Thurs.’s Devo - Lamentations

Read: Lamentations 1:1-2:19; Philemon 1-25; Psalm 101:1-8; Proverbs 26:20

The Book of Lamentations was probably written by Jeremiah who was known for his lamentations over Jerusalem and Israel. The Israelites had become very entitled. They thought that since they were “God’s chosen people” nothing bad would happen to them. They obviously didn’t read his laws and especially the ones that cursed those who didn’t obey them. They had declined so deep into sin and idolatry and refused to hear the warnings of the prophets who begged them to repent and turn back to God. The Book of Lamentations was written during the time when Nebuchadnezzar was besieging Jerusalem and the people were starving. It contrasts the time of prosperity to this time of hopelessness and chaos. 

Jeremiah gives a gut-trenching description of the streets and what was going on. It is heart-breaking, but he reminds them that this is the day that God announced would happen and it is their fault. God has become their enemy and is fighting against them. It is very hard for Jeremiah to watch all this happen even though he told them it would.

Today we read Paul’s letter to Philemon. Philemon was a wealthy slave owner who became a Christian under Paul’s ministry. Philemon lived in Colosse and had a slave named Onesimus. He either damaged some of Philemon’s property or stole something from him and fled to Rome. In Rome, he met Paul and was converted to Christ. He was very useful to Paul and Paul came to love him as a brother. When he found out his story, he felt it was right to send Onesimus back home to face his owner. 

Paul urges Philemon to do the right thing and treat Onesimus as a fellow brother in the faith. He even says that he will pay any debt Onesimus owes him. Paul is confident that Philemon will do the right thing concerning Onesimus and tells him he will be coming to stay soon.  

Lord, may we treat one another in the body of Christ like our brother and sister. May we not live like the world and hold on to grudges like the world does. May we accept the grace that God has given to us and extend it to others. 

Wed.’s Devo - Jeremiah’s Book

Read: Jeremiah 51:54-52:34; Titus 3:1-15; Psalm 100:1-5; Proverbs 26:18-19

When the first group of exiles were taken to Babylon, Jeremiah wrote down a word in a book. He gave it to the quartermaster Seraiah and told him to read it when he got to Babylon. Then he was to tie a rock around the book and throw it into the midst of the Euphrates River. In the book he wrote the downfall of Babylon. All her building and her great wall would be burned with fire and Babylon would be leveled to the ground. Like his book, Babylon would sink to rise no more. 

Zedekiah was Judah’s last king. He came to power at the age of 21 and reigned 11 years. He rebelled against the Lord and the Lord cast him out of his presence. Then he rebelled against the king of Babylon and they came to besiege Jerusalem in his 9th year as king. After two years the wall was finally breached and Zedekiah and his men fled to Arubah. They were captured and brought to face the king of Babylon in Riblah where Zedekiah had to watch all his sons killed and then they took out his eyes. He was bound in chains and taken to Babylon. 

The army of Babylon entered into Jerusalem and carried the  rest of the people, 4,600 of them, away to Babylon leaving a small remnant of the poorest people to take care of the vineyards and the fields.

They took the bronze pillars of the Temple, and all the vessels of bronze. They took the gold and the silver and the basin used for the priest to wash.

After thirty-seven years of exile, Evil-merodach became the king of Baylon. He brought Jehoiachin out of prison and was very king to him. He gave him new clothes and had him dine with him at his table and even gave him an allowance for his daily needs until he died. 

Why would God show Jehoiachin such favor? These are my thoughts: Jehoiachin was only eight years old when he became king of Judah and only reigned 100 days. He was the last direct heir to the throne of Judah. I think God had compassion on him because he was too young to make decisions for himself and he was a direct descendant of David. He was probably around 48 years old when he was finally treated more like a king than a prisoner. God is a just God. 

In Titus, Paul reminds them to treat those in authority with respect. Paul told them to remember how they were before God saved them and have patience with those who have not been saved yet. They were to avoid controversial conversations that would end in arguments. They were to warn those who stirred up division and if they continued more than twice they were to have nothing to do with them. 

Paul was always looking after those who labored with him. He wants them to send Zenas and Apollos on their way but to make sure they have everything they needed. He desired the people to learn how to use their time and effort to do good works and things that bear fruit.

Lord, may we be wise investors in your kingdom. May we support those who are on the front lines with our resources and our prayers. Thank your for our own testimony of grace and mercy. May our lives matter in your kingdom.

Tues.’s Devo - Babylon Will Fall

Read: Jeremiah 51:1-53; Titus 2:1-15; Psalm 99:1-9; Proverbs 26:17

God said he would raise up a country to destroy Babylon. On the day of the Lord, the Medes would  come and attack. Nothing they did could stop what was coming. God is judging Babylon for what they did first to Israel and then what they did to the world. The Medes and the Persians were the silver chest and arms in the statute that Daniel saw in the second chapter of Daniel. It was time for the head,Babylon, to fall. 

The god of Babylon was Bel which is another name for Baal who required human sacrifices and all sorts of perversion. The bowls of sin had become full of the blood of innocent people and it was time for God to act. 

In Titus, he told the older men and women to be righteous examples for those younger than them. They were to train the men to have self control and the women to love and respect their husbands. Workers were to honor their bosses and honor Christ in all they do.

Paul was always reminding them of Christ’s return. He wanted them to keep in mind all Christ did for them and what he redeemed them out of. They are to be a pure and holy people for Christ, doing the works he did. 

Lord, may we keep in mind the same things. There is a reward for those who are faithful till the end. May we reap the reward of our self-control and obedience. 

Mon.’s Devo - God’s Judgment and Plan for Israel

Read: Jeremiah 49:23-50:46; Titus 1:1-16; Psalm 97:1-98:9; Proverbs 26:13-16

Damascus, the capital of Syria and Hamath the capital of Upper Syria along with the city of Arpad would be taken by the Babylonians. 

Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor would be struck down. Kedar were the descendants of Ishmael’s second son. They were nomadic Arabs who dwelt north-west of Arabia. They lived in tents made of black hair. There was a saying that to dwell in the tents of Kedar was to be cut off from the worship of the true God. These nomads were next on the chopping block and would be destroyed by the Babylonians. 

Elam was the land of Shem and lay east of Babylon for about 1,000 miles. Elam had invaded Babylon several times and ruled over Babylon. Susa was its capital. God said it would be scattered to every nation of the world and he would send the sword to follow them until they were consumed. God would set his throne in Elam and destroy their government. Remember in the book of Esther, the king ruled from the city of Susa. God said that in the last days, he would restore the fortunes of Elam.

Then, God tells Jeremiah to proclaim that Babylon would be taken by the Persians. Their gods Bel and Merodach will not be able to save them. At that time Israel and Judah will go together to Jerusalem and return to the Lord. They will renew their covenant with God and not break it. God tells them to flee Babylon because it would soon be taken. Her walls will be thrown down and God will take out his vengeance on her because of what they did to his people and because they defied the Lord. Babylon would become a place for wild animals to dwell. It would be overthrown like Sodom an Gomorrah. No one would dwell there or come to visit. 

Little is known about Titus. He was not mentioned in Acts even though he was a coworker of Paul.  He was an uncircumcised Greek who was highly esteemed by Paul. Paul had left Titus on the island of Crete to care for the new churches. His job was to elect elders in every town and follow Paul’s list of qualifications given in verses 6-9. 

He told him to silent those of the “circumcision party” who said you have to be circumcised to be saved. He was to rebuke them and tell them not to devote themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of the people who have turned away from the truth. Their minds and the consciences were defiled. They claimed to know God but did not live for him. They were detestable and disobedient. 

Lord, may we hold firm to sound doctrine taught in your Word. And, may we be able to give instruction in truth and rebuke those who contradict it. Thank you for your Word. It is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. 

Sun.’s Devo - Judgments and Rewards

 Read: Jeremiah 48:1-49:22; 2 Timothy 4:1-22; Psalm 95:1-96:13; Proverbs 26:9-12

Egypt was not the only nation being judged - Nebo and all of Moab would come under God’s hand. Destruction and war was coming to all the nations and many would die. Others would be taken into exile. Moab was being judged for the worship of Chemosh. In their pride and arrogance, they thought they were greater than God. They would no longer be a people. But, in the latter days, God will restore their fortunes

The Ammonites got a sentence also. They would be attacked and become a desolate mound. All of their villages would go down in fire. They had worshiped Milcom and offered their sons and daughters to burn for their god, but now they would burn. But, God would restore the fortunes of the Ammonites also.

God had a word for the Edomites. Teman was a town in Edom that was known for having very wise men, but God asked if they had all left. God mentions Bozra which was in the district of Petra. He compared the fall of the Edomites to the fall of Sodom and Gomorrah. Their inhabitants would also either be killed or taken into exile to Babylon. 

In Timothy, Paul urged Timothy to teach the truth and get it into their hearts because the day was coming when people would be deceived by myths and would find teachers to suit their own passions. They would all be judged by Jesus Christ who will judge the living and the dead when he appears with his kingdom. 

Paul knew his ministry was coming to an end and that he was at the end of his race. He urged Timothy to come see him soon and to be ready at all times to reprove, rebuke and exhort with the truth.

Lord, at the end of our time on earth, may we be able to say like Paul that we have kept the faith and finished our race. Paul knew his reward was waiting in heaven, not on earth. May we be heavenly minded and always looking for your returning. 

Sat.’s Devo - The Victory is the Lord’s

Read: Jeremiah 44:24-57:7; 2 Timothy 2:22-3:17; Psalm 94:1-23; Proverbs 26:6-8

Jeremiah told the people and especially the women who refused to stop making offerings to the queen of heaven: “Go ahead and worship your false gods because he will make sure you face the disaster you deserve.” They will be punished in the land of Egypt as a sign that what Jeremiah said was from God. God would give Pharaoh Hophra into the hands of the Babylonians. 

God told Baruch to write down that God was plucking up what he planted and breaking them down. They will see this with their own eyes. 

God spoke a word against Egypt and the army of Pharaoh Necho. When they faced Nebuchadnezzar while Jehoiakim was king of Judah, Egypt fled from him. It was a day of the Lord for them. God poured out his vengeance on them. He would also judge the people of Judah who continued to make offerings to their gods. 

Nebuchadnezzar would come and strike down Egypt and the people of Judah would wish they could return to their own land. Instead, they were to pack for exile. They would not be returning home, but to Babylon if they lived through the battle. 

God would punish the Pharaoh and Amon and deliver them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. But, in the end, Egypt would be inhabited like before. He would also bring his people back to their land where they would live in peace and prosperity. God would destroy all nations who were their enemies after he punished Judah for her sins. 

God gave a word against the Philistines saying that they would also face the day of the Lord’s vengeance. 

In Timothy, God warned them to stop quarreling over the things that were controversial. In the last days there would be times of difficulty. Men would become narcissistic and become proud lovers of money and power. They will love pleasure more than God and have the appearance of godliness but deny its power. Stay away from these people who try to deceive weak people who are isolated. These people are like the ones who came up against Moses and challenged his authority. They will not get far because they will be exposed. 

We who follow the teaching of the Bible are to have faith, patience, love and be steadfast in our trials. We should expect to be persecuted for our stand for Jesus Christ by evil people who are nothing but impostors. We are to remember that all scripture is inspired by God and profits us, reproves us, corrects us and trains us in righteousness that we might be complete and equipped to do the works of Christ.

Lord, may we endure the times we are living in as overcomes and victors, not as weak vessels who fear our enemy. Greater are You who is in us than the one in the world. May we fight the good fight with the power of the Holy Spirit in us to bring about victory. 

Fri.’s Devo - They Refused to Listen -

Read: Jeremiah 42:1-44:23; 2 Timothy 2:1-21; Psalm 92:1-93:5; Proverbs 26:3-5

How long will God put up with these people? This is the remnant who were left in their land. Gedaliah has been murdered along with the military presence of Babylon so their leaders were their own people. 

They came to Jeremiah asking him to beg for God’s mercy and tell them what they should do. They promised that they would do whatever the Lord said. After ten days, the word came to Jeremiah and he gave it to the people. If they would remain in the land, God would build them up and protect them against the king of Babylon. He would give them mercy but, if they disobey his voice and go to Egypt then the very thing they feared would come upon them. The king of Babylon would come and either take them captive or kill them. 

When Jeremiah finished speaking the insolent men told Jeremiah he was a liar and God did not tell him that they shouldn’t go to Egypt. They accused Jeremiah of being a traitor who wanted them to stay there and be killed by the king of Babylon. So they took everyone to Egypt including Jeremiah.

As soon as they got to Tahpanhes in Egypt God told Jeremiah to take some large stones and hide them in the mortar in the pavement by the entrance to Pharaoh’s palace and tell his people that He would send Nebuchadnezzar to set his throne above these stone he had hidden. He would come and destroy this city with its temples to its gods and take captive those who were destined to captivity and kill those destined to die. 

Later, Jeremiah received another word to the Judean’s living in Egypt. He reminded them of the destruction of Jerusalem and told them it was coming to their cities in Egypt. He told them to put away their false gods that they were serving and return to their God who could save them. They refused, saying that these were the gods they worshiped in Jerusalem when everything was going well for them and when they stopped serving them, everything went bad. Jeremiah explained that it was because they worshiped these false gods that everything went bad. 

They blamed God for their own sins. We see this in our lives. People blame God because they got sick or they are facing a bad circumstance when it was their own sins or an attack by the enemy that caused the problem, not God. No one wants to take responsibility for their own sins or put the blame on the devil. God is so merciful, all we have to do is repent and God will deliver us out of our troubles. 

In Timothy, Paul encouraged Timothy to entrust the truth to those who will faithfully spread it to others. Paul told Timothy that as God’s servants we are to be like good soldiers who are only interested in doing the will of our leader. And we are to be like an athlete who can only win if he obeys the rules of the contest. We are to be like the hard-working farmer who is entitled to eat the fruits of his labor.

Even though Paul was in chains, the word of God is not bound up. Even though we are restricted because of finances or family obligations, or our circumstances, God’s word is still alive and at work. When we release it through prayer and our devotion to God, it can move mountains. 

Lord, may we rightly handle your word and may our lives be examples of holiness as we honor You in everything we do.