Jerusalem, once thriving is now deserted. The city, once celebrated is like a widow. She is sad and everyone has deserted her. There are no people because their sins have destroyed them. The glory and splendor have gone. People remember the good times, now they suffer. Her sins made her unclean, but she didn't care, until Jerusalem fell and she realized no one would help her. Even the most precious place had been desecrated by foreigners - the Holy of Holies. Jerusalem shouted to the Lord to notice how she suffered. Nobody else noticed or cared. The Lord tied Jerusalem's sins around her neck and they were sapping her strength. Judah once beautiful was now trampled like grapes. Jerusalem mourned and cried without comfort. Jerusalem was disrespected by her neighbors. The Lord was right, but Jerusalem refused to obey Him. Couldn't God see that they were sick with regret? Jerusalem had lost all hope.
The Lord was so angry that He destroyed Jerusalem. He wiped out the army, and the cities. God left Israel in ruins. The people were weeping and moaning. He even shattered His temple. He started destroying and did not stop until the walls mourned and trembled. Everyone was numb from grief. Jeremiah felt sick all over. The Lord had kept His promises of long ago. Don't lose hope - get up and pray for help, pour out your feelings to the Lord, beg Him for help. Had the Lord ever been this cruel or angry before?
Jeremiah had suffered. He was kept in the dark and punished over and over. His skin and flesh was wasting away. His life was hardships and trouble; he was chained. Even when he shouted, his prayers weren't loud enough. Obstacles and ambushes awaited him on his path. He was a joke, everyone made fun of him. He thought he couldn't count on the Lord anymore and that made him feel depressed. Then Jeremiah remembered that he could count on God after all. If God had not been merciful everyone would be dead. Deep in his heart, Jeremiah knew God was all he needed. He told the people they could learn from insults and hard knocks. God sees everything, so do what is right and treat other people well. Jeremiah rememinded them they shouldn't complain about being punished for their sins, instead, they should think about what they are doing and stop sinning. They needed to pray and ask God to forgive them. (Good advice today too!)
Tomorrow read Lamentations 3:52-5:22; Ezekiel 1-2
20100906
September 6, 2010 Jeremiah 51:11-52:34
This is my 250th post! I am happy to celebrate that by finishing the book of Jeremiah. As with Isaiah, I've enjoyed reading Jeremiah too. I especially like the way he described what God told him to do and how he would say, "So I did."
God had made plans to destroy Babylon and nothing would stop Him. They were rich, but the time had come for them to die. God swore on His own life that enemy soldiers would fill their streets and celebrate their victory. After Jeremiah praised God he pronounced idol worshipers stupid! He said, "Idols are merely a joke, and when the time is right, they will be destroyed." (Jeremiah 51:18 CEV) Babylon was God's hammer which He used to pound nations to bits. Now Babylon would experience God's hammer! God promised that Babylon would forever be a desert. God's people prayed and asked Him to make Babylon pay for what they'd done. So God would lull them to sleep, never to wake up. God told His people to get out of Babylon and run for their lives. "Everything that nation worked so hard to gain will go up in smoke." (Jeremiah 51:58 CEV) Zedekiah went to Babylon during his 4th year as king. Baruch's brother Seraiah went also to arrange places to stay. Jeremiah sent a scroll with Seraiah and told him to pray and throw it in the Euphrates River and then say that as the scroll sinks so will Babylon.
This ends Jeremiah's writing.
Chapter 52 is nearly identical to 2Kings 24:18-25:21 (April 25). Instead of the details about Gedaliah and Ishmael, there is a counting of the people taken to Babylon. The details of the release of king Jehoiachin are nearly the same as well.
Tomorrow read Lamentations 1-3:51
God had made plans to destroy Babylon and nothing would stop Him. They were rich, but the time had come for them to die. God swore on His own life that enemy soldiers would fill their streets and celebrate their victory. After Jeremiah praised God he pronounced idol worshipers stupid! He said, "Idols are merely a joke, and when the time is right, they will be destroyed." (Jeremiah 51:18 CEV) Babylon was God's hammer which He used to pound nations to bits. Now Babylon would experience God's hammer! God promised that Babylon would forever be a desert. God's people prayed and asked Him to make Babylon pay for what they'd done. So God would lull them to sleep, never to wake up. God told His people to get out of Babylon and run for their lives. "Everything that nation worked so hard to gain will go up in smoke." (Jeremiah 51:58 CEV) Zedekiah went to Babylon during his 4th year as king. Baruch's brother Seraiah went also to arrange places to stay. Jeremiah sent a scroll with Seraiah and told him to pray and throw it in the Euphrates River and then say that as the scroll sinks so will Babylon.
This ends Jeremiah's writing.
Chapter 52 is nearly identical to 2Kings 24:18-25:21 (April 25). Instead of the details about Gedaliah and Ishmael, there is a counting of the people taken to Babylon. The details of the release of king Jehoiachin are nearly the same as well.
Tomorrow read Lamentations 1-3:51
20100905
September 5, 2010 Jeremiah 49-51:10
The Lord gave His opinion of Ammon. Why had they taken over towns given to the tribe of Gad? Someday He would send an army to attack their capital city, their land would lie in ruins and Israel would take it back. The rebellious Ammonites trust their wealth and boast that no one would attack them. The Lord would send neighboring nations to terrorize and scatter them. Someday the Lord would bring the people back home.
The Lord said that wisdom and common sense had vanished from Edom. The Lord would send disasters to punish the descendants of Esau. The people would die, but the Lord would protect the orphans and widows. God told them if people who don't deserve to drink from the cup of the Lord's anger have to, why should they get away without it? Pride tricked them into thinking other nations feared them. The truth was that they were despised. People passing by would be shocked to see destruction as bad as Sodom and Gomorrah. The Lord would send destroyers to swoop down and attack them like eagles. Their warriors would be gripped by fear.
About Damascus, the Lord said that they had lost hope, and worries rolled over them like waves. He was once pleased with their city, but now they should get out while they still can.
About the desert tribes conquered by Nebuchadnezzar, God said that he told the king to do it. They were to run and hide. They had no fortress, yet they thought they were safe. They weren't.
Soon after Zedekiah became king the Lord told Jeremiah that He would kill all the archers of Elam. Enemies would attack and crush them. Someday God would bring back the people.
Babylon wasn't immune either. The Lord told Jeremiah to announce what would happen and not leave anything out. Babylon would be attacked by armies from the north. They would run and leave the land empty. When this happened, Israel and Judah would return to their own land. The people would make a new agreement with God that they wouldn't break or forget. Escape from Babylonia, it will be conquered. The Babylonians were eager and happy to rob God's people. God's anger would destroy Babylon and no one would live there. Babylon will be punished by taking its own medicine. God would bring Israel back to its own land, and rescue a few people left behind. They would be forgiven so completely that their sin and guilt would disappear.
Babylon challenged God, so God would destroy Babylon by using their enemies against them. They destroyed the temple, but God would take revenge. God promised that even their best soldiers would lie dead in the streets. No one would live there again.
Babylon was the gold cup of God filled with the wine of His anger. The nations got drunk on this wine and went insane. Babylon will fall. Israel would know that the Lord had taken revenge on Babylon for what they did to them.
Tomorrow read Jeremiah 51:11-52:34
The Lord said that wisdom and common sense had vanished from Edom. The Lord would send disasters to punish the descendants of Esau. The people would die, but the Lord would protect the orphans and widows. God told them if people who don't deserve to drink from the cup of the Lord's anger have to, why should they get away without it? Pride tricked them into thinking other nations feared them. The truth was that they were despised. People passing by would be shocked to see destruction as bad as Sodom and Gomorrah. The Lord would send destroyers to swoop down and attack them like eagles. Their warriors would be gripped by fear.
About Damascus, the Lord said that they had lost hope, and worries rolled over them like waves. He was once pleased with their city, but now they should get out while they still can.
About the desert tribes conquered by Nebuchadnezzar, God said that he told the king to do it. They were to run and hide. They had no fortress, yet they thought they were safe. They weren't.
Soon after Zedekiah became king the Lord told Jeremiah that He would kill all the archers of Elam. Enemies would attack and crush them. Someday God would bring back the people.
Babylon wasn't immune either. The Lord told Jeremiah to announce what would happen and not leave anything out. Babylon would be attacked by armies from the north. They would run and leave the land empty. When this happened, Israel and Judah would return to their own land. The people would make a new agreement with God that they wouldn't break or forget. Escape from Babylonia, it will be conquered. The Babylonians were eager and happy to rob God's people. God's anger would destroy Babylon and no one would live there. Babylon will be punished by taking its own medicine. God would bring Israel back to its own land, and rescue a few people left behind. They would be forgiven so completely that their sin and guilt would disappear.
Babylon challenged God, so God would destroy Babylon by using their enemies against them. They destroyed the temple, but God would take revenge. God promised that even their best soldiers would lie dead in the streets. No one would live there again.
Babylon was the gold cup of God filled with the wine of His anger. The nations got drunk on this wine and went insane. Babylon will fall. Israel would know that the Lord had taken revenge on Babylon for what they did to them.
Tomorrow read Jeremiah 51:11-52:34
20100904
September 4, 2010 Jeremiah 46-48
The Lord often told Jeremiah what to say about different nations of the world. He told Jeremiah his opinions about Egypt, the Philistines, the nation of Moab, Ammon, Edom, Damascus, the people of the desert and Nebuchadnezzar, Elam, and the future of Babylonia. Today's passage covers God's opinion of Egypt, the Philistines, and Moab.
The Lord spoke about the Egyptian army. He said to get ready for battle with weapons and armor. He knew they would be defeated and run away in terror, but they wouldn't escape. God described the Egyptians like the Nile, rising up and overflowing its banks. The Lord told Egypt to go for it, try to defeat the enemy. But it was they who would be defeated. Nothing would sooth them, not even the balm of Gilead (this balm was mentioned briefly in Genesis 37:25 when Joseph's brothers sold him to the merchant caravan going to Egypt.)
The Lord sent a warning to Egypt as Nebuchadnezzar was on his way to attack them. He told them to defend themselves. Their king is all talk and no action. God is the true king. He told the people to pack a bag to take with them, soon there would be nothing left. God told them he would punish the Egyptian gods and everyone who trusted Egyptian power. The Lord promised that someday there would be people living in Egypt again.
The Lord told the Israelites that though they were being punished, it would not always be the case. The Lord would protect them when it came time to destroy their captors. The Lord promised to bring them home so they could live in peace and safety with nothing to fear.
The Lord warned the Philistines that an army from the north would destroy their towns and people. The refugees from Crete would also be destroyed. The Anakim (the very large people) who survive in Gaza and Ashkelon would mourn for them.
The Lord had many comments about Moab. (Ruth was from Moab. She was king David's ancestor.) The Lord told them they were doomed, that they would be shattered and they should run for their lives! The Lord instructed their enemies to let nothing remain alive - even plants. They had been left undisturbed and got rich and fat. Their god Chemosh wouldn't save them. Neighboring countries would comment how sad it was to see their glory in ruins. They had claimed to be more powerful than God, and made fun of His people, now they would be sorry. God saw their pride and heard their boasting. God told them bragging will never save them. The Lord would weep for the destroyed towns. He would get rid of anyone who burned incense to other gods. Everyone would shave their heads, cut their beards, slash their hands and wear sackcloth in mourning. Even though other nations are horrified they will laugh. Moab is finished as a nation because they dared oppose the Lord. Yet he would restore their fortunes in days to come.
Tomorrow read Jeremiah 49-51:10
The Lord spoke about the Egyptian army. He said to get ready for battle with weapons and armor. He knew they would be defeated and run away in terror, but they wouldn't escape. God described the Egyptians like the Nile, rising up and overflowing its banks. The Lord told Egypt to go for it, try to defeat the enemy. But it was they who would be defeated. Nothing would sooth them, not even the balm of Gilead (this balm was mentioned briefly in Genesis 37:25 when Joseph's brothers sold him to the merchant caravan going to Egypt.)
The Lord sent a warning to Egypt as Nebuchadnezzar was on his way to attack them. He told them to defend themselves. Their king is all talk and no action. God is the true king. He told the people to pack a bag to take with them, soon there would be nothing left. God told them he would punish the Egyptian gods and everyone who trusted Egyptian power. The Lord promised that someday there would be people living in Egypt again.
The Lord told the Israelites that though they were being punished, it would not always be the case. The Lord would protect them when it came time to destroy their captors. The Lord promised to bring them home so they could live in peace and safety with nothing to fear.
The Lord warned the Philistines that an army from the north would destroy their towns and people. The refugees from Crete would also be destroyed. The Anakim (the very large people) who survive in Gaza and Ashkelon would mourn for them.
The Lord had many comments about Moab. (Ruth was from Moab. She was king David's ancestor.) The Lord told them they were doomed, that they would be shattered and they should run for their lives! The Lord instructed their enemies to let nothing remain alive - even plants. They had been left undisturbed and got rich and fat. Their god Chemosh wouldn't save them. Neighboring countries would comment how sad it was to see their glory in ruins. They had claimed to be more powerful than God, and made fun of His people, now they would be sorry. God saw their pride and heard their boasting. God told them bragging will never save them. The Lord would weep for the destroyed towns. He would get rid of anyone who burned incense to other gods. Everyone would shave their heads, cut their beards, slash their hands and wear sackcloth in mourning. Even though other nations are horrified they will laugh. Moab is finished as a nation because they dared oppose the Lord. Yet he would restore their fortunes in days to come.
Tomorrow read Jeremiah 49-51:10
20100903
September 3, 2010 Jeremiah 41:11-45:5
Soldiers heard what Ishmael had done and pursued him. When Ishmael's prisoners saw them they were happy. Ishmael and some of his men escaped into Ammon, but the soldiers decided to take all the people (including Jeremiah) to Egypt because they were afraid of what the Babylonians would do when they found out that Gedaliah had been killed.
On the way to Egypt the people asked Jeremiah to pray and ask God what He wanted them to do. They promised God that they'd do everything He said even if they didn't like it. 10 days later Jeremiah received an answer. God told them to stay in Judah and He would protect them from the Babylonians and make them strong and prosperous. But if they got scared and went to Egypt they would die there of the same things they were afraid would happen to them in Judah. Jeremiah added that the people had asked him for help which he gave along with their promise to do whatever the Lord told them. But they reneged, so they would die of war, hunger and disease.
The people accused Jeremiah of lying. They said Baruch put him up to it because he wanted to go to Babylon. So they disobeyed God and went to Egypt. Once they were settled in Egypt, the Lord told Jeremiah to bury some large stones in the mortar of the brick pavement in front of Pharaoh's palace and make sure the Jews were watching.
Then Jeremiah was to tell them that God had sent for Nebuchadnezzar, who would come and set up his tent right on top of where those stones were. He would attack and kill many people, it would be like he had picked the land clean. Then he'd go home.
The Lord sent Jeremiah to speak to the Jews living in towns all over Egypt. He told them that God had destroyed Jerusalem and Judah because the people angered him for worshiping empty, useless idols. Over and over God sent prophets to warn the people about the danger their disgusting sins were putting them in, but they wouldn't listen. God asked them why they insisted on courting disaster. God could see that that their pride kept them from respecting Him. So, He decided to wipe them out with disasters. Just as He punished Jerusalem with war, hunger and disease, so he would punish them. Only a few would return to Judah, the rest would die in Egypt.
Most of the Jews listened to Jeremiah, but they had wives who burned incense to the "Queen of Heaven" and refused to change. They shouted at Jeremiah that they had worshiped that way like their ancestors did in Jerusalem back in the good old days when things were good. Since the time they stopped burning incense their lives had gotten too hard. Jeremiah tried to tell them that things got bad BECAUSE they had worshiped other gods and God put a curse on the land. Then Jeremiah told them that God had said to go ahead and keep doing what they were doing. But watch out! They would know that when God says something will happen - it will!
Earlier, in the 4th year of king Jehoiakim's reign, God gave Jeremiah a message for Baruch. Now Baruch had written down everything Jeremiah said. God told him to stop complaining about being so tired and blaming God for keeping him so busy. God had alot more to tell Jeremiah and they were far from finished! But God did promise him that he would be protected from death.
Tomorrow read Jeremiah 46-48
On the way to Egypt the people asked Jeremiah to pray and ask God what He wanted them to do. They promised God that they'd do everything He said even if they didn't like it. 10 days later Jeremiah received an answer. God told them to stay in Judah and He would protect them from the Babylonians and make them strong and prosperous. But if they got scared and went to Egypt they would die there of the same things they were afraid would happen to them in Judah. Jeremiah added that the people had asked him for help which he gave along with their promise to do whatever the Lord told them. But they reneged, so they would die of war, hunger and disease.
The people accused Jeremiah of lying. They said Baruch put him up to it because he wanted to go to Babylon. So they disobeyed God and went to Egypt. Once they were settled in Egypt, the Lord told Jeremiah to bury some large stones in the mortar of the brick pavement in front of Pharaoh's palace and make sure the Jews were watching.
Then Jeremiah was to tell them that God had sent for Nebuchadnezzar, who would come and set up his tent right on top of where those stones were. He would attack and kill many people, it would be like he had picked the land clean. Then he'd go home.
The Lord sent Jeremiah to speak to the Jews living in towns all over Egypt. He told them that God had destroyed Jerusalem and Judah because the people angered him for worshiping empty, useless idols. Over and over God sent prophets to warn the people about the danger their disgusting sins were putting them in, but they wouldn't listen. God asked them why they insisted on courting disaster. God could see that that their pride kept them from respecting Him. So, He decided to wipe them out with disasters. Just as He punished Jerusalem with war, hunger and disease, so he would punish them. Only a few would return to Judah, the rest would die in Egypt.
Most of the Jews listened to Jeremiah, but they had wives who burned incense to the "Queen of Heaven" and refused to change. They shouted at Jeremiah that they had worshiped that way like their ancestors did in Jerusalem back in the good old days when things were good. Since the time they stopped burning incense their lives had gotten too hard. Jeremiah tried to tell them that things got bad BECAUSE they had worshiped other gods and God put a curse on the land. Then Jeremiah told them that God had said to go ahead and keep doing what they were doing. But watch out! They would know that when God says something will happen - it will!
Earlier, in the 4th year of king Jehoiakim's reign, God gave Jeremiah a message for Baruch. Now Baruch had written down everything Jeremiah said. God told him to stop complaining about being so tired and blaming God for keeping him so busy. God had alot more to tell Jeremiah and they were far from finished! But God did promise him that he would be protected from death.
Tomorrow read Jeremiah 46-48
20100902
September 2, 2010 Jeremiah 37-41:10
Nebuchadnezzar made Zedekiah king. Nobody listened to anything the Lord said through Jeremiah. Zedekiah sent Jehucal and Zephaniah (the priest) to ask Jeremiah what would happen next, but the two men asked him to pray to the Lord for them. (Jeremiah had not yet been put in prison and was free to go where he pleased.) He sent them back with a message for Zedekiah. God wanted Zedekiah to know that the Babylonians would come back and burn the city down. They left because the Egyptian army was coming and planned to return when the Egyptians went home. Jeremiah decided to go home too, but as he was passing through the gate he was stopped by the officer in charge and arrested for trying to join the Babylonians. They beat him and put him in prison. Finally, Zedekiah had Jeremiah brought to him and he asked him if there was a message from the Lord. Jeremiah said there was and it was that the Lord was going to let the king of Babylon capture Zedekiah. Then Jeremiah asked him why he had imprisoned him? Had he committed a crime? Had he imprisoned those prophets who lied? Jeremiah asked Zedekiah not to put him back in that prison, so Jeremiah was moved to the courtyard of the palace guards.
One day some men overheard Jeremiah tell the people of Judah that they should surrender to the king of Babylon or they would die. So they went to the king and told him that he should kill Jeremiah because he causing the soldiers to lose hope. Zedekiah told them to do whatever they wanted with Jeremiah, so they put him in a cistern and Jeremiah sank down in the mud. Ebedmelech, an official from Ethiopia, noticed what was going on and went to Zedekiah and told him Jeremiah would die in the cistern, so Zedekiah told him to take 30 men and get Jeremiah out. The Ebedmelech got some rags to cushion the ropes so they wouldn't hurt Jeremiah and they got him out of the cistern. After that, Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the palace guards. Zedekiah had Jeremiah brought to him and he wanted the truth. Jeremiah asked him why since he wouldn't listen and he might even have Jeremiah killed. Zedekiah swore to God that he wouldn't have Jeremiah killed, so Jeremiah told him what God said. If Zedekiah would surrender to the Babylonians he would live and so would his family and Jerusalem wouldn't be burned down. If not, the Babylonians would burn down Jerusalem and Zedekiah would be taken prisoner. Zedekiah said he was too scared of the Jews all ready in Babylon. Jeremiah tried to tell him that if he obeyed God all would go well for him, but he wouldn't listen. Zedekiah made Jeremiah promise not to tell anyone what they talked about. Even though they asked, Jeremiah told them exactly what Zedekiah had ordered him to say.
The Babylonians kept Jerusalem surrounded for a year and a half. Then they broke through the wall. Zedekiah and his troops tried to escape, but they got caught. He was found guilty at trial, and was to be punished. He witnessed his sons put to death in front of him as well as the leaders of Judah's ruling families. His eyes were put out and he was put in chains to be taken to Babylon. Meanwhile, Jerusalem was being burned, including the temple. Only the poorest people were left in Judah. Nebuchadnezzar had given orders to his commander to find Jeremiah and keep him safe, take care of him and do whatever he asked. They found Jeremiah and let him stay with the people who were left in Judah. While Jeremiah had been a prisoner in the courtyard, the Lord gave him a message for the Ebedmelech who had saved his life. Because he trusted God, He would protect him from harm and he would be kept alive.
The commander who found Jeremiah took off his chains and told him he could live in Babylon, or in Judah with the new ruler, Gedaliah or wherever he wished. Then he gave him food and let him leave. Jeremiah decided stay near Gedaliah with the people of Judah. When some officers of Judah who had left early heard about Gedaliah they came back to Judah. They had dinner with Gedaliah and killed him and alot of other people. The leader's name was Ishmael and he took the daughters of Zedekiah that had been under Gedaliah's care.
Tomorrow read Jeremiah 41:11-45:5
One day some men overheard Jeremiah tell the people of Judah that they should surrender to the king of Babylon or they would die. So they went to the king and told him that he should kill Jeremiah because he causing the soldiers to lose hope. Zedekiah told them to do whatever they wanted with Jeremiah, so they put him in a cistern and Jeremiah sank down in the mud. Ebedmelech, an official from Ethiopia, noticed what was going on and went to Zedekiah and told him Jeremiah would die in the cistern, so Zedekiah told him to take 30 men and get Jeremiah out. The Ebedmelech got some rags to cushion the ropes so they wouldn't hurt Jeremiah and they got him out of the cistern. After that, Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the palace guards. Zedekiah had Jeremiah brought to him and he wanted the truth. Jeremiah asked him why since he wouldn't listen and he might even have Jeremiah killed. Zedekiah swore to God that he wouldn't have Jeremiah killed, so Jeremiah told him what God said. If Zedekiah would surrender to the Babylonians he would live and so would his family and Jerusalem wouldn't be burned down. If not, the Babylonians would burn down Jerusalem and Zedekiah would be taken prisoner. Zedekiah said he was too scared of the Jews all ready in Babylon. Jeremiah tried to tell him that if he obeyed God all would go well for him, but he wouldn't listen. Zedekiah made Jeremiah promise not to tell anyone what they talked about. Even though they asked, Jeremiah told them exactly what Zedekiah had ordered him to say.
The Babylonians kept Jerusalem surrounded for a year and a half. Then they broke through the wall. Zedekiah and his troops tried to escape, but they got caught. He was found guilty at trial, and was to be punished. He witnessed his sons put to death in front of him as well as the leaders of Judah's ruling families. His eyes were put out and he was put in chains to be taken to Babylon. Meanwhile, Jerusalem was being burned, including the temple. Only the poorest people were left in Judah. Nebuchadnezzar had given orders to his commander to find Jeremiah and keep him safe, take care of him and do whatever he asked. They found Jeremiah and let him stay with the people who were left in Judah. While Jeremiah had been a prisoner in the courtyard, the Lord gave him a message for the Ebedmelech who had saved his life. Because he trusted God, He would protect him from harm and he would be kept alive.
The commander who found Jeremiah took off his chains and told him he could live in Babylon, or in Judah with the new ruler, Gedaliah or wherever he wished. Then he gave him food and let him leave. Jeremiah decided stay near Gedaliah with the people of Judah. When some officers of Judah who had left early heard about Gedaliah they came back to Judah. They had dinner with Gedaliah and killed him and alot of other people. The leader's name was Ishmael and he took the daughters of Zedekiah that had been under Gedaliah's care.
Tomorrow read Jeremiah 41:11-45:5
20100901
September 1, 2010 Jeremiah 34-36
The Lord told Jeremiah that king Zedekiah would be taken to Babylon, but not to fear because he would die a peaceful death. Jeremiah went to tell this to the king while the Babylonians were breaking down the wall of Jerusalem. The king and everyone else in Jerusalem had promised to free all the Hebrew slaves. After the slaves had been freed, they changed their minds and made them slaves again. Then the Lord spoke to Jeremiah and told him to remind the people of the agreement He had made with their ancestors to free any slave after 7 years. (Feb.28 Deut.15:12 & Exodus 21:2-6 Jan 23) The people had done the right thing and gone to the temple to set their slaves free, but they changed their minds and did the wrong thing. So God told them he would free the slave owners to die in battle. The people had even cut a calf in half and walked between the two parts (Gen 15:9 Jan 5th) which made it even worse. So God told them that He would have Nebuchadnezzar come back later and do to them what they did to the calf. They would capture king Zedekiah and burn down Judah.
Earlier, when Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah, the Lord told Jeremiah to go to the Recabite family and invite them to come to visit with him in a side room of the temple. He was to offer them wine when they arrived. So they did, but when Jeremiah offered them wine they refused to drink it and told Jeremiah of a command given by their ancestor, Jonadab, son of Recab (Rechab), to never drink wine, build houses, or plant their own crops, and always live in tents. They and all their descendants were to obey this command. (I was wondering if this would be the same Johonadab son of Recab referenced in 2Kings 10:15, who rode in the chariot when Jehu destroyed the Baals?) For now they were forced to live inside the walls of Jerusalem because Babylon had invaded the countryside at this time. God told Jeremiah to tell the people to take a lesson from the Recabites. He wanted them to show the same obedience to His commandments that the Recabites had shown for the command of their ancestor. God promised the Recabites that because of their obedience to Jonadab, their family would be His servants and never die out.
Also during the time Jehoiakim was king, the Lord told Jeremiah to write down everything He said from the time Josiah had been king. Then Jeremiah was to read it to the people to convince them of all the terrible things that would happen if they didn't follow God's commandments. So Jeremiah got Baruch, the scribe and had him write everything on a scroll. Jeremiah had been forbidden to go into the temple by the people, so he asked Baruch if he would go and read the scroll to the people. So on the next holy day when the people had fasted and prayed Baruch read the scroll to them. A man from the palace heard what was read and went to the palace officials and told them about it, so they sent someone to bring Baruch and the scroll to the palace. They sat Baruch down to read the scroll and when he had finished they asked him if Jeremiah dictated the words to him? He told them he had. The officials told Baruch to get Jeremiah and hide. Eventually, the scroll was read by the king who chopped pieces out of it he didn't like and burned them until there was nothing left. Then he wanted Jeremiah and Baruch arrested, but the Lord had hidden them. The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah to write another scroll like the first and tell king Jehoiakim about his horrible death, and that no one would follow him on the throne. So Jeremiah and Baruch got busy and wrote another scroll and added more of the word of the Lord.
Tomorrow read Jeremiah 37-41:10
Earlier, when Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah, the Lord told Jeremiah to go to the Recabite family and invite them to come to visit with him in a side room of the temple. He was to offer them wine when they arrived. So they did, but when Jeremiah offered them wine they refused to drink it and told Jeremiah of a command given by their ancestor, Jonadab, son of Recab (Rechab), to never drink wine, build houses, or plant their own crops, and always live in tents. They and all their descendants were to obey this command. (I was wondering if this would be the same Johonadab son of Recab referenced in 2Kings 10:15, who rode in the chariot when Jehu destroyed the Baals?) For now they were forced to live inside the walls of Jerusalem because Babylon had invaded the countryside at this time. God told Jeremiah to tell the people to take a lesson from the Recabites. He wanted them to show the same obedience to His commandments that the Recabites had shown for the command of their ancestor. God promised the Recabites that because of their obedience to Jonadab, their family would be His servants and never die out.
Also during the time Jehoiakim was king, the Lord told Jeremiah to write down everything He said from the time Josiah had been king. Then Jeremiah was to read it to the people to convince them of all the terrible things that would happen if they didn't follow God's commandments. So Jeremiah got Baruch, the scribe and had him write everything on a scroll. Jeremiah had been forbidden to go into the temple by the people, so he asked Baruch if he would go and read the scroll to the people. So on the next holy day when the people had fasted and prayed Baruch read the scroll to them. A man from the palace heard what was read and went to the palace officials and told them about it, so they sent someone to bring Baruch and the scroll to the palace. They sat Baruch down to read the scroll and when he had finished they asked him if Jeremiah dictated the words to him? He told them he had. The officials told Baruch to get Jeremiah and hide. Eventually, the scroll was read by the king who chopped pieces out of it he didn't like and burned them until there was nothing left. Then he wanted Jeremiah and Baruch arrested, but the Lord had hidden them. The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah to write another scroll like the first and tell king Jehoiakim about his horrible death, and that no one would follow him on the throne. So Jeremiah and Baruch got busy and wrote another scroll and added more of the word of the Lord.
Tomorrow read Jeremiah 37-41:10
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