We have been studying Jeremiah’s prophecies for some time now and I believe for many of us it has resulted in a much better understanding of the Old Testament in general, and the history of the Jews in particular. Oftentimes Christians think the Old Testament has very little to offer us beyond the first three chapters of Genesis and some disconnected stories about slingshots and giants and lion’s dens and big fish and a boat filled with cute animals. But in our study we have found out much about the nature of God and men in these pages. One thing that stands out most prominently from these pages is God’s holiness and His absolute hatred for sin.
Jeremiah has preached the same message to the people of Judah for many years, a message that could be summed up in three words: Repent or perish. But he is not the only one who has preached this. Others before him preached it as well and still many of us are continuing to preach it today.
Jeremiah has preached the same message to the people of Judah for many years, a message that could be summed up in three words: Repent or perish. But he is not the only one who has preached this. Others before him preached it as well and still many of us are continuing to preach it today.
Jeremiah 25:5-6 "..''Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the Lord hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever:6 And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.
Jeremiah 25:7 "Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the Lord; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt. 8 Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Because ye have not heard my words,"
Just like the days of Jeremiah the Lord is speaking to His Prophets and also just like in the days of Jeremiah people turn a deaf ear to the words the Prophets speak. God's desire is to bless us and fellowship with us and yet we choose a path we think is better for ourselves. What makes us think we know what's best for ourselves? We know we have a limited and fallen perspective yet we still go our own way and therefore most often times we suffer the consequences.
The Lord lists several reasons for the captivity; the people had disobeyed God’s Law; the people had deliberately worshiped false idols; and the people had rejected the persistent warnings of the prophets to turn from their sin and return to their Savior. The people’s persistent and unrepentant sin had provoked God to anger--and the day of His wrath had come.
When we read History we can choose to make different decisions than those who have gone on before us or we can opt to make the same mistakes. Finding our purpose always begins in knowing and obeying the word of the Lord. In order to find our purpose we must know and understand the reason for which our Creator created us. To know God is to know truth but to live truth we must choose to obey the truth we know.
Action step for today: Do the last thing He told you to do. If you do not know your purpose ask God. He will tell you. Deliberate disobedience begins by ignoring what we know to be right.
The Lord lists several reasons for the captivity; the people had disobeyed God’s Law; the people had deliberately worshiped false idols; and the people had rejected the persistent warnings of the prophets to turn from their sin and return to their Savior. The people’s persistent and unrepentant sin had provoked God to anger--and the day of His wrath had come.
When we read History we can choose to make different decisions than those who have gone on before us or we can opt to make the same mistakes. Finding our purpose always begins in knowing and obeying the word of the Lord. In order to find our purpose we must know and understand the reason for which our Creator created us. To know God is to know truth but to live truth we must choose to obey the truth we know.
Action step for today: Do the last thing He told you to do. If you do not know your purpose ask God. He will tell you. Deliberate disobedience begins by ignoring what we know to be right.
RSS Feed