Can you imagine the fear that gripped the inhabitants of Jerusalem when they beheld the massive Babylonian army as it approached the city to destroy it? King Zedekiah fled, only to be quickly caught, watch his sons be slaughtered, and have his eyes put out. Jeremiah had warned the people to relinquish to the Babylonians and they would be ok. Some fled to Egypt and likewise suffered devastation.

The only thing a Christian is to flee from is sin and evil. We face ALL ELSE.

Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation. Be of good cheer … I  have (already) overcome the world.” [Jn. 16:33]  – This is a life verse all Christians should have memorized!

READ: Jer. 39-42

When Jeremiah was dejectedly lowered into a cistern for punishment, he sank into deep mud and probably said, “I surely don’t deserve this.” He had been faithful to  obey the Lord, writing down the unpopular prophecy and boldly declaring its message to the ungodly leaders of his day.

God raised up a man named Ebedmelech, an Ethiopian eunuch in the king’s household, to speak up for Jeremiah and lift him out of his torture.

God will send someone to you when you’ve cried out and been obedient. God reaches out to us in our pain because we always have a Saviour Who is touched with the feeling of our infirmity.

READ: Jer. 36-38

Jeremiah recounts the story of how faithful the Rechabites were to the tenets their forefather had required of them … totally abstain from strong drink and maintain a nomadic lifestyle. He commended them for upholding their family tradition.

It’s sad to see so many walk away from the faith and standards their families have held, turning instead to destructive lifestyles and ways of thinking.

God wants to move in families to hold up Kingdom standards and values.

READ: Jer. 34, 35

The prophet Jeremiah spoke of a promise and agreement from God to His people after dragging them away to captivity in Babylon. He promised a new era of peace that would last forever, and it was to be accompanied by His Righteous Branch. This was to be none other than Christ Jesus Himself.

At the end of God’s trials comes blessing. If we persevere and trust God, He will bring us out to a much better place.

For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. [Prov. 30:5]

READ: Jer. 32-33

In that God allowed Israel to go into Babylonian captivity to punish them for their rebellion, He also had a plan to restore and heal them because He loved them with an everlasting love.

God’s refinement process must take its course. We are greatly comforted to know that His healing process so also will take its course. He’s committed to our health when we’re in Christ Jesus.

“I am the Lord that healeth thee.” [Ex. 15:26]

READ: Jer. 30, 31

One of the predominant themes of Jeremiah’s prophecy was surviving whatever bondage/challenge you find yourself in. Although God had prescriptively allowed His people to be taken into Babylonian captivity, He commanded them to pray for His prevailing peace in their plight. Then, He gave them one of the most hopeful promises in the Bible …

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.” [Jer. 29:11-14]

READ: Jer. 27-29

Jeremiah informed the leaders of Judah that if they killed him for prophesying against them, they would carry the burden of their guilt.

Guilt is a function of our spirit and cannot be erased by drugs, booze, ignoring, or disregarding. It can only be erased when its penalty is paid or its violation made right.

For instance, if you are a thief, “Let him whole stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needs.” [Eph. 4:28]

Confess your sin with your mouth and be forgiven by Christ. [1 Jn. 1:9]

READ: Jer. 24-26

Interesting question.

Through Jeremiah’s writings, God declared that He FILLS heaven and earth. His presence is EVERYWHERE. We cannot escape Him and should not try.

“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” [Pr. 15:3]

Combine that principal with the fact that “The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.” [Ps. 94:11] The Psalmist further declared, “If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.” [Ps. 139:8]

So, God’s infinite knowledge and power are aware of everything.

We are wise to please Him by making peace through the cleansing blood of Christ and staying clean before Him by continually confessing our sin and need of Him. Apart from Christ Jesus, we can do nothing right … but through Him, we can do all things (right.)

Praise His Holy Name!!!

READ: Jer. 23

God sent Jeremiah to the king of Judah to declare that his palace would become ruins if he didn’t forsake his evil ways and follow God’s commands. In all appearance, God places value on the heart and deeds of a man with little regard to the impressiveness of his house … or his car, or his golf clubs, or his bank account …

Obedience from pure hearts and holy lives should be our goal.

John, the apostle said, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children (students) walk in truth.” [3 John 1:4]

READ: Jer. 22

We are the clay and God is the potter. He used this analogy to teach Jeremiah about the process of human destiny and restoration.

Although the process may be painful, there is no vessel that God cannot redeem.

The writer of Romans poses, “Hath not the potter power over the clay?” [Rom. 9:21]

This is a great motivation to pray for the lives of loved ones, asking the Potter to exercise His power over that marred vessel, that lump of clay. I KNOW He can do it.

READ: Jer. 18-21