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timewithgod.blog-city.com — December 2009
Jeremiah 43-46 Ask Not For Whom The Bell Tolls
Jeremiah's words cause my heart to shiver with a terrible coldness just hearing the state into which these people had gotten themselves in their defiance of God. Here are God's own words: These people did not listen to the
Jeremiah's words cause my heart to shiver with a terrible coldness just hearing the state into which these people had gotten themselves in their defiance of God. Here are God's own words: These people did not listen to the Lord ...Why are you doing such great harm to yourselves? ... leaving yourselves without anyone ... Why do you want to make Me angry? ... You will destroy yourselves ... Even to this day You are still too proud. You have not LEARNED to RESPECT Me or to follow My TEACHINGS... I will not completely destroy you. I will punish you fairly; but I will not let you escape your punishment."
The words of the New Testament cry out here too: "God is not mocked." He will not let anyone continue in their sin - actively practicing it - without punishment. Contrary to what the world would say, He is not being a vengeful God, but a loving God. He knows what is best for us, and anything that separates us from Him cannot be part of His "best". These Israelites had heard God say clearly, "Don't go that way!" , but they did anyway - almost as if they wanted to prove to God that He was wrong and they knew better.
Father, I've been like that before. My wisdom WAS foolishness. I thank You for catching my ear and causing my heart to turn toward You. I pray earnestly that You will allow me to be a Jeremiah to someone whose attention You are desperately trying to get. That's a long, lonely, fruitless road, and no one should go where these Israelites were headed.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
The words of the New Testament cry out here too: "God is not mocked." He will not let anyone continue in their sin - actively practicing it - without punishment. Contrary to what the world would say, He is not being a vengeful God, but a loving God. He knows what is best for us, and anything that separates us from Him cannot be part of His "best". These Israelites had heard God say clearly, "Don't go that way!" , but they did anyway - almost as if they wanted to prove to God that He was wrong and they knew better.
Father, I've been like that before. My wisdom WAS foolishness. I thank You for catching my ear and causing my heart to turn toward You. I pray earnestly that You will allow me to be a Jeremiah to someone whose attention You are desperately trying to get. That's a long, lonely, fruitless road, and no one should go where these Israelites were headed.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Jeremiah 47-49 God Grieves When He Has To Punish
Jeremiah gives the bad news to the countries around Israel as well. They aren't going to come out of this unscathed either. Yes, Israel had practiced idolatry, but these other countries had done the same thing and deserved to b
Jeremiah gives the bad news to the countries around Israel as well. They aren't going to come out of this unscathed either. Yes, Israel had practiced idolatry, but these other countries had done the same thing and deserved to be punished as well.
I sensed a mood change occurring in this. Where Jeremiah started out sounding like the typical Israelite who's glad that God is getting after their enemies, his tone seems to change first to one of awe at the destruction God is pledging to bring about. Finally, it's God Himself speaking through Jeremiah, lamenting the utter destruction that' about to occur:
"I cry sadly for Moab ... I moan for the people ... I cry with the people ... Joy and happiness are gone ... My heart cries sadly for Moab."
God finds no joy in punishing us. It saddens Him to have to do that. What are some of the things that led to this?
Pride goeth before a fall.
Father, keep pride at bay in my life ... Don't let any sense of entitlement invade me. Keep me humble before You and keenly aware that, were it not for You, I'd be nothing and I'd have nothing.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
I sensed a mood change occurring in this. Where Jeremiah started out sounding like the typical Israelite who's glad that God is getting after their enemies, his tone seems to change first to one of awe at the destruction God is pledging to bring about. Finally, it's God Himself speaking through Jeremiah, lamenting the utter destruction that' about to occur:
"I cry sadly for Moab ... I moan for the people ... I cry with the people ... Joy and happiness are gone ... My heart cries sadly for Moab."
God finds no joy in punishing us. It saddens Him to have to do that. What are some of the things that led to this?
- n "You trust in the things you do and your WEALTH"
- n "The people of Moab thought they were greater than the Lord."
- n "They are proud, VERY proud and in their hearts they think they are important."
- n "I will bring you down from there..."
Pride goeth before a fall.
Father, keep pride at bay in my life ... Don't let any sense of entitlement invade me. Keep me humble before You and keenly aware that, were it not for You, I'd be nothing and I'd have nothing.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Jeremiah 50-52 -- A Conundrum For Christians??
Something kept catching my eye in 51:1. My commentary said that the Hebrew word Leb Kamai, translated in my Bible as "the Babylonian people", "is a code word meaning, ‘the heart [or midst] of those who rise against M
Something kept catching my eye in 51:1. My commentary said that the Hebrew word Leb Kamai, translated in my Bible as "the Babylonian people", "is a code word meaning, ‘the heart [or midst] of those who rise against Me.' " God is going to send a destroyer to the heart or midst of those who rise against Him. Given that "Babylon" has been used to describe Rome and even New York City, perhaps we should hear this as God's word against anyone who decides to rise up against Him. If so, these phrases would apply to us as sinners:
"Run away from the midst of those who rise against Me"
"Soon the heart of those who rise against Me will be an empty, dry desert. Because of the Lord's anger, no one will live there. It will be complete emptiness."
"In the heart of those who rise against Me I set a trap for you, and you were caught BEFORE you KNEW it. You fought against the Lord ..."
"Completely destroy the heart of those who rise against Me ..."
"He will not give rest to those living in the midst of those who rise against Me ..."
Back in 48:10, I'd read, "A curse will be on anyone who doesn't DO what the Lord says, and a curse will be on anyone who holds back his sword from killing." Then in 50:26-27, it says, "Come against Babylon from far away ... completely destroy Babylon and do NOT leave anyone alive. Kill all the young men of Babylon ..." In 50:35, the Lord says, "Let a sword kill the people living in Babylon and her officers and wise men! Let a sword kill her false prophets ... Let a sword kill her warriors ..." 51:9 says, "Foreigners in Babylon say, ‘We tried to heal Babylon, but she cannot be healed."
Remember, Babylon is now Iraq. That sure makes me wonder about how humane and civilized we've become in war. Perhaps our civility is causing more problems than it purports to solve. Perhaps the mentality of certain people groups is so built on revenge that only be decimating them will this mentality be broken. It's a very strange conundrum for Christians who are told to pray for and love their enemies.
Father, I don't want my heart to be the heart of those who rise against You. I want to be in complete obedience. Likewise, guide our nation and the other nations of this world to remain in complete obedience to You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
"Run away from the midst of those who rise against Me"
"Soon the heart of those who rise against Me will be an empty, dry desert. Because of the Lord's anger, no one will live there. It will be complete emptiness."
"In the heart of those who rise against Me I set a trap for you, and you were caught BEFORE you KNEW it. You fought against the Lord ..."
"Completely destroy the heart of those who rise against Me ..."
"He will not give rest to those living in the midst of those who rise against Me ..."
Back in 48:10, I'd read, "A curse will be on anyone who doesn't DO what the Lord says, and a curse will be on anyone who holds back his sword from killing." Then in 50:26-27, it says, "Come against Babylon from far away ... completely destroy Babylon and do NOT leave anyone alive. Kill all the young men of Babylon ..." In 50:35, the Lord says, "Let a sword kill the people living in Babylon and her officers and wise men! Let a sword kill her false prophets ... Let a sword kill her warriors ..." 51:9 says, "Foreigners in Babylon say, ‘We tried to heal Babylon, but she cannot be healed."
Remember, Babylon is now Iraq. That sure makes me wonder about how humane and civilized we've become in war. Perhaps our civility is causing more problems than it purports to solve. Perhaps the mentality of certain people groups is so built on revenge that only be decimating them will this mentality be broken. It's a very strange conundrum for Christians who are told to pray for and love their enemies.
Father, I don't want my heart to be the heart of those who rise against You. I want to be in complete obedience. Likewise, guide our nation and the other nations of this world to remain in complete obedience to You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
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