Faithfulness

O. T. #1771  "Faithfulness"
Sept. 4, 2020
Jeremiah 19

LET IT GLOW

What good thing can be said of  this message Jeremiah had to deliver? It made me sick just reading it a couple of times.
Well, we have to give Jeremiah credit-he was faithful in saying what God told him to say to Judah. And God is faithful in His love and protection of His children and the remnant of faithful believers in Judah.

Deuteronomy 7:9 says, He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him.

Psalm 9:10 reminds us, Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You.

Psalm 55:22 tells us to, Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.

Psalm 57:10 says, Great is Your love, reaching to the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Our God loves us, cares about our cares, is faithful, and never leaves us. How encouraging!

LET IT GROW

The Lord sent Jeremiah shopping for a broken potter's clay jar at the Hinnom Valley, near the entrance of the Potsherd Gate. (verses 1-2) It was the passage through which potters took their potsherds (broken pieces of potter) to be discarded. (Today it is a very deep valley called Kidron Valley on the south side of the city wall.) He brought the elders and priests to be a witness of this message so no one could plead ignorance of this prophesy.

Take a deep breath, friend, for God points out the vile sins of Judah and judgment of God:

• The ears of those hearing Jeremiah's message would tingle because God was bringing a terrible disaster upon that place. (verse 3)
• The people of Judah burned incense to foreign gods and filled this valley with the blood of innocents.  They threw their children into the fire, as sacrifices to sons of Molech. Drums were beaten to drown out the cries of the children.
• Their houses were desecrated by idolatrous worship of the sun, planets, and stars. (verse 13)
• They built pagan shrines to Baal, and burnet their sons as sacrifices to Baal. (verse 5)
• Desperate for food (enemies surrounded Jerusalem) during a long siege, some would resort to cannibalism, eating family members and friends. (verse 9)
• God would make Jerusalem desolate; people passing by it would hiss because of all the plagues. (verse 8)
• Desperate for food during a long siege, some would resort to cannibalism, eating family members and friends. (verse 9)
• As Jeremiah broke the bottle, potter's vessel that could not be made whole, he illustrated God breaking this people and this city. (verse 11)
• After hearing this prophesy, they hardened their necks, that they might not hear God's Words. (verse 15)

We know this prophesy came true. As Babylonian army came in 586 BC, they destroyed the Temple, businesses, and houses in Jerusalem. Those who were not killed were taken captive to Babylon.

May we not close up our eyes and eyes to God's Word. May we share with others the salvation Jesus has provided for us. When we repent of our sins, agree with God, and ask His forgiveness, He will save us.

LET IT GO
The God of the mountain is God of the valley.
His mercy never fails.
There is nothing better than You.