Jeremiah 22

The palace of Judah’s king was magnificent, but the man who lived there was an idolater. This is the indictment the prophet declared:

“It will be very bad for King Jehoiakim. He is doing wrong so that he can build his palace. He is cheating people so that he can build rooms upstairs. He is not paying his own people. He is making them work for nothing. [Jer. 22:13 ERV]

The Lord cares about our business dealings. He wants us to be equitable and fair when we are building or doing something for ourselves. He actually watches what we do with every penny.

Jehoiakim’s unscrupulous greed cost him his palace.

Jeremiah 21

The king and inhabitants of Jerusalem had NO IDEA what was about to befall them. They thought it was business as usual .. until Jeremiah’s prophecy came to pass. Nebuchadnezzar’s army came and totally disrupted their lives as per the prophets prediction. They didn’t realize that God means what He says when He demands righteousness from His people.

He still does, but He sees CHRIST when He looks at us. The blood of Jesus atones (makes amends for) all our sins. We don’t have to fear.

THIS is why we must spread the Gospel. People don’t realize the costly consequence of their sinful lives They need the Lord.

Jeremiah 20

The prophet essentially had a hard life. He gave up popularity and ease by accepting God’s call upon his life. Yes, God vindicated him, but not without pain and anguish.

My sister chose to follow the Lord and teach her children to do so also. This was a different path than her first husband wanted to take. There was an inevitable change of course for both of them. It was tough rowing for her for quite awhile, but God brought her out to a better place. Her children are thriving, and she has grandchildren who are doing well. She paid a price, but now she’s a professional counselor who coaches others on how to navigate the hard life.

Jeremiah 19

This is a gruesome thought and picture, but reprobate Israel would even offer their children as human sacrifices in the Valley of Hinnom. [2 Chron. 28] It often seems that children pay the price for the sins of their parents. Laxity in raising children is rampant today, allowing them to be swallowed up in darkness through technology trends. The ultimate form of child sacrifice is probably abortion.

On the other hand, children can become offerings of righteousness that greatly please the Lord.

At church Sunday, I caught my 6 year old granddaughter singing one of the praise choruses. She knew the words. I was so blessed.

They asked Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying?” “Yes,” Jesus replied. “Haven’t you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, ‘You have taught children and infants to give you praise.’” [Matt. 21:16]

Jeremiah 18

Perfect pots, perfect lives with no pain or mistakes … this is NOT REALITY.

Are you a marred lump of clay? If so, there is hope WHEN you are in the hands of the Master Potter. That’s the key. Stay in His hands. Let Him break and mold you into what He wants. His goal for your life is eternal health and welfare.

Many years ago I was praying for one of my children when I read the passage, “Hath not the potter power over the clay?” It revolutionized my prayer and my faith for the future of that child. I’m glad to report that God has been faithful to that child.

Jeremiah 17

Guess who does NOT need to fear a recession? Guess who will be like a tree planted on a riverbank with roots going into the water? When heat comes, this tree will stay green and healthy even in a drought. It will NOT stop bearing fruit.

Who is like this tree? The one who has their confidence IN THE LORD. They trust God when all economic indicators are frightful. Their eye is on His Word and their hope is in His ability to provide for and direct them.

When riches increase, we are not to trust in them. When they are removed, we are not to fear a life without them. Consider the flowers of the field. They are not worried. They just keep blooming. [Matt. 6:25-34]

Jeremiah 16

Stubborn is an interesting word. It means being difficult to move, remove, or cure. It is an attitude that affects your daily life and relationships with those around you. Stubbornness is more easily noticed by others than yourself. Dogged determination is good if applied in the right direction. It’s problematic when it rides over the best interest of everyone around you.

My 97 year old father passed on January 25th. Whether he realized it or not, his nature was to be very stubborn. The positives were that he determinedly served the Lord and was uncompromising in his devotion. He was like Joshua who said, “As for me and my house, we WILL serve the Lord.” [Joshua 24:15] The negatives were .. well … let’s just say that you were in trouble if you left the fridge door open long enough for it to start beeping.

Jeremiah 15

The prophet made reference to, “Even if Moses and Samuel were standing before Me.” Obviously, these were two men of God that had “pull” with God.

The truth is, we don’t stand before God. Christ Jesus does in our place. His Holy Spirit travails through us when we pray in the Spirit.

The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. [Rom. 8:26, 27]

It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. [Rom. 8:34b]

Jeremiah 14

As made clear in His Word, God used both blessings and curses in the OT to reward or chastise His people. It was a less merciful approach.

In Christ, God blended both mercy and truth to achieve His purposes. He wants to draw all men unto Himself. Christ was sent to us that all men might have a chance to be saved. Only in Heaven will we be able to look back and see how gracious God was to us. He has custom designed a life for us with both blessings and adjustments that we might fully know Him and find our place in His Eternal Heaven.

I will never forget one day that God showed my son Mark His Power. Mark (about 10 years old) was caddying for my dad on a golf course. My dad chipped IN a shot from out in front of the green. As soon as the ball fell into the hole, Mark jumped up and down shouting, “I prayed that it would go IN.” God showed His power and blessing to my son that day. Mark went on to even spend time as a professional caddie on the famous Muirfield Golf Course in Dublin, Ohio, before becoming an equity analyst.