Memory Verses

But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. Jeremiah 7:23

17 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for cunning women, that they may come: 18 And let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters. Jeremiah 9:17-18

But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. Jeremiah 10:10

O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing. Jeremiah 10:24

Key people

Here is a list of key people found in today’s reading (in order of appearance) with bios from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Jeremiah. Also called the “weeping prophet”. One of the major prophets of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. According to Jewish tradition, Jeremiah authored the Book of Jeremiah, the Books of Kings and the Book of Lamentations, with the assistance and under the editorship of Baruch ben Neriah, his scribe and disciple.

Today’s Devotional Reading: Jeremiah 7 – 10

Jeremiah 7 Amplified Version (AMP)
Jeremiah 8 Amplified Version (AMP)
Jeremiah 9 Amplified Version (AMP)
Jeremiah 10 Amplified Version (AMP)

Reflection

JEREMIAH 9:23-24

23 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

God is merciful. This simple fact tempts some to take His grace for granted. For we know that God places our sins into the sea of forgetfulness – when we ask for forgiveness. But not everyone repents of wrongdoing.  Understand that forgiveness is contingent upon true repentance. We can not willfully, continuously ignore God’s ordained process and think that we will escape judgement.

Many precedents have been set in response to disobedience from the children of Israel. Although they are God’s chosen people, they were not exempt from judgement. On the contrary. God often used their behavior as an example to teach others what to do – or what not to do, according to the action. In the above cross section of scripture, we hear God saying to His precious people that He gave them both warnings and opportunities to repent, yet they would not. Therefore, they have to face the consequences.

What evils the children of Israel committed have so thwarted the grace of God toward them, that He asks the prophet Jeremiah to cease from making intercession on their behalf.

“Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee.” Jeremiah 7:16 KJV

You may have heard it said that, “…obedience is better than sacrifice.” This means that more than our giving God things, or making sacrifices to Him, He would rather we simply obey Him. Our show of obedience is an ultimate act of love toward God – who loved us so immensely that He spared not even His only son for us. In the 7th chapter of Jeremiah, God rejects even the sacrifices of the children of Israel. He also tells them why.

“21 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh. 22 For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: 23 But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. 24 But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. 25 Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them: 26 Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers.” Jeremiah 7:21-26 KJV

Have you ever heard someone say that they want someone, “who can get a prayer through,” to pray for them? Wouldn’t you think that the children of Israel could get a prayer through? They could when they were not praying to idol gods and worshiping them. Now at this time when they have need of anything, they are mocked of God rather than helped. When they prayed to the idols who could neither do evil nor good, they had no response from them at all. God heard them, but would not answer. They could always get a prayer through – but God would not harken to them because of their disobedience. This is a good point to drive for learning to pray for yourself. We do not always know the condition of another’s heart when we ask them to pray.

Surely God was ready to forgive the children of Israel. The problem was that they did not ask.  They would not repent.

“I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.” Jeremiah 8:6 KJV

References

« The Amplified Bible
« The King James Bible

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Image Source: 365 Seeds of Promise by Shenica Graham.

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