Jeremiah 38-40; Psalm 74 & 70: Day or Night, He Illumines Our Path

Psalm 74:16
Amplified Bible (AMP)

16 The day is Yours, the night also is Yours; You have established the [starry] light and the sun.
 

God's people were about to enter a seventy year season of darkness as captivites in Babylon.  The people were in denial about what was about to occur.  They didn't want to face that what they had been doing, how they had been living was not acceptable to their heavenly Father.  They wanted only to listen to the prophets who preached peace and rest, but that is not the way of the seasons and cycles on earth

It's true Israel/Judah brought the dark, night season upon themselves, but that is not always the case.
All of us have times of day when all seems to be going our way, doors are opening, blessings are evident and peace in body and mind prevails.

We also have times of night when conflict and turmoil are evident.  Blessings can be difficult to identify during this time of diminished visibility.

No matter if we find ourselves in a season of day or night, whether we caused it or not, God is always with us, and He always provides the light we need to stay the course along our path.  During the day, light is provided by the sun, but the night has the stars and moon to cast light as well.

Just as we expect the sun to rise each morning signaling daybreak, so we can expect positive life experiences to follow difficulty.

The reverse is also true.  "We have as much reason to expect affliction, as to expect night and winter." Matthew Henry's Commentary


Lord, You always are with us and never forsake us.  Whether times are pleasant or whether challenging.  You always provide just the perfect amount of light to illumine our path.  Thank You!

Jeremiah 35-37: You Choose: Ignore It, Burn It or Embrace It

Jeremiah 36:22-24
Amplified Bible (AMP)


22 Now it was the ninth month, and the king was sitting in the winter house, and a fire was burning there before him in the brazier.

23 And [each time] when Jehudi had read three or four columns [of the scroll], he [King Jehoiakim] would cut them off with a penknife and cast them into the fire that was in the brazier, until the entire scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier.

24 Yet they were not afraid, nor did they rend their garments—neither the king, nor any of his servants who heard all these words.


The scroll referenced in verse above refers to the prophetic word given by Jeremiah.  Obviously, the king had little regard for what God had to say through Jeremiah.   
 
Can you imagine cutting pages of the Bible apart and tossing the shreds into the fire? Although Jeremiah's word had not yet been "canonized" into what we now know as the Bible, it still was God's Word.  Before we go and criticize King Jehoiakim for committing sacrilege, let's search our own hearts.

How many times did we hear God's word through a dream, but ignored it chalking it up to eating pizza the night before.  Why do we do that?  Is it that what God has to say steps on our toes?  Or does the reality of an all powerful, omnipotent Being interacting with His kids scare us?  

 God loves us!  Of course, He will correct our missteps. Of course, He desires to be involved with our lives. 

I am learning to pay attention to God's voice in whatever form it comes.  We need to learn to embrace what our loving Father has to say.

I had a very awesome experience with hearing God's voice this morning while the pastor prayed, "The life of God is in you."

Immediately, I remembered the dream I had last night, which had caused me to awake with a yelp.

A man's voice repeatedly told me "You're going to die and you will be alone in the dark. There is no heaven.  The light people see as they are dying are the neurons of the brain firing for the last time.  After death, there is nothing but darkness."

Pretty intense, huh?

I love how Abba handled this apparent assault of the evil one as I slept...I couldn't remember the dream.  Abba was protecting me!!! 

Because the Lord sometimes warns through dreams, I prayed, "If there is something You want me to know then make it clear." 

To be honest, I had forgotten about the dream and my prayer until the pastor's prayer.  When I heard the words, "The life of God is in you," suddenly, I remembered the dream.  Instead of the fear I felt last night, I felt overwhelming confidence and life!  God, the God of the universe, His life is in me!!!  If my body lives, He lives in me!  If my body dies, I live with Him!!!

I felt like the Lord said that He wanted me to hear His life word first, before He restored the memory of my dream.  I'm thankful!!!

When God speaks a word through a dream or a pastor or the Bible, we have  choice.  We can ignore it, burn it or embrace it.  Remember, even hard words from our loving Father bring life!!!

Father, help us to hear Your voice alone.  Empower us to embrace Your words.  The evil one may attempt to scare or intimidate us, but we won't listen to the voice of a stranger.  We hear.  We obey.  We follow You.  In the name of Jesus, AMEN!!!

Jeremiah 32-34: The Timing of Destiny's Tapestry

Jeremiah 32:27
Amplified Bible (AMP)

 27 Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is there anything too hard for Me?

This verse jumped out to me this morning. 

I have been pondering the blessings the Lord has given me and my family.  Many doors are opening for us, and I don't believe in coincidence.

Father knows what we need and when we need it.  Nothing is too hard for Him!

I've experienced answers to prayer over and over again, and I am thankful!  Yet, some prayers and questions remain unanswered.   My heart wonders why? 

No, nothing is too hard for my God.  It's not the difficulty of the request or the complexity of the question that blocks fulfillment.

TIMING!

We may be asking for a good thing with sincere motives, but the answer doesn't come or the petition remains ungranted. Could the timing be out of sink with God's plan? 

God weaves a tapestry of destiny for us, but that tapestry contains more than just our unique thread.  The threads of many other unique beings are woven together with mine.  My destiny, your destiny, is intermingled...one thread twisted around another and another.  The result is colorful and beautiful and holy.

Jeremiah is telling King Zedekiah of Judah everything he doesn't want to hear.  I do understand why the king would be irate.  Zedekiah will not escape the captivity of the Chaldeans.  It doesn't look good for him. 


King Zedekiah asks why Jeremiah is speaking like this?
 
Jeremiah 32:3-4
Amplified Bible (AMP)

3 For Zedekiah king of Judah had locked him up, saying, Why do you prophesy and say, Thus says the Lord: Behold, I am giving this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;

4 And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hands of the Chaldeans but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him face to face and see him eye to eye;


The tapestry of destiny for God's own Israel and Judah depend on this difficult but necessary captivity.  The unique threads of the captives will be woven together in the midst of captivity and the future tapestry will be beautiful. 

Sin had marred, but the blessing of captivity will remove that spot and iron that wrinkle.

God's timing for His people's restoration is in the future.
 
Jeremiah 33:6
Amplified Bible (AMP)

6 Behold, [in the future restored Jerusalem] I will lay upon it health and healing, and I will cure them and will reveal to them the abundance of peace (prosperity, security, stability) and truth.

Isn't the promise worth the spot removing, ironing process of captivity?


Abba, give us the courage to wait for You.  Meanwhile, we will allow You to remove our spots and iron our wrinkles.  Our glory will be a reflection of You!  In the name if Jesus, AMEN!!!
 

 

Jeremiah 30-31: Stuck in Sorrow or White as Snow?

Jeremiah 31:13
Amplified Bible (AMP)

13 Then will the maidens rejoice in the dance, and the young men and old together. For I will turn their mourning into joy and will comfort them and make them rejoice after their sorrow.

We are not destined to stay stuck in sorrow.  Father has promised that mourning will be transformed into so much joy that dancing would result.  Many verses in the Bible encourage, but this verse is personal.

Ephraim (Israel) had turned their back on God going their own way, doing their own thing, which resulted in the discipline of Father.  How many times have we done things or held onto attitudes that we know are contrary to what our Father desires?

We are disciplined just as Israel, suffer the consequences of our misdeeds (sins) and sorrow follows.

 As a little girl, I remember being sorrowful after my parents disciplined me for disobeying, BUT I didn't stay sorrowful.  My parents didn't hold a grudge against me.  In fact, they continued to love and care for me even in the midst of my deserved punishment.  I soon returned to the playing and singing and joyful expressions of a child.  My parents didn't seriously remember my misbehavior.


Jeremiah 31:34
Amplified Bible (AMP)

³⁴ And they will no more teach each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for they will all know Me [recognize, understand, and be acquainted with Me], from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will [seriously] remember their sin no more. (emphasis mine)

My heavenly Parent taught my earthly parents well.  Abba does not hold our sins against us!!!  I am so grateful!!!

A certain amount of godly sorrow will result from committed sins, but it is NOT God's intent that we stay stuck in sorrow.  God intents to restore us to our rightful place as sons and daughters with all the privileges and benefits of sonship!

We can then receive the joy that Holy Spirit pours out...we can dance, dance, dance.

A trick that the evil one plays is that we must work to redeem ourselves from our missteps.  WE CAN'T WORK OUR WAY TO RIGHTEOUSNESS!!!

Jesus is our righteousness!!!

Thank You, Jesus, for being our Mediator!  Thank You, Abba, that when we misstep, we can immediately repent (turn away from that thing or attitude) and be restored to You.  We don't need to stay stuck in sorrow.  Our souls are FREE!  We may continue to live in the consequences of sin, but our soul is white as snow!!!  All praise and honor and glory to the One called Jesus!  AMEN!!!

Jeremiah 26-29: A Thankful Captive

Jeremiah 27:5
Amplified Bible (AMP)

5 I have made the earth, the men, and the beasts that are upon the face of the earth by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and I give it to whomever it seems right and suitable to Me.


We have a great deal to learn about God's ways!

Jeremiah is prophesying about the impending captivity of his people.  God gave the pagan King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon the authority to enslave His people for a time.  God goes as far to say, "any nation or kingdom that will not serve this same Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, says the Lord, with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence, until I have consumed it by [Nebuchadnezzar’s] hand."  (Jeremiah 27:8)
 
My post "Good Figs, Great Blessing in Captivity" outlines God's rationale and promises to His people while captive.  By resisting the captivity of Babylon, God's people would effectively be resisting the growth and blessings God was attempting to bestow on them.

This line of thinking is contrary to what most Western Christians imagine to be a "blessed state." 

Could it be that while in bondage we learn things about ourselves and others, that we would never be able to discern otherwise? 

I think about the times in my life when I have felt "captive." During those times, God proved that His dealing with me is very similar to His dealing with Israel and Judah of long ago.

During those times, He revealed Himself in ways I couldn't have imagined.  I am thankful!  Although I'm not a big fan of heartache, I am a big fan of getting closer to God!

Several years ago, I wrote this poem during a particularly difficult season.  God will use the tools He feels are best to transform us.  Let's not resist Him, thereby, disregarding opportunities for growing our relationship with Abba.


Besiege My Heart
Beautiful Grace
June 14, 2005

Besiege my heart, Holy Spirit of God.
I give consent to Your overthrow.
Incapable am I to rule it
For deceitful and wicked it is.
No man can know.

You, oh Conqueror, of base desires
Know the art of subjugation.
You war against fallen desires
Which block the full reign of Kingship of one heart.

You employ methods far too wonderful for comprehension
In accomplishing Your goal.
Trials become a chisel,
Whittling away self-love.
Self-love seeks protections from life’s inflictions,
But Love’s King has said, “embrace them.”

Allow Love to make you into the vessel of His chosen type.
His Love, holy, selfless and true, refuses to allow undoneness.
Be not hesitant to embrace Love’s power,
God’s depths are found there.

“Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.” James 1:2 & 3

Jeremiah 23-25: Good Figs, Great Blessing in Captivity

Jeremiah 24:4-7
Amplified Bible (AMP)


4 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

5 Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so will I regard the captives of Judah whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.

6 For I will set My eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land; and I will build them up and not pull them down, and I will plant them and not pluck them up.

7 And I will give them a heart to know (recognize, understand, and be acquainted with) Me, that I am the Lord; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.


What jumps out at me is that those people, symbolized as "good figs," are exiled and taken captive right along side of the "bad figs."  God goes even farther by explaining that captivity in "the land of the Chaldeans" was "for their good."

Captivity generally is viewed as undesirable, but in this case captivity results in awesome benefits...

*God is watching over them for good.

*He will eventually bring them back to their inheritance.

*He will build them.  I understand this to mean personal growth.

*They will be planted.  Their roots in the Lord will grow deeper.

*The most awesome promise of all is that God will give them a heart capable of knowing Him!!!

Maybe we need to redefine our thoughts on captivity!  No matter what physical state we find ourselves, God IS with us!  A person whose heart is drawn to the Lord is free even though they are a captive!

God's ways are difficult to comprehend and we often cannot understand the things He does or allows in order to make us into the people that He desires.

He is God and we are not!!!

Father, all of us have felt captive to circumstances in this life.  Open our eyes to see deeper.  Give us a heart to know You and faith to trust that You have the best plan for our lives.  Help us to remember that this earth is not our true home.  It is the training ground for eternity.  All for the love of Jesus and in His name, AMEN!!!

Jeremiah 18-22: A Vessel of His Choosing

Jeremiah 18:1-4
Amplified Bible (AMP)


18 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord:

2 Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.

3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and behold, he was working at the wheel.

4 And the vessel that he was making from clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he made it over, reworking it into another vessel as it seemed good to the potter to make it.


God is making us into vessels, but like Israel, we too can be "spoiled in the hand of the potter."

To be honest, reading the book of Jeremiah feels uncomfortable.  This unsettled feeling is the result of remembering just how "stiff-necked" we can be.  Doing things our own way, living as though we are the masters of our own destinies, trusting in men to save and deliver us rather than God are all symptoms of stiff necks.

Our Father, in His mercy, has given us the ability to choose His ways over our own, yet how often do we purposely close our ears to His guiding whispers?

It is a good thing to feel uncomfortable and unsettled, because in that state we are being convicted by His Spirit.  Where the Spirit convicts, there is also empowerment for change. 

Holy Spirit, thank You for Your whispers.  Thank You for empowering change.  Thank You, Jesus, because without You all hope would be lost.  We cannot, we will not be a stiff-necked people.  We will open our heart and listen.  We will not only hear, but we will obey.  We will trust in You to form our lives into the vessel of Your choosing.  Empower us for You!  In the great and awesome name of Jesus!!!  AMEN!!!

Jeremiah 14-17: Never Cease Yielding Fruit

Jeremiah 17:7-8
Amplified Bible (AMP)

7 [Most] blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is.

8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters that spreads out its roots by the river; and it shall not see and fear when heat comes; but its leaf shall be green. It shall not be anxious and full of care in the year of drought, nor shall it cease yielding fruit.


Even in the midst of God's displeasure with His people's behavior, encouragement is found.  Believing, trusting, and relying on the Lord, having hope and confidence in Him no matter what circumstance, this person will be watered.  His roots will spread, his leaf will be green, and his soul will be free from anxiety and care.  Fruit will be evident in this person, continually!

I want to be this person.  Faith, even a little faith, will cry out to God for grace.  God's grace is a prerequisite to overcoming the trials of this world while continually manifesting fruit!

What does "yielding fruit" continually look like?


Galatians 5:21-23
Amplified Bible (AMP)

21 Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,

23 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law that can bring a charge].

Yielding fruit looks like praying for those who have misunderstood your heart and pass judgment.

Yielding fruit looks like lightening the atmosphere during a tumultuous situation.

Yielding fruit looks like stillness of soul during a difficult diagnosis.

Yielding fruit looks like bearing with someone who is having difficulty comprehending.

Yielding fruit looks like holding the door open for someone behind you.

Yielding fruit looks like ministering to others.

Yielding fruit looks like standing by someone no matter what the situation.

Yielding fruit looks like preferring others.

Yielding fruit looks like zipping the lips when God has said "Be silent."

GRACE!  GRACE!!  GRACE!!!

 



We require His grace!  Grace is imperative!  We need His Spirit! 

Jesus, You came to this earth and set us free from the consequences of all our missed marks and all of our wrong attitudes and actions towards others! Reveal the way to access the grace You have so loving and generously provided.  We will yield fruit continually and people will recognize You in the process!  AMEN!!!

Jeremiah 10-13: Just Say, Jesus!

Jeremiah 10:5

Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

⁵ [Their idols] are like pillars of turned work [as upright and stationary and immobile as a palm tree], like scarecrows in a cucumber field; they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it possible for them to do good [and it is not in them].

 

IDOLS.

 

We read a great deal about how God's people fall into idolatry.  Because the Bible addresses this practice frequently, we would do well to pay attention.

 

Abba is angered by idolatry!  Most of us don't bow down to a carved piece of wood or chiseled rock, but do you realize that each time we choose to do things our way instead of God's way, we practice idolatry?

Please, have mercy on us, Lord!

I was planning to write about how idols are demons in disguise, but I'm not going to do that.

Maybe it's the dreary, damp day or maybe memories fill my thoughts of how things should have been...

Idolatry ruins!  Relationships and hearts break because we do things our way, not God's.

No wonder God hates it so much!!!

Idols don't have any more power than what we willingly give them.
   
*Gossip*    *Anger*    *Jealousy*    *Fear*    *Self-centeredness*

These empower idols.  We are all guilty of empowering idols!

There is no way to deliver ourselves.  Jesus is our only Rescuer! 

There have been times I have fallen asleep whispering "Jesus."  I have been driving along and suddenly shout His name, "JESUS!"

I don't know the way out, but He does.  Just say, Jesus!