In today’s section, we read about:
God’s pronounces the destruction of Jerusalem as a result of Judah’s broken covenant
Jeremiah cries out to God for justice
Drought in Judah
Punishment on Judah inevitable, and Jeremiah is told not to marry, mourn or go to parties
Jeremiah transmits God’s message to observe the Sabbath and dispense justice
Jeremiah mistreated by Pashur, the priest in charge of the Temple
Judgment on Judah’s kings, and no deliverance from Babylon
God promises his righteous descendant
Some thoughts which struck me today:
My initial thought was that all I needed to do was to post yesterday’s blog here, as it is more of the same. Jeremiah has to prophecy impending doom for Judah, who has turned away from God and followed the path of idolatry, the people and their leaders are complacent and assume no disaster will overcome them.
12:5 – “if racing against mere men makes you tired, how will you race against horses?”
12:15-17 reminds us of how if the nations are obedient to God, they will be restored and enjoy blessing, but if they are disobedient, they will be destroyed.
15:1 is chilling – even if two of the giants of Israel’s past were to come and plead, God would still not listen. 15:6 – “I am tired of always giving you another chance.”
15:11 God promised that he will take care of Jeremiah, yet in ch 16 he is told not to marry, not to mourn with those and not to go to parties and celebrations. Then in ch 20, he is flogged and put in stocks. Now wonder he’s known as the crying prophet!! Yet in 16:19, he can still say, “Lord, you are my strength and fortress, my refuge in the day of trouble!” And 20:11 – “but the Lord stands before me like a great warrior. Before him my persecutors will stumble. They cannot defeat me.”
17:9 – “the human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked.”
17:14 – “O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved.”
After all the doom and gloom, we get God’s promise of restoration and a righteous descendant. A light will shine in the darkness!!
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