As I’ve continued through 90 Days Through The Bible, I’ve hit a wall. My schedule has been messed with, I’ve been fighting a rundown body and really have very little motivation to read more about how Israel refuses to repent for their sins and will now face destruction and I am trying to grant myself grace. I feel like I have failed and definitely will not finish before Easter unless I start reading multiple sections a day to catch up. Forgiving yourself for failures is not always the easiest task, but I in the process of laying my “failure” at His feet.
We live in uncertain times, just as Jerusalem did during Jeremiah. The news we hear likely doesn’t help things, much like I imagine Jeremiah’s constant: “repent or face destruction” and eventually only hearing” destruction is here”. And yet, God is constantly telling Jeremiah to remind them of the hope they have: I will end the exile and return you to Judah, I will destroy Babylon, I will heal and restore you and most importantly I will send a righteous branch to lead you (Jesus). We are told to have hope. I always chuckle when someone quotes Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope”, as it is usually taken out of context and put on everything. He’s telling those in exile to rely on His plans for they are good, they will bring blessings. Just a little up the page, God is telling the exiles to live life, plant gardens (put down roots), get married, have children (multiply & grow His people) and to pray to the Lord, wait on Him and disregard the false prophets (discern wisely the news). Nowhere does it say to give up, or to live in fear of the world. We need to live life abundantly yet responsibly, ignore those who tell lies and pray to the Lord. God repeatedly reminded Jerusalem and Israel to have hope and so should we.
Passage:
Jeremiah 27-39
Discovered:
- Send word to Kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre and Sidon that I, God have given the land to Nebuchadezzer for 3 generations.
- Do not believe other prophets – they lie. Do not rebel and it will go well for you.
- Hannah prophesied that everything/one would come back in 2 years.
- Jeremiah confronted him about his lies – would die within the year, and he did.
- Jeremiah sent a letter to the exiles in Babylon – live life, plant gardens, get married, have children, PRAY TO THE LORD, wait on the Lord and disregard false prophets.
- Some tried to appeal to Shemaiah but were rebuked and he was punished for his false prophecy.
- The day is coming when I will restore Israel, end the exile and eventually establish the new kingdom.
- I will restore your health, fortunes and rebuild Jerusalem, send a ruler from your midst (line of David) – Jesus and you will know Me (God).
- I will turn your mourning into dancing, give hope for the future and give rest for the soul.
- Everyone is responsible for their own sin.
- A new covenant: I will put my law in them, write it on their hearts, I will be their God and they will be my people.
- Jeremiah was imprisoned at court by Zedekiah during the siege. He bought land already captured by Babylon as a show of hope for the return of Israel to glory.
- I will gather my people and bring them back, I will give them one heart, one way to follow.
- Someday soon, I will fulfill my promise of a righteous branch.
- Lord to Jeremiah: Zedekiah would be captured by Babylon but would die in peace.
- Jeremiah told everyone in Jerusalem to free their Hebrew slaves and they did, but then they turned around and enslaved them again.
- All who broke the covenant would die.
- Jeremiah was told to bring Rechabites to the temple and offer them wine. They refused because Jonadeb had commanded all not to drink wine and to live in tents. They obeyed.
- God asked: they obeyed, why can’t you? So, I will send disaster as promised.
- Lord tells Jeremiah to write down all of His words. It was given to Baruch to read everywhere he could, so Israel would repent.
- When the officials heard the scroll, they were afraid and read it to Jerhoiakim. He burned it in the fire. Jehoiakim would die for not listening.
- Baruch and Jeremiah were hidden and protected, told to recreate the scroll.
- Zedekiah seeks prayer, Jeremiah tells him Egyptians will leave and Chaldeans will come back and burn the city.
- Jeremiah thrown into prison -> thought he was deserting.
- Jeremiah told Zedekiah, he would be delivered to Babylon, moved to court guard.
- Jeremiah was thrown into a cistern and left to die for telling the truth, but was rescued by an enuch, Ebed-melech.
- Jeremiah to Zedekiah: Surrender to Babylon and your life will be spared and city not burned.
- Babylon besieged Jerusalem and it fell. Zedekiah fled by was captured.
- Watched the nobels and his sons killed before his eyes were gouged out and taken to Babylon.
- Everyone left in the city was captured and taken to Babylon.
- Nebuchadezzer gave instructions to set Jeremiah free and to do as he says, take good care of him.
Help me to remember:
there is hope, ALWAYS!
Lord, I ask that . . .
I see the hope you wave for us, and that in all times, I seek you.
Heavenly Father, I am thankful for . . .
a safe and secure home.
