Tag Archives: Jeremiah

God’s Word

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Journal 2009.

Jeremiah 32. God’s Word can be trusted.

Jeremiah predicted doom and gloom to all of Israel, and it made the king mad, and he shut Jeremiah up in the court. Jeremiah must have been having some doubts, so the Lord told him ahead of time his cousin would come to him and sell him a field. When it happened, just as God said, God then told Jeremiah to have the deed buried in a safe place. And just as God accurately predicted the scenario with his cousin, He would assuredly fulfill His promise to bring Israel back to the land and prosperity.

When Jeremiah still struggled with the prophecy, God said this famous quote: I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is there anything too hard for Me?

A rhetorical question: No!

Jeremiah 33. God’s Word gives hope.

God sees the big picture; He knows the end from the beginning. Our sight is limited and finite, and the amount we know is miniscule, according to the will and desire of the Creator.

I fear I think like an American—individualist instead of tribal. What good did it do Jeremiah to learn that God would restore Israel and he’d never live to see it? Who cares how many descendants David’s throne would have when he was hurting, mocked, and imprisoned? The future won’t affect him personally!

But there’s that thing called “hope.” This earth, this life, isn’t all there is. There’s a bigger picture. I’m just one speck in the Grand Plan. My part is miniscule, but important, in God’s eyes. It’s not all about me and only me. God was showing Jeremiah that his life was not in vain. That His calling on his life was important for the greater good.

We have a future and a hope. Hallelujah!

Jeremiah 36-38. God’s Word is to be obeyed.

I am in awe of Jeremiah’s dogged persistence and obedience to the Lord. He was asked to do some pretty bizarre things, and he was given the very unpleasant task of telling bad news and warning people and no one listened—at least not the kings. His life was threatened. He was persecuted. But he continued to trust.

“Obey the Lord and it will go well with you” (38:20) was a promise to the king, but it has application for today. We cannot conclude, however, that God will always spare our lives if we obey Him. But we do know disobedience reaps consequences.

There are certain commands in Scripture we know we are to obey (love your neighbor, don’t lie or steal) and when we’re given a direct nudge from the Holy Spirit. There are consequences to our disobedience and blessings when we obey.

How to Recognize a False Prophet

Posted on by under God, Scripture

Journal 2009.

Poor Jeremiah. He prophesied for 23 years, right up to the Babylonian captivity. That’s a lot of doom and gloom. That’s a lot of ridicule and abuse and no positive response from the people. Was He a true prophet then?

There are several Scriptural guidelines for telling a true prophet from a false one, including if all his predictions come true.

But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the LORD only if his prediction comes true. (Jeremiah 28:9 NIV)

Jeremiah predicted 70 years of captivity, and it happened.

Hannaniah predicted 2 years and it didn’t happen.

Jeremiah predicted Hannaniah’s death, and it happened. So who was the true prophet?

God says false prophets do not stand in His council and do not hear and perceive and mark His words, but they SAY they hear. False prophets claim they have dreams and visions and even use God’s name. But it comes out of the deceit of their own hearts.

God did not say He doesn’t give dreams and visions. He does. But His words are like fire and like a hammer that breaks the rock into pieces (Jeremiah 23:28). So how would the people know which prophet was God’s mouthpiece? A God of peace sounded more appealing than a God of war. I may have been duped as well had I lived in Jeremiah’s day.

Finally, Jeremiah said a true prophet profits the people (23:30).

I think it takes discernment, spiritual maturity, and sometimes time to recognize and identify a false prophet. Deception is so . . . well . . . deceptive.

Lessons from Jeremiah 14-18

Posted on by under God

Journal 2009.

  • God is so creative! He knew the Israelites needed visuals to get His point across. I counted 83 of them by chapter 14 of Jeremiah. I process best with symbolic representations of my emotions, so I get it with Jeremiah. Why didn’t the Israelites? Because of the blindness, hardness, and stubbornness of their hearts.
  • In 14:11, God told Jeremiah NOT to pray for Israel—not for their good anyway! Astonishing! Even if they fasted, He said, He wouldn’t hear them. He wouldn’t accept their offerings either. That’s pretty bad!
  • Jeremiah said the prophets were predicting peace (14:13-14). God said, “I didn’t send them, command them or speak to them. Their words come from the deceit of their own minds.” Ouch!
  • In 15:1, Jeremiah pleaded with God to reconsider His judgment, and God said no, He’d made up His mind. Remember when both Moses and Samuel interceded for the people, and God refused to change His mind? He came to the end of His patience, tolerance, and kindness. This time, the rebellious son went too far, and God had to let him go. Lesson: Don’t rebel! There’s a time limit on God’s patience.
  • Jeremiah struggled with the call of God on his life (sometimes I do too), but he kept remembering God’s words, and God kept comforting and reassuring him (Chap. 15).
  • God named Manasseh as the reason for His wrath (15:4). One man, one ruler, can ruin it for an entire nation. Obviously, the people could have rebelled and refused to follow Manasseh in his wickedness (and maybe some did), but often it’s the case that as the leader goes, so goes the nation. (Be careful who I vote for . . .)
  • “You [Israel] keep going in reverse” (15:6). What a strong visual—quite a contrast to the Disney movie I recently watched (Meet the Robinsons) with the motto: Keep going forward. I don’t like it when I slide backward. God promises that He won’t let my foot slip, but if I deliberately turn around and head back down the mountain, He may let me go my own stubborn way—but, because I am His, He will put obstacles in my way (think Jonah’s whale and Balaam’s donkey) to urge me to start climbing again.
  • We often try to apply Jeremiah’s potter wheel metaphor (chapter 18) to our individual lives—and that’s okay if we’re sharing a devotional. But in this context, God was using it as a visual for what He intended to do to Israel (crush her and start over, using the same lump of clay) and to show Jeremiah that He had a right to do so because He is the Master Potter. (Yes, I sometimes struggle with God’s sovereignty.)

Sweet Words

Posted on by under God, Scripture

Journal 2009.

“Your words were found and I ate them, and Your Word was to me a joy and the rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O Lord, God of Hosts.” (Jeremiah15:16)

Thought #1. What did Jeremiah mean by eating God’s words? I think about the word biblio-idolatry (the worship of the Bible). This is the person who studies every word, shade of meaning, and explanation but never falls in love with the author (The Word Himself). It’s the person who can’t let go of the literal to read in context. Or the one who boasts in the ability to find any verse, quote any passage. They’ve fallen in love with the beauty of the language, or they use verses to beat people over the head.

That was not the case with Jeremiah. He had a relationship with the author of the words, and therefore the words were sweet to him. When my husband says to me, “I love you,” I cherish his words. If an acquaintance says, “I love you” because I happened to be kind to her, the words do not hold the same impact as someone I deeply cherish. I can thank her politely and then flick them away. I don’t “eat her words and enjoy their sweetness” like I do when Scott says them.

Thought #2. What does it mean “I am called by Your Name”? My maiden name was assigned by default from my father, and I inherited my last name by marriage. My given middle name, however, belongs to my paternal grandmother. I am “called by my grandmother’s name” means I’m associated with her. And though I never knew her, I want to “do her proud,” as Grandpa would say. But to be called by GOD’S name? Wow! Here’s the relationship as I see it:

He is King                   I am a Princess

Lord                            Indentured servant

Messiah                       Saved one

Shepherd                     Sheep

Truth-giver                  Truth-receiver

Creator                        Created

Redeemer                    Redeemed one

Master                         Slave

Comforter                   Comforted one

Counselor                    Counselee

Father                          Daughter

Prince of Peace           Peace-receiver

Holy One                    Purified one

Savior                          Saved

Vine                            Branches

Door                            Protected one

Way                             Traveler

Lessons from Jeremiah 1

Posted on by under Emotions, God, Scripture

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV)

Jeremiah was a Preacher’s Kid (his father was a priest), and God spoke directly to him. Pretty heady stuff when you do big things for God . . . until you realize it is God’s doing all along. God may choose (Moses, David, Samson, Jonah, or me), but we have a choice how we’ll respond (argument, submission, courage, rebellion).

What excuses do I make for not following God’s command? She’s too hard to love; he won’t listen; I can’t because; I don’t know how; I don’t have time; I don’t have the money. . .

Fear of the people’s response was Jeremiah’s driving objection. God’s answer? “Don’t be afraid because I AM with you.”

Then God touched his mouth and said, “Behold I have put My words in your mouth.” How cool is that! This book is Jeremiah’s story, his testimony. God will not respond to everyone the same way. He’s too creative for that. But we can glean principles from Jeremiah’s life like: the antidote to fear is experiencing God’s presence.

It’s Not All About Me

Posted on by under Emotions, God, Scripture

Each man’s eternal rewards are proportional according to his faithfulness and not to his earthly recognition or the lack of it. (From a commentary on Jeremiah 33)

From my 2009 Journal. Though I grew up in a tribal village in Africa, I fear I now think more like an American—touting individualism rather than tribal values. So when I hear God’s prophetical words to Jeremiah: I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security (Jer. 33:6 NIV), I want to ask, “What good did it do Jeremiah to learn that God would restore Israel in the future?” He’d never live to see it. Why should he care how many descendants David’s throne will have when he (Jeremiah) is being hurt, mocked, and imprisoned? The future won’t affect him personally!

But there’s that thing called “hope.” This earth, this life isn’t all there is. There’s a bigger picture. I’m just one speck in the Grand Plan. I’m part of the Global Tribe. My part is miniscule, but important, in God’s eyes. It’s not all about me and only me. God was showing Jeremiah that his life was not in vain, that His calling on his life was important for the greater good.

Though I’d like to think otherwise, life is not all about me–or as my mother used to say to my preschool self: you’re not the only pebble on the beach.

Grandson Noah who needs more help than he thinks he does to navigate his world

Just Follow the Instructions

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From my 2009 Journal. When my three girls were getting ready to live on their own, I gave each of them a homemade cookbook filled with our favorite family recipes. (See below.) What I knew by intuition and experience didn’t always translate onto paper, however. Apparently I did not give precise enough instructions, for I’d frequently get a phone call asking me to clarify an ingredient or procedure.  

In contrast, when God gave instructions to His prophets, He was detailed and precise. One day He spoke the following to Jeremiah:

  1. Stand in the court of the Lord’s house (where and with what posture)
  2. Speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship there (what to do and to whom)
  3. Speak all the words that I command you to speak; diminish not a word (what to say—precisely, fully, accurately) (26:2)

And so Jeremiah obeyed. But after he finished Step #3, the people, priests, and prophets seized him and threatened to put him to death.

Jeremiah’s response is most interesting and gratifying. He obeyed God out of a peaceful heart because he had already grappled with the fear of the results of his actions.

Be assured, however, that if you put me to death, you will bring the guilt of innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and on those who live in it, for in truth the LORD has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing (Jeremiah 26:15 NIV).

My first takeaway is that God’s will was accomplished through Jeremiah’s obedience. Second, obedience does not guarantee comfortable results! (Gulp)

When God gives instructions, He is the expert. He knows the intended outcome as well as the steps to achieving that goal. His instructions are clear and precise. When God speaks, it is in our best interest to listen . . . and obey to the letter.

Intro to Katie’s Cookbook:

Dearest Katie-Bug,

I’ll never forget the day you came into my bedroom early one Saturday morning and announced that pancakes were ready. You were so small, you probably had to stand on a stool to reach all the ingredients. I was astonished. “How did you . . . ?”

“I read the instructions,” you replied.

Up to that time, your classic experiments with ingredients in the kitchen consisted of getting a small mixing bowl, a big spoon, and anything in the cupboard you could find:  a little flour, some sugar, a pinch of various random spices. And when you were satisfied with the results, we would bake the concoction at 350 in a disposable pie tin. Incredibly, sometimes the product was edible! You were so proud of yourself and your creations.

Of my three girls, you were the most interested in what went on in the kitchen—until it came time to clean up, and then you would suddenly declare you had to go to the bathroom; and off you went, conveniently waiting till the task was done. You were most intrigued with the creative part of cooking—like decorating Christmas cookies. Your latest endeavor was decorating a gingerbread house. Remember your attempt at making stroganoff for your dad while I was in California!? But you became a master at turning out perfect macaroni and cheese.

Here are some of our family’s favorite recipes—some yours, some your sisters’ favorites. Keep them safe, for when you get to college, it’ll save you a phone call or two to find out how to make . . . (no, there’s no recipe for making French fries or ice cream!)

May you continue to hone your skills in the kitchen so that you can minister to others, perhaps to your own family some day.

I love you with all my heart,

Mom

Chocolate Chip Scones

1 ¾ cups flour                         1/3 cup butter

3 T sugar                                 1 egg, slightly beaten (reserve some)

2 ½ t baking powder             ½ c chocolate chips

½ t salt                                    4-6 T cream or milk

Combine dry ingredients.

Cut in butter, add egg, choc chips.

Add enough milk so dough leaves sides of bowl.

Knead on floured surface gently 10x

Roll into a circle ½ inch thick

Cut into wedges. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

Brush with little bit of beaten egg.

400, 10-12 min.

On Divorce

Posted on by under God, Scripture

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is divorce-2.jpgFrom my 2009 Journal. Forty to 50 years ago, the topic of divorce in the church caused a lot of angst. The stigma of sin was plastered all over the couple, and the “guilty” parties were shunned. I listened to preachers quote Malachi 2:16 “I hate divorce,” to justify keeping a woman under bondage even to an abusive husband. Unfortunately, those same preachers neglected to preach on the rest of the verse.

“I hate divorce,” says the LORD God of Israel. “I hate it when one of you does such a cruel thing to his wife. Make sure that you do not break your promise to be faithful to your wife” (Malachi 2:16 Good News Translation).

One day I was stunned to read in the book of Jeremiah that God Himself chose to divorce!

I, the Lord, put faithless Israel away and have given her a bill of divorcement, because in her adultery His bride polluted and defiled the land (Jeremiah 3:8-9).

Yes, God hates divorce because He knows its heartaches firsthand. He longs for relationship and connection. He gave Israel repeated opportunities to repent and return to Him before He cut off relationship with Her. He gave them the best and thought they’d not turn away from following Him (v. 19), but they did.

The topic of divorce has many subtopics with a lot of emotional attachments. My main point here is to rail against Scriptural abuse that keeps people in bondage to legalism.

Your thoughts?

Does God Feel Pain?

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God touched Jeremiah’s mouth and said, “Behold I have put My words in your mouth.”

From my 2009 Journal. The book of Jeremiah is his story, his testimony of how God spoke to him and called him to action. It includes strong imagery about the relationship between God the Lover and Israel who spurned His love.

  • I broke your bond and yoke to free you, but you shattered and snapped the bonds with Me.
  • I planted you, a choice vine, wholly of pure seed. But you turned into degenerate shoots of wild vine.
  • You wash yourself with much soap, yet your guilt and iniquity are still on you. You’re spotted, dirty and stained.
  • You’re like a female camel or donkey in heat! (Lots of lovers).
  • The images go on and on.

Donkey

God will not interact with everyone the same way. He’s too creative for that. But we can glean principles from Jeremiah’s life, truths that apply to us in this generation. It struck me today that God the Father experienced pain, rejection, and abandonment long before God the Son experienced it on earth. I want to live my life in such a way that I don’t ever cause Him pain, but I’m forever grateful that Jesus took all my pain onto His own body on the cross.