Sun.’s Devo - God’s Judgment

Read: Jeremiah 44:24-47:7; 2 Timothy 2:22-3:17; Psalm 94:1-23; Provers 26:6-8 Jeremiah addressed the exiles in Egypt and told them that since they had decided they would not stop worshipping the Queen of Heaven then they would no longer be allowed to speak God’s name and swear “As surely as Adonay (Hebrew for God) lives. Taking the Lord’s name in vain would stop because God was going to bring disaster on them and most of them would die of war or famine. Only a small number would escape to come back. Then they will know whose word would stand theirs or God’s. God would give Pharaoh-hophra king of Egypt into the hands of his enemy, Nebuchadnezzar. They would watch Egypt fall just as they had seen Jerusalem fall. Jeremiah gave a word to Baruch, his scribe that had been overwhelmed with all he had had to endure. He had sought great things for himself and he wouldn’t see them but, he would not die. God would give him his life. God gave Jeremiah a message to Egypt when Jehoiakim was reigning. Egypt was marching out to meet King Nebuchadnezzar at the Euphrates River. Egypt was proud and strong and thought no one would conquer them. Their army would spread over the region south of Euphrates; but it, like the Nile, would retreat as fast as it advanced. The Lord of Heavens’s Armies would come out and fight Egypt. God would use the Babylonians as his earthly army and fight with them. The Babylonians had spent thirteen years in the siege of Tyre, and had not broken through so God would give them Egypt for his reward in humbling Tyre (Ezekiel 29:17-20; 30:1-31:18). Then God would use the Babylonians to conquer the Philistines also. In Second Timothy Paul warns Timothy to run from anything that entices him to sin. Instead, he must pursue righteousness, life, faith, love and peace. He should seek fellowship with other believers. Over and over Paul tells Timothy not to argue doctrine or opinion with people but instead, choose to love them and gently instruct those who oppose the truth. He told him to avoid people who were only interested in themselves and their money. They are only interested in what they can control, not in submitting to God and letting God control their lives. They want no part of persecution or doing without. Paul’s life was full of persecution and troubles but he explained, if you want to live a godly life it will be full of persecution and trials. Paul encouraged Timothy to stay true to the Scriptures because they inspire us and teach us what is true. They cause us to realize our sins and correct us and teach us what is right. The Word equips us to do every good work. Lord, may your Word do its perfect work in us.