Lam. 2

David Wilkerson once said, “If God lets New York City escape judgement, He will have to issue an apology to Sodom and Gomorrah.” Her new mayor may bring her closer to an unkind fate than anything heretofore. (My opinion)

Jerusalem was devastated by Babylon. The “Joy of the whole earth” suffered total humiliation. Sin and rebellion yield painful consequences EVENTUALLY.

Thankfully, the Blood of Christ can cleanse ALL SIN.

[Listen to Charity Gayle sing ” The Blood Applied.”] She’s my favorite singer right now.

Lamentations 1

For all of her many years of resisting God’s warnings, Jerusalem kept sinning. The accumulation of penalty came crushing down upon her king and inhabitants when the army of Babylon devastated the city and its inhabitants. All the kings sons were murdered before his eyes, then his eyes put out. THAT is pure grief.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. [Rom. 6:23]

Jer. 48

Moab was defiant to God. Therefore He destroyed them. It is open resistance and bold disobedience. These flaws should not be tolerated in God’s Kingdom, especially the Christian family.

I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. [Ps. 40:8]

Jer. 45+

The Psalmist said, “Let my prayer be set before Thee as incense.”

The Hebrew women were offering incense to idols. This infuriated the Lord.

He wants our prauers to continually be offered to Him alone.

Jer. 42, 43

The remnant of Judah inquired of Jeremiah to ask the Lord what they should do for fear of the Babylonian king and army. He complied. In ten days, God answered, “Stay in Judah and you will live.” However, the Jews disregarded God’s instructions and fled to Egypt. There, sadly, Nebuchadnezar’s army destroyed them and much of Egypt.

The moral; obey God and live. (Even if it is contrary to your human inclinations)

Jer. 40-42

It is so disheartening to consider how cruel and murderous men can be to each other. Evil men start wars which slaughter millions of young fathers and mother’s sons. For what? Power. Authority. Someone else’s land. Bragging rights. Someone else’s treasure and money. It’s RIDICULOUS!

When Christ Jesus sets up His earthly kingdom, the lion will lay down with the lamb, and “He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” [Is. 2:4]

Jer. 38

Jeremiah told the king – “Stay here and die … or go into exile and you will live.” Jesus said, “Live for YOURSELF and you will die. Die to yourself and you will LIVE.”

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. [Jn. 12:24]

Jer. 38

My health-conscious son wears me out when he sees me eat bread. He says it’s bad for me.

Jeremiah was given one loaf of bread a day when he was imprisoned. He lived on it. I guess … not too bad to live on. Jesus said, pray this … “Give us this day our daily BREAD.”

My daughter, Julie, bakes my favorite bread. Sourdough.

Jer. 36,37

Jeremiah had Baruch write down his messages from the Lord on a scroll. They were read in the Temple, but were torn up and burned by the king when he heard them.

The prophet pronounced an untimely death and fate upon the resistant king and the demise of his family.

Let’s be hearers AND DOERS of God’s Word.

Jer. 35

The Rekabite clan refused to drink wine because their forefather, Jehonadab, commanded that they abstain. Jeremiah tried to tempt them, but they honorably held fast to their family’s tradition. Because of their obedience, God declared that they would always have members who would serve the Lord.

Family obedience and Godly traditions are rewarded.