Tues.’s Devo - The Pain of Suffering

Read: Lamentations 4:1-4:22; Hebrews 2:1-18; Psalm 103:1-22; Proverbs 26:23 Jeremiah’s 4th poem has to do with the devastation his people are going through because of their sins. *** Their precious children are being treated like common property. They were starving and no one was there to help them. The once rich are begging for food and clothes. Their bodies once healthy are skinny and weak. Tenderhearted women cooked and ate their own children. How horrible! *** No one believed that Jerusalem would be taken. Yet, it happened because of their sins and the sins of their priests who shed innocent blood. The priests were so defiled that their own people threw them out of their city. They ran to other nations but they didn’t want them either. The people no longer respect their leaders or their priests. They were exposed and now could not walk the streets. *** Judah had thought their allies like Egypt would come and help them but no one came. If they fled to the mountains, they were hunted down. If they hid in the wilderness, they were waiting for them. They had trusted that their king would save them but he was taken also. *** Edom rejoiced when they heard that Jerusalem was besieged but they would not laugh long. Their sins would also be exposed and God would punish them. *** The last poem was a detailed description of the suffering of Jerusalem. The women and young girls were being raped. The princes were hung by their thumbs. The old and younger men were made slaves to do hard labor. Violence was in the streets and famine was everywhere. In the midst of his tears, Jeremiah proclaims that God remains the same forever and his throne continues from generation to generation. He prays for their joy to be restored and for God to remember them. *** In Hebrews, the writer tells us that even the angels who violated God’s laws and followed Lucifer were punished. If they were punished for what they did, so will man be punished for his sins. *** God exalted mere mortals who were made a little lower than angels. He crowned man with glory and honor and gave them authority over all things. This happened through Jesus and his death. Jesus died and went to his glory but he brought others with him. Jesus makes us holy and leads us to his Father so he can be our father too. *** Jesus became flesh and blood so that he could break the power of the devil and his power over death. Jesus did this by dying for us. Jesus had to be made like us with all the weaknesses of a human being so he could become our merciful and faithful High Priest. He went through suffering and testing so he could have mercy and compassion on our suffering and testing. *** Lord, thank you for your wonderful plan of salvation through your son. Thank you, Jesus for suffering and dying for us. Thank you Holy Spirit for leading us into all truth and being in us to help us in all our ways.

Mon.’s Devo - Prophecy Endures

Read: Lamentations 3:1-66; Hebrews 1:1-14; Psalm 102; 1-28; Proverbs 26:21-22 This is Jeremiah’s third poem about God’s severity and yet his mercy. Jeremiah had seen all of this happen before it happened and then had to see it again in real time. Nothing he did could stop what God was bringing against Israel and Judah. His people had made fun of all his prophecies and laughed and mocked him. They had refused to repent and now he was being punished for their lack of responding to his words from God. It was a bitter pill to swallow. *** In spite of all of this, Jeremiah still dares to hope in the faithful love of the Lord that never ceases. He declares that God’s mercies never come to an end but are new every morning. He knows that God never abandons a people forever. He brings grief but also shows compassion. God sees everything that happens on the earth. He punishes and disciplines but he doesn’t enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow. He allows pain for a season to get a positive response so he can turn and bless his people. *** Jeremiah felt the discipline of the Lord on his people and felt the fear of being trapped and ruined by their enemies. Jeremiah’s heart was broken over the fate of the women of Jerusalem. Jeremiah himself was rescued from the cistern which was to take his life. His own people tried to kill him as well as their enemies. He asked the Lord to avenge him and pay them back for the all the evil they had done. *** Hebrews tells us that God spoke in the Old Testament through his prophets but now, he speaks to us through Jesus. Jesus is the fulfillment of what the prophets foretold. Jesus is the very character or God, His expression on the earth. Jesus is far greater than all the angels just as God’s name is greater than any name. Angels are flames of God’s fire but Jesus is his son. *** God rules with justice. He made the heavens and the earth which lives and dies, but one day it will be changed and made different. *** Hebrews tells us that the angels are servants sent to minister to us that will inherit eternal salvation. How comforting is that! *** Lord, thank you for your love for us in the midst of turmoil. Thank you that your mercies triumph over your judgment. We plead for your mercies in our land and the nations of the world. Bring change that changes hearts.

Sun.’s Devo - Jeremiah’s Lamentations

Read: Lamentations 1:1-2:22; Philemon 1:1-25; Psalm 101:1-8; Proverbs 26:20 Lamentations consists of 5 poems of lament probably written by Jeremiah. He had spent most of his life warning the people to return to the Lord and get rid of their false idols and yet they had refused to listen. When God’s judgement did come, he wrote about it making sure the people understood the days they were walking through. *** In the first poem which is the first chapter of Lamentations he expressed their defeat. He fills the humiliation of Jerusalem which now lies empty after most of the people had been taken to Babylon. No nations are coming to her aid and no one seems to care. She had brought it on herself because of her immorality. *** The people left in the city scrounged for food and had sold everything of worth just to stay alive. This had all been the Lord’s doing. He had sent the army to defeat them and was justified in what he did. Those who saw what happened to them were happy to see it. *** In the second poem which is in Chapter Two describes God’s destruction and Jeremiah’s reaction. He describes Jerusalem which lies in the dust. Even the Temple was ransacked and destroyed. The priests and kings were all gone and there would be no more celebrating the holy festivals and Sabbaths. *** The walls were torn down and its ramparts and gates and locks smashed. Their kings and prices were gone to Babylon with no law left to rule the people. The people left walked around in shame and humiliation. Jeremiah had cried many tears in despair and agony. He wept over the babies and little children crying for food and milk when there was none. *** Jeremiah reminded them of what their false prophets foretold. They had promised them false pictures that gave them false hope. He explained to them that they invited this to happen because they refused to repent. *** Philemon had been a wealthy slave owner who had converted to Christ. Philemon lived in Colosse and the church met in his home. He had had a slave named Onesimus who had stolen from him and ended up in Rome where he met Paul and was saved. *** The reason for this letter was to acknowledge the good things Philemon had done and to tell him the good news of Onesimus’s salvation. He had become a great help to Paul and was offering to pay from his own expenses anything Onesimus had cost Philemon. He sent this letter by the hands of Onesimus. *** This book attests to God’s great forgiveness and grace and the power of salvation that totally makes a new creature out of a sinner. *** Lord, may we embrace new Christians as new creatures in Christ instead of who they used to be. May we remember what you did for us and have great grace for others. May we grieve with those who are under the judgment of God and seeing such destruction happen in their land. May we grieve over what is happening in our own nation and seek your forgiveness and grace.

Sat.’s Devo - Jeremiah’s Last Words

Read: Jeremiah 51:54-52:34; Titus 3:1-15; Psalm 100:1-5; Proverbs 26:18-19 Jeremiah is taken forward to the time when Babylon is being destroyed. Babylon is alive and well in America and she is loud. She has taken every mountain of society: government, education, finance and business, entertainment, medicine, family and religion. The Lord who gives just punishment will repay her for all the chaos and deception she has dealt out. *** Babylon’s kingdom was in the process of being leveled to the ground. Jeremiah wrote this all down and sent it with the staff officer of Babylon when they came and took Zedekiah to Babylon. He told the staff officer when he got to Babylon he was to read aloud everything he had written on the scroll. It said that Babylon would be destroyed completely. When he finished reading it, he was to tie the scroll to a rock and throw it into the Euphrates River and say, “In the same manner Babylon and her people will sink, never to rise, because of the disasters I will bring upon her.” ***Chapter 52 is the story of everything Jeremiah had prophesied for years. Zedekiah had rebelled against Babylon and stopped paying them tribute in the ninth year of his reign. Babylon came to Jerusalem and built siege ramps and besieged her for two years. When they finally broke through the walls, Zedekiah tried to escape but was caught by the Babylonians. He was taken to the king and tried. They killed his sons and all his officials, then gouged out his eyes and took him to Babylon. *** The Babylonians tore down the walls of Jerusalem and took everyone except the poorest of the people which were allowed to stay and care for the land. They took anything of worth from the Temple and the city. All of the city officials and army officials were taken to Babylon and put to death. They took 3,023 people captive in the 7th year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, 832 more in the 18th year and 745 more in his 23rd year. In the 37th year of Jehoiachin’s exile, Evil-meredach became the king of Babylon. He was kind to Jehoiachin and released him from prison. He gave him the higher place of honor than all of his other exiled kings. He gave him new clothes and allowed him to dine in the king’s presence for the rest of his life. *** In Titus, Paul tells them to submit to their leaders and do what is good. Don’t slander, quarrel, or waste their time on useless discussions that cause division. Instead, remember where they came from and what they were like before they knew Christ. They are not the same person now. Now they should pursue kindness with humility and unity with love for one another. *** Lord, thank you for your Word that stands forever as the truth. We watch in eager expectation of the fall of Babylon in our day. Thank you for the powerful army that you have. May your kingdom come to earth as it is in heaven.

Fri.’s Devo - Babylon’s Takeover

Read: Jeremiah 51:1-53; Titus 2:1-15; Psalm 99:1-9; Provers 26:17 God gave this message to Jeremiah six years before the capture of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. It was written on a scroll and tomorrow we will read how he gave this written prophecy to a man named Seriah to take to Nebuchadnezzar and read to him when he took captives back to Babylon. *** Written on the scroll was their fate. Babylon would be destroyed. They would hear rumors of Cyrus preparing for war in the first year. The next year they would hear that Cyrus was closer and entering Assyria. They would be taken the third year. *** It would be a total takeover. Babylon would be winnowed like wheat and their army completely destroyed. In the midst of the prophecy, God talks to his people Israel and Judah. He tells them that he is still their God and when they hear of war it is time to flee Babylon and avoid being trapped in her punishment. *** God had determined Babylons destruction. This is his vengeance against those who desecrated his Temple. God would repay Babylon for all the wrongs they did to his people in Jerusalem. Babylon had been the power of the earth, but God was making it clear that He was the power of the earth. He would send the Medes to be like locusts that destroyed everything in sight. All of their escape routes would be stopped. *** The walls of Babylon were 80 feet wide and 60 feet long and 200 cubits high. Babylon was shaped in the shape of a square with 25 gates on each side. There were 250 towers, 100 on each side and yet in a single night Babylon fell. The Persian army drained the water and came under the gates while the leaders of Babylon were feasting and getting drunk. It was a surprise attack and the city was taken in a night. (Remember Belshassar and the writing on the wall? It was that night that Babylon was taken.) *** Babylon would be taken and her god, Baal would be punished. All her idols would be destroyed. *** Paul instructs the older men to have self-control and life respectfully and wisely. They are to be full of love and patience. The older women are to honor God in how they live and communicate with others. They are to be examples of how to love their husbands and raise their children to be wise and pure. The young men are to be examples to others by the good works they do. They were to be men of integrity and truth. The slaves or workers should obey their masters and do their best work for them. *** We are to be examples to the world of God’s kingdom and how it is suppose to operate with truth and righteousness. Our godly living should entice the world to want what we have. *** Lord, may we be examples in this crazy mixed up world of what your Kingdom should look like and how it should run. Help us to love one another and join together as one unit in the body of Christ.

Thurs.’s Devo - Babylon is Fallen

Read: Jeremiah 49:23-50:46; Titus 1:1-16; Psalm 97:1-98:9; Proverbs 26:13-16 Jeremiah picked up his roll call on the ones on God’s list of destruction. Damascus was next. They fainted in fear just hearing what was coming. They were defeated before the battle began. They were killed and their walls burned down by the enemy. *** Next was Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor. These people were descendants of Ishmael who lived in black-haired tents which symbolized their total separation from God. Kedar means “darkness”. Hazor would be destroyed forever. *** Elam was next on the list. It would be shattered by God via Babylon. But God would restore Elam one day. *** Now it is time to turn on the one God used to destroy the other nations and destroy it. This is Babylon. Babylon means “confusion”. God would use the Cyrus to do this in 538 B.C. *** Jeremiah was to tell the whole world that Babylon was going to fall. The most powerful nation on the earth would one day be a wasteland. It was unfathomable. God’s people would return to their homeland weeping and seeking the Lord. They will bind themselves to the Lord with an eternal covenant that will never be forgotten. *** God unleashes his army against Babylon to completely destroy her and leave nothing standing. What she had done to others would be done to her. Her wise counselors would become fool, her mightiest warriors would be seized with panic. Her allies from other lands would become like women in fear. All her treasures would be plundered and her water supply would be dried up. Their ability to access the dark powers would be dried up. *** God would chase the Babylonians from their land and appoint His leader who is like Him. This was Cyrus. *** Paul came with a new message the people had never heard. This message was that all the people of the earth was offered salvation through Christ Jesus. *** Paul wrote this letter to Titus who he had left on the island of Crete to complete the work that Paul started. They were to elect elders to watch over the people and Paul gave him the qualifications of the elders. Along with a list of qualities he summed them up with he must love what is good and live wisely and be just in his dealings. He must live a disciplined life himself and be the same at home as he is in the church. *** He warned Titus against people who taught religion and laws to get to God. They led to believing in myths and other lies. Their lives would testify to their hearts; they would know them by their fruits. *** Lord, may our fruits testify to our faith in you. Let your glory shine on the earth through your true people who love you with their whole hearts.

Wed.’s Devo - To Moab, Ammon and Edom

Read: Jeremiah 48:1-49:22; 2 Timothy 4:1-22; Psalm 95:1-96:13; Proverbs 26:9-12 God gave Jeremiah a word for Moab, Ammon and Edom. Moab and Ammon had been the descendants of Lot but Edom was the descendant of Esau, son of Isaac. Judgement was coming to all three because they worshiped idols and rebelled against the Lord but Moab and Ammon would survive and one day be restored. Edom would be destroyed forever and not be rebuilt. History has proven this to be totally true. *** The Moabites worshiped Chemosh the fish-god who was the destroyer and subduer. On the Moabite stone they gave credit to Chemosh for helping them defeat the Israelites. Solomon brought this god to Jerusalem but Josiah got rid of it during his reign. They had boasted against the Lord, so terror, traps and snares would be their lot. One day their fortunes would be restored. *** The Ammonites worshiped Molech which was the child sacrifice god. It had the head of a calf and body of a man. The infants were put in its fiery hands as a sacrifice. They had refused to let the Israelites pass through their land in the Exodus and had with the Moabites hired Balaam to curse the Israelites. They along with the Moabites were told that they could not enter into the Temple of the Lord up to the tenth generation (Ex. 23:4). *** Jeremiah said that the Ammonites trusted in their wealth and thought no one could ever harm them, but terror would come upon them and they would be chased from their land with no one to help their exiles as they fled. God would one day restore their fortunes. *** The Edomites had refused permission to the Israelites when they asked to pass through their land (Num 20:14-21) and always were hostile to Israel. They were conquered by David and Amaziah but they regained their independence later. They helped Nebuchadnezzar capture Jerusalem but fell under the power of the Chaldeans. Today they have totally disappeared and their language has been lost attesting to the power of God’s word through his prophets. *** Jeremiah said of the Edomites that they had been deceived by the fear they inspired in others and by their own pride. Though they were powerful and had great influence they would be brought down and destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah. *** In the New Testament, we read of Paul’s boldness. He told Timothy to preach the word of God whether the time was favorable or not. He was to correct, rebuke and encourage the people with right teaching. Because the time was coming when they wouldn’t want to hear sound teaching but teaching that made them feel good. They would reject truth and follow myths. Paul knew what he was talking about because he had experienced this false teacher in Alexander who fought against everything he said. Paul had stood alone in preaching the truth and God rescued him and delivered them from every evil attack. *** Paul told Timothy to work for the crown of righteousness that the Lord will give when he returns. *** Lord, may we not shrink back in fear in our day of testing. Thank you that you never leave or forsake us but you are our defense and strong tower.