) by destroying the temple of God (50:28).

Jeremiah 51:15-19 are almost synonymous with 10:12-16 where Jeremiah speaks of God's sovereignty and power.

In this chapter, he summons the three warlike nations of Ararat (present-day Armenia), Minni (Western Iraq), and Ashkenaz (near the previous two) to lay waste the land of Babylon.

Jeremiah sent this message via Seraiah who was a staff officer to the king, cared for the comforts of the army, and was probably the brother of Baruch, Jeremiah's scribe (32:12). The scroll was to be tied with a stone and thrown into the Euphrates to announce that Babylon, like the scroll, would sink and rise no more (Revelation 18:21).

These were Jeremiah's final words!

REFLECTION

Even though God used an evil empire to bring judgment upon His people, he would not let the evil of that empire go unpunished. The guilty will not go unpunished, and we must trust in His sovereignty, power, and justice.

APPLICATION

Meditate on the sovereignty and power of God by praying through 51:15-19 below!

PRAYER

It is He who made the earth by His power,

Who established the world by His wisdom,

And by His understanding He stretched out the heavens.

When He utters His voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens,

And He causes the clouds to ascend from the end of the earth;

He makes lightning for the rain

And brings forth the wind from His storehouses.

All mankind is stupid, devoid of knowledge;

Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols,

For his molten images are deceitful,

And there is no breath in them.

They are worthless, a work of mockery;

In the time of their punishment they will perish.

The portion of Jacob is not like these;

For the Maker of all is He,

And of the tribe of His inheritance;

The Lord of hosts is His name." 
(Jeremiah 51:15-19)

Jeremiah 50 - Bye-Bye Babylon

LINK: Jeremiah 50

BACKGROUND

God's main purpose for Babylon was to be His instrument of punishment for Judah's sins. Once this was accomplished, Babylon would be punished for their own sin. Babylon was destroyed by a "nation from the north." They were destroyed by the Medo-Persians (Daniel 5:30-31) in 539 BC under King Cyrus. Its complete destruction was accomplished by later Persian kings. 

By the third century B.C., Babylon was little more than a desert, but archaeologists in the 19th century uncovered its ruins. The nation of Iraq had plans to restore Babylon, but the Gulf War did not allow that to happen. There is a military base near the ruins now.

Jeremiah 50:17-20 looked to a future time when God would gather His scattered flock back to the land and would forgive the nation's sins and establish His New Covenant through the Messiah.

God was against Babylon because they defied Him (50:29) because of their pride (50:31-32) and because they made the Jews suffer (50:33). In spite of the oppression of Babylon, the Jews' Strong Redeemer would free them by pleading their case and bringing rest to their land (Micah 7:9; Zechariah 3:1-5; 1 John 2:1). 

Stay TUNED! That Strong Redeemer is coming very soon!

REFLECTION and APPLICATION

Look over some previous applications that you might want to apply.

I hope you are keeping up with us! You are on the HOME STRETCH of the Old Testament. WOOHOO!

PRAYER

Lord, thank You for our Strong Redeemer, Jesus. Thank You that our sins have been forgiven and washed away because of the New Covenant of His blood. We are grateful today. Amen.

Jeremiah 49 - More Judgment on the Nations

LINK: Jeremiah 49

BACKGROUND

(Source and rights for picture)

Ammon (blue on the map)

Still moving from west to east, God pronounced prophetic judgment on Ammon located east of the Jordan River, Gilead, and the Dead Sea. Like the Moabites, the Ammonites were descendants of Lot through an incestuous relationship with one of his daughters (Genesis 19:30-38). During the Exodus, they prohibited the Israelites from passing through their lands. Other than being allied with Judah during its final revolt, both nations had been in conflict throughout history.

When the northern kingdom went into captivity in 722 B.C., Ammon seized it for herself. They also worship the god Molech and made child sacrifices to him. Jeremiah 49:6 says their problem was pride. They were to be destroyed, but God vowed to restore their fortunes.

Edom (yellow on the map)

Edom was located south of Moab and east of the Dead Sea. It was a rock fortress where modern-day Petra in southern Jordan is located. The Edomites were descended from Jacob's brother, Esau. There was constant conflict between the Edomites and Israel. Jeremiah's imagery is very much like that in Obadiah.

Teman was associated with wisdom, and one of Job's friends, Eliphaz, was from this city (Job 2:11). Dedan was a flourishing city that supported the caravans.

Edom was destroyed because of her pride (49:16). Unlike Egypt, Moab, and Ammon, Edom was not given the promise of future restoration. The prophecy was fulfilled in the intertestamental period when the Nabateans drove the Edomites from their land. They were forced to migrate to southern Judah and were called Idumeans. In 125 B.C., John Hyrcanus I, a Maccabean, made them accept Judaism after subjugating them. After this period, they were assimilated into Judaism and were no longer a separate national group.

Damascus (teal on map)

Damascus was the capital of Aram, north of Israel. It was defeated by the Assyrians and Babylonians. Nebuchadnezzar defeated Damascus in 605 B.C. (Amos 1:4,5). Ben-Hadad was the name of the dynasty that ruled in Damascus in the ninth and eighth centuries BC (See I Kings 15:18, 20; 20:1-34; 2 Kings 6:24; 8:7; 13:3, 24).

Kedar and Hazor

Kedar was a nomadic tribe from the second son of Ishmael (Genesis 25:13) that traveled in the Arabian Desert. Hazor was an unknown place somewhere in the Arabian Desert and not the city of Hazor in Israel. Nebuchadnezzar destroyed them in 599 BC.

Elam

Elam was east of Babylon in what is now the country of Iran. It was attacked by Nebuchadnezzar in 597 BC but became the center of the Persian Empire (Daniel 8:2). Susa was located in Elam (Ezra 4:9, Nehemiah 1:1, Esther). God promised to restore Elam's fortunes in the future also.

APPLICATION

There are Muslim people groups in many of the places mentioned in this chapter. Pray for those in Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Iran today! Syria especially has a terrible crisis going on with millions of people fleeing the country. There are many refugees fleeing their countries. If you would like to give to a group that cares for them in my city, donate to Corvallis for Refugees.

2023 Update: Syria still has a terrible crisis. The number of refugees has skyrocketed, and they also had a terrible earthquake. Pray for them. 

Download this:

Prayer Guide for Syrian Children

PRAYER

Lord, while You had judgment for nations who defied You, You also have compassion for all those who sincerely seek You. I pray for Muslims from the Middle East to seek You with all their heart and come to know You! I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Jeremiah 46-48: Fall of Jerusalem's Neighbors

LINK: Jeremiah 46-48 (read over the next two days) 

BACKGROUND 

By Briangotts on en.wikipedia and Slashme on en.wikipedia [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons

Remember that Jeremiah's prophecies are topical and not chronological. Jeremiah 46:1-52:34 is God's judgment on foreign nations. These nations thought they would be free of God's judgment and punishment for their sin. Just like Jerusalem, these nations would also receive God's judgment.  

Jeremiah 46 - Egypt (west of this map) 

Pharaoh Necho ("the big noise") defeated Judah and killed King Josiah at Megiddo in 609 B.C. (2 Chronicles 35:20-27). Then Nebuchadnezzar of the Babylonians defeated the Egyptians at the battle of Carchemish in 605 B.C. making Babylon the dominating world power. Eventually, Nebuchadnezzar invaded Egypt in about 568-567 B.C., just as Jeremiah had prophesied (43:8-13; 44:13-26). God was stronger than all the Egyptian gods (46:25).

Egypt's army contained mercenary soldiers for Cush (southern Egypt, Sudan, and northern Ethiopia), Put (Libya), and Lydia (west coast of Asia Minor). It was strong, but the Lord was stronger. Egypt would be destroyed. 

By איתן פרמן - Own work, CC BY 3.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2863193

There would not be a "balm from Gilead." This was a healing resin from the storax tree (picture on the left) that was grown in Gilead, east of the Jordan River (Genesis 37:25; Jeremiah 8:22; 51:8; Ezekiel 27:17). 

Despite Egypt's defeat, God did promise that they would be restored (46:26).

Note in 46:27-28 that God tells Israel to not fear or be dismayed because they would return from exile, enjoying peace and security (31:1-6).






Jeremiah 47 - Philistia (grey on the map) 

The Philistine people are believed to have come from Crete (Caphtor, 46:4; Amos 9:7; Zephaniah 2:5). They had been warring with Israel for a long time. They were a wealthy nation because of their sea trade and their allies were Tyre and Sidon (47:4; Ezekiel 27-28), but they would not be able to help these places when judgment came.

Being caught in the struggle between Babylon and Egypt, Gaza was attacked by the Egyptians (Jeremiah 47:1), and Ashkelon was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in November-December 604 B.C. (Jeremiah 36:9).

Jeremiah 48 - Moab (yellow-green, east of the Dead Sea, north of Zered River, and south of the Arnon River) 

Like the Ammonites, the Moabites were descendants of Lot through an incestuous relationship with one of his daughters (Genesis 19:30-38). They led Israel into idolatry (Numbers 25:1-3). Chemosh was their national god (48:7; Numbers 21:29 1 Kings 11:7), and child sacrifice was a part of their worship (2 Kings 3:26, 27). 

Salt was a symbolic way of showing the total destruction of a city (48:9; Judges 9:45). Moab had enjoyed peace throughout their history (48:11). So, they were arrogant and prideful (48:29). 

Despite the destruction, God promised that some of these neighboring countries would be restored: Egypt (46:26), Moab (48:47); Ammon (49:6); and Elam (49:39). Many commentators believe this is through the restoration of Jesus Christ. "Gospel blessings, temporal and spiritual, to the Gentiles in the last days, are intended" (A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments, Je 48:47).

REFLECTION 

In this chapter (Jeremiah 46), we gain several insights about God and his plan for this world: 

(1) Although God chose Israel for a special purpose, he loves all people and wants all to come to him. 

(2) God is holy and will not tolerate sin. 

(3) God's judgments are not based on prejudice and a desire for revenge but on fairness and justice. 

(4) God does not delight in judgment but in salvation. 

(5) God is impartial - he judges everyone by the same standard.  (From The Life Application Bible, 46:1, page 1363)

This is the drum I have been tapping since the beginning of the Bible Book Club. God wants to bless ALL nations (Genesis 12:1-4). He wants to be their God. 

APPLICATION

The countries mentioned today are all in the Arab world, and they are going through tremendous changes. Pray for Egypt as they forge a new nation, post-Mubarak. Also, pray for peace between Arabs and Israelis in Palestine. Pray for the people of Gaza (former Philistine area) too. 

PRAYER

Lord, while You had judgment for nations who defied You, You also have compassion for all those who sincerely seek You. We pray for the countries of Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Libya, and Palestine. We pray the peoples would seek You. We ask for leaders who fear You and can lead their nations into peace. It is in Your name we pray. Amen. 

Jeremiah 44 & 45 - Do Not Seek Great Things for Yourself

LINK: Jeremiah 44 & 45

BACKGROUND

Jeremiah 44 was given in 580 B.C., and he reminded them that destruction would come upon them because they had followed other gods and relied on them for their help. That destruction did come for them when Nebuchadnezzar invaded Egypt in 568 - 567 B.C.

The events in Jeremiah 45 are a repeat of what happened in Jeremiah 36:1-8:

Jeremiah 36 - The Scroll

The events in Jeremiah 36 began in the fourth year of the reign of King Jehoiakim (605-604 B.C.). They happened before the events in Jeremiah 34 and 35.

God wanted all the prophecies of Jeremiah written down and read in hopes that the people would hear about everything that Jeremiah had said was going to happen and repent. Baruch wrote them down, and it was read three times. The first time was on a fast day in the house of the Lord. At that time, fast days were only called in times of emergency. Babylon was destroying city after city. So, they were in an emergency mode. Micaiah, the grandson of Shaphan (the man who read the book of the Law to King Josiah in 2 Kings 22), was concerned and brought it to the king's house and read it the second time to the officials who trembled and went to the king. The third reading to the king was rejected, and the king cut the scroll and had it burned! Consequently, God had Jeremiah write another scroll with the addition of a special judgment against the disobedient king.

This particular chapter adds "color" to this chapter by giving us a glimpse into Baruch's attitude. He was discouraged by the message, but the message to him was to not let his personal aspirations of greatness get in the way of God's purposeful judgment. His attitude should have been one of thankfulness for being spared the judgment. His eyes needed to be fixed on God. 

REFLECTION

But you, are you seeking great things for yourself? 

Do not seek them. 

(Jeremiah 45:5)

At one time or another in our lives, most of us have sought out personal gory. It is a hard habit to break when we are fleshly and self-centered human beings who feel like we deserve a pat on the back or a little applause now and then. 

I have seen people more concerned with being published or well-known in Christian circles than having a heart set on devotion to the Lord. They were territorial about "their ministry" and were threatened and competitive with others around them. I have even seen some who have lied and slandered to maintain their "glorified status." God does not want us to see our own glory but to seek Him. 

Sure, acclamation may come as a result of our seeking the Lord and being His vessel, but that acclamation will simply become material for sacrifice in praise and adoration of Him for the great things HE has done in us!

It is ALL about Him and not about us.

APPLICATION

Are you seeking great things for yourself? “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (Matthew 6:33).

It might be time to have a heart-to-heart talk to God about this. 

PRAYER

Lord, "Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen!

Jeremiah 41-43: Will You Not Listen?

LINKS: Jeremiah 41-43  (Read over the next three days)

BACKGROUND

Nebuchadnezzar's puppet governor should have listened to Johanan because Ishmael did assassinate him after all! Some commentators believe it was because Ishmael was angry about being passed over for leadership since he was in the line of David.

Then, Ishmael and his band slaughtered worshipers on their way to Jerusalem who were most likely going to celebrate one of the three feasts held during the seventh month (Leviticus 23:23-44). Commentators believe it was for their money and food. With no king on the throne, Judah was thrown into total anarchy.

Johanan and the army officers rescued Ishmael's captives while Ishmael and eight of his men escaped to the Ammonites. To escape the Babylonians, Johanan and the captives set out for Egypt via Geruth Kimhan (Chimham) near Bethlehem. It was obvious that they had already made up their mind to go to Egypt; but in the midst of that, they asked for God's guidance for their journey and asked Jeremiah to pray to God for them. They said they were willing to do what God told them to do stating, "We will obey the LORD our God." Through Jeremiah, God told them to stay in the land and not be afraid of the Babylonians. If they disobeyed Him, Jeremiah warned them that they would die by the sword, famine, and plague. 

Sadly, they disobeyed Him and went to Egypt dragging Jeremiah with them. 

REFLECTION

"We will not listen to the message 
you have spoken to us

in the name of the LORD!

Jeremiah 44:16

BUT WHY??????

The whole time I was meditating on these chapters (I had to treat them as a whole instead of in individual posts), I could only think of this song:

"Will You Not Listen?" by Michael Card

Listening is the MOST important thing we can do in our relationship with God. Try to cultivate a heart that really listens. It may mean letting go of everything and stopping long enough to hear Him in the quietness. 

APPLICATION

Are you listening? If not, why? Talk to God about this. The song says, "God has spoken love...God has spoken peace...God has spoken hope." Do you believe this? Have an honest conversation with God about this right now.

Maybe you are listening and even hearing. Are you responding to what you hear? 

Remember this book is very inspiring to help you listen and obey:

God Guides.

PRAYER

Teach us to listen and obey. Amen.

Jeremiah 40 - After the Fall

LINK: Jeremiah 40

BACKGROUND 

Jeremiah 40-44 follows the events after the fall of Jerusalem. Nebuchadnezzar established a puppet governor over Jerusalem, Gedaliah. Jeremiah was released and had the option of going to live in great comfort in Babylon, but he remained in Jerusalem and continued to prophesy.  But the people who remained in Jerusalem still refused to trust in the Lord and submit to Babylon (Ezekiel 33:23-29).

After the crushing defeat by the Babylonians, the army of Judah was scattered throughout the open country. When they heard that Gedaliah was the governor, they came to him, and Gedaliah assured them that it would go well with them if they submitted to the Babylonians. Some did submit, but the king of Ammon conspired with Ishmael son of Nethaniah, who was from the royal line of David, (40:14-15) to take Gedaliah's life. Remember that Judah and Ammon wanted to unite in rebellion against Babylon (27:1-11) in 593 B.C. with nothing coming of that, but they were still allies when Jerusalem fell. Some speculate that Ishmael wanted that power since he was in the line of the Kings of Judah. 

Foolishly, Gedaliah ignored warnings about his assassination.  Keep reading to see what happened!

No REFLECTION or APPLICATION 

PRAYER

Lord, help us not to take the easy way but the way that will bring You glory. Just like Jesus did. Amen. 

Jeremiah 39 - Fall of Jerusalem and Fear of Jeremiah

LINK: Jeremiah 39

BACKGROUND

For historical background, you can read the section of the post with 2 Kings 25 & 2 Chronicles 36:15-21

Jeremiah 39 should follow Jeremiah 34 chronologically; but as you know, this book is not chronological! As a reminder, Jeremiah 34 involved God's judgment on Zedekiah for his lack of leadership. He tried one last attempt to please God by freeing the slaves, but the people took them back again when they hoped Egypt would repel the attack of the Babylonians. 

Babylon's foreign policy was to deport the rich and powerful and leave the poor people in charge of the land, making them grateful and loyal to Babylon. 

God had promised that Jeremiah would be rescued from all trouble (1:8). This came true when the Babylonians freed him, protected him, and treated him as a wise seer. 

Remember that Eed-Melech risked his own life to save Jeremiah's (38:7-13). Consequently, God protected Ebed-Melech from the Babylonians. 

REFLECTION

"Do not be afraid of them 

For I am with you to deliver you," 

declares the LORD 

(Jeremiah 1:8)

I will let you in on a little secret: I used to be a "Little Miss Much Afraid," like the main character in the classic book, Hind's Feet on High Places. That is why this verse in Jeremiah was VERY dear to me for many years as God led me into situations where I was the one speaking truth when I did not want to be led there. 

For many years, I did not like that position, but I have grown into it, just like Jeremiah. And I have learned to not be afraid. On the other side, I feel like God has blessed me for my courageous steps. He has rescued me from all trouble, protected me, and given me a new name: Boldly Beloved.

If you want to know about a new name God wants to give you, listen to this: 

"Unleashing Your Imagination"

APPLICATION

What are you afraid of right now? Talk to God about it.

If you have not already read it, Hind's Feet on High Places is an excellent book for all believers to read, especially for those of us who struggle with fear. 

PRAYER

Lord, make us fearless by Your power and strength. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Jeremiah 38 - Obey the Lord by Doing What I Tell You

LINK: Jeremiah 38

BACKGROUND

In the courtyard of the guard, Jeremiah delivered God's message to high-ranking officials. It was the same message delivered in 21:3-10: the only hope was surrender to the Babylonians. 

The king allowed the officials to put Jeremiah in a cistern to kill him. A cistern was a large hole in the ground lined with rocks to collect rainwater. It was dark and damp. Jeremiah, in his 60's, could have drowned, died of exposure, or starved to death. Only the petition of Ebed-Melech (note what happens to him in Jeremiah 39), one of the court officials, persuaded the king to get Jeremiah out. In a private conversation, Jeremiah again reiterated to Zedekiah that only surrender will save him and his people and exhorted Zedekiah to "Obey the Lord by doing what I tell you . . . and your life will be spared." You will find out the sad consequences of this weak king's disobedience in the next chapter.

In the last encounter between Zedekiah and Jeremiah, the king ordered Jeremiah not to tell the officials the details of their conversation and to tell them that Jeremiah was pleading to not be sent back to Jonathan's dungeon which was true from a previous conversation. 

The Life Application Bible comments: "We must not withhold God's truth from others, but we should withhold information that will be used to bring evil to God's people" (p. 1356).

REFLECTION

This man is not seeking the good of these people but their ruin.

Jeremiah 38:4

But Jeremiah was seeking their good! Just this morning, I was reading The Perfect Leader by Kenneth Boa. In the chapter entitled "Exhortation", he writes:

Regardless of how we feel about confrontation, there are times when confronting is the most loving thing we can do for another person. Deitrich Bonhoeffer wrote: "Nothing can be more cruel than the leniency which abandons others to their sin. Nothing can be more compassionate than the severe reprimand which calls another Christian in one's community back from the path of sin." (Location 1987, Boa is quoting from Life Together, translated by Daniel Bloesch and James Burtness, p. 105)

Today, exhortation often gets a bad rap. We think we are "wounding" our friends through words of exhortation. Bonhoeffer writes:

One who because of sensitivity and vanity rejects the serious words of another Christian cannot speak the truth in humility to others. Such a person is afraid of being rejected and feeling hurt by another's words. Sensitive, irritable people will always become flatterers, and very soon they will come to despise and slander other Christians in their community. . . . When another Christian falls into obvious sin, an admonition is imperative, because God's Word demands it. The practice of discipline in the community of faith begins with friends who are close to one another. Words of admonition and reproach must be risked. (Life Together, p. 105)

Jeremiah was willing to take that kind of risk. Are you?

APPLICATION

Do you care enough to exhort those you love? How do you receive exhortation from others?

Here is an excellent book about this subject that I have recommended before:

(There are many used ones on Amazon in an older edition HERE.)

PRAYER

Lord, thank You for the brave example of Jeremiah who cared enough to confront even when it meant prison and a cistern. Give us the boldness to proclaim truth even when it is unpopular. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Jeremiah 37 - Jeremiah Imprisoned

LINK: Jeremiah 37

BACKGROUND

Jeremiah 37-39 traces the events during the final siege and fall of Jerusalem. King Jehoiakim died on the way to Babylon (2 Chronicles 36:6), and his son, Jehoiachin, was appointed king, but he was taken captive to Babylon three months later. Then, Nebuchadnezzar appointed the last king of Judah, Zedekiah, to sit as a vassal king on the throne (2 Kings 24:15-17).

Sadly, Zedekiah and his people did not listen to the word of the Lord through Jeremiah and just wanted him to pray that God would grant victory to their allies, the Egyptians, so that Babylon would get out of Palestine and leave them alone! But God's word through Jeremiah predicted that this would not happen, and Jerusalem would be burned.

In the second half of the chapter, Jeremiah was falsely accused of going over to the side of the Babylonians when he went to divide up some land. This land should not be confused with the land he purchased in Jeremiah 32. The events in Jeremiah 37 took place before the events in Jeremiah 32.

Jeremiah was beaten and thrown into an underground cistern that had been converted into a prison where he remained for a long time until Zedekiah secretly sent for him in hopes of hearing a good word from the Lord, but Jeremiah had only bad news for the king.

After Jeremiah's protest of his innocence and petition for better treatment (Jeremiah was in his 60s at the time), Zedekiah transferred him to the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace where he was treated more humanely.

REFLECTION/APPLICATION

Jeremiah was persecuted for speaking the truth. Persecution for proclaiming and believing in the truth still goes on today, and we can stand in the gap for some of our brothers and sisters around the world. Please take some time to pray for those who are persecuted by going to the prayer requests on the Voice of the Martyrs website. 

PRAYER

Lord, Your Word is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, it pierces as far as the division of both soul and spirit, joint and marrow, and it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). That is why it is such a threat to the kingdom of darkness and that kingdom persecutes and seeks to burn and destroy just like Zedekiah who burned Your Word of truth spoken through Jeremiah.

Lord, help us to speak truth in spite of the persecution, and we lift up our brave brothers and sisters throughout the world who are being persecuted for speaking and believing in the truth. Give them an unwavering awareness of Your powerful presence, and we pray that You would be glorified and exalted through their lives. We ask this in the name of the One who suffered more than any of us, Jesus. Amen.

Jeremiah 36 - Jeremiah's Scroll

LINK: Jeremiah 36

BACKGROUND

The events in this chapter began in the fourth year of the reign of King Jehoiakim (605-604 B.C.). They happened before the events in Jeremiah 34 and 35.

God wanted all the prophecies of Jeremiah written down and read in hopes that the people would hear about everything that Jeremiah had said was going to happen and repent. Baruch wrote them down, and it was read three times. The first time was on a fast day in the house of the Lord. At that time, fast days were only called in times of emergency. Babylon was destroying city after city. So, they were in an emergency mode. Micaiah, the grandson of Shaphan (the man who read the book of the Law to King Josiah in 2 Kings 22), was concerned and brought it to the king's house and read it the second time to the officials who trembled and went to the king. The third reading to the king was rejected, and the king cut the scroll and had it burned! Consequently, God had Jeremiah write another scroll with the addition of a special judgment against the disobedient king.

Enjoy another free reading day!