Tues.’s Devo - Impending Judgment

Read: Jeremiah 14:11-16:15; 1 Thessalonians 2:9-3:13; Psalm 80:1-19; Proverbs 25:1-5 God told Jeremiah to stop praying for the people because He wouldn’t hear those prayers. He was not accepting any of their heartless worship or offerings. *** Jeremiah told the Lord that the people’s false prophets were telling them that everything was going to be fine. They would not get the war and famine that Jeremiah told them was coming. God responded that their prophets lied and He did not send them. They would be punished and they would die by the war and famine. The ones who believed their prophecies would be victims of the famine and war also. *** God told Jeremiah to prophecy as if it had already happened. He was to tell them that he saw bodies slaughtered by the enemy and dead in the streets by starvation. Yet, the prophets and priests would continue to do their thing, aimlessly. *** Jeremiah pleaded with the Lord to repent his judgment but God was not to be moved. He had destined some to death, some to war, some to famine and some to captivity. *** Because of the wicked things Manasseh did, God would send the sword to kill, the dogs to drag away, the vultures to devour, and the wild animals to finish up what was left. God was tired of giving them second chances because they refused to change. He would take first the children, then the fathers and last the mothers. Those who were left would be given over to the enemy. *** Jeremiah complained to the Lord on his own behalf. He had done nothing harmful to the people and yet they cursed him. God promised to take care of them. One day, their enemies would be asking him to intercede for them. *** Jeremiah came to the Lord again and asked him to step in and help him against his persecutors. *** God told Jeremiah to return to him and he would restore him so he could continue to serve him. He told Jeremiah that he must influence them not vice versa. Though they attack him, God would make him strong and they would not conquer him. God would protect and rescue him. God also told him not to marry yet because so many would die. He was not to mourn their death or show any sadness. He was not to go to their feasts and parties or participate in their lifestyle. When the people ask him why God has decreed such horrible things for them he was to tell them it was because their ancestors sinned against him and then they did even worse. A remnant of them would survive and be taken to a land in the north but He would bring them back to the land one day. *** You can feel the joy that Paul writes his letter to the Church at Philippi. Paul had labored to train them to live their lives in a way that was worthy of God and after much persecution from their own countrymen, they had endured and continued in their faith, growing more and more in the knowledge of Christ. Paul was so elated to hear this good news. *** Paul had wanted to go and visit them but things prevented him, so he finally sent Timothy to encourage them and strengthen them for the troubles that were coming up ahead. Timothy came back with news of their faith and love for God and one another. This made Paul very encouraged and thankful. *** Lord we pray with Paul that our love for one another and all people would grow and overflow just as our love for You overflows. May our hearts be strong, blameless, and holy as we stand before You, our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people.