Tues.’s Devo - Obedience Vs. Rebellion

Read: Jeremiah 35:1-36:32; 1 Timothy 5:1-25; Psalm 89:14-37; Proverbs 25:25-27

God told Jeremiah to invite some Rechabites into the house of the Lord into a private section of the temple. There, he was to offer them a pitcher of wine and offer them to drink it. No one would ever see them drink it. But, they refused because their father had commanded them not to drink wine, build a house, or sow a garden or plant a vineyard because they were to be sojourners all of their generations. They had all obeyed his words and would continue to forever. The only reason they were living in Jerusalem was because of the threats of war from the Chaldeans and the Syrians. 

God told Jeremiah to share this story with the people and tell them that the Rechabites listened to the commandments of their father and obeyed them, but they refused to listen or obey the words of their heavenly Father. Because of this, God would bring upon them all the disaster that he had warned them of. God promised to bless the Rechabites and said they would always have a man that stands before him. 

In Jehoiakim’s fourth year of reigning, he banned Jeremiah from going to the Temple. God gave Jeremiah a word to give so Jeremiah dictated it to Baruch the scribe and he wrote it in a scroll. Then he ordered Baruch to go a give it on the day of Atonement when all the people were fasting and seeking the Lord for the welfare of the next year. So, that next year on the Day of Atonement, Baruch gave the word from the chamber of the Levites. Certain Levites were so concerned about its content that they took the scroll to the leaders of Jerusalem. When they heard it they were afraid and wanted it taken to the king and read to him. They told Baruch and Jeremiah to hide so they could not be found.

They took the scroll to King Jehoiakim and read it to him in his chamber. Every time he had read a few columns, the king would take his knife and cut it out of the scroll and throw it into the fire. He did this untill the whole scroll was destroyed. He commanded them to seize Jeremiah and Baruch, but they could not be found. 

Then the Lord told Jeremiah to rewrite everything he had written the first time and add that because Jehoiakim had burned the first one the king of Babylon would certainly destroy the land and he would have no successors to rule. All the things he prophesied against them would come to pass. He then sent the new scroll to the king.

In Timothy, Paul gave him instructions concerning how to treat others. He was to encourage and not rebuke. Widows were to be honored and taken care of, first by their own family. 

They were to enroll widows in their welfare program who were over 60 and had proved that they honored the Lord in taking care of others during their prime. Younger widows were not to be in the program and should be encouraged to marry and have children. 

The men who had served faithfully as elders were worthy of honor, especially those who preached and taught God’s word. If someone had a charge against an elder, he must have another witness to be heard. Those who persist in sinning must be rebuked in public to put the fear of God in the rest of them. Timothy must not prejudge or have favorites. He must be discerning about who he lays his hands on and he must not take part in sin but keep himself pure. Hidden sins will be revealed at some time and good works done in secret will be revealed also. Which ones do we want the world to know of?

Lord, may we not hide sin but confess it and get rid of it. But, may we do works of righteousness that in the end, your name will be glorified. Remind us that we do not live for ourselves, but for your glory and your kingdom.