O. T. #1842 " Do You Have Hope?"

Dec. 17, 2020

Lamentations 3

LET IT GLOW

Do you have hope as an end comes to such a crazy year? How are you handling things when the world seems upside down? In what do you place your hope for a better today, tomorrow, future?

Things were dark for Jeremiah and his nation. He was under a double load of grief as he spoke of Jerusalem's destruction and recalled his physical scars, as well as emotional scars from his faithful ministry to a people who refused to listen. Jeremiah was the most hated man in Judah whom everyone wanted gone. Ever felt that way?

Don't you know Jeremiah was feeling abandoned, oppressed, humiliated, and bitter? With that setting set, most of us can understand his feelings. We have lost people we loved, or a house we enjoyed living in is gone, or we are let go at our job, or family changes occurr. A feeling of hopelessness sets in as with this prophet. However, hope returned to Jeremiah when he controlled his thoughts, turning them toward God. God's compassions fail not. His unfailing love for us continues no matter our circumstances.

Five times in this chapter Jeremiah mentions the word hope  with various meanings. Let's look at those:

• Verse 18-And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD. Everything Jeremiah hoped for from the Lord is lost! This kind of hope means expectation. Jeremiah was not expecting peace and prosperity in Judah, as his strength perished.
• Verses 21 and 24 have the same meaning-This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him. This kind of hope refers to wait; to be patient; stay; tarry; trust. Now we see a change in Jeremiah. He is waiting and trusting in the LORD.
• Verse 26-It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. This kind of hope means to dance; to wait. When we wait on the Lord and seek Him, then we should get up and dance with joy.
• Verse 29-He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there be may be hope. This kind of hope is a cord (an attachment); thing that I long for. This person is throwing their self on the found in silent confession of unworthiness.  There is hope at last-hope in Jesus, the thing we long for above all things; our King and our Lord.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. We can sum it up with Romans 8:23-25, which says, And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits-we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. Now in this hope we are saved, yet hope that is seen is not hope  because who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience. (Life Application Study Bible)

 I hope this has uplifted you, friend, as it has me.

LET IT GROW

How can we grow through adversity? Charles Swindoll explains in his study guide, The Lamentations of Jeremiah:

• Wait patiently seeking out God in prayer. (verses 23,25)
• Wait silently for the Lord to deliver us from suffering and to ultimately restore us. (verse26) We are to learn whatever God has for us as we endure our painful experience and trial.
• Submit willingly to God's providence. The Lord will not reject forever. (verses27-31)

Receive God's love, friend. Make Him your hope as you wait patiently, silently, and willingly for Him to deliver you. After all, we have hope of everlasting life in heaven.

LET IT GO

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee. Hearts unfold like flowers before You. Joyful we adore You, King Jesus.

In this world we will have trouble, but take heart, Jesus has overcome the world.

Whatever we suffer in this world will be worth it after all when we see Jesus.

Be faithful, full of hope in Jesus, finish the fight and walk with hope, for there are some good things awaiting us in heaven.

O. T. #1841 "What is Wonderful in Your Life?"

Dec. 16, 2020

Lamentations 2

LET IT GLOW

What is wonderful in your life right now? On Sunday something wonderful happened. We received several inches of snow. Now that may be not an unusual occurrence to you because of where you live, but it is for me. It has been about 8 years for us to get so much. Oh we have had a spit of snow that melted the same day it came, but nothing like this lately. When I was a kid, we had snow every winter. The trees are white with snow, the ground hidden beneath, the air is crisp and cold. What a beautiful scenery to behold! Thank You Jesus for sending it our way. How wonderful are Your deeds and blessings!

So encouragement came to me as I read Billy Graham's devotional, Wisdom For Each Day, and thought it was so good that I must share it:

My dictionary defines wonderful as anything that is so unusual or magnificent that it causes wonder and amazement. Jesus was wonderful in His life. He mingled with sinners, yet His enemies could find not one single flaw in His character. His miracles and His teaching both testified to His divine authority. Christ was also wonderful in His death. He died for others just as He had lived for others: To make our salvation possible. and this death led to the wonderful, glorious Resurrection, opening for us the door to Heaven and eternal life. Jesus is wonderful indeed!

He will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.    (Isaiah 9:6) 

Well, after reading chapter 2, I think we all could use some wonderful news.

Wonderful refers to remarkable: secret in the Hebrew language.

Isn't Jesus the most wonderful thing that has happened us you and me! Truly He is remarkable!

 

LET IT GROW

Shall we dig into this chapter? There are about 40 descriptions of divine judgment affecting every aspect of Jewish life, but are not going to get into them. No, I found a good study guide, "The Lamentations of Jeremiah" by Charles Swindoll. He points out 5 consequences of disobedience of God's child when they go their own way, as Judah did:

• Diminishing of one's dignity and unique impact. God destroyed the homes and strongholds of this once beautiful city, and profaned the kingdom and princes. (verses 1-2) The sins of her people have brought her shame and have removed her godly influence from among the nations.
• Removal of one's stability and vitality. God allowed Judah's enemies to be His instrument of judgment. (verse 3) His wrath consumed the Jews like fire. (verse 4) He tore Judah's foundation out from under her.
• Multiplication of inner anguish. The Lord and Protector became their enemy. (verse 5) (He destroyed their Tabernacle, wall, and the law.)
• Feelings of abandonment and emptiness.(verses 6-8) God destroyed His appointed meeting place; feasts and the Sabbath  were no longer celebrated; the kings and priests had no place to serve; their palaces and walls were gone.
• Heartbreaking absence of vision and purposes. (verses 9-10) The prophets had no visions; the elders had no purpose, but mourned.

 Soul Searching Questions: Has your lifestyle, or others in your circle, marred your integrity? Is our life different from non-Christians? Do we stick with our decisions? Has your character lost its charm? Are we compromising with sin? Are our loved ones suffering because of our failure to walk with God? Has sin begun to destroy our happiness, vitality, and spirituality? Are we praying less, attending church services sporadically, experiencing empty worship? Have you lost your godly perspective and sense of purpose for living?  Is God taking you to the woodshed?

God's grace, mercy, and faithfulness has not changed, dear one. When we are disciplined by Him, it is because He loves us and wants us to do right.

Look at verses 17 and 18. The LORD hath done that which He had devised; He hath fulfilled His word that He had commanded in the days of old...

...let not the apple of thine eye cease.

LET IT GO

Jesus, You are Wonderful.

You do amazing and remarkable things.

Forgive us when we stray off the path You have for us, wandering into sin.

Keep us under the shadow of Your wing and the apple of Your eye.

O. T. #1840 "Everlasting Joy and Tears"

Dec. 15, 2020

Lamentations 1

LET IT GLOW

What causes your tears? So many things like broken hearts, sorrow over loosing a loved one, rejection, job loss, pain, a terminal illness, financial troubles, addictions, missing family and friends; the list can go on. The thing is, we are not alone in these tearful times, yet we may alone.

What makes a person cry says a lot about that person-whether they are self-centered or God-centered. Jeremiah let the tears flow from a broken heart. He was God's spokesman concerning Judah's future. It wasn't over personal loss or suffering that made him weep, but the people's rejection of their God, the One who made them, loved them, and repeatedly blessed them. They were tears of sympathy and empathy, not selfishness. This servant of God was broken by his care for the people and his nation and his devotion to God.  (Life Application Study Bible)

Even though this book is a dirge, a funeral song written for the fallen  city of Jerusalem, we can still find joy. so please continue with us through only 5 chapters. 

Warren Wiersbe gives us a few lessons about God and His will:

*The Awfulness of God's Judgments (1:1-6)

*The Righteousness of God's Wrath (1:18-22)

*The Tenderness of God's Heart  (1:12-16) 

Jerusalem was once a rich princess or queen, but suddenly left alone as a widow. Her wealthy and beauty turned to poverty; she was once full, but now empty; her honor turned to disgrace; her joy was replaced with tears; her great victories turned to defeat. Jerusalem lost her joy, wealth, and beauty, but also lost her testimony, Jerusalem turned from loving her God to loving idols.

Why did God allow His people to go into captivity? To teach them to trust Him and obey His Word. God warned Israel not to follow false gods. He even sent prophets to warn them of the consequences. They had to yield to God's chastening hand and trust His mercy. (verse 22) Confession of sin is better than continuous rebellion. Whom the Lord loves He chastens. His love never changes.

Jerusalem is unclean. (verse 17)

The LORD is righteous: for I have rebelled against His commandment. (verse 18)                                                                                 

 LET IT GROW

How do we obtain everlasting joy?

Isaiah 35:10 tells us: And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

When we have strayed for serving Jesus, from loving Him wholeheartedly, from spending time in prayer and Bible study, we find no joy. But in returning to Him and confessing our sins, we receive a clean heart, which fills us with songs of joy, everlasting joy and gladness. Sure we may have our moments of missing loved ones, but ultimately our sorrow will turned to joy in Jesus.

LET IT GO

Give our problems and trials, our sorrows and hurts to Jesus.

Let Him fill us with everlasting joy.

O. T. #1839  "Weeping"

Dec. 14, 2020

Introduction to Lamentations

God is so good! I just have to share what He has done for us lately. Since we live in the country, we use propane for heat in our old country house. This year we installed a new heating unit on the wall, which works well and is wonderful. We don't have the mess to clean up in the pellet stone and my husband does not hurt his shoulder carrying in the 40 pound bags of pellets. So I ordered a filling of the propane tank on the 2nd, since we still had 20% left to use. (On the third try, I finally got a contact at the office to order it.) Well, we didn't get it. (Normally 3 days is all we have to wait.) My husband called them twice last week, without any delivery resulting. All this time I have been praying to the Lord to send us the gas, for nothing is impossible with God. There was snow and freezing temperatures coming and we did not need our pipes to freeze in this old house. Still no delivery. (If we had to, we could spend the nights at our son's house.) Finally, I called again since they would not deliver on Saturday. It was delivered on the 11th. I keep shouting out a big thank you to Jesus for the gas to heat our house! He came through at the last day. He always comes through for me! How awesome is our God! (Guess my faith was tested. I did all I could do and had to depend on was God to come through. And He did just that.) Have you experienced the faithfulness of God coming through in the last minute? If you are right there, have faith, for that is our God! Case all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.

This reminded me of the story of the widow (1Kings 17) who was almost out of meal and oil. She had just enough for her son and herself to eat their last meal during a 3 year drought. The Lord told Elijah visited her and ask for a drink of water and bread to eat. She made a little cake, sacrificing the last for herself and son to eat before they would die. Her obedience was rewarded and the meal and oil did not run out until the rains came. Isn't that our God! He knows our needs before we ask. Now let's look at our new book of study-Lamentations.

Author

Although his name is not mentioned, ancient Jewish tradition holds that the prophet Jeremiah wrote it. He saw the destruction of the walls, tower, homes, palace in Jerusalem and Judah, as well as the Temple. He wrote it before he was forced to depart to Egypt. (chapter 43)

Since Jeremiah wept over his country and people, he is known as the "Weeping Prophet."

Background

The form that Jeremiah used to relate the content was that of poetry. He wrote using acrostics using a new letter in the Hebrew alphabet in the arrangement.

Jeremiah spent many years prophesying the destruction coming of  Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian army if the people did not repent of idolatry and immorality, turning back to worshiping God. Since they did not heed the prophet's warnings, He wept when all was destroyed in his country, burnt to the ground and taken away, shortly after 586 BC.

This book is recited by Jews at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem every Friday in this modern times. Roman Catholics have designated the last three days of Holy Week as a special time to read this book.

John MacAuthur gives us five themes found in the this book of Lamentations: 

1. God's judgment came in response to Judah's sin.
2. Hope was found in God's compassion and faithfulness.
3. God's grace is experienced as Jeremiah moves from lamentation to consolation.
4. Because the hope of Israel's salvation and fulfillment of God's promises (3:18) and appears in the form of prayer.
5. Jeremiah's tears relate to Jesus' weeping over the same city of Jerusalem. (Matt. 23)
6. Since God did not hesitate to judge His beloved people, what will He do to the nations of the world who reject His Word? 

We know that God kept His promises as He provided for a believing remnant during the 70 years of captivity in Babylon. They were allowed to return to Jerusalem and built the city and the Temple.

The First Lament-The ruined city of Jerusalem (1:1-22)

Here we can picture a desolate man of God sitting amid the ashes of the once-great and once-holy city of Jerusalem, weeping over its destruction and exile of the people who had ignored decades of warnings and calls for repentance from the Lord.

Jerusalem seems to be crying out to Jeremiah in her sorrow. So Jeremiah records her laments as she lies in ruins and unfaithfulness to God.

In verse 1-2, how is Jerusalem describe?

• A solitary (separate, alone, desolate) city
• Once a princess, now a widow; she weeps bitterly during the night with no one to comfort her because false gods and lovers had become her enemies.
• Once was a great super-power among the nations, now nothing.
• She became a tributary (a burden; a tax in the form of forced labor; a levy).

What a sad sight to behold. Sorrow and pain can steal our joy. The Lord does not look at crying the same way people do (not manly to cry). weeping may last for a night, but comes in the morning. Even Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus. Psalm 56:8 tells us that He remembers and preserves our tears.

Are you facing a fork in the road that requires a decision-to walk with God in the power of His Spirit or with sin in the strength of your flesh? Don't live for the present without regard for the future; commit yourself to serving God today and forever. (Swindoll)

My fear doesn't stand a chance when I stand in God's love. (As the song goes) Things can be taken away, but we can find strength in Jesus. Stand in surrender to Jesus and He will fill us with His Spirit.

 

 

 

O. T. #1838

Dec. 11, 2020

Summary of Jeremiah-Part 4

O. T. #1838 "Obedience and Love"

Dec.11, 2020

Summary of Jeremiah-Part 4

• And it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise and an honor before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that procure unto it. (33:9) Israel would be a restored people in a restored land who worshiped God with joy, praise, and honor. Are we a restored child of God that praises and honors Him with joy?
• Thus saith the LORD the Maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is His name. Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not. (33:2-3)  Our God is ready to answer our prayers when we call unto Him, asking humbly.
• Praise the LORD of Hosts: for the LORD is good; for His mercy endureth forever; and of them that that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. (33:11b) When we go into the house of the Lord, do we proclaim His goodness with praise as a sacrifice? His mercy endures forever. What a wonderful promise!
• In verses 15 and 16, Jesus is referred to the Branch and LORD of Righteousness. Friend, our righteousness is as filthy rags, but Jesus makes us righteous before a holy God.
• Pray now unto the LORD our God for us. (37:3) King Zedekiah sent a priest to Jeremiah to ask him to pray for pray for the people. Do we pray for people around us, as well as our leaders?
• For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in Me, saith the LORD. (39:18) As God delivered His lowly servant Jeremiah from awful situations, so He can do for us. Just trust Him.
• For who is like Me, and who can challenge Me?  What ruler can oppose My will? (49:19; 50:44) No one is like our God and Jesus. No one is so powerful that they can oppose His will. Dear one, rest in this assurance that God's will shall be done.
•  In 50:4, the Lord will bring Judah and Israel together, weeping and seeking Him. Will we come together to seek our Savior Jesus?
• ...they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers. The word hope in Hebrew means something waited for. Is Jesus your hope?
• Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of Hosts is His name: He shall thoroughly plead their cause, that He may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon. (50:34) Jesus will plead our cause, despite what others to or say about us. He can quiet them. He can give us rest, when He is our Redeemer. He can heal our troubled and weary soul.
• In 52:31-34, Judah's king in captivity was set upon a throne, had his prison garments changed, and ate at the king's table. So it is with us when we become a child of God.  Jesus lifts us up, washes away our sins with the blood of Jesus, giving us His robe of righteousness, and feeds us spiritually at His table, the Word.

There is another verse that I saved for last. It is 7:23, But one thing commanded I them saying, Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be My people; and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.

When we focus on the Lord, we see our sins, for only He is holy. We refocus on living for Jesus instead of our self. Here is one basic thing for Christians to do-obey Him. Jesus told us that the two greatest commands are to love God and love others. When we do those things, we are pleasing our God. So my challenge today for us is to look around and see who is hurting and shower them with God's love.

Thank you so much friends for your faithfulness in studying Jeremiah with me. Next, we will study Lamentations, which is written by the Prophet Jeremiah. Be sure to join us.

Jeremiah 52 and Summary of Jeremiah

O. T. #1837 "

Dec. 10, 2020

Summary of Jeremiah-Part 3

Here are some more promises Jeremiah reassured Judah with:

• For thus saith the LORD, that after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform My good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. (29:10) After Judah's persecution they would experience God's promises; and they did, for the Persian King Cyrus released them to return to Jerusalem to rebuild it. He provided materials, also.
• For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (29:11) Are you in need of peace and hope? Go to Jesus.
• Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart. (29:12-13)  When we seek God with all our heart, call upon Him through Jesus, then He will hear our plea and answer us.
• Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. (31:3) It is God's love for us that draws us to believe inn Him for salvation. Isn't He so good!
• ... for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. (31:34c) What a merciful God we serve!
• Ah Lord God! Behold Thou hast made heaven and earth by Thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee. (32:17) Mary experienced this when she conceived Jesus by the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist's father experienced it when he was struck mute, when he did not believe his elderly wife Elisabeth could not have a baby; then later his speech was restored so he could name John. Moses experienced it when God parted the Red Sea and provided manna and water in the desert. Joshua experienced it when he and Israel crossed the parted Jordan River; then when they prayed and marched around Jericho, seeing God cause its wall fall so they could conquer Jericho. Paul experienced it on the road to Damascus; his blindness, encounter with Jesus as Savior Messiah, and healer of his sight. Then the women experienced the risen Savior when they went to His tomb to care for his dead body. 

Friend, have you experienced the everlasting love of God? You can if you will believe is Jesus as your Savior. Have you experienced the Risen Savior? Then when you pray, seek and search for God with all your heart, you will find Him and He will hear your prayer.

Do you have thoughts of peace today? Is heaven your expected end? Have you faith that believes nothing is too hard for God to accomplish in your life and the life of others?

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6) 

 

 

O. T. #1836  "Simply Believe"

Summary of Jeremiah

Dec. 9, 2020

If you are joining us for the first time, welcome. To update you, we are wrapping up the study on the book of Jeremiah in the Old Testament. So grab you Bible and read along with us. Now, I'm not a seminary trained scholar in the Word, but I have a desire to dig into the Word of God and apply it to my own life, as well as share it and my past experiences walking with God for fifty years. It is my desire to be an encourager for Christians and share the gospel with the lost. With that said, let's jump into some reviewing. (Read the last post to learn about some background on this book.) The chapter and verses are listed first in the references.

• 16:19-O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto Thee from the ends of the earth... Gentiles (includes us) will be converted, as well as the power and might of the true God will be seen. Is the Lord our strength, stronghold, and refuge on whom we rely in our day of trouble?
• 17:9-The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? We don't know what we would do in a situation until we are in it. We can deceive ourselves into thinking we would do the right thing, but...
• 17:26-...and bringing sacrifices of praise unto the house of the LORD. When we keep worshiping Him on the Lord's Day, we experience blessings, peace, and prosperity.
• 18:6b-Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand. In chapter 18, God told Jeremiah to go down to the potter's house and observe his work. God is the Potter and we are His clay. He works with us and on us and through us to shape us into a vessel that honors Him. Are we moldable.
• 20:13-Sing unto the Lord, praise ye the LORD: for He hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers. In Acts 16, we read of Paul and Silas praying and singing praises to God while in jail after being beaten and put in stocks. Can we sing Jesus' praises in less harsh circumstances?
• 21:8-Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death. God's ways provide us with life. Will we choose it instead of our own way? Those of Judah who chose life and went to Babylon peacefully did not experience the sword, famine, and plague brought on by God's judgment.
• 23:5-6 Jesus is our Righteous Branch, our King, and is called The LORD our Righteousness.
• 23:23-Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off. When we draw close to God, He draws close to us.
• 24:7-And I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be My people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto Me with their whole heart.

What does Jesus want? He wants His followers to be people of simple faith, modeled in grace, based on truth. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else. People of faith mean what they say and do what they hear. They do not substitute words for action or pious discussion for personal involvement. (Day By Day With Charles Swindoll)

A simple man believes. (Proverbs 14:15)

Are you a believer in Jesus today, friend? Are you allowing things in your life to keep you from believing in Jesus today? Oh dear one, Jesus is the only way to heaven. He is the Son of God that takes away the sins of the world, as John the Baptist said. He loves you so much that He died on the cross to take away our sins. It is not by works or being good that pleases God, but trusting in His Son as your Savior. Simply believe in Him and ask Jesus to be your Savior right now. He is waiting. He wants to bless you today. Simply believe.

 

 

O. T. #1835 "Summary of Jeremiah"

Dec. 8, 2020

Summary of Jeremiah

Whew! We have finally completed our study of Jeremiah, some 52 chapters. (We began in July, too!)Thanks so much for staying in there with me through all the gloom and doom. If you have been studying with me very long, you know that I like to go back and summarize what we have learned and scriptures which I have highlighted during it. (By the way, this post was already written a day ahead, but it did not get posted for some reason. Sorry it is late for my second time.)

Jeremiah began his ministry at age 21, which continued for about 50 years. He was called by God to deliver messages to 5 kings of Judah, several nations, and his countrymen. He was rejected by neighbors, family, friends, false prophets and priests, kings, and the audience who heard him. Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet because he wept over the spiritual condition of his country. He knew what was in store for the people of Judah and the people, as well as the Temple. Because they would not repent of their idolatry and immorality and worship only God, there came famine, destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem, death of soldiers as they were taken away for 70 years of captivity in Babylon, all as a result of God's judgment.  (Now Jeremiah also prophesied the coming Millennial reign of Jesus on earth in Jerusalem.) Oh, another thing, Baruch was Jeremiah's secretary who recorded What God told Jeremiah.

Friend, get your Bible open and read these verses with me. They are what I consider gold nuggets. How can we apply them to our life?

• 1:5-God formed us, sets us apart to be His child, and appoints us to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• 3:23-Only in the Lord Jesus do we find salvation.
• 9:24-The Lord exercises lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.
• 10:6-7-The living God is great and his name is Great in Might. (my capitials) There is none like Him. Great means exceedingly mighty in the Hebrew language.
• 14:8-Jesus is our hope and Israel's hope; our Savior in time of trouble. Hope refers to something waited for.
• 14:22-We wait upon God, for He has made all things.
• 15:16-God's Word is our joy and we rejoice in our heart.
• 15:20-God is with us, saves us, and delivers us.

Do we have joy in our heart this Christmas season? If not, why? Do we need reminding that God loves us and chooses us to be His child? He proved it by leaving heaven and coming to earth as  baby Jesus in a harsh world. Also, Jesus lived a perfect life so He could take our place for us as the punishment of our sins. What love! He rose from the grave to prove He is God and lives forever. He has provided eternal life for us with Him in heaven. One day Jesus will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. What a day that will be!

Dear one, if you do not know this Jesus personally as your Savior, you can today. Just ask Him to forgive your sins and come into your heart to be your Lord and Savior. He will, for He keeps His promises and His Word. Then you can celebrate joyfully this Christmas season of our Savior's birth.

 

O. T. #1834  "Who is on The Throne?"

Dec. 7, 2020

Jeremiah 52-Part 3

LET IT GLOW

This chapter is a confirmation that Jeremiah's writing and prophecies were fulfilled. Probably the writer of these events was Jeremiah's secretary, Baruch. We read about King Jehoiachin of Judah was given a throne of state (not power) in Babylon by Neb's son, Evilmerodach. (verse 31) Then his uncle Zedekiah (Judah's last king), was carried away to Babylon. We read previously that he saw his sons killed and his own eyes put out, then placed in prison. There was no king of Judah on the throne, for the Temple and houses of the king, great men, and other's houses were burned. (verse 13) That does not sound encouraging for us. But wait, my friend, there is and has always been One on the throne, ruling heaven and earth-our God.

Jesus left His throne on high to come to earth as a baby, growing up, then living a perfect life as a man. He was God in the flesh. Because of this, the Jews rejected Jesus as their Messiah, even though prophets predicted His coming and the manner in which He would come. It is not just the Bible that records the life of Jesus Christ, but secular history bears witness that He lived, also. What distinguished Jesus from other men was that God raised Him from the dead. There are several accounts of witnesses seeing Jesus after the three days He was dead.

Now Jesus is seated on the throne at the right had of God the Father. Let's take a look into the New Testament for scriptures on this subject:

• In Acts 2:30-34, Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost that God raised Jesus up, there were witnesses, and He is being by the right hand of God exalted and The LORD said unto my LORD, sit Thou on My right hand. (David spoke this in Psalm 110:1) Jesus is seated on His throne at the right hand of God. In Greek, the word throne is a stately sea; by power; potentate. 
• The author of Hebrews (probably Paul) says in chapter 8 that we have a high priest (referring to Jesus) who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. Then in chapter 9 said that Christ being a high priest entered once into the holy place by His blood, obtained eternal redemption for us. (verses 11-12)
• In chapter 12, as we run the race with patience (live), we look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for joy endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
• The prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah, as well as others, spoke about Jesus coming to earth to reign upon His throne in Jerusalem for a thousand years. Satan will be bound during that time, later loosing the Battle of Armageddon.
• In Revelation 7, a great multitude, elders, and angels will fall on their faces before the throne and worship God and the Lamb.

So dear one, why do we worry about things going on in the world and in our individual lives? Our Savior and God are still on their thrones overseeing everything. I have a note above my computer that reads: If.... He is still God! You fill in the blank for child of God.

 

LET IT GROW

One more thing to bring out that happened in this chapter. There were three deportation groups of Jews taken to Babylon:

1. The first deportation occurred when Neb was reigned in his 7th year as king. There were 3,023 people exiled, carried away as captives. Daniel speaks about in the first chapter of his book.
2. The second deportation took place during the 18th year of Neb as king. There were 832 people exiled.
3. The third deportation took place in Neb's 23rd year and was a punishment to the Jews for killing Gedaliah (chapters 40-41). Jeremiah was one of those, but later released.

Nebuchadnezzar reigned as king of the Babylonian Empire for 42 years, 604-562 BC. The his son reigned as king. In 586BC, Jerusalem and the Temple fell to Neb's rule. The Jews spent 70 years in captivity because of their idolatry and God's punishment. In 539BC, Babylon fell to Persia. Fallowing all of that, Cyrus king of Persia released the Jews to return back to Jerusalem to rebuild the city and the Temple in 520BC.

God was still on His throne throughout all of those events. Jeremiah had 41 years of ministry under 5 kings in Judah.  

 

 

LET IT GO

Who is on the throne of your life?

We are the reason that Jesus gave His life. We are the reason that He suffered and died. To a world that was lost, He gave all He could give, to show us the reason to live. Have you finally found the reason to live? Are we giving our all just for Him? Jesus is my reason to live. How about you?

O. T. #1833  "From Prison to a Palace"

Nov. 4, 2020

Jeremiah 52-Part 2

Today, we are studying toward the end of the book of Jeremiah, then we'll review what we have learned and note some scriptures that stood out. Although this chapter is almost identical to 2Kings 24-25, it concludes with the destruction of Jerusalem, the deportation of the Jews to Babylon, and the deliverance of King Jehoiachin.

Just a bit of review: The last good king of Judah was Josiah, who removed the idol worship and returned the people back to worshiping God, reigning 31 years. However, his two bad sons reigned next-Jehoahaz (only reigned 3 months) and Jehoiakim (reigned 11 years). Then King Jehoiachin reigned only 3 months in Judah before he was taken away to Babylon. (Zedekiah was his uncle that was the last king of Judah.)

After Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Babylonian Empire, died, his son Evilmerodach reigned. During the his first year, he did something unusual. (This occurred during the 37th year of Jewish exile.)

We read what happened in verses 31-34:

• He liberated Jehoiachin, bringing him out of prison. (verse 31)
• He spoke kindly to Jehoiachin. (verse 32)
• He set Jehoiachin on a throne of state, not a throne of power. It was a higher place than all the other exiled kings in Babylon. (verse 31)
• Jehoiachin was supplied with new clothes to replace his prison garb, a changed garment. (verse 33)
•  All the days of his life, Jehoiachin continually ate bread in the presence of the king of Babylon. (verse 31)
• He received the same diet.

This former king of Judah was freed to enjoy previously denied privileges. The Lord did not forget the Davidic line, even in exile. (John MacArthur)

After 37 years in prison, a king was taken to a palace. Only God could do such a thing.  Friends, this is good. Even though Jehoiachin was the last of Solomon's descendants, the line of succession transferred to David's son Nathan. The importance of this can be seen in the genealogy of Jesus through Mary, whose ancestors were of Nathan's line (Luke 3:31). Thus the messianic line was preserved and Jesus's claim to the throne of David legitimized. The coming of David's greater son, the Lord Jesus Christ, brought all of God's promises to His people. (Tony Evans)

All these years I could not figure out why Mary's lineage was through David's son Nathan and not through Solomon. It was because Jehoiachin was into idolatry and he died without a son to be heir to the throne, as God had told him. 

LET IT GROW

So what does all of this have to say to us?

• When we become a Christian, Jesus sets us free from the prison of our sins. Our sin nature kept us in prison to our sins.
• Jesus speaks kindly to us.
• We become joint heirs with King Jesus.
• Jesus changes our heart and clothes us in His righteousness.
• When we read His Word, we are eating spiritual food at the King's table.

Wow! I told you it was good. Just think, we filthy sinners can converse in prayer with the Creator and sustainer of the universe! It was the love of Jesus that has provided this!

LET IT GO

Jesus, we thank, praise, worship, and adore You.

Thank You for providing us with eternal life, not through anything we have done, but through all You have done.

Thanks be to Jesus for the gift of salvation.

 

O. T. #1832 "A Glad Heart"

Dec. 3, 2020

Jeremiah 52

LET IT GLOW

What makes your heart glad? I like spending time conversing with my girls, purchasing gifts for the kiddos, baking banana bread to give to friends, and singing Christmas carols about my Lord Jesus. What about you?

Can you believe we have almost finished the study of this 52 chapter book? I am so blessed that you have stayed with me. It has been a rather difficult book to continue through because Jeremiah keeps repeating the doom and gloom coming to Jerusalem, Judah, and the nation. Now with our last chapter, Jeremiah is focusing on the fall of Jerusalem, other events, and kings.

When we look at Jeremiah's life through the eyes of the world, he was totally unsuccessful. After all, he had no friends, family, money, nor position. Jeremiah prophesied the destruction of the nation and capital city, as well as the temple. The political and religious leaders would not accept or follow his advice, though. No group of people liked him or listened to him. Yet, we see that he successfully completed the work God gave him to do. And he suffered while doing it, being put in a pit and prison. Don't you know he had peace knowing he was doing the right thing? (Life Application Study Bible)

Folks, success must never be measured by popularity, fame, or fortune, which are only temporal. God measures our success with obedience, faithfulness, and righteousness. If we are faithfully doing the work God has given us, then we are successful in His eyes.

Be sure that wealth, power, success, good health, profitable business, or growth in ministry are not always a sign of God's blessings. God's presence and will in our life  being carried out may result in the opposite occurring in our life. Our greatest achievement should be a close relationship with our God and Savior Jesus Christ. A close walk with Jesus while we are on this adventurous journey of life should be our greatest joy. Are we delighting our self in Him, making our decisions while focused on Jesus, then we will have strength to endure whatever comes our way.

Ask Jesus to think through you, live through you, love through you. (Sarah Young)

I have set the LORD continually before me... therefore my heart is glad. (Ps. 16:8-9)

Is our heart glad today and during this Christmas season? Are you laughing, being cheerful, and staying on the sunny side of life?

LET IT GROW

The Tony Evans Commentary explains: Chapter 52 is a historical supplement added about 25 years later as a further confirmation that Jeremiah's prophecies did come to pass. The fate of Jerusalem and Zedekiah (verses 1-11) have already been discussed in 39:1-7. Zedekiah was a humiliated king, blinded and bound in bronze chains, destined to spend the rest of his life in prison. (verse 11) Verses 12-30 review the fall of Jerusalem, destruction of the temple, plundering of its treasures, and deportation of the people to Babylon-just as Jeremiah had prophesied.

Because King Zedekiah did evil in the Lord's sight, and led the people in idolatry, the Lord's anger was against Jerusalem and Judah (verse 2):

• The Babylonian king built forts around Jerusalem. (verse 4)
• Famine came to the people in the city. (verse 6)
• When the city wall was broken down, Judah's soldiers fled. (verse 7)
• Zedekiah was captured as he fled toward Jericho. (verse 8)
• The king saw his sons killed, then his eyes were put out. (verses 10-11)

Jeremiah had predicted those events back in chapter 38, but the king would not heed them. Are we heeding the Word of God in our life?

LET IT GO

                     ... of worry, sorrow, fears, insecurities, and disappointments; trust Jesus.

                     ... of worldly things and focus on Jesus, for He is the reason for the season.

                     ... of the impossible and cling to the One who makes all things possible.                              

                     

 

 

 

O. T. #1831 "Generations Serving Jesus"

Dec. 2, 2020

Jeremiah 51-Part 3

LET IT GLOW

When our grandchildren last visited us in the summer of 2019, I shared some family history. I shared how my husband and I met, God's calling us into the ministry, and His working in our lives. Their other grandmother had done the same thing, without my knowing it. Well, our granddaughter recently shared at her baptism that she had parents who grew up in Christian homes and now she is. What a testimony. I continue to pray for my grandchildren, that they, too will serve the Lord Jesus with their life. How about you? Today, we learn that God can use generations of faithful believers for His purposes and will to be accomplished.

There are a few more things we can learn from this chapter. There is a message to the exiled Jews in Babylon. God promised to hear His people's cry, take up their cause, and bring vengeance on Babylon. (verse 36) He used pagan  powers (Cyrus of Persia) to accomplish His will, smashing the nations (Babylon and others) and who destroyed Israel and Judah (who committed idolatry).

Let's take a look at verses 45 and 50. What does God instruct His people to do?

• Go out of Babylon. (verse 45) Cyrus allowed the Jews to return Jerusalem in order to rebuild the Temple and the city. The first group to return was 46,697 people led by Zerubbabel; 3,508 led by Ezra; and others led by Nehemiah.
• Deliver (to release or rescue, save, preserve) every man his soul. Verses 6, 45)
• Get out, you who escaped the sword.
• Go away; don't stand and watch.
• Remember (think on) the Lord, though you are in a far off land, afar. (verse 50)
• Think about your home Jerusalem. (verse 50)

Some of the Jews were well settled in Babylon, for they spent 70 years in exile.  They were to not linger like Lot in Sodom, nor stop on the road back, but go to Judah. They were to not put their trust, confidence, and resources in a kingdom to be judged and conquered. We believers are to do the same today and in our future, as Revelation 18:4 says to separate from the pagans. We are to think on the Lord Jesus, serving Him throughout each day. As we share the gospel, we help folks be rescued from their sin and hell.

LET IT GROW

In verses 59-64, we read about Seraiah, the brother of Baruch, Jeremiah's secretary, not the one who helped arrest Jeremiah in 36:26.

So I found some interesting information concerning this man's background. He was the grandson of the high priest Hilkiah, who found the book of the Law in Josiah's reign as king. Also, he became the grandfather of Joshua-ben-Jozkak, the high priest at the return from exile, a branch of his family to Ezra. Wow! This family had generations of men who served God. This is an encouragement for us to pray for and share the spiritual heritage of our family. Also, we can ask God to bless our future generations with salvation, faith in Jesus, and a desire to serve Him with their life. What a blessing that would be!

Seraiah was a quartermaster who arranged for food and lodging for diplomatic delegations, a quiet prince.  (Falwell)

What was his roll in this time? Jeremiah copied what is our chapters 50 and 51, the disasters to come upon Babylon, and gave them to Seraiah. When he got to Babylon, he was to read the scroll out loud. He was told to tie a stone onto it and throw the scroll into the Euphrates River. Then Seraiah was to say that in the same way Babylon and her people would sink, never again to rise, because of the disasters God will bring upon her.

Just a tidbit-my grandmother sang and played a guitar some hymns on our local radio station when my Uncle Carl preached. (Many years ago my aunt married the preacher of our home church.) I have cousins and myself who sing in churches today. The Lord has blessed our family, I would say. 

LET IT GO

Keep the Lord Jesus on our mind throughout the day.

Honor Him in whatever way He leads.

Pray for our future generations to be saved and serve Jesus.