by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Jeremiah 34-36
The kings are no longer appointed by God. The king of Egypt came, deposed the king, and made Eliakim king over Judah, renaming him Jehoiakim. (II Chronicles 36:3-4) Needless to say, they didn’t pick a holy man to reign. So Jeremiah’s words mean nothing to him.
Since Jeremiah is no longer allowed in the temple, he tries to get his message to the leadership some other way. First he brings in some nomads who live in the area. They are true to their traditions as presented to them by their fathers. They don’t drink wine and they never build houses, but live in tents. Those ancestral traditions are obeyed to the letter.
Jeremiah uses these people as representatives of those who follow the leading of their fathers, in contrast to the Jews who don’t. He sends these people with that word to the leaders. To no avail.
Then the prophet calls Baruch the scribe to him. He dictates all of the words which God has spoken to him – from the beginning. Baruch writes them on a scroll, and takes them to the temple. As he reads them, some of the leaders feel compelled to take the messages to the king. Again to no avail.
The king, appointed by Egypt, burns the scrolls and tries to find Baruch and Jeremiah.
It’s ironic how evil tries to silence the messenger. As if the truth won’t be the truth when it’s not being spoken.
On his 95th birthday, Billy Graham aired on TV what he calls his final message: the message of the cross. The message of hope for all mankind.
This sweet, holy man, who reminds everyone of God’s forgiveness awaiting them, speaks very plainly. He said, “The cross confronts, and sometimes makes them hostile.” The reason? “It doesn’t suggest, but it commands that people receive it and change their lifestyles.” Those who don’t want to change, fight against the message ,and they fight against the messenger.
It was the same in the days of Jeremiah. Those who didn’t want to hear what God was saying would try to stop the message. But they couldn’t.
The truth is the truth. Eventually everyone will know it, but for some it will be too late.
That’s the way it was in the days of Jeremiah. That’s the way it is today.
Philemon
Even though slavery was a common practice in the early days of the church, it’s easy to see God’s attitude toward it here.
Paul is appealing to Philemon to accept Onesimus, his former slave, as a brother in Christ. He has come to the Lord under Paul’s ministry while in prison. Onesimus is being sent back, to fulfill the law of the land, but Paul’s appeal is for pardon and freedom.
This is such a good picture of the way God works in our hearts. Our works are no longer under the law, but they are fruits emanating from spirits loyal to our God.
When we become new creatures, our hearts are sensitive to what our Father wants. No longer are we compelled, but we are led, to do what is right toward our brothers and sisters.
The urgings of the Spirit should be our guide. God’s Word in accordance with these leadings bring us to a higher level than any law – whether an earthly one or the God-ordained Old Testament law.
It’s always a higher standard, but one we embrace willingly when we allow our Father to work within our hearts.
A better covenant and a better way of life.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Jeremiah 30-33
Do you need encouragement today? Then these words will speak to you. On one level, the words are God’s words to the nation of Israel, but on another level they are for the church today. In fact, the Lord makes it clear that He is speaking about our dispensation.
We start off these chapters with Jeremiah imprisoned because the king doesn’t like what he is saying. Zedekiah wants to shut him up! The Babylonian army is surrounding Jerusalem, ready to wind up this long-awaited war, and the king and his cohorts are still in denial.
As for Jeremiah, he keeps on prophesying. God tells him to speak and he obeys.
The character of our God is so clear as we see what Jeremiah says. The prophecies concerning their transportation to Babylon are coming into fruition immediately, yet before they even leave, the Lord is bringing words of hope.
The Lord promises that He will eventually bring his people, the Jews, back to their own land and bless them once again. They must stay in Babylon for the seventy appointed years, but after that time, He will cause them to return.
But it’s even better than that, and here’s where we come in. Jeremiah begins to speak of a new day and a new covenant.
No longer will the law be a thing apart from the people, but it will be written on their hearts. “I will put My law within them, and on their hearts I will write it; and I will be their God and they will be My people.” (31:33) Oh boy! He is talking about you and me – those of us who are born again with His Spirit within us. Then He says, “And they shall be My people, and I will be their God. And I will give them one heart and one way that they may fear Me always, for their own good, and the good of their children after them.”(32:38-39)
We are living in that glorious day. Indeed after 70 years the Lord caused a remnant to return and to rebuild Jerusalem. Yet the promise was for more than that. The promise was for the day when Jesus would come and fulfill His mission. The new King would be the King of all the earth – not just Israel.
So these words are being fulfilled. And there is even more to come, so we need to be observant of the times and seasons of God.
Let’s keep our eyes open. We have a terrific future ahead. God’s Word is true and it will come to pass!
Titus 3
We were saved, “not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing by the Holy Spirit.” (V. 5)
We don’t and couldn’t deserve our salvation. It’s totally according to the mercy of our great Father, who poured his love out for us.
So we receive it – that’s all. We allow our precious Holy Spirit to wash over us, and allow His word to refresh and instruct us. That’s what we do.
And just as a healthy plant can’t help but bear fruit, so we can’t help but do His will in our lives. We share about Him, because it bubbles out of us. We give, because it’s our new nature. We love, because He first loved us.
Fruit that remains. That’s what I want!
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Jeremiah 27-29
The Lord of Hosts shows up in Israel. The Hebrew words for the Lord of Hosts are Jehovah Tsaba, and when He shows up, big things happen.
He is seen sometimes in scripture as the Captain of the Hosts, and He is leading hosts of angels to do the will of the Lord. When the children of Israel were led out of Egypt and into the Promised land, it was Jehovah Tsaba who directed the moves and caused the great demonstrations of God’s power.
Now here He is again. Israel has turned against God to the point where some elite members have already been carried off to Babylon. Yet there is still false word coming from the prophets saying that they will be returned in two years.
Jeremiah speaks words to the king, the elders, and the priests. Then he sends letters to the elders in exile. God will no longer relent. The Jews who are in captivity should build, plant, and settle, because they will be there for a long time. The Jews in Israel (really Judah) should get ready, because they are about to be taken to Babylon. There is no longer a second or third chance.
Of course, I don’t mean that Jehovah Tsaba is another God, but this is a different manifestation of the one true God. He is the warring God who forces his will to be done in the earth at the proper time.
There are many Hebrew names for God in the Old Testament, distinguishing His many characteristics. There is Jehovah Shalom, the God our peace; Jehovah Rapha, the God our healer; Jehovah Jireh, the God our provider, and others. It’s the same God, of course, but with many attributes. each name distinguishing the attribute which is being manifested at the moment.
So when Jehovah Tsaba shows up, the manifestation is the Lord of Angelic Hosts, and He is about to do something big.
Jehovah Tsaba could be the name used when the angels announced to the shepherds the birth of our Savior. Or during all of the demonstrations surrounding His death, burial, and resurrection.
There are many unfulfilled prophecies concerning the end times, and there are many prophecies coming forth that will require Jehovah Tsaba to show up again.
In our modern world, there are many – even believers who don’t believe in great manifestations from our God, but they are going to be in for a surprise. He is still a miracle working God, and when the time comes for Him to act, he isn’t shy about doing it! After all, He is the Creator of all things and the world belongs to Him. He will eventually take it back!
Whew! It gives me chills even thinking about it!
Titus 2
In the meantime, we are to live our lives above reproach in this world so that the gospel will not be maligned.
We are not to be argumentative or gossips or enslaved to wine, but to live honorable lives.
Paul goes on to say that we are to be patient, knowing that God’s glory will be revealed, and we are to be his witnesses. Our Father has purified us for His possession – and we will show His glory in the earth.
Fathers and mothers are to share with younger people what they know about God, and they are to exhort others to follow suit.
I want to be an instrument of God’s glory – shining for all to see His goodness.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Jeremiah 24-26
It’s getting tougher all the time. Jeremiah has more prophecy urging the people to turn back to God, warning them that they will be carried off into captivity if they don’t. But, once again, they don’t listen.
In fact, the priests and other prophets plot together to kill Jeremiah. Once again, they think that if they get rid of him, the word will go away. But, of course, it won’t go away when it’s God’s word.
One of the elders, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, stands up for Jeremiah and prevents the untimely death.
In the middle of these chapters something very significant is slipped in. (If our ears aren’t in tune, we might miss it).
Jeremiah says, “And this whole land shall be a desolation and a horror, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.”(25:11) When you are reading, you can almost pass over the term “seventy years” without noticing, but later there will be those who notice. Daniel will notice from the land of Babylon, and know that the time has come for the return to take place. He will see it as a promise from God.
This is a lesson for us. There are many promises in the Word given to those who believe. Some will pass right by them, and their lives will never be affected at all. Others will see and allow the word to penetrate their hearts. They will grab hold of the promises which God has spoken, and they will see His truth being manifested in their lives.
When the seventy years are complete in Babylon, Daniel is reading the Word and sees that promise. He begins to fast and pray that the word would be fulfilled. His prayers start the process which cause Cyrus to be called to return those to Jerusalem to rebuild.
What is your need today? Is it for family? Health? Finances? If it is for any of those things, find what your Father has to say about it and begin to meditate on that word until you believe it. Grab hold of it just as Daniel did the word he saw.
There are many promises available to those who believe. Ask your father to enlarge your heart so that you believe His Word. Ask Him to show you what you need to see – and ask Him to “quicken” those words to you so that you know that He is speaking to you directly.
Titus 1
This letter is written to another of Paul’s sons in the faith. Titus, like Timothy, is a true man of God, and a protegé of Paul.
Just as with Timothy’s letters, we see some of the problems faced by the early church – and for that matter, the present day church.
First paul reminds Titus to appoint only elders who have good solid credentials of honesty, decency, and so forth. Then he goes on to the subject of “empty talkers, deceivers, and rebellious men” who creep into the fellowships.
Many, for the sake of sordid gain, are teaching false doctrines. Some are teaching prejudice against whole groups of people; others are teaching the law of the Old Testament and Jewish myths.
They “profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.”(V.16)
Jesus said that “you will know them by their fruits.” Not just by what they say.
In our day, we have many “ear-ticklers,” who sometimes amass large crowds, but who are teaching false or imbalanced doctrine. We are told to avoid those who aren’t “rightly dividing the Word” and teaching the truth.
The Lord is looking for those who will be true to His Word. Just as Jesus came full of “grace and truth,” we must follow in His steps. Grace is being over taught in some quarters, because it is essentially giving a license to sin. Jesus never came to give people a license to sin; He came to give them power over sin.
Truth doesn’t always “feel good,” but it is good, for it brings deliverance to those who receive it. A child might not “like” having to come in out of the street, but our love for them protects them and helps them to do what will be good for them.
Let’s “endure sound doctrine,” as Paul tells us to do. Our Father’s plans are so remarkably wonderful for all of us – if we embrace them fully. After all, He is smarter than we are. Right?
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Jeremiah 21-23
The people of Judah separate themselves from God – and He responds accordingly. Many warnings have gone forth, begging God’s people to repent and turn back to Him, but they won’t listen. So the inevitable occurs.
Babylon appears at the gate, and the king cries out for help, but it’s too late. The kings have turned to the gods of those nations around them. So have the priests. So have the prophets.
In fact, the prophets are sharing false dreams and visions which encourage the Jews to continue in their sinful ways. They are worshiping Baal and all of the false gods, which are really Satan’s counterfeits sent to destroy God’s kingdom.
This time, God refuses to help. He will not save these people from the future they have willingly run toward. All of the false visions and all of the prophets who said, “Peace, peace,” when there was no peace, have led the people astray. They spoke words which tickled the ears of the priests and the kings, but they were not the words of the Lord. So the final hour has come – the hour to reap what they have sown. They planted a separation from the one true God; they are now about to reap the fruit: destruction.
Even in the midst of these words spoken against the leaders of the nation, however, a seed of hope is planted. That’s the way it is with our God. He won’t leave any of us without hope. He shines a light on the path which will eventually bring us to a hopeful future.
A prophecy concerning Jesus is planted. Some day God will raise up a “righteous Branch from David,” and He will be called “the Lord our righteousness.”(23:5-6) And people who have been scattered throughout the earth will return to God and to His Son.
Hope. God always plants a seed of hope for those of us who will listen. And that seed is what we need to plant in our hearts, allowing it to grow.
Today we can see many of the same issues in full bloom in our world. People, in following popular ideas, have deserted the one true God. They have allowed other gods from other cultures to contaminate pure doctrine, so that even many ministers deny what our God stands for.
In the middle of that turmoil, however, there are those who are hearing the cry of the heart to turn back to Him. Some are hearing that voice for the first time, and they are amazed that God is real and that He is still at work in the earth.
For those who will listen, there is tremendous hope. Our God is still taking care of those who follow Him. He is still healing broken hearts, binding up wounds of the past, and setting the captives free.
From the midst of the turmoil, a remnant of people will arise who will show His glory. I want to be one of those!
II Timothy 4
These words of Paul are just before his death. He is already “being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of his departure is at hand.” (V.6). Paul is soon to be martyred for his walk with the Lord, but he isn’t worried. He has “fought the good fight; finished the course, and kept the faith.” (V.7) A heavenly reward is awaiting him.
In these last words, Paul reminds Timothy to stay true to God’s Word, which is sound doctrine. He warns that the time will come when people will not endure sound doctrine, but will want to have their ears tickled. They will accumulate teachers for themselves who teach just what they want to hear.
I heard Joyce Meyer say once that she and Dave could tell when her teaching was something the people needed to hear. They would get very quiet. When her word was what they wanted to hear, they would shout and applaud. When the word was what they needed to hear, there would be silence in the room. Some would be listening intently, and benefitting. Others would be rejecting that word. They wanted their ears tickled.
If we are to grow in our walk, there will be times when we hear things which prick us, bringing correction. Those words aren’t pleasant, but they will cause us to rise up to our potential in Him.
Let’s listen to the whole counsel of God so that we will grow and become all that he desires us to be.
