Sat.’s Devo - Precious Promises

Read: Jeremiah 33:1-34:22; 1 Timothy 4:1-16; Psalm 89:1-13; Proverbs 25:23-24 Jeremiah was still in prison when God told him to ask and He would tell him great secrets that were in the future. The people had torn down their houses to build ramparts against the enemy but it would all be in vain because God had declared the city would be destroyed. *** But the great secret God told Jeremiah was about the future. God would restore the fortunes of Judah and rebuild their towns. He would cleanse them of their sins and forgive their rebellion. This city would again bring him glory and honor. The world will see the peace and prosperity of Jerusalem and be in awe. *** Joy and laughter will be heard on the streets of Jerusalem and songs of praise as people bring their offerings to the Lord. They will be singing about God’s faithful love that endures forever because God did not forget them. *** God’s king, a descendant of David will always sit on the throne of Israel and there will always be Levitical priest to offer burnt offering and grain offering and sacrifices to him. He was speaking of Jesus who would be our king forever and we are the priests and our gifts are the sacrifices. (1 Peter 2:5,9; Revelation 1:6, 5:10) *** The people felt rejected by the Lord, but Jeremiah told them God would never reject Israel, but will one day restore them and have mercy on them. This was just not the time for that. *** King Nebuchadnezzar did come and fight against Jerusalem. Jeremiah told Zedekiah that they would lose and the city would fall to the Babylonians. They would burn it down with fire and take him to meet their king. Zedekiah would be taken to Babylon and he would die peacefully there. The people of Judah would mourn his death. *** Zedekiah proclaimed freedom for all slaves. He had done this before, but the people had enslaved them again. God reminded them through Jeremiah that he had rescued their ancestors from being slaves of Egypt. The law stated that if they had slaves, the slaves were to be released after serving six years. They had disobeyed God in this, so now they would be set free to be destroyed by war, disease, and famine. It didn’t matter how important they were in Jerusalem, since they broke their oath, they would die and their bodies be food for vultures. and wild animals. *** Babylon had left for a short time, but they would return and burn it down. *** In Timothy, Paul reminds them that the Holy Spirit told them in the last days, many would turn from the true faith and follow deceptive spirits and teachings that came from demons. These teachers would have no consciences and be hypocrites and liars. They would teach against marriage and ban certain foods. God created everything food and we can be free to eat what he has created. *** Paul warned Timothy not to get into arguments over godless ideas and old wives’ tales but instead to train himself to be godly. He encouraged Timothy not to be intimidated by those older than him but to let his life prove his position. He told him to focus on reading and teaching the Scriptures to the church. Also, to be sure he was living the Scriptures for the sake of his own salvation and that of those who sat under him. *** Lord, may we hide your Word in our hearts that we not sin against you. We look forward to the day when our fortunes are restored and we can be an example to the world of your love and faithfulness to your children.