Dear
God, we are so incredibly in need of your power and your strength. We ask that
you would fill us with your Spirit of love and unity among believers all around
our world. We ask for your help to set aside our differences and look to the
greater cause, the cause of Christ. Please help us to truly live out a life of
love. We know that this is only possible through the power of your Spirit, so
we ask that you would move across our land in miraculous ways, with fresh
filling and awareness, turning your people back to you, drawing others to come
to know you.
We need your unity and your love to stir our hearts and give direction to our days. We need your wisdom to guide us, we need your Spirit to lead us, to live out godly lives that would bring honor first to you. We thank you that you are always with us; and give us great purpose and hope. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
2024-Heart
Dive 365 - 365 Days through the Bible
in one year with Kanoe Gibson
An
enriching journey through the Bible, meticulously
studying each chapter and unraveling its
profound wisdom. Extensive notes, insights,
and reflections for every chapter.
2024
Reading Plan, Heart Dive 365 with Kanoe
Gibson. PDF
link
Isaiah
64 continues the future prayer for mercy
and pardon from the exiles prophesied by
Isaiah. A desperate cry for mercy is lifted
up to heaven, asking the Lord to intervene
on their behalf as He did when He delivered
them out of Egypt. Humility and regret appear
as they realize they are drenched in their
sinful nature and have neglected and angered
the Lord. Who are they that the Lord would
even answer their prayer? They plead the
love of a Father, His Sovereign power, His
people, and His holy city, Jerusalem.
In
Isaiah 65, the Lord recalls the sins and
wickedness the people have committed against
Him. In their self-righteousness, they have
disregarded every command yet boldly claim
to be His servants, and they have defiled
His Temple and holy city. After the innumerable
opportunities the Lord a£orded them
as He attempted to correct their behaviors,
the Lord now vows to repay them for their
blatant o£enses towards His holy nature.
A ray of hope is spoken for a few who will
be His remnant out of their exile. They
are His people, and He has vowed not to
destroy all Israel from the face of the
earth. This remnant will be blessed to enter
the new Jerusalem and the Millenial Kingdom.
Peace and safety will reign throughout,
evident in the animals on earth.
Isaiah
66 rejoices in the Lord's Sovereignty and
ultimate victory over evil. He recalls His
people's rebellious nature and hollow worship
of Him. The prophecy of the Messiah brings
hope and comfort to those who have trusted
in Him and, with it, the promised destruction
of wickedness upon the earth. All the nations
on earth will rejoice with Israel and will
be gathered to the Lord. The Lord is ultimately
glorified as He completes His work of righteous
justice and restoration of His people.
OVERCOMING
EVIL | Isaiah 65:1-7
It’s
really easy to read these verses and think
of everyone else who is unrighteous and
doing wrong in God’s eyes. We look upon
the “unholy” with disdain and disgust, and
we have no problem being loud about it in
God's name.
But
I wonder if we really need to jump on the
bandwagon of “taking a stand” against things.
We know we are called to expose evil, but
exposing means pulling o£ the cover
or unveiling something that isn’t seen.
So, when it’s in plain sight and when there
is already a clear debate, we don’t have
any exposing to do at that point. Our call
is to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).
And
casting judgment and being angry is not
good. Notice God says, “I will,” not “we
will.” He does not include us in His anger,
wrath, judgment, or vengeance. Jesus was
very clear about how we are to deal with
evil, and it is not in the way that we see
it displayed today.
If
we are trying to be God in wrath and judgment,
then the church is failing in its mission
to spread the GOOD NEWS. Heart Check.
How
do you deal with unrighteousness? Are you
trying to be God? Or are you overcoming
evil with good?
HUMBLE
AND CONTRITE | Isaiah 66:2
This
verse sums up Isaiah’s entire message—that
God will look upon the humble and those
who see their inability to stand before
Him. These are people who are more focused
on His Word than the news. They are quiet
in spirit and not trying to make their voices
known or constantly trying to be heard above
the noise. They focus more on Jesus. Heart
check.
Will
the Lord look upon you? Are you humble and
contrite in spirit?
Deep
Dive
What
is Isaiah’s view of the consequence of sin?
How does it relate to us today?
How
do you appeal to the Lord in prayer?
Compare
the rebellion of Israel with modern day
rebellion against God.
How
do these prophecies challenge your understanding
of God’s judgment and mercy?
How
does the promise of a new name, heaven,
and earth a£ect your faith?
Heavenly
Father, Oh how we need you to rend the heavens
and come down.
We
need your divine intervention today, personally
and globally. Each day feels as though it
is slipping through our fingers as we see
the world pulling itself further and further
from holiness. That’s what sin and evil
do— they separate us from you, especially
when we refuse to acknowledge you as Lord
and Savior. We don’t want to contribute
to the “us vs. them” mentality, because
we are no better. We are all stained with
unrighteousness, but by your grace, that
stain is marked by your blood, which washes
us clean and as white as snow.
But
may that never give us a self-righteous
heart, where we think we are somehow better
because of it. What it should do is make
us even more grateful and compassionate
for the lost. We know the beauty in being
found by you, so help us to do the same
for others. Help us lead them to the cross
with the utmost care. There are enough people
condemning, hating, and judging, so let
us not add to that. Let us, instead, change
the perspective of the church in the eyes
of those who hate us. May we be a light
that shines in darkness.
We
acknowledge your power that is unmatched
today, knowing that you hear these desperate
cries from your people. Even though there
are images that defile your holiness that
are in our faces each day, it is not lost
on you. You see every single thing that
is taking place and are mercifully waiting
for eyes and ears to see and hear your call
to righteousness. So we wait for you and
will commit to continually and joyfully
work righteousness as we remember your ways.
We are but clay in your hands, so mold us
accordingly. There is nowhere else we would
rather be than in your hands. So have your
way. We submit to your good and perfect
will and purpose for our lives.
Thank
you for your inexhaustible mercy and patience
toward your people. It’s been thousands
of years since you have spoken these words,
and yet another day has been added as you
wait for just one more to turn to you. Thank
you for always being ready and willing to
receive us when we do. We pray for those
who are continually walking in rebellion
against you.
If
they know not of what they do or perhaps
don’t have a good understanding of the seriousness
of it, I pray that you will reveal yourself
to them in a divine way. Meet them where
they are, for you will always do a better
job than we will. Please remove any delusions
that may have formed a film over their eyes
and let your truth shine forth.
In
the meantime, may we be like new wine that
is found among the cluster of grapes—your
faithful servants who desire to seek you
for the rest of our days as we look to the
new heaven and earth to be established.
We thank you for the honor of wearing the
name Christian. We will never live up to
that name, but I pray that we will die trying
to wear it well. As we do, we know that
you will pour out your blessings, for which
we are grateful.
2 Kings 20 parallels the
account of Hezekiah's illness and miraculous
recovery and his interactions with Babylonian
envoys. Hezekiah's life is extended fifteen
years after he prays to God, and a miraculous
sign is given. However, his pride in showing
Babylonian envoys the treasures of his kingdom
leads to Isaiah’s prophecy of future Babylonian
captivity.
Chapter 21 describes the
reigns of Manasseh and Amon in Judah. Manasseh
is depicted as a particularly evil king
who reinstates idolatry and leads Judah
into great sin, provoking God's wrath. After
his capture and repentance, he tries to
reform the nation. His son Amon continues
in his father's earlier wickedness and is
eventually assassinated, setting the stage
for the next ruler, Josiah.
SHOWING
OFF | 2 Kings 20:12-15
We have to remember that
Hezekiah was likely doing this out of excitement
and fiattery. After all, Judah was just
a little toddler compared to their junior
superpower status. But what a missed opportunity—Hezekiah
had the chance to witness to this nation
because he had a powerful testimony. He
was honored by God, had direct access to
an incredible prophet, had just experienced
a miracle, and was given 15 extra years
on his life!
Yet he chose to show o£
his wealth and riches instead. He lost focus
on who just saved him and is now hellbent
on impressing the one who is going to destroy
him. That’s how deceptive the enemy is.
He knows where the cracks in your defenses
are, and that is where he will find access
to stick his grimy little foot into the
door of your life.
This is what it means not
to give the devil a foothold. In Hezekiah’s
case, his weakness was fiattery and the
need to impress men. Heart Check.
What
are you showing off? Are you telling people
your testimony? Or are you busy trying to
impress others with your achievements?
DIGGING
WELLS | 2 Kings 20:20-21
Because
Hezekiah knew Assyria would soon attack,
he dug a 1,777-foot tunnel through solid
rock so that they would have access to water
during the siege. In fact, this pool, which
ran from Gihon to the pools of Siloam, was
uncovered in the 1800s and can be visited
today.
Because
remember, the first thing the enemy would
do in a siege is cut o£ their food
and water supply. And this is what the enemy
does to us as well. If he can cut us o£
from our Living Water, he knows that our
defenses will be weakened because while
we can survive without food for weeks, we
will only last days without water. This
translates to our spirits as well. We will
be hard-pressed to think we can be e£ective
against enemy attack without the Word of
God. This is our greatest weapon. Even Jesus
knew that and, therefore, used it to stand
firm against the devil’s temptation in the
desert. Heart Check.
How
determined are you to stay connected to
the Living Water? Are there stones in the
way? Are you willing to dig through it to
create a well that never runs dry?
Deep
Dive
What
can we learn from Hezekiah’s faith and failures?
How
do we reconcile prophecy with free will?
How
is the power of prayer demonstrated? How
does that inspire your prayer life?
Compare
the reigns of the di£erent kings.
What or who infiuenced their outcomes?
What
can we learn from their leadership?
What
can we do as citizens when we fall under
evil or wicked leadership?
Heavenly
Father, Thank you for the reminder of the
brevity of life today.
No
matter our age, none of us know when our
last breath on this earth will be. But knowing
that we will, one day, breathe our last,
I pray that we will be diligent in ensuring
that our homes are in order, both spiritually
and physically. I pray that our family and
friends know about you, Jesus, and that
they will seek you the rest of their days.
Let those who have fallen away or who have
never received you as Lord and Savior come
home, once and for all.
We
thank you for divine healing that you have
promised. By your wounds, we are healed.
Again, this may not happen according to
our timeline, but there will come a day
when we are free and clear of all sickness
and disease, so we praise you in advance
for that. Until then, we will continue to
be persistent in our prayer and asking for
healing anyway.
Because
in the praying, we are ultimately in communication
with you, and we are growing our relationship,
which is truly what matters most. So keep
us close to you as we look to you for healing
and deliverance.
Thank
you for the miracles that some of us have
witnessed, and I pray that we will never
forget them. Let us talk about them while
telling others our testimonies. I pray that
we don’t fall into the trap of fiattery
or self-congratulations when you do bless
us. Forgive us if we have ever lived to
show o£ in any way. This doesn’t mean
we can’t be happy and rejoice in these things,
but may we never forget to give you the
glory for it, for every good gift comes
from above. It is never by our own hands.
It’s always you working through us.
Please
help us to see where we may have weakened
defenses, and I pray that we will fortify
those areas so that we do not allow the
enemy to get a foothold. May we never be
fooled into thinking that any man can save
us. No one can be trusted the way we can
trust you. We know the enemy is aware of
the areas in which we can be easily deceived.
So please expose those things to us so that
we can turn to you to be our defender in
our weakness.
While
we may never see the turning back of a sundial
or given an extra 45 minutes in our day,
it doesn’t mean you can’t still do that.
You are capable of anything. But the greatest
miracle we see every single day is the gift
of new mercies that we wake up to each morning.
Every sunrise is another miracle. You have
demonstrated your love to us in such a profound
way. Your telling us that you love us is
enough, yet you always strive to give more
than just enough. You gave your Son. And
for that, we are so grateful.
We
continue to pray for righteous leadership
in our nations today. This reading was a
sobering reminder of how easily those in
power can lead an entire nation astray.
God forbid that from happening in our nation.
May we not be deceived but wise and discerning
in who we allow to have infiuence over our
minds and hearts.
We
are not going to give up and we will stand
and do our part to fight for this in a righteous
way, but we will also not succumb to anxiety,
fear, or worry, should it not turn out in
what we think is our favor. You are still
sovereign over every authority on this earth.
You appoint them. So help us to remember
that when there are leaders who we deem
unworthy of the position. If they are there,
it’s because you put them there, regardless
of how they got there. At the end of the
day, the only king or ruler we put our hope
in is our King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
So
if we are left feeling powerless, help us
to see where we can begin to make a di£erence
in our direct areas of infiuence. We may
not think we are making a dent, but here
we can clearly see how one person can make
a huge di£erence, not just for evil,
but for good as well. So let us not forget
that—the small di£erences we make
may go unseen by our eyes, but you see it.
And you’re working it all for good. So we
will continue to work with you rather than
against you by remaining in step with your
Word.
Thank
you for being our God who is in control
of all things, both today and in the future.
You are sovereign. And your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven. We trust in
that today.
2
Chronicles 32, we see the reign of King
Hezekiah, focusing on his defiance against
Assyrian King Sennacherib. Hezekiah, relying
on his faith in God, prepares Jerusalem
for the impending siege by fortifying the
city and ensuring a steady water supply.
When
Sennacherib's forces arrive, Hezekiah prays
fervently, and God responds by sending an
angel who destroys a significant portion
of the Assyrian army, leading to their retreat.
Hezekiah's faith and God's miraculous intervention
are highlighted, emphasizing the importance
of trust in God. The chapter also touches
on Hezekiah's illness, his recovery after
prayer, and his subsequent pride, which
he repents for, resulting in peace during
his reign.
2
Chronicles 33, details the reigns of Manasseh
and his son Amon. Unlike his father, Hezekiah,
Manasseh leads Judah into idolatry and evil
practices, provoking God's anger. After
being captured by the Assyrians, Manasseh
repents, prays to God, and is restored to
his kingdom, where he then initiates religious
reforms. Despite his repentance, the damage
of his earlier reign has lasting effects.
Amon,
who succeeds Manasseh, continues in his
father's early evil ways without repentance,
leading to his assassination by his officials.
This chapter highlights the consequences
of idolatry and the power of repentance
and reform.
ENCOURAGEMENT
| 2 Chronicles 32:8
In
2 Chronicles 32:8, we marvel at how words
of encouragement can produce confidence.
How can people gain confidence in the Lord
if we don't speak words of encouragement?
How can they know the word of God if we
remain silent? Are you encouraging others
with the good news of God or staying silent?
Heart Check:
Are
you being silent with the word of God, or
are you encouraging others with the good
news?
HUMILITY
| 2 Chronicles 32:24-26
Hezekiah,
in 2 Chronicles 32:24-26, humbles himself
and is obedient to the word of God. Are
you humbling yourself to the obedience of
God as Hezekiah did? So, heart check.
Are
you humbling yourself in obedience to God?
GENERATIONAL
FAITH | 2 Chronicles 33:1
At
12 years old, it is clear that he did not
live during the Assyrians' besieging and
subsequent victory. Therefore, he did not
witness the utter moral distress or the
stunning victory brought by that one angel.
He only lived during the prosperous reign
of King Hezekiah.
This
can often be compared to people whose grandparents
and parents struggled, worked hard, and
devoted their lives to building a legacy,
home, and new beginnings and honoring God.
But then their children received "golden
spoon" care, never having to work for
anything. Everything was handed to them,
and the inheritance was given to them.
Are
you passing down more than just material
wealth to your children? Are you also providing
them with the wisdom and discernment given
to you through the word of God?
EDUCATION
| 2 Chronicles 33:9
How
was this even possible? This is because
of the instruction given to a 12-year-old
boy by the leaders, officials, and appointed
ones that King Hezekiah obviously let go.
Who did he place there? What education was
being poured into his son that he backslid
so far?
It
says they did more evil than the cities
God had burned down and destroyed. This
is Jerusalem, His most holy place, His city,
His dwelling place, the covenant, the bond
that He made with King David and King Solomon.
How could they do such atrocities?
We
need to be careful about the instruction
and education our younger generations are
receiving today. I don't have to speak too
far into that; just look on social media,
look at TikTok. You can see the social media
infiuence by those who think they can get
on their soapbox and proclaim the righteousness
they need and the truth they know.
Where
is that truth coming from? What truth is
being passed down to these younger generations,
to these children? So heart check:
Are
we placing education into the hands of the
Lord or into the hands of contemptuous?
Deep
Dive
Compare
and contrast King Hezekiah and
King Manasseh. Where did they
go astray, and how did they
humble themselves to obey God?
King
Hezekiah
King
Manasseh
How
does the defeat of the Assyrians
exemplify God's wrath?
What
does Manasseh’s backsliding
say about our society today?
What
does the assassination of King
Amon reveal about his leadership?
Heavenly
Father, thank you for always listening
to our pleas for repentance and humility.
Thank
you for answering our call even when we
have reached the depths of depravity, placing
idols between us and you.
Empty
us of all idol worship, self-reliance, and
the tendency to seek our own glory rather
than giving us glory for the miraculous
acts in our lives. Remind us not to be boastful
of the provisions you have given us and
to avoid feeling entitled to these blessings,
for you can remove them as quickly as you
provide them.
How
true it is that pride comes before the fall.
Allow your Holy Spirit to guide us, counsel
us, and always be our helper when we are
tempted to seek our own honor, glory, and
self-reliance. Humble us, Lord, and humble
this nation so that we do not fall into
the trap of King Manasseh, given over to
idol worship and neglecting to seek you.
Protect
us from falling into occult practices, sorcery,
and sacrificing those we love most. Let
us not be led into a sensuous and contentious
society, but bring you back to the center
of our hearts, our nation, our societies,
and our families. Please come to dwell in
our lives and in our hearts.
Thank
you for your word, your mercy, and your
grace. Thank you for sending your Son to
be our sacrifice.
Nahum's
first chapter focuses on God's divine attributes,
emphasizing His jealousy, wrath, and goodness.
The chapter sets the stage for the judgment
against Nineveh, the capital of Assyria.
Nahum portrays God as a powerful and just
deity who avenges His adversaries but is
also good and a refuge in times of trouble
for those who trust in Him. The vivid poetry
underscores God's sovereignty and His righteous
anger towards those who oppose Him.
Chapter
2 vividly describes the fall of Nineveh,
portraying the siege and the subsequent
destruction in graphic detail. Nahum uses
intense imagery to depict the chaos and
violence as the city is overrun. The chapter
is a prophetic vision of Nineveh's downfall,
highlighting the inevitability of divine
retribution for their pride and cruelty.
The description of the invading forces and
the city's plunder emphasizes the totality
of God's judgment.
In
the final chapter, Nahum continues to denounce
Nineveh, calling it a city of bloodshed
and deceit. He outlines the reasons for
God's judgment, focusing on their violence,
lies, and exploitation. The vivid and poetic
language captures the horror and shame that
will befall Nineveh, reinforcing the theme
of inevitable divine justice. The chapter
concludes with a declaration that Nineveh's
destruction is deserved and irreversible,
a stark warning to all who oppose God.
JEALOUS
GOD | Nahum 1:2
Nahum
vividly illustrates God's wrath and jealousy.
These attributes are not petty or spiteful
but are rooted in His righteousness and
justice. God's jealousy stems from His desire
for His people to worship Him alone, and
His wrath is His response to sin and injustice.
Jealousy,
as applied to God, needs a more profound
understanding beyond our modern connotations.
Today, jealousy often implies envy or coveting
what someone else has. However, in the biblical
context, particularly in Exodus, where God
is described as a "jealous God,"
it relates explicitly to idol worship.
When
God is jealous, it is not because He envies
or covets what we have. Instead, it refiects
His zealous nature. He demands exclusive
devotion and will not tolerate idols or
anything placed before Him in our lives.
With their intimate knowledge of God's expectations,
the Israelites and Hebrews should have understood
this better than anyone. However, the people
of Nineveh, lacking this relationship and
understanding, fell into idol worship and
committed atrocities against his chosen,
incurring God's jealousy.
While
this might seem harsh, it underscores the
seriousness with which God views sin and
the lengths He will go to uphold justice.
Heart Check.
Do
we live in a way that honors His rightful
place in our lives?
GOD’S
GOODNESS | Nahum 1:7
Despite
the severity of His judgment, Nahum also
emphasizes God's goodness. Nahum 1:7 says,
"The Lord is good, a refuge in times
of trouble. He cares for those who trust
in Him." This verse assures us that
God's actions, even His judgments, are rooted
in His goodness.
Through
Jesus Christ, God's anger and wrath are
removed for those who believe. We now have
an open invitation to experience His goodness
and grace. Heart Check.
Do
we trust in God's goodness, especially in
times of trouble? Are we turning to Him
as our refuge?
DESOLATION
| Nahum 2
In
Chapter 2, we see that God has the last
word and will always have the last word.
The message is one of desolation and ruin,
with no one turning back to the cry. It
is pitiful to see a nation that the Lord
has now abandoned, with society and the
world turning their backs on them.
Do
we not see this today, where so many nations
and countries are at war, and others just
turn their backs on them? What does that
say about our world today? How does that
make you feel? This is a true heart check.
How
do we feel about the condition of our world
today? Is it desolate?
Deep
Dive
Compare
and contrast the messages of Jonah and Nahum.
What do they reveal about God's character
and His relationship with Nineveh?
How
did Nineveh's initial repentance under Jonah
di£er from their later actions leading
to Nahum's prophecy?
In
what ways does the concept of God’s jealousy
challenge or comfort you in your personal
faith journey?
How
can we reconcile the themes of wrath and
goodness in God's nature as seen in Nahum?
What
lessons can modern believers learn from
Nineveh's story about repentance and the
consequences of turning away from God?
Heavenly
Father, Thank you for your Word and the
powerful messages in the Book of Nahum.
We
acknowledge Your righteous wrath and jealousy,
understanding that they are expressions
of Your justice and holiness. Help us to
live in a way that honors Your rightful
place in our lives, never taking for granted
the grace and mercy You offer through Jesus
Christ.
Lord,
we also recognize Your goodness, as Nahum
reminds us that You are a refuge in times
of trouble. May we always turn to You and
trust in Your care and protection. Guide
us to refiect Your goodness and grace to
others in our daily walk.
Please
help us understand the lessons from Nineveh’s
story, reminding us to remain steadfast
in our faith and obedience to You. Thank
You for the open invitation we have through
Jesus, who removes Your anger and wrath
and brings us into Your loving embrace.
2
Kings 22, the fulfillment of
the prophecy that Judah would see a righteous
king is completed in Josiah, the son of
Amon. He oversees the repairs, tithing,
and re-sanctification of the Temple of the
Lord that had previously been given over
to idolatrous abominations.
The
current high priest, Hilkiah, locates the
Book of the Law in the Temple. As the book
is read to him, Josiah is overcome with
immense grief and conviction for the centuries
of disregard and neglect his ancestors previously
showed towards the Lord.
Josiah
commands Hilkiah to seek the Lord's guidance
to reconcile the nation back to the Lord.
However, the Lord responds by pronouncing
the coming judgment upon Judah.
The
Lord also speaks comfort to Josiah that
it will not happen in his days because of
his sincere heart of repentance before the
Lord.
2
Kings 23 Josiah gathers all the
people at the Temple, and the Book of the
Covenant is read before all of Judah. A
renewed covenant is made to keep all of
the Lord's commands and statutes and only
to worship the Lord God.
All
idolatry is completely removed from Judah
and the former kingdom of Israel, including
Bethel and Samaria. The Passover is re-established
under Josiah's reign, and he turns his attention
to ridding the land of all other ungodly
practices. The Lord once more renews His
promise of coming judgment, and Josiah dies
on the battlefield against Egypt. The people
crown Jehoahaz as their new king, and he
brings idolatry back to the land, but the
pharaoh of Egypt replaces him with his brother,
Eliakim.
2
Chronicles 34 is parallel with
2 Kings 22 as it recalls the righteous reign
of Josiah, who purged all of Judah and the
desolate former kingdom of Israel of all
idolatry.
His
righteous reign begins when the Book of
the Law is read before him, and he humbles
himself before the Lord. The Lord prophesies
he will not live to personally see the judgment
happen because he modeled humble repentance
to the Lord. Josiah reads the Book of the
Law to all of Judah, and a tremendous spiritual
rival is seen in the land.
2
Chronicles 35 Passover is re-established
in the land, and astonishingly, Josiah bears
the expense of the sacrificial lamb for
all of Judah. He ensures all of God's commands
regarding the Passover are meticulously
achieved, and nothing is forgotten.
A
great and joyous celebration rings throughout
the land, which has not occurred since the
days of Hezekiah. Josiah disobeys the Lord,
goes into battle with Egypt, and dies on
the battlefield, and all of Judah mourns
for the loss of their king.
REPAIRING
THE BREACHES | 2 Kings 22:3-7
Josiah
clearly desires spiritual revival and reformation
in Judah. And he knows that it begins at
the temple.
They
need to repair the breaches. This tells
me that if we want spiritual revival within
our communities, it starts at the temple—and
we’re not talking about the church. We need
to repair the breaches in the living stones,
which are us as individuals. We need to
repair our temples first before we can try
to fix problems on a bigger scale. Peter
told us that we are living stones that fit
together into a holy habitation. Heart Check.
Do
you have any breaches that need repairing?
IMMEDIATE
ACTION | 2 Kings 22:11
This
is one of the reasons why Josiah will be
one of the greatest kings to come out of
Judah.
The
moment he was convicted, he moved into action.
He immediately repented. He didn’t try to
make excuses or delay in any way. Last night,
we had family come into town late at night,
and at 3 a.m., I heard my daughter giggling
with her cousin. To me, it was innocent
laughter, but to my husband, it was the
sound of mischief.
He
asked me to go see what they were doing,
but I responded with, “They’re just being
kids.” The reality was I just didn’t want
to get out of bed. Lo and behold, I was
jolted out of that laziness when a bucket
of water was thrown on us a few minutes
later in an attempt to hit my son, who was
hiding on the side of the bed.
Long
story short, the consequence of my not listening
to my husband led to much more significant
issues. He was angry, our bed was soaked,
and now I had to go and do damage control
when it all could’ve been avoided if I had
moved into immediate action instead of delaying.
We
do this with the Lord—He will tell us to
do something, and we will say, “I’ll do
it later.” Heart Check.
What
immediate action do you need totake today?
What id pressing on your heart?
REVIVAL
BOATS | 2 Kings 22
Jon
Courson says that three types of boats represent
the people in any revival.
1. There
are rowboats—people who need to be
pushed and directed in order to move.
2. There
are sailboats—ones that “go with
the fiow” and change direction according
to the direction of the wind.
3. And
then there are steamboats—those who
make up their minds and start moving, full
steam ahead, with nothing to stop them.
This
is what Josiah was—he saw the course, he
set his coordinates, and he stayed the course.
Heart Check.
What
kind of a boat are you? Rowboat? Sailboat?
Or Steamboat?
DIGGING
OUT THE ROOTS | 2 Kings 23:4
This
is how deep their idolatry was—they had
idol worship set up in the holy temple.
And
Josiah went straight for the heart of the
problem. He didn’t dance around the straggling
issues on the outside or put a bandaid over
the problem. He dug out the roots.
This
is important because sin is like the tares
that grow among the wheat. If you remember,
tares look just like wheat. They are almost
unrecognizable at the surface for what they
truly are. If we just keep cutting o£
the top and don’t deal with what is going
on beneath the surface, it will continue
to fester in our lives. Heart Check.
Have
you dug out the roots? Or is there only
a surface cleaning going on?
LETTING
GO | 2 Kings 23:5
The
pagan idols weren’t the only problem. Josiah
also had to remove sinful people from their
position because they were part of the sinful
root system.
We
will keep people around in the name of love,
but sometimes, the best way to love a person
is to let them go, especially if there is
toxicity that accompanies that relationship.
If
you are in a toxic marriage, my advice is
to seek counsel. I am not giving marriage
advice here. This is speaking to those who
may have other relationships that are not
healthy and that are causing you to stumble
or compromise your faith.
Loosening
the ties that you have to that person not
only sets you free but also frees them from
continuing to sin against you and God. Heart
Check.
Is
there anyone in your life that is causing
toxicity or leading you to compromise your
faith that needs to be let go?
MARKS
OF HIS WORD | 2 Chronicles 34:21
Now
with the Word in hand, Isaiah wants to take
it a step further.
He
wants the next steps, so he wisely sends
for counsel to help direct them in making
things right. The most important part of
studying the Bible is the way that it studies
you.
The
marks it leaves on your heart are far greater
than the notes and highlighting on the pages
of your Bible. It isn’t just about theology—it
is a guidebook to life. Heart Check
Are
there more marks in your Bible than are
on your heart? Is God's Word studying you
as you study it?
TEAMWORK
| 2 Chronicles 34:29
Even
though the Lord was speaking directly to
Josiah, he saw the impact it would have
on the people and realized that he could
not go about this venture of reformation
alone. He needed to call upon others for
help.
He
understood that “teamwork makes the dream
work.” We are all a part of the team that
is working to revive our communities and
nations. Heart Check.
What
role are you playing in your community's
spiritual revial? Are you a team player?
What is your role?
MEDDLING
| 2 Chronicles 35:20-23
Here,
we see a sad result of meddling in things
he shouldn’t have. Even though it was from
the enemy’s mouth, it was a word from the
Lord not to fight that battle. We often
say to consider the source, but we also
must consider the saying.
These
words from Neco had a pure message: they
were peaceable and gentle, just as James
tells us wisdom is (James 3:17). If Neco
had spoken words of contention, confusion,
or chaos, that would’ve been a sign that
it was not from the Lord. Not every battle
is ours to fight. We don’t need to get into
every conversation or every debate, especially
if it works against our peace.
Remember,
Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God”
(Matthew 5:9). If we are stirring up anything
other than peace, that mark of being a child
of God gets tainted. Heart Check.
Are
you meddling in battles that are not yours
to fight? Do your conversations reflect
a peacemaker? Or are you a peace stealer?
Deep
Dive
How
is Josiah’s character refiected by his response
to God’s Word? How does this guide your
walk?
Why
do you think the men consulted a woman prophetess?
What role did Huldah’s prophecy play, and
what does this say for the role of women
in the kingdom?
What
practical things can we do to invoke a spiritual
revival?
What
can we learn from Josiah’s confrontation
with Pharaoh Neco?
In
what ways did one person impact the greater
nation?
Heavenly
Father, Thank you for bringing us back
to your Word.
We
know that it is here, where revival and
restoration starts. When your Word begins
to take root in our hearts, it will move
us into action. So if there are any breaches
in our lives that need to be repaired, show
us what we can do personally do and please
give us the know how and strength to do
it. Perhaps our own temples need a bit of
organization or even accounting—maybe it’s
been a while since we have taken inventory
of what is missing or what is needed. And
as we, as living stones, build up strength,
it will only build up the church as a whole.
Have your way in us so that your people
can be strengthened to do your good work.
Thank
you for the way that your Word reads and
studies us. It doesn’t always feel good,
but we know it is the best thing for us.
I pray that we never turn from it or neglect
it for the rest of our days. May this be
the guidebook for every step we take or
decision we make. If it has been buried
in any way, please continue to dig it up
and dust o£ the dirt, so that it will
be the central part of our faith. If there
is anything that needs to be eradicated,
cut it out at its roots. Let it not continue
to fester. And please forgive us if we have
contributed to its growth. If there is anyone
in our lives who are leading us to compromise
our faith or bringing out toxicity to our
being, please give us the strength to let
them go. If that relationship is deemed
worthy of repairing or reconciling, you
will do it, and we can trust you in that.
But for now, let us rehabilitate ourselves
as you heal any wounds that have boiled
up in our spirits.
Thank
you for every person in the Heart Dive Ministry
that has a newfound love and passion for
reading your Word. Thank you for every person
who has extended an invitation, whether
it was your Holy Spirit, a family member,
or a friend. I pray that we will continue
to reach out to share how beautiful and
powerful your Word is. We know how it has
changed our lives, so I pray that it will
do the same for others. I pray for more
Bible reading ministries to form. I pray
that churches will rediscover your Word
again. I pray that our nations will live
by it. And as we taste and see that the
Lord is good, everything else in this world
will sour, and we will no longer turn to
it to bring us satisfaction. Only you can
do truly do that.
Thank
you for the encouragement today for women
who have felt a bit oppressed in their calling.
We know that you have so powerfully used
women in your ministry. She birthed the
Savior of the world. She prophesied. She
brought the news of the resurrection to
the disciples. And she continues to care
for your fiock today. This is why there
is such an attack on the woman’s identity.
The enemy wants to blur lines, as he knows
how dangerous she is to his plans. He knows
that she has a keen sense and a strong discernment
for evil when her eyes are fixed on God.
He knows that she has an elevated position
that he will never have. So please protect
your daughters and their identity as you
created them to be.
We
thank you for those who are young and heeding
the call today. May your Holy Spirit fill
them and anoint them. Bless them with your
grace and continue to guide them as they
navigate challenges and opportunities in
their lives. I pray that they will know
how incredibly valued they are in the kingdom.
Set them free from every anxiety, worry,
frustration, and empower them with your
Spirit to rise above what may be trying
to drag them down. Set them on a high place,
out of the reach of the enemy. Give them
boldness and courage to share and live out
their faith in every area of their lives.
I pray they will honor their parents and
live with humility in their hearts and righteousness
in their bones.
May
we all continue to seek truth and uphold
righteousness so that we can make a lasting
impact in our spheres of infiuence and ultimately
for the kingdom. May we be a light on hill,
the salt of the earth, and the hands, feet,
and mouthpieces of Jesus so that we can
carry forth spiritual revival in our homes
and in our communities.
In
Zephaniah chapter one, the Lord has previously
spoken to unlikely prophets about God's
judgment to come upon Judah. This time,
a royal member, Zephaniah, a descendant
of Hezekiah, communicates with the Lord.
He
warns the land will be made desolate when
the Lord's wrath is poured out on their
rebellious nation. There will be none who
escape the justice of the Lord. All of the
wealth in the royal household will not save
them, and they will fall among the rest
of the pride of Judah.
The
Lord proclaims His unyielding decision to
pour out His wrath and of the terrors that
await them if they continue in their disobedient
and idolatrous ways.
In
Zephaniah 2, the Lord urges the people,
in His last e£ort, to seek His forgiveness
and humble themselves before Him as their
Lord and Provider. The day is fast approaching
when He will no longer restrain His wrath.
The
Lord warns that on the day He pours His
wrath upon the surrounding nations, Judah
will not be exempt. To continuously refuse
His chastising hand, their arrogance will
cause them to share the same fate He has
pronounced on the nations of the Moabites,
Ammonites, Ethiopia, and Assyria.
Zephaniah
3 begins with a significant contrast drawn
between the people of Judah and the Lord's
righteousness. The Lord declares judgment
imminent, but he proclaims a glorious promise
of the nations uniting in the Lord's name.
The Lord wants to provide comfort and hope
to His people during their exile as they
anticipate the Lord's restoration.
He
asks that His people remember Him in the
midst of their significant troubles to come.
When they have presented themselves before
Him with a contrite heart, He will welcome
them with open arms and elevate them above
all the nations. God's people are encouraged
to sing and rejoice, for the Lord their
God will redeem and rejoice over them with
His song as they return to their land.
SYNCRETISM
| Zephaniah 1:4-9
Religious
syncretism is the merging of distinct belief
systems to create a new religion or the
incorporation of beliefs from other faiths
into an established religion.
This
can happen when foreign beliefs are introduced
to an indigenous belief system or when cultural
and religious syncretism coincide. In religion,
syncretism often means a tendency to water
down, confuse, or mix doctrines and rituals.
God's
law warned Israel not only against abandoning
Yahweh for other gods but also against worshiping
other gods alongside the true God. The prophets
warned of coming judgments as the people
modified their faith to accommodate foreign
doctrines and practices.
Zephaniah
mentions those who attempted to combine
the worship of Yahweh with Molech, a form
of religious syncretism. Molech was the
chief god of the Ammonites, a people east
of the Dead Sea. Jeremiah, a contemporary
of Zephaniah, said the Jews were sacrificing
children to Molech. To swear by a deity
meant to pronounce an oath under the threat
of punishment by that deity if one failed
to carry out the oath.
When
the nation absorbed outward trends in fashion,
it implied an inward shift in values and
character.While clothes do not make a religion,
compromising values and religious trends
can lead us astray if we aren’t diligent
in knowing God’s word and writing it in
our hearts. We, too, could end up placing
pagan worship items into the house of God—our
hearts. Heart Check.
Are
you allowing modern trends and influences
to compromise our values and faith?
FOG
OF COMPLACENCY | Zephaniah 1:12
Dr.
David Jeremiah’s study Bible struck a chord
with me.
Before
this study, I was living in a fog of smug
satisfaction with my spiritual well-being.
I was living "good enough." I
would read a verse or two every other day
and used parenting, self-care, and overwhelming
exhaustion as excuses for my lethargic approach
to God’s word.
My
heart was open to the Lord, but I wasn’t
o£ering it to Him to search and find
any o£ensive way in it, as Psalm 139
says. I felt the tendrils of potential danger
all around me, yet blamed busyness.
The
fog is lifting. While I still face temptations
and distractions, I now know how to stop
the fog of fake security and quickly shine
a light into the darkness. Heart Check.
What
does your security lie? Are you living in
a fog of complacency?
URGENCY
| Zephaniah 2:1-2
We
do not know the day or hour that the Day
of the Lord will come, but we are to hasten
our hearts, seek God humbly, and keep His
just commands. This urgent warning still
rings true today.
Do
you hear the battle cry? Do you hear the
trumpet blast? Heart Check.
Are
you ready for the Day of the Lord? Are you
seeking God humbly and dilgently?
IN
THE WEEDS | Zephaniah 2:9
When
reading the Bible, we might come across
different pronunciations of names like Gomorrah,
Amorah, or Gomorrha. While accurate pronunciation
is respectful, it isn't crucial for our
salvation.
These
variations have evolved over centuries of
translation. Mispronouncing a name doesn't
a£ect our relationship with God. This
is a non-doctrinal issue, but it underscores
the importance of having a teachable spirit.
We should strive to learn but not let the
fear of mispronouncing names hinder our
engagement with the Bible.
Zephaniah
2:9 uses Hebrew words with rich cultural
and historical meanings, such as Sodom,
Gomorrah, Moab, and Ammon. We might miss
some nuances in translation, but this does
not undermine God's Word. The Lord has preserved
His Word through time, ensuring its integrity
and relevance.
Our
focus should be on deeply engaging with
God's message, not on minor details. We
should balance diligence in study with grace
for our imperfections, trusting in God's
guidance and understanding. Heart Check.
Are
we stuck in the weeds of minor details or
engaging with the lessons in God's word?
Are we willing to learn and improve while
not letting fear hinder our study and sharing
the Bible?
WEAK
HANDS | Zephaniah 3:16
This
verse speaks of hands growing weak or hanging
limp, symbolizing fear and discouragement.
This
can be related to our spiritual lives, where
we may become incapacitated or paralyzed
by fear—fear of sharing the Good News, fear
of looking different, or fear of the enemy.
However,
the Lord is with us, and we can proclaim
His glory boldly. Heart Check.
Are
your hands growing weak? Are you allowing
fear to paralyze you, or are you trusting
in the Lord's presence and proclaiming His
glory?
Deep
Dive
Why
does Zephaniah mention other nations in
his prophecy, and what does this imply about
God's sovereignty and justice on a global
scale?
What
does the concept of worldwide judgment mean
to us today, and how should it infiuence
our understanding of God's plan for humanity?
What
does Zephaniah teach about God's burning
anger, and how does this aspect of His character
coexist with His love and mercy?
What
sins are the people of Judah guilty of,
according to Zephaniah, and how do these
sins compare to everyday struggles in contemporary
society?
Rewrite
Zephaniah 3:14-20 with your name as a personification
of joy and restoration.
What
specific promises does God make in Zephaniah
3:14-20, and how do they refiect His character
and faithfulness?
Heavenly
Father, Thank You for Your Word, which provides
us with clear warnings and promises.
We
come before You with hearts full of gratitude
and humility, acknowledging Your sovereignty
and grace. We are reminded today of the
dangers of complacency and apathy. Lord,
help us to remain vigilant and not grow
weary in our devotion to You.
Father,
we confess that we have at times turned
away from Your commands. We have allowed
the distractions of this world to draw us
away from the path You have set before us.
Forgive us, Lord, for our wayward hearts
and help us to return to You with renewed
commitment. Let us not be swayed by the
allure of false idols or compromised values,
but instead, may we stand firm in our faith
and obedience to Your Word.
We
pray for our leaders, both in government
and in our homes. Grant them integrity and
humility, that they may lead with wisdom
and righteousness. Help them to seek Your
guidance in all their decisions and to govern
in a way that honors You. For the leaders
of our households, we ask that You give
them the strength to shepherd their families
according to Your principles, instilling
in them a love for You and a desire to follow
Your commandments.
Lord,
we are grateful for the warnings You have
given us through Your prophets. Zephaniah
reminds us of the consequences of turning
away from You and the importance of staying
the course. We thank You for these messages
that guide us and keep us on the path of
righteousness. May we heed these warnings
and live in a manner that refiects our devotion
to You.
Encourage
us, Father, to stay the course and not grow
weak. Help us to overcome the fear that
paralyzes us, whether it be the fear of
sharing the Good News, the fear of looking
di£erent, or the fear of the enemy.
Remind us that You are with us, and in Your
presence, we find strength and courage.
Let our hands not hang limp, but be strong
to proclaim Your glory and Your goodness.
Your
Word in Zephaniah 3:14-20 is a beautiful
reminder of the joy and restoration You
bring.
"Rejoice,
people of the world! Celebrate with all
your heart! The Lord has lifted your punishment
and defeated your enemies. The King of Israel
is with you, so you'll never have to fear
harm again. On that day, they’ll say 'Don't
be afraid; don't let your hands grow weak.
The Lord your God is with you, a mighty
warrior who saves. He delights in you and,
in His love, He will no longer rebuke you
but will rejoice over you with singing.'"
We
cling to these promises, Lord. We rejoice
in Your love and the salvation You have
provided through Jesus Christ. We know that
You are a Mighty Warrior who saves, and
You delight in us. Help us to live in the
joy of this knowledge, sharing it with others
and bringing glory to Your name.
As
we go forward, may we embody the joy and
restoration You have promised. Let our lives
be a testimony to Your goodness and faithfulness.
Strengthen our resolve to follow You wholeheartedly,
to be diligent in our study of Your Word,
and to keep Your commands. Fill us with
Your Spirit, that we may be bold and courageous
in proclaiming Your truth.
Thank
You, Lord, for Your unwavering love and
for the hope we have in You. We trust in
Your promises and rest in Your grace. May
we be ever mindful of Your presence and
Your call on our lives.
Jeremiah
1: The son of a high priest is called by
the Lord to be a prophet to the nations.
Jeremiah is reassured that the Lord qualified
him before he was born and that the Lord
will use him despite his inexperience and
young age.
He
briefiy receives training from the Lord
concerning visions and is comforted when
the Lord promises to provide the strength
to speak during opposition.
Jeremiah
2 Jeremiah is called to begin his prophetic
career in Jerusalem, declaring the Lord's
disappointment and anger toward His people
for their ungratefulness regarding His provision
throughout their lives.
He
rebukes their faithfulness towards false
gods and other nations instead of He, who
is able to save them. The Lord describes
the sins and shame they have brought upon
themselves as a nation. Time after time,
they call out to Him only in times of crisis
and have proven they do not want Him. He
will grant them their desire to remain apart
from Him because, this time, He will refuse
to save them when disaster strikes.
Only
then will the people see who the True and
Faithful God is.
Jeremiah
3 The prophet Jeremiah proclaims an invitation
from the Lord to forsake their false idols
and evil ways and return to Him as their
God. He explains to them how their idolatry
has been an illusion and unfulfilling in
its temporary pleasures. They will assume
the Lord has abandoned them in their su£ering,
but the truth is they have abandoned the
Lord.
There
will be a day, however, when the Lord will
o£er mercy and restoration to a future
remnant who will acknowledge Him as the
True God of Israel.
ALIGNING
OUR WILLS | Jeremiah 1:5
This
word tells us that God’s plan and purpose
for our lives begin before we are even formed.
We are called before we are born. God is
telling this to Jeremiah, not so he could
be entertained or even encouraged by it.
He
was telling him this so that Jeremiah would
align his will with God’s. There comes a
point in our lives when we are either seeking
out or living in our own will. And there
comes a time when God then reveals His will
to us, and it’s our job to now align ourselves
with it. A lot of the time, you will see
that what you were already doing was purposed
for what He has for you.
My
earliest memories and dreams were to become
a teacher. I had a chalkboard teacher’s
books, and I would play school well into
my tween years. My spirit was a little crushed
when I realized in college that I did not
enjoy being in the classroom as a teacher.
So
I switched majors and always wondered why
God ever gave me that dream to teach if
He wasn’t going to do anything with it.
But now look where I am. He knew before
I was formed in my mother’s womb that I
would teach.
But
I had to come into alignment with that plan.
Heart Check.
Have
you aligned your will with God's
BREAKING
| Jeremiah 1:10
That
must’ve been really comforting to Jeremiah
to hear that he will be an instrument to
pluck up, break down, destroy, and overthrow.
All
prophecy is profitable but it ain’t always
pleasant. No one likes to be told what they’re
doing wrong and what kind of spankings they’re
going to get because of it.
But
before God can rebuild and replant, there
must be a breaking. The soil must be tilled,
and the weeds must be plucked out before
the seeds can be planted.
We
are called to pull down strongholds and
cast down imaginations so that we can take
captive our thoughts and make them obedient
to Christ (2 Cor. 10:4-5). There must be
a breaking within us before He can do restorative
work within us. Heart Check.
Is
there something that needs to broken, torn
down, or plucked up within you?
COMMITMENT
| Jeremiah 2:2
The
Lord uses the marriage analogy to express
His love and commitment to Judah as well
as her unfaithfulness to Him. Because they
sought satisfaction in worthless pursuits
outside of their covenant, they were condemned.
This
isn’t God being a possessive narcissist—it’s
Him knowing what is in their best interest
and wanting to keep them within that protective
care. He still does this with us today,
yet we still seek to find security in anything
and everything else, even when we know that
there is no lasting security apart from
our God. And within marriages, the actual
test of commitment comes once the honeymoon
stage is over. Real faithfulness is put
on trial when times get tough, and you now
have to choose whether you are going to
work through your issues or abandon ship.
Heart Check.
If
the Lord looked back at your original commitment
you made to Him, are you still faithful
to it?
DOWNPLAYING
SIN | Jeremiah 3:4
The
people minimize their sins based on their
relationship with God as His children.
It’s
almost as if they think they have a hall
pass to sin. Sometimes, we can tend to downplay
our sin based upon the grace that He freely
gives to us, and in doing so, we make ourselves
feel better by erasing it from our guilty
conscience. But when we downplay sin, it
ultimately leads to even greater ones. This
is the slippery slope of backsliding.
But
when you view every wrongful thought or
attitude as an offense to God, that’s when
you truly understand what walking out your
faith means. Heart Check.
Is
there anything that you have downplayed
or written off as something too small to
worry about?
Deep
Dive
In
what ways do you see God’s heart for the
young? Why is this important, and how does
it apply today?
Have
you ever had a personal encounter with God?
(1:9)
What
are modern trusts or alliances that society
pursues today? In what ways do they fail
where God would not?
If
God were to bring a legal complaint against
the world, what would it say? What specific
charges would be pressed?
How
does God’s repeated call to return to Him
apply personally to us?
How
does His promise for restoration give you
hope?
Heavenly
Father, Thank you for your faithfulness
even amist our own faithlessness.
Your
boundless love and readiness to receive
us into your arms is unmatched and awe inspiring.
Thank you for never abandoning us, even
when we continue to go o£ course.
Thank you for your loving arms that always
embrace us when we return. We hear the call
to return today, and it’s almost mind-blowing,
that after so many betrayals, you still
take us back over and again. May we never
again leave the safety and comfort of this
safe place that we are in. We don’t ever
want to stray from your love and covenant
that you have made with us. I pray that
our commitment will only grow stronger from
this day forward as we walk closer with
you and toward your ultimate restoration
of heaven and earth.
Please
forgive us if we have, in any way, downplayed
or minimized any thoughts or attitudes that
will only lead to greater sin. I pray that
you will help us to recognize those things
and cast down strongholds and imaginations,
making them obedient to you. We are so grateful
for your grace, but may we never consider
it a hall pass to continue to live loosely.
You call us to turn from every sin, so I
pray that we will be obedient to that.
Please
help us to learn from history, both personally
and globally. I pray that you will show
us where we have gone wrong in the past
so that we can make the proper corrections
and tie up any loose ends that have gotten
us caught in deception. Sin lies, and it
will pervert the truth, so please keep us
sharp in our own understanding and discernment
so that we do not forget you.
We
continue to pray for godly leadership. We
so desire leaders who will live by your
ways and your Word. We need strong leaders
at the helm who will shepherd and serve
the people by caring for, guiding, and bringing
us together, rather than tearing us apart
as a people. May we be wise in who we choose.
Give us discernment and may the church align
with your appointment.
We
know that the further a nation gets from
following after you, the closer it gets
to your judgment. It’s not something we
as believers need to fear, for we will be
within your protective care if we maintain
a steadfast relationship with you. So may
we do that.
May
we uphold our covenant that we made with
you. I pray that when you remember the devotion
of our youth, that today’s devotion will
be even stronger.
You
are our spring of Living Water, and everything
else is a broken cistern. Thank you for
your promise to always bring satisfaction.
Forgive us where we may have sought after
anything else to satiate us. We know that
anything put in front of you is considered
an idol, and it will ultimately enslave
us. They will not help us in our time of
need. So in remembering this today, help
us to keep it at the top of our minds always.
If
there is anything in our own lives that
need to be plucked up or broken down, please
do so now while there is still time. You
are about to rain down, so I pray that our
soil will be ready to always receive your
Spirit. You are constantly looking for those
whose hearts are set on you, and you will
empower those who are willing to go out
and plant seeds. So we say yes to you. Give
us the bag. We will go. And in saying that,
if it scares anyone, remove that fear in
the name of Jesus. You will never call us
to something that you will not equip us
for, so there is nothing to fear. There
are no inadequacies that are too great for
you. Remove the doubt within us, and may
we rise up in courage and strength, knowing
that you are with us and that you will never
abandon us.
Thank
you for calling us and for preparing us
before we were even formed in our mothers’
wombs. Help us to align with that will and
calling. Show us what we are already doing
that can be used for your purpose. Whatever
word you have spoken over us, it will come
to pass, for you are watching over it and
will perform it.
In
Jeremiah chapter four, the Lord pleads with
Israel through Jeremiah again to return
to Him and honor their covenant with Him.
He asks for them to soften their hearts
towards Him. He does not desire to see their
destruction, but they have provoked His
wrath and are destined to reach the punishment
for their wicked rebellion.
Jeremiah
is given a vision of Judah's destruction
to come from the north and how quickly it
will sweep throughout the land. This judgment
will come with such great might and ferocity
that Judah will be unable to defend itself.
A vision of Israel humbling themselves before
the Lord is seen, but that day will not
come until after they have endured the coming
su£ering.
In
Jeremiah chapter five, the Lord explains
how He has searched throughout Jerusalem
and found no righteous one. Jeremiah mourns
for Israel's stubbornness, as He has also
been unsuccessful in finding a righteous
person among even the most prestigious of
them. He prophesies the Lord does not plan
to eliminate all of Israel from the earth
for the sake of His covenant with them,
but the land will become so desolate that
the animals will cover it.
The
Lord recalls how the people know of His
power and might but do not fear Him. Their
priests and false prophets have not desired
the Lord's guidance and discernment in their
lives, and when the day of tragedy comes,
they will have no foundation to stand upon.
The Lord sees their continual rejection
of Him through all of His correcting measures
and that they will remain defiant towards
Him even to their end.
In
Jeremiah chapter six, the Lord tells Judah
that their time of judgment is drawing near
and warns again of the coming danger and
destruction the army from the north will
bring. He pleads with them not to trust
in their security and to fiee from Jerusalem
now because the time will come when there
is no escape.
Jerusalem
is full of hardened hearts towards one another,
wickedness, and opposition, and the day
is coming when she will receive the same
in return as her reward from the Lord. Jeremiah
is getting weary already at this point,
as he can find no one who will listen and
repent; not even the prophets and priests
who claim to hear word from the Lord will
listen to reason.
They
refuse the wisdom of the Lord and look to
their own deceived hearts for guidance.
They have not sought Him in their prosperity,
and now the Lord has claimed He will attempt
to reach them in their destitution.
FALLOW
GROUND | Jeremiah 4:3
Fallow
ground is uncultivated land—it may have
been fruitful at one time, but it has not
been tilled for at least a year, meaning
it has become overgrown with thorns and
is completely useless in its current state.
It requires some elbow grease to break up
its hardened surface.
Of
course, Jeremiah is speaking of the hardened
hearts of the people, where God’s Word can
no longer take root, and His will is being
rejected. We are all prone to
heart-hardening
sin that lies dormant within us. These are
old habits and hidden sins that will keep
God’s Word from genuinely taking root. And
it is only dealt with by the convicting
work of the Holy Spirit—no one else can
help us with it. If we don’t partner with
Him and do the job to break it up, eventually,
God will have to do it Himself, because
He loves us that much. Heart Check.
Do
you have fallow ground that needs to be
broken up? Are there any old habits or hidden
sin that are creating a hardened state in
your heart?
CIRCUMCISE
YOUR HEART | Jeremiah 4:4
It’s
been a minute since we’ve talked about circumcision.
Remember, this was an outward symbol of
their inward devotion to God. This was something
they took great pride in. But here, God
is telling the people that there needs to
be a spiritual circumcision in their hearts—they
need to remove the fieshly desires so that
they can truly devote themselves to Him.
Still
today, there is an outward show of religion
that some take great pride in. It’s a devotion
to religion rather than Christ Himself.
The true mark of a Christian is not church
attendance, 365 checkmarks on your Bible
reading plan, filled Bible pages, water
baptism, or any other “symbol” of devotion.
But instead, it is in the unseen—what fiows
from the heart. It is wholehearted worship
that takes place behind closed doors. It
is the fruit of the Spirit that pours forth
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control. Heart Check.
Is
your heart truly circumcised? Or is there
only anoutward show of religion? What is
flowing from your heart?
SOUNDING
THE ALARM | Jeremiah 4:5-6
Blowing
the trumpet was like our modern-day sirens—it
was a way to declare a state of emergency.
Raising a standard could’ve been signaling
fires that warned the people of an incoming
attack.
I
don’t know about you, but the sirens are
blaring in my ears for our world today.
Yet, many people are deaf or tuned out to
the sound of the alarm. So now it is up
to us to blow the trumpet individually,
and this may be on a very personal level,
with our family and friends. And some different
signals and methods can be used. It doesn’t
always require fear tactics but most definitely
requires love and compassion. Heart Check.
Is
there anyone in your life tat needs to hear
that alarm? What can you do to help raise
a signal?
BAD
TENANTS | Jeremiah 4:14
I
don’t know if any of you are landlords,
but a bad tenant is the worst thing for
a homeowner. And this is what wicked thoughts
are being likened to here. We are the homeowners
and the wicked thoughts are squatting in
our minds, doing no good. They don’t pay
rent, meaning they bring no value to us,
they lie to us, cheat us, destroy us, and
give us bad credit, and our property will
likely be condemned by the time their lease
expires. So we have to do something about
it. We need to serve evil thoughts an eviction
notice. They need to be kicked out. Sometimes,
they just need to be under new ownership.
Heart Check.
Do
you have any bad tenants (thoughts) in your
house? Have you served them notice? Do you
need to bring themunder new owenership?
DO
GOOD | Jeremiah 4:22
Judah
was really good at doing evil but terrible
at doing good. When we first become Christians,
our initial goal is to get rid of sin and
avoid it at all costs. While this goal continues
throughout our walk, we are also called
to rise and do good. Godly living is more
than just avoiding sin. It is being disciplined
in all areas of our lives, it is pursuing
excellence in all things, it is being devoted,
and seeking out ways to serve God and others.
Heart Check.
How
much good are you doing?
FAITHFUL
ONE | Jeremiah 5:1
God
is challenging the people to find even one
honest person, just as He promised to spare
the people when Abraham pleaded with Him
over Sodom. Here, He promises to save Jerusalem
if they can find one faithful person. Imagine
if that were to happen today. Heart Check.
If
God were to look for one faithful person
who was willing to tell the truth about
him, would you be found as the one?
LISTENING
TO THE WIND | Jeremiah 5:13-14
The
Lord describes the prophecy of Jeremiah
as fire—these are devouring words for rebellious
people. This is directly contrasted with
the empty prophetic words from the false
prophets that were described as wind.
Jeremiah’s
words weren’t pleasant and probably not
welcomed, but at least they had substance.
We can also tend to listen to the wind—this
is why many Christians will skip the more
complex readings of judgment in the Bible
and only read the feel-good words of the
New Testament.
Those
words are not without substance, but with
this kind of heart, we tend to only want
to hear what will encourage us rather than
correct us. We will tune out when the pastor
brings a word about repentance or tithing
but tune in when there’s an empowering word
at a conference or in a self-help devotional.
Heart Check.
do
you have the tendency to only want to hear
what feels good? Are you listening to the
wind? Or are you seeking out the entire
message?
Deep
Dive
Was
the judgment upon Judah avoidable? In what
ways?
How
does this prophecy parallel our world today?
In
what ways do we see false prophecy spoken
today?
How
might we better recognize “false peace”?
How
does corrupt leadership give permission
for people to “legally” live in sin?
Does
God still call nations to repentance? How?
What role do we play in it?
Heavenly
Father, The alarms are sounding and signal
fires are blazing.
We
see and hear them clearly. I pray that it
will not invoke fear but instead light a
fire within us to become passionate for
the salvation of our own communities and
nations. Give us the words to speak and
the compassion and grace that is necessary
for their delivery.
I
pray that you will break the fallow ground
of the hardened hearts of those who we seek
to love on and to plant seeds within. May
your word not go unheard or rejected. I
pray that you will till the soil of our
nations so that when those seeds are planted,
they will take root and begin to transform
the lives of those you have called. Oh,
how it grieves our hearts at the very thought
of anyone being left for destruction or
judgment. I can’t imagine what it does to
your heart.
But
let it begin with us. Let us remove anything
that has been hidden within us that is unfruitful.
Remove any thorns or briers that are choking
the entryway for your Spirit to move within
us. If there are any thoughts that are squatting
in our minds and not paying rent, will you
serve them an eviction notice? We are under
new ownership, and they have to go. Our
homes have no place for evil or wickedness.
We declare and proclaim that the Spirit
of the Living God resides within us, and
therefore, all darkness must fiee. As your
Spirit does a house cleaning, I pray that
we will now rise with a new fire to go out
and do good. Thank you for the grace that
gives us the leeway to do so. Let us make
you proud.
Thank
you for your unfailing love that continues
to forgive over and over. We know that your
desire for us return to you drastically
outweighs your desire to bring judgment,
so I pray that we will hear the call and
listen always. Help us to share this message
with others.
We
know this message of impending doom isn’t
a fun one to hear, but it is still necessary.
We know your faithfulness and justice continue
to remain unswayed, so we are the ones who
need to align ourselves with your holiness.
May we be “the one” who is found righteous,
speaking your truth, but more importantly,
living it out.
We
will never stop praying for our leaders
or the state of our world, for we see the
state that it is in, straying from your
Word and your leading.
We
pray that they will come back to you so
that we are not led astray. Remove any callouses,
stubbornness, or unrepentance that may be
forming around our hearts so that we are
not immune to your leading. I pray that
our hearts are instead postured with respect
and awe toward you always. May our hearts
be like Jeremiah, where the things we see
cause so much grief that we have no other
choice but to cry out to you. And if we
can’t find the words, may our spirits groan
for us.
So
may every heart be humbled today before
you. Let our hearts and ears be circumcised
unto you, always listening to and living
for you alone. We know that denying the
truth won’t change the truth, so may we
never turn away from it, but face it head
on. There is nowhere else we would rather
live, than under the banner of your holy
name. I pray we will recognize false teaching
where it may exist around us, and if we
need to respond, let us do so by your leading.
We
commit to standing by the roads, looking
and asking for ancient paths, seeking out
the good way, and walking in it. And in
doing so, we will find rest for our souls.
Let it be so.
In
Jeremiah chapter seven, the Lord tells Jeremiah
his preaching will not be received by the
people. Still, preaches anyway at the Temple
gate the Lord's desire to pour His mercy
on them if they would only follow His commands
and seek only Him.
The
people speak the words of repentance but
do not follow through in their actions.
In their misplaced faith, they sacrifice
to other gods, follow pagan practices, and
have no love for their neighbor. All the
while, they also sacrifice to Yahweh and
believe He accepts their abominations.
The
Lord proclaims He will desolate Judah as
He did the kingdom of Israel when He exiled
them to Assyria, and the land will be memorialized
with a new name after the coming terrors.
He cries out that He has not accepted their
sacrifices and has done well to provoke
His anger and wrath.
In
His eyes, they are worse than their fathers
in the wilderness, for He has sent many
prophets and trials to them, and they still
do not heed His warning.
In
Jeremiah chapter eight, a prophecy is spoken
that even their ancestor's bones will not
be able to rest in peace, and those who
survive the coming invasion will pray for
death.
The
people have been provided numerous opportunities
to seek the Lord, but they have rejected
Him at every turn. They will seek escape
and refuge from the horrors to come as they
cry out to the Lord for help, but He will
no longer hear them.
The
Promised Land will be ripped from their
grasp, and despair awaits them in the land
they will be exiled.Jeremiah mourns for
the people because he knows what is to come,
yet no one will hear his cries for repentance.
In
Jeremiah chapter nine, the prophet laments
over the disasters that are prophesied over
the people. They have deceived themselves
in all their wickedness and have forgotten
the Lord and His great providence over them.
He
provides details of what the people should
expect to witness and bear in their judgment
to come and how they should prepare themselves
and their hearts before it arrives.
The
Lord has not forgotten His vow to His people,
but His people have willingly walked away
from their vow to the Lord. The Lord can
no longer bear their unfaithfulness to Him.
They have aligned their hearts with the
uncircumcised and will bear the same curse
that the Lord will bring down upon the other
wicked nations.
He
does not desire to see their destruction,
but they have provoked His wrath and are
destined to reach the punishment for their
wicked rebellion.
USING
GOD | Jeremiah 7:11
A
den of robbers refers to a cave or a hiding
place where robbers would hide out. This
is essentially what the people were doing
in the house of God—they were using their
religion to cover up for the sin that they
were trying to hide. But Jeremiah is calling
them out on this, letting them know that
God sees.
Jesus
used similar wording in Matthew 21 when
the moneychangers had set up shop in the
temple for their gain. They were taking
advantage of those who may have been naïve
and giving as they were coming to the temple
to worship. In a sense, they were using
God for gain.
And
this can still happen today.
Some
people will go to church to find a girlfriend
or boyfriend without the intention of forming
a relationship with Christ. Some will profess
their belief in God to get in the good graces
of someone for their ambition or glory.
Some will pray to get a blessing or become
successful, but they do not intend to be
a blessing. Jesus kicked out the people
who were using Him but invited in the ones
who were choosing Him. Heart Check.
Are
you using God or choosing Him?
OBEYING
THE WORD | Jeremiah 8:8-9
It’s
easy for us to read this and say, “They
had it made—they were given the Law by God
Himself. How could they reject it?”
But
we are no better than the Jews of this day,
with sometimes multiple copies of the Bible
on our bookshelves, maybe even ones that
are full of notes.
But
if we aren’t obeying the Word that is being
spoken to our hearts, we are in the same
disobedient boat. James tells us to be doers
of the Word, not just hearers (James 1:22).
Heart Check.
Are
you obeying the Word that is being ministered
to your heart?
HEART
FOR A BROKEN WORLD | Jeremiah 8:18
Here,
we see the incredible compassion in the
heart of Jeremiah.
He
is literally sick as he grieves for the
people who have gone astray. Rather than
getting angry and sparking up a social media
debate, he pleads with God to save them.
We are witnesses of a world that is dying
in its sin as it rejects God.
But
the question is… Heart Check.
Does
your heart break for those who are deliberately
rejecting God? Or do you get angry at them?
Areyou pleading for their salvation?
ADMIRATION
| Jeremiah 9:23
This
idea of “boasting in” is the same thing
as “glorying in,” praising, or celebrating
something as the source of one’s happiness
or satisfaction. When we look at the world
admires—it is wisdom, might, and riches.
In
fact, almost every war that has ever been
started was rooted in money or power.
But
God’s admiration extends beyond the surface
of this life. His priority is a relationship
with His children and the desire for us
to refiect His covenant love, justice, and
righteousness. Heart Check.
What
do you want people admire you for? What
are you glorying in?
Deep
Dive
Is
there still a deceptive assurance in religion
today?
How
can we relate to the warning about Shiloh?
Is
Christianity a religion? How can we ensure
that the religion does not take priority
over obedience and relationship?
How
does the inability to find any balm in Gilead
relate to the spiritual disease that runs
rampant today?
In
what ways do you see the devaluing of truth
today? What are the consequences of that?
How can we fight against it?
Heavenly
Father, What an opportunity we have for
self-reflection today.
There
is such a subtlety in religiosity that can
quickly turn into emptiness. I pray that
never happens. May our relationship with
you, as refiected by our submission and
obedience, always be the priority, rather
than our showing up for Bible study or going
to church. Those things are amazing and
necessary to build our devotion, but it
will mean nothing if our ears aren’t inclined
to you and our hearts aren’t submitted.
If we have ever used religion as a way to
conceal sin or to hide out, please forgive
us. We never want to use you but always
choose you. So help us to always be sincere
in our faith, love, and devotion to both
you and people.
Our
relationship with you matters most, but
out of it will fiow into the way we treat
others. Relationships on this earth matter
to you. So help us to cultivate, mend, and
restore those that have been broken along
the way. Forgive us if we have done anything
to sever trust with people. I pray they
will also be able to forgive us, and may
we also extend that forgiveness to those
who may have done the cutting.
We
know that we are not, in any way, an acceptance
to the rule nor are we immune to your commands.
So we will do whatever is necessary to amend
any ways or deeds that have led us astray.
We always want to feel safe in the shadow
of your wings but never take advantage of
this refuge of safety. We never want to
waste your grace. May we see this Word today
as a clear reminder that we are still called
to execute justice and to care for those
in need. May we never contribute to the
picture of hypocrisy that so many see in
the church today. Let us, instead, be refiectors
of your truth and righteousness.
Thank
you, that when we fall, you pick us up.
Thank you for correcting our steps when
we turn the wrong way. Thank you for pulling
us up from the slippery slope we were on
and loving us too much to allow us to continue
spiraling downward.
We
refuse to let go of your right hand that
saved and delivered us. So as you continue
ministering to our hearts, may we walk in
obedience, being doers of the Word and not
just hearers. Our faith doesn’t stop at
salvation. As long as we are living and
breathing, we are to be moving in step with
you.
May
our hearts be full of compassion the way
Jeremiah’s was. May they break when yours
does. I pray that we will see things through
your lenses and carry your heart when we
look at this broken world. We plead for
its salvation. May your mercy continue to
be poured out as you call out to those who
are lost. We stand in the gap for the ones
who may not hear the call or who may be
ignorant in their response. Touch them in
a divine way. Let them experience your grace
so tangibly that they cannot deny your existence.
And I pray they will respond with humility
and submission.
Protect
our ears and hearts from any false teachings.
We know the enemy wants us to think that
there is no urgency or that we have plenty
of time to get it together. But the truth
is, you will come like a thief in the night,
so I pray that we will be ready. And in
the meantime, may we warrior up and gather
the troops so that we will be prepared when
that day comes. Increase the capacity for
your truth so that it overfiows from our
hearts to the world.
For
now, the harvest is ripe and summer is here.
It is a season of growing and gathering.
Let us not miss this window of opportunity
but take full advantage of it to continue
growing our own fruit and helping to cultivate
others’. May we understand the true value
of your steadfast love, righteousness, and
justice, and glory in it always. This is
what we want to be known for, as everything
else is fieeting. So let us grow in our
understanding of who you are and may our
relationship only grow stronger from this
day forward.
In
this chapter 10, Jeremiah contrasts the
living God with the lifeless idols worshiped
by the nations.
The
chapter begins with a warning not to learn
the ways of the nations or fear their worthless
idols, which are man-made and powerless.
Jeremiah ridicules these idols, describing
how they are crafted by humans, decorated
with silver and gold, but unable to speak,
move, or save.
In
contrast, the Lord is the true and living
God, the eternal King who made the heavens
and the earth. The chapter ends with a prayer
from Jeremiah, asking God to correct him
with justice and to pour out His wrath on
the nations that do not acknowledge Him.
In
chapter 11, God instructs Jeremiah to remind
the people of Judah about the covenant made
with their ancestors. This covenant included
blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience.
However, the people of Judah and Jerusalem
have broken this covenant by worshiping
other gods, leading to God's judgment. The
people are warned that disaster will come
upon them because of their disobedience,
and God declares that He will not listen
to their cries when they are in trouble.
Jeremiah
also faces opposition from his own townspeople
in Anathoth, who plot to kill him for prophesying
against them. God assures Jeremiah that
He will punish them for their wickedness.
In
chapter 12, Jeremiah expresses his frustration
and confusion over the prosperity of the
wicked and the su£ering of the righteous.
He questions why the wicked prosper and
live at ease while he, who is faithful to
God, faces so much hardship. God responds
by warning Jeremiah that his challenges
are only beginning; if he is wearied by
minor trials, how will he endure the more
significant challenges ahead?
God
also assures Jeremiah that He will punish
those who have wronged him. The chapter
ends with God promising restoration for
Israel after judgment but also extending
hope to the nations if they turn to Him.
This
chapter features two symbolic actions. First,
God instructs Jeremiah to buy a linen belt,
wear it, and then hide it in a crevice.
When Jeremiah retrieves the belt, it is
ruined and useless. This symbolizes how
Judah and Jerusalem, once close to God,
have become corrupt and useless due to their
pride and idolatry.
The
second symbol is a message about wineskins,
where God says He will fill the people with
drunkenness and destroy them. The chapter
ends with a plea for repentance and a lament
over the pride and arrogance that has led
to Judah's downfall. God warns that unless
the people repent, they will be taken into
captivity.
SO
BE IT | Jeremiah 11:1-5
The
Lord is bringing them back to their original
covenant. He reminds them that they must
obey if they want to be blessed. But if
they did not, they would be cursed.
Knowing
that they were disobedient people, this
wouldn’t be a pleasant reminder to the ears
of Jeremiah, especially if he had to be
the bearer of this bad news to the people.
But he didn’t buck up against it.
He
simply said, “Amen,” or “so be it.”
I
wonder if we would be the same in hearing
that disaster will come upon our nation
because of its disobedience (this is not
a prophetic message, but just an example).
Heart Check.
How
do you react to hearing God's messages of
judgement? Do you agree waih an "amen"
and "so be it" or do you try to
deny or repudiate it?
PREPARATION
| Jeremiah 12:5
God
isn’t directly answering Jeremiah’s question,
but He is implying in this question-answer
that Jeremiah needs to allow this present
challenge to prepare him for a greater one
ahead. Every trial we face is an opportunity
to grow in our faith and to allow for a
learning experience from which we can later
draw strength.
Yesterday,
we attended my son’s scrimmage football
game. We walked into it without much hope
after two seasons of not winning a single
game. And would you believe that these boys
walked through the two teams they played?
And
now, we are going into this football season
with our heads held high and with new hope
and excitement for this team. What we go
through today may seem daunting, but when
we look back on it, we will see how God
strengthened us and carried us through,
and it will give us hope that He will do
even greater things in our more significant
struggles. Heart Check.
Are
you able to see today's challenges as preparation
for what is ahead? How are you responding?
CLING
| Jeremiah 13:1-17
The
whole purpose of the Lord using this picture
of soiled underwear and drunkenness was
to illustrate the way the people’s pride
rendered them useless and worthless as they
turned to their selfish desires. They ultimately
rejected their purpose of clinging to the
Lord and bringing Him glory.
This
Word brought me so much hope today because
I woke up this morning with so much grief
in my heart after discussing with family
last about the state of our world and our
role as Christians in it.
Of
course, this conversation was centered around
politics, and there was a clear divide in
the room, with Christian values on both
sides of the fence. I went to bed so conflicted.
But this Word confirmed in my heart
why I stand on my convictions. It confirmed
my view of God as all-loving but also just
and righteous. He hasn’t changed, so we
have not been given permission to live as
we please.
I
feel we are only going to be more and more
involved in these types of conversations
and confiicts with people—even other Christians—and
this is why we need to cling to the Lord
and cling to the Word. The antichrist spirit
is already in existence and is seeking to
blur the true character of God so that we
will look at God in a false manner and live
as we please. Heart Check.
What
are you clinging to? God and his word? Or
people and politics?
Deep
Dive
What
is something that is powerless today that
many people fear? Could this be considered
idolatry?
What
infiuences of other cultures are seen as
acceptable in society that do not align
with the commandments of God?
What
parallels can you draw between God’s covenant
with Israel and your personal relationship
with Him?
If
we are no longer held to the curses of the
old covenant, what consequences follow our
disobedience?
How
do we reconcile the wicked prospering with
our righteous God?
How
does pride bring ruin to our lives today?
Personally, communally, and globally?
Heavenly
Father, There is none like you, for your
soverignty is unmatched.
We
live in a world full of idolatry today.
We may shy away from describing it as such,
but when we read this word today, anything
that is made by the hands of man to bring
glory to anything other than you is no less
than stupid and foolish. Even if these things
bring satisfaction today, they will not
last. But you alone are everlasting.
You
are the Creator of all things, so help us
to remember that when we begin to discipline
ourselves in other things or even when we
begin to fear things that are out of our
control. Help us to remember that the entire
universe is in the palm of your hands, so
we need not fear. You are all we need—you
are our portion. So may we continue to seek
you so that when we feel a lack, we can
find fulfillment in you.
While
it may seem a little scary to do so, we
echo the prayer of Jeremiah in asking you
to correct us, O Lord, but please do so
in justice. You know what is right and what
is best for us, so we will trust you to
gently lead us in the right direction when
we begin to stray or sidestep. You have
given us a sobering reminder of the consequences
of disobedience. But you always follow it
with a reminder of your commitment to your
covenantal love. This is what will fuel
our resilience when we fall down. We know
there is nothing that can save us the way
you will, so may we always look to you as
our beacon of hope and nothing else of this
world. May we always honor the covenant
we have made with you as we keep our commitments.
When
we face adversity, I pray that we will remain
faithful, just as Jeremiah did. We know
that no weapon formed against us can prosper.
And if God is for us, who can be against
us. This includes those who are closest
to us, for we know that a prophet is not
honored in his hometown. Sometimes it’s
the ones who think they know us best who
refuse to let us be transformed in their
minds. But we can’t worry about what they
think, for that will only hold us under
with shame.
Their
view of us is not what matters. What matters
is the way you see us—and that’s a child
who has been washed cleaned, redeemed, restored,
and renewed. Thank you for doing that work
for us. We could never do it on our own.
Thank
you for your willingness to allow us to
have honest conversations and to ask you
questions that are rooted in our emotion.
You already know what we’re thinking anyway,
so we are better o£ speaking with
you about it. We never want to question
your character or nature, but we definitely
want to be able to understand it better,
especially when we see things like evil
prevailing. But we do know it is only temporary
and that you are sovereign. You know better
than we do, for your thoughts are higher
than ours, so help us to trust that.
We
also thank you for the challenges we face
today, for they are only building strength
and faith for tomorrow. Help us to see that
so that we do not lose hope in the middle.
The fact that we are still alive means you
have brought us through a whole lot of messes.
So we can trust that you will do it again.
Your protection and grace will only grow
with the intensity of our struggle. We will
keep our eyes fixed on the assurance of
divine justice and your future restoration
and glory. We desperately cling to you and
your Word, as we seek to give glory to you.
Jeremiah
14 The people of Judah had been experiencing
droughts and Jeremiah brings word from the
Lord that He has caused the rain not to
fall in an attempt to humble and gain the
attention of Judah.
A
modeled prayer of repentance is provided
by Jeremiah, but the Lord declares when
the people pray in this manner their words
are meaningless as they live in contradiction
to them. Their prayers will no longer be
heard, and their future is sealed as they
do not desire to turn from their ways.
The
false prophets deceive the people with false
assurance that the lack of rain is not from
the Lord. The Lord declares they do not
speak for Him, and they will be punished
for their deception. The people who believe
their lies will also be judged alongside
them when they do not heed the words of
the Lord.
Jeremiah
speaks to the Lord and wrestles with the
coming calamity the people will soon endure.
Jeremiah
15 The Lord is firm in His judgment to come
upon Judah, and declares if the godly prayers
of Moses or Samuel were spoken not even
they could detour their imminent death and
captivity. The Lord is weary in forgiving
their continual unfaithfulness, and reminds
them He has warned that day would eventually
arrive.
Jeremiah
laments the judgment he is anointed by God
to proclaim. The Lord assures the promise
that He will provide a remnant out of exile
and He will also protect Jeremiah through
the calamity.
Jeremiah
16 The Lord commands Jeremiah to live as
though he were living through the judgment
presently as a sign to the people it is
coming. He is forbidden to marry and to
live as though he is mourning the loss of
his loved ones. He declares the Lord's words
of judgment and of the restoration to come
out of the exile.
The
Lord declares He has seen all of their sin
and wickedness and nothing has been hidden
from Him, and He will bring justice down
on them and the land. A future time is declared
where the Lord will not only gather the
people of Israel together once more, but
the Gentiles will also gather to worship
Him.
Jeremiah
17 The deep depravity of Judah's sin and
idolatry is described, and is said to be
remembered by many generations to come.
Themes of the foolishness of trusting in
man, one's own heart, and in wealth are
discussed as is their lack of trust in the
Lord who sits upon the throne.
Jeremiah
knows the Lord is their true salvation and
cries out for spiritual deliverance, and
to be justified before the very people who
mock him for speaking for the Lord. The
Lord rebukes Judah for dishonoring the Sabbath
and speaks curses that will befall them
for their disobedience
BE
A DONKEY | Jeremiah 14:6
Donkeys
often get a bad reputation, but their nature
reveals a strength worth emulating. Known
for their stubbornness, donkeys are also
fiercely protective and territorial. They
have sharp eyesight, allowing them to detect
danger from afar, although they are more
vulnerable to close-up threats. Interestingly,
donkeys are often placed in herds of cows
because they are sociable with them and
will aggressively fend off predators.
In
our social circles, we can take a cue from
the donkey. Like them, we should be vigilant,
watching out for potential dangers, including
the "droughts" that may a£ect
our relationships—times of spiritual or
emotional dryness. Standing guard against
indi£erence and apathy, even when
it requires challenging those we love, mirrors
Jeremiah’s call to stand firm in the face
of adversity. Heart Check.
Are
you vigilant and on guard for the dangers
approaching your social circles?
HAPPY
FEET | Jeremiah 14:10
Like
the character Mumble in the movie "Happy
Feet," who couldn’t restrain his own
ambitions, we too must be careful where
our feet lead us. Mumble’s journey aka the
penguin with happy feet, was marked by selfish
pursuits, yet it eventually brought him
back to his family and redemption. This
serves as a reminder to examine where we
are walking—are we following a path of faithfulness,
or are we straying away from the Lord? It’s
easy to wander if our steps are guided by
unrepentant desires rather than by God’s
truth. Heart Check:
Are
your feet joyful and faitful, or are they
wondering like "happy feet" away
from the Lord's path?
WOES
| Jeremiah 15:10-18
Seeing
the struggles of God’s chosen servants,
like Jeremiah, brings comfort because it
shows they are human—just like us.
Despite
receiving direct messages from God and spending
40 years proclaiming them, Jeremiah grew
weary and frustrated. Serving God isn’t
easy. It can be lonely and challenging to
stay committed to the mission God has placed
on your life, especially when it feels like
you're standing alone.
Even
today, many pastors struggle to stay in
their roles, with an average tenure of just
4 to 11 years. If those trained in ministry
face such di£iculties, how much more
challenging might it be for the rest of
us without formal theological training?
Starting
or committing to a Bible study or any servant
role in ministry can be daunting. It requires
perseverance, especially in the face of
life's challenges and frustrations. Heart
Check:
Are
you staying committed to doing the work
of the Lord, even when it's frustrating,
inconvenient, or difficult?
ESTABLISHED
ROOTS | Jeremiah 17:5-8
The
famous scripture in Jeremiah 17 speaks powerfully
about trusting in the Lord and being like
a tree planted by water, with roots that
run deep and remain strong even in times
of drought. This passage reminds me of a
recent tragedy that deeply impacted my local
church community.
While
I was traveling for work and family, a family
from our church, known for their southern
gospel singing, tragically lost their lives
in a plane accident. The Nelons—Kelly Nelon
Clark, her husband Jason Clark, and their
daughter, Amber Nelon Kistler—were beloved
members of the gospel community and their
sudden passing shook everyone.
Although
I never had the chance to meet the Nelons
personally, I felt the profound impact of
their lives during their homegoing service,
which was broadcasted live. The testimonies
of their faith and dedication to Christ
touched me deeply, as did the sight of my
pastor weeping behind each speaker. Despite
the grief, there was a renewed determination
in our church to live out the gospel with
even greater fervor.
This
tragedy has inspired me to deepen my own
commitment to the church and my community.
I want to plant my roots next to the spring
of living water and grow in my faith, nourishing
those around me with the Word of God. Heart
Check:
Are
you ready to plant your roots and be strong,
living testimony of God's love in your community?
And in your church?
HEART
TRANSPLANT | Jeremiah 17:9-10
This
passage is a sobering reminder that our
hearts can be deceitful, often steering
us away from God's will.
It
challenges us to trust the Lord and not
rely on our understanding or selfish desires.
The Lord examines our hearts, revealing
what truly lies within.
I
want a heart transplant—a transformation
that aligns my will with God's. I desire
for my actions and the intentions of my
heart to refiect a purified and devoted
spirit. Heart Check
What
would the Lord find in your heart today?
Do you need a heart transplant?
Deep
Dive
How
does Jeremiah's lamenting refiect the emotional
burden of a prophet in a sinful society?
What
aspects of human nature does Jeremiah highlight
as contributing to the people’s persistent
sin?
In
what ways does the fake repentance of Israel
mirror the deceitful hearts Jeremiah describes?
How
does the concept of a deceitful heart challenge
our understanding of true repentance?
What
are the key di£erences between the
cursed man who trusts in man and the blessed
man who trusts in the Lord?
Heavenly
Father, we thank you for your mercy and
grace, which are made avaliable to us through
Jesus Christ. Though we deserve judgement,
You have provided a way for us to be reconciled
to You.
We
come before You with humble hearts, recognizing
that Your Word is a mirror that refiects
the true condition of our souls.
As
we study the warnings and lamentations of
the prophet Jeremiah, we are reminded of
the depth of human sin and the deceitfulness
of our hearts. Like Israel, we too are prone
to wander, to be complacent, and to chase
after things that do not satisfy. But, Lord,
we do not want to be like those whose hearts
are hardened and whose feet follow paths
of destruction.
Father,
search our hearts. If there is anything
within us that is not pleasing to You, bring
it to light. We ask for a heart transplant,
a renewal of our innermost being, so that
our desires align with Your will. We don’t
want to be content with superficial faith
or half-hearted devotion. We want to be
fully committed to You, knowing that only
in You do we find true life and joy.
Your
Word in Jeremiah 17 reminds us that the
heart is deceitful above all things and
beyond cure—who can understand it? But You,
Lord, search the heart and examine the mind.
You see past our facades, our excuses, and
our attempts to justify ourselves.
You
know our deepest thoughts and motivations,
and we cannot hide from You. So, we ask,
Lord, that You purify our hearts. Take away
our stubbornness, our pride, and our fear.
Replace them with humility, integrity, and
a fervent desire to follow You no matter
the cost.
Lord,
we acknowledge that Your judgment is real
and just. As Jeremiah wept over the fate
of Jerusalem, we too must recognize that
retribution is coming for those who turn
away from You.
Your
Word in 2 Thessalonians warns us that retribution
is still coming at the end of days and that
those who do not obey the gospel of our
Lord Jesus Christ will face everlasting
destruction.
We
do not take this lightly, Lord. We do not
want to be among those who are cast away
from Your presence. Help us to take this
warning seriously and to live in a way that
refiects our commitment to You.
We
are no longer condemned if we willingly
accept the gift of salvation through Your
Son. Thank You for the cross, for the blood
that was shed for our sins, and for the
resurrection that gives us hope of eternal
life. We are grateful that through Jesus,
we can stand before You, not as condemned
sinners, but as beloved children who are
forgiven and free.
Lord,
help us to examine our lives and see where
we may be wasting away in apathy or indifference.
Strengthen
our resolve to follow You wholeheartedly,
to be ready for the day of Your return,
and to live with a sense of urgency. May
we not grow weak or complacent but be vigilant
in our walk with You. We know that time
is short, and we want to be found faithful
when You come.
Thank
You, Lord, for Your faithfulness, for Your
patience, and for the clear warnings You
have given us through Your Word.
We
pray that we would not take them lightly
but that we would allow them to shape our
lives and draw us closer to You. May our
lives be a testimony of Your grace, and
may we proclaim Your glory to those around
us.
In
Jeremiah 18, the Lord provides an object
lesson to Jeremiah to explain His plan for
the future of Israel. He alone created them,
and He alone has the sovereign right to
punish or show them mercy according to their
deeds.
The
Lord tells Jeremiah that He plans to have
their punishment fit their crime. He will
repay them precisely according to their
evil deeds. The people respond with indignation
because they see no need to turn from their
ways. Their lack of faith in God has led
them to doubt that the Lord will carry out
any judgment on them.
Jeremiah
prays to the Lord for help with his enemies.
He prays that the Lord will vindicate him
from those who have spoken out against him
and spare him as he continues to pray for
them.
In
Jeremiah 19, the Lord sends Jeremiah to
the Potsherd Gate with the elders among
the people and the priests. He is to proclaim
that the Lord is bringing judgment upon
Judah for their wicked and faithless deeds.
Jeremiah
performs an object lesson for the elders
of the total destruction the Lord has prophesied
on Judah and declares the Valley of Hinnom
is where they will bury mass casualties
in the future.
In
Jeremiah 20, the people are tired of hearing
Jeremiah's warning, and Pashhur beats him
and places him in the stocks to silence
him. Jeremiah proclaims that Pashhur will
soon deeply lament on the day of judgment,
not heeding his warning to save the people.
Jeremiah
speaks of the compulsion he has to continue
announcing the Lord's judgment. He wrestles
with the pain of continuing his mission
despite anyone paying regard to his words.
He
praises the Lord for His unfailing presence
and strength as he faces rejection and trials
for speaking the truth. He proclaims his
faith in the Lord to continue to sustain
him through the darkness he feels inside
from depression.
In
Jeremiah 21, the Babylonian army headed
towards Judah, and King Zedekiah sent the
prophet Jeremiah to plead to the Lord on
their behalf. Jeremiah speaks the word of
the Lord that He will not help them as they
face destruction, and no one will be spared
from the wrath to come.
Those
who survive and are not killed will be captured
and taken into exile by Babylon. They did
not repent as he has called their generations
to, and now judgment is upon them.
In
Jeremiah 22, the Lord is prepared to fight
against Judah with their enemy, the Babylonians.
Jeremiah
again speaks the word of the Lord to King
Zedekiah: he should wholly repent and turn
entirely from wickedness, and he shall be
rewarded. The Lord plans to make an example
for the nations as to His power and might
with His people. If the Lord will execute
such judgment upon His people, what chance
would they have against the Lord?
Judgment
and curses are spoken in memory of Jehoahaz,
Jehoiakim, the rulers of Jerusalem, and
Jeconiah.
UNPOPULAR
OPINION | Jeremiah 18:18
Here
the people are basically condemning Jeremiah
for daring to rise and speak out against
the false message of the prophets. He was
challenging their moral behavior but also
their leadership. And even if this was an
unpopular opinion, he never shied away from
it, nor did he fear their attempts to silence
him. If we, as Christians, truly stand for
what the Word of God says and believe that
what it says is true, by society’s standards,
our opinion is not the popular one. And
God’s Word, if spoken by us, is often skewed
as hate. So what do we do? Heart Check.
Are
you afraid to speak out against injustice
and immorality, or to stand up for righteousness
and holiness, especially if it is unpopular
opinion?
BUSYBODIES
| Jeremiah 19:5-6
At
this point, the people are so deep in their
sin, that what they were doing seemed right
in their eyes. They were busy in their religious
performance, but God said,” I never told
you to do that. In fact, I never even considered
it.” Sometimes I wonder if we do things
in the name of religion, that God never
called us to do. But somehow we think that
being a busybody is somehow refiective of
our faith. But God is like, “I’m over here
guys. Y’all are so consumed with what you’re
doing, that you’re forgetting about me.”
Heart Check.
Would
you be able to say what you do each day
has been commanded by God? Do you live your
life with your ears inclined to His commands?
CONSISTENT
COMMUNICATION | Jeremiah 22:20-21
God
only had their attention when they were
in need. Otherwise, when things were going
good, they tuned Him out. We can do this
too, when we are struggling or need guidance,
we will incline our ears to His word, hoping
for a word of encouragement or wisdom. But
when things are smooth sailing, that desire
to hear from Him isn’t consistent. Heart
Check.
Do
you have consistent communication with the
Lord? Or do you tune Him out when things
are going well?
Deep
Dive
How
do we reconcile God’s sovereignty with free
will? How does His willingness to relent
factor in?
How
do we deal with societal norms that contradict
the teachings of God?
How
can we experience victory in times of confinement
or testing?
How
does Jeremiah’s persecution relate to you
personally? How would you handle this type
of torment or persecution?
Heavenly
Father, We submit ourselves to you, our
Almighty God. Thank you for choosing, molding,
and using us for your greater purpose. Thank
you for taking our defects and brokenness
and turning it into masterpieces.
You
can redeem anything and anyone, no matter
how marred, and we are so grateful that
you chose to do that with us. I pray that
we are never found unsuitable for your great
purpose. If we ever do fail to listen to
your voice or fall out of the intended good
for our lives, I pray that we will quickly
return to your hand and change our ways
so that we will get back on the spinning
wheel, under your loving care. We know you
desire to do good in our lives, so may we
never forget that.
Give
us the discernment to know what is truth
and what is a lie. I pray that we will never
shy away from truth, especially when it
is the unpopular opinion. Help us to be
bold and stand up for what is right and
to speak out against what is evil. But may
it always be done in love and with grace,
just the way that you would Jesus.
May
our ears be tuned in with your voice. I
pray we are always on the same channel,
so that we do not forsake your commands.
I pray that we will hear your instruction
and do it. But please help us to know the
di£erence between your prompting and
that of the enemy. We don’t want to do something
that you have not commanded or even thought
of.
Thank
you, that in our darkest hours, we can call
upon and rely on you. Thank you for showing
us that even if we get into a place of depression
or despair, you are not condemning us, but
you still love us too much to leave us there.
Jeremiah served as an example of one who
loves and praises you, but still struggles.
Yet he still didn’t waiver on his message
or commitment, so may we too persevere,
even in the midst of our own despair, looking
to you as the source of our strength. We
know that you see us better than we see
ourselves, as you test the heart and the
mind.
So
may we continue to live our lives in obedience
to you, and always committed to equity,
compassion, and righteousness. If we fail
to do so, please correct us where necessary.
Show us where we can be of help with those
who are helpless and needy.
I
pray that we will seek you always, not just
in time of need, but even when things are
going great. I pray that our success or
comfort never distracts us from our devotion
to you. We surrender all today as your humble
servants.
Jeremiah
23, the word of the Lord comes to Jeremiah
to rebuke the leadership in Judah and to
pronounce the judgment to come upon them
for deceiving and leading the people in
continual wickedness.
The
Lord promises to provide godly leadership
when He gathers the remnants from out of
their exile, and they will rejoice to the
Lord for His provision and be brought back
to the land of Israel.
The
Messiah is prophesied to be raised from
the line of David in the future.
Jeremiah's
heart is broken by the false prophets that
speak over the people. The Lord exposes
their wicked deeds and the judgments they
will face when the Lord repays them for
leading His people astray.
In
Jeremiah 25, the Lord reveals He will leave
the land of Israel in judgment and desolation
for 70 years. At the conclusion of the 70
years, the Lord will punish the nation of
Babylon for the evil they have committed
and have poured out upon His people when
they carried them into exile. The Lord has
plans to bring wrath and judgment upon the
nations, but will first deal with Judah
as an example to the world.
A
glimpse of prophecy is spoken by the Lord
of His ultimate final judgment upon all
mankind.
CARING
FOR THE FLOCK | Jeremiah 23:1-2
We
might be quick to tune this message out
practically if we are not in any sort of
leadership position. But remember, we are
all called to be disciple-makers, meaning
we are all called to be shepherds and to
feed the fiock.
If
you go to Ezekiel 34:11-16, you can read
about the role of shepherd. It tends to,
look after, rescue, leads, and pastures,
seeks the lost, provides nourishment, gives
water and rest, binds up the injured, and
heals the sick.
And
if you think about it, these are all aligned
with acts of mercy and love. We all have
people within our care. Heart Check.
Who
has the Lord entrusted in your care? Are
you sheperding them?
FRYING
FISH | Jeremiah 23:23-24
The
Lord is asking, “Do they really think I
don’t know or can’t see what’s going on?”
They
may have gotten to the point of thinking
that they could hide from God because of
the limited nature of the local deities
they were worshipping. They lost sight of
God's omnipresence. We, too, can get this
wrong when we think that our problems are
way too big for God to handle.
A
sign of that is the amount of weight or
anxiety we have when we deal with tough
issues. We don’t allow Him to carry our
burden because perhaps we think He’s too
busy, or maybe our problems are even too
small for Him to deal with because He’s
got bigger fish to fry.
But
our God can fry all kinds of fish, from
sardines to yellowfin tuna. Heart Check.
How
big is your God? Do you give Him all of
your fish to fry?
WORD
OF FIRE | Jeremiah 23:29
With
the Lord likening His Word to fire, we can
look at how that would be applied to us.
Depending on what is going on in our lives
and what Word we read, it can either be
warm and comforting or it can burn.
But
when you look at the spiritual nature of
fire in the Bible, the intention is always
to refine and purify, even in the midst
of judgment. At the end of the day, God’s
heart is always to restore. But it will
be up to us and what we allow His Word to
do in our hearts. Heart Check.
What
does the fire of God's Word feel like to
you? Is it burning, comforting, or refining?
#BELIKEWHEAT
| Jeremiah 23:29
Secondly,
God was saying here that false prophets
were basically like straw, meaning they
were weak and had little substance.
Therefore,
when that refining fire came upon them,
they would be burnt up and blown away. But
true prophets are like wheat—they are life-giving
and nourishing to those they speak to. We
all have a responsibility to share the gospel,
but if we aren’t also living it, then we
are like straw-- our words are going to
be empty and blow away from those we try
to witness to.
If
they don’t see how God’s Word has changed
us, what would make them think it can change
them?
But
if we are living what we are preaching,
we will be like wheat and multiply the grain
for a greater harvest. So we have to #belikewheat.
Heart Check.
Are
you the wheat or the straw? Are you living
out the very Word you are reading and speaking?
Deep
Dive
Do
you see evidence of false teachers or leaders
today? How can we ensure we are not falling
prey to their deception?
Map
out the term “righteous branch.” How did
Jesus fulfill this depiction?
What
does the vision of the basket of figs say
about God’s character overall?
How
can we ensure we remain in the good fig
basket?
What
warnings are being spoken by God and how
do you see people ignoring the call?
What
heartbeats of God do you see within this
prophecy?
Heavenly
Father, Jehovah Tskidkenu, thank you for
covering us with your righteousness.
[Jehovah
Tsidkenu is one of the names of God in the
Bible. It combines God’s personal name (Jehovah
or Yahweh) with the Hebrew word for “righteousness”
(tsidkenu).
Together
this name for God means “The Lord Is Our
Righteousness.”]
We
are so grateful that despite our fiaws,
faults, and failures, you see righteousness
in us through your Holy Spirit that dwells
within us. Thank you for being our righteous
Branch, our Good and True Shepherd, and
our Savior.
In
the middle of this stern message, we always
find the promise of hope, which you o£ered
to the people through the Messiah and still
do so today. Jesus, we are so grateful for
the way you care for your fiock. I pray
that we will mirror that in the way that
we care for, feed, protect, guide, seek
out, and lead others. Show us who you have
placed in our care if we are not aware.
We want to be a people who o£er your
goodness to the world.
Help
us to understand you so that we never misrepresent
you or lead others astray by misinterpreting
your word.
When
we test the spirits, please give us discerning
hearts as you illuminate the truth and the
lies. If any lines have been blurred or
if we are ever walking in murky water, clear
away the impurity so we can see better.
If we have been deceived in any way, bring
us back to the truth.
We
know that one of the best ways to protect
that truth in our hearts is to continue
to strengthen ourselves in your Word so
that we are not fioundering when we hit
a bit of mud. We are grateful for teachers,
preachers and authors who give us supplemental
study tools, but I pray that it never becomes
greater than the Word itself. Let us be
diligent and faithful to seek you in it
each day.
We
thank you for the correction that your Word
brings, even the ones that sting a bit.
You correct the ones you love, so we will
celebrate that.
I
pray that we will heed the warnings so that
we can avoid needing even greater adjustments.
But even so, it is just a greater display
of your love for us, for your heart is always
to restore your people and your steadfast
love never ceases.
May
we be like the basket of good figs that
are always in your protective care and under
your watchful eye.
We
never want to leave your sight, but even
if for a season, you always promise to bring
us back if we are willing. Thank you for
rebuilding, replanting, and renewing our
hearts so that we desire to wholeheartedly
follow after you.
In
Jeremiah 26, the Lord commands Jeremiah
to speak repentance again to the people
of Judah and at the Temple courts. He tells
the people that the Lord plans to desolate
Judah as He did the kingdom of Israel.
All
of Judah is angered by his words and decides
he should be put to death for speaking out
a curse upon the Lord's people.They bring
him before the courts, and he pleads his
mission from the Lord.
He
is set free; however, certain men in the
city attempt to warn Jeremiah not to continue,
or he will meet the same fate as Urijah,
the prophet.
In
Jeremiah 27, the Lord requires Jeremiah
to prophesy to Judah and the surrounding
nations using a visual of bonds and yokes
as he proclaims the Lord has decided to
hand them over to the king of Babylon and
the people will remain in servitude to him.
He
pleads with the people to stop listening
and taking advice from their corrupt spiritual
advisors and prophets for they do not speak
for the Lord. If they continue to listen
to their guidance they will bring them to
destruction. The actual fate of the Temple
vessels is debated between Jeremiah and
the false prophets. In Jeremiah 28, the
son of a prophet, Hananiah, contradicts
the word spoken by Jeremiah. He speaks only
of victory over Babylon and the returning
of the Temple's vessels.
Jeremiah
speaks in defense of the Lord and is called
to rebuke Hananiah for his deception of
hope to the people.
In
Jeremiah 29, the prophet Jeremiah writes
a letter to those who are now exiled in
Babylon about how their conduct should be
in their new land. The Lord desires them
not to resist and to settle in preparation
for the future. They are now under the correction
of the Lord, and while they remain there
He gives direction to not completely despair
and to fiourish and have hope that the Lord
will one day carry out His plan to deliver
them.
Those
who remain in Judah and Jerusalem believe
themselves safe from the Lord's judgment
in their self-righteousness. Jeremiah reminds
the people that the Lord had declared all
would come under judgment and no one would
escape. The people should now anticipate
battling against the sword again and natural
disasters.
The
false prophets Ahab, Zedekiah, and Shemaiah
receive word from the Lord of their untimely
demise for the corruption and deceit they
have proclaimed to the people.
BOLD
FAITH | Jeremiah 26:12-15
This
argument of defense by Jeremiah has been
praised by scholars as being noble. He held
his ground, regardless of his life being
on the line.
He
did not waver from speaking all the words
commanded by the Lord, even when he was
being threatened. At this point, he could’ve
so quickly said, “I’m done with you guys,”
and let the Lord handle them, but he didn’t.
He
still loved them enough to continue to call
them to repentance while maintaining a humble
heart and understanding the power and authority
they had over him. This took some significant
courage! I wonder if we would do the
same? Heart Check.
How
bold is your faith? Are you able to hold
your ground in standing on the entirety
of God's Word when you face opposition?
HEART
CHECK | Jeremiah 26:16-19
What’s
interesting here is that even though they
found Jeremiah innocent, they were doing
it on the premise of saving their own lives.
However, they completely missed the point
of the message to repent. It’s almost as
if they were doing the bare minimum just
to stay out of hell but nothing beyond that.
They
weren’t applying any other part of the Lord's
word. This would be like reading God’s word,
and it never checks your heart. It’s all
head knowledge but no heart knowledge. Heart
Check.
How
much does God's Word check your heart? Are
you hearing Him speak directly to you when
you hear it?
SOURCE
OF TRUTH | Jeremiah 27:5-7
This
would’ve been a hard message to hear and
accept. How could God possibly use a foreign
enemy to fulfill his purpose? But He is
proclaiming His sovereignty here—He can
use anything or anyone He wants.
But
the people don’t want to hear this. So they’re
going to their source of happy news—they’re
turning the channel to the media station
that will agree with their ideal. But sadly,
those people are religious fakes and telling
them lies to the point of leading them to
rebel against God.
This
is happening today in the way that we will
go to social media channels that fit our
agenda or we will say, “Just Google it,”
as if Google is the ultimate authority.
But
the truth is, whatever answer you are looking
for, you will find it on Google, social,
or YouTube because every opinion is on the
web. The algorithm is looking for you according
to what you are searching for.
So,
if you are leaning into a lie, you will
continue to be fed a lie. This is why we
must stay rooted in His Word and sensitive
to the leading of His Spirit. This is the
only source of truth in a sea of lies. Heart
Check.
What
is your source of truth? What is feeding
your mind?
EXILE
| Jeremiah 29:6
Just
because the Lord is leading the people into
exile does not mean that He wants to destroy
them, nor does it mean He forgot about them.
In fact, quite the opposite—He wants them
to increase and not decrease. He wants them
to grow and not shrink back.
We
can all go through seasons where we feel
as though we are on the shelf or we are
exiled from what we thought we were called
to do.
I
remember this happening to me when my husband
made me quit my job just as I was getting
promoted to morning news anchor.
I
didn’t understand why God would move me
out of what I thought was His calling on
my life. But this was His Word that He spoke
to me during that season: “Don’t shrink
back.”
During
that time, I had the opportunity to dive
more into ministry and grow my relationship
with Him. It was also a season of breaking
and disobedience that was also necessary
for my growth and faith.
But
I would’ve never been doing this today had
I not gone into that season of exile. I
also wouldn’t be here today if I had chosen
to shrink back and decrease instead of growing
in other areas. Heart Check.
Are
you in season of exile? How can you grow
in the meantime?
BE
A BLESSING | Jeremiah 29:1-7
Here
is another powerful Word being spoken that
would likely go against their natural feelings
and emotions.
The
Lord tells the people that they are going
to be here for a while, so they may as well
get comfortable. He didn’t tell them to
stockpile weapons, riot, assassinate leaders,
or attempt to overthrow the government.
Instead, He said to get comfortable, pray
for their captors, and find a way to be
a blessing to the city they’re being taken
to.
This
tells me that no matter where you’re at,
whether it’s in a job you hate, under an
administration you don’t like, or in a situation
you have no control over, the best thing
you can do is pray for the people who are
holding you down and find a way to be a
blessing.
As
you do, the time will pass, and the Lord
will rescue, you because exile is temporary.
Heart Check.
Are
you praying for your captors? Are you finding
ways to be a blessing and to seek peace
wher you're at?
Deep
Dive
How
does chapter 26 relate to the current state
of our world?
How
can we apply Jeremiah’s bold courage to
our lives personally?
How
might the news, social media, and other
media outlets be considered false teachers
today? Who else may be leading us astray?
Heavenly
Father, Thank you for our great defender.
I
can’t help but think that this was why Jeremiah
was so bold in his faith. I pray that we
will mirror the same courage that Jeremiah
did in the face of opposition.
What
incredible courage he had to respond boldly
and to hold his ground, even when his life
was on the line. He was willing to lay down
his life for the sake of the call. What
a beautiful testament of faith. I pray that
we would have that same firmness in our
stance on truth. And may we always do so
with love and prudence. Give us the words
to speak and hold our tongue when we are
to remain silent. I pray that we will exercise
self-control in all situations and conversations.
I
pray that we are not just hearers of your
Word but also doers. Please continue to
personally minister to us through it and
I pray that we will apply it to our lives
personally. Let us not hear it for everyone
else while holding ourselves immune.
And
may we move beyond the bare minimum of salvation
and continue to grow deeper. We know that
in asking for that, it may open us up for
a bit of heart surgery, but we welcome it,
for we know that ultimately, you get the
glory.
We
understand in reading this Word today, that
your will may not always align with what
we perceive to be the best thing for us
and definitely not with our desires. This
is why we need to know the truth and be
sensitive to the guidance of your Spirit
so that we don’t look for it elsewhere.
Let
us never fall prey to false teaching. May
we stay rooted in your Word, which is supreme.
Help us to hear your voice and to interpret
and apply what you say with accuracy. Even
if it doesn’t make sense, I pray that you
will give us peace so we know it is indeed
your will.
So
we put on your yoke today, which you have
promised to be easier than the yoke of iron
that the world will put on us. It may not
seem so initially, but when we reject yours,
there will be a slew of consequences that
will eventually weigh us down. We desire
freedom, and we will find that in the truth
of your Word and by your Spirit.
We
know that all authority is appointed by
you, so I pray that we will submit to that,
for we don’t put our trust in man anyway.
Yes,
we want the best leadership at the helm,
but we also know that your plans will prevail
no matter what. In the meantime, show us
how we can be a blessing and seek peace
wherever we are. Continue to grow us as
we commit to not shrinking back but instead
bearing good fruit in the way we love you
and love others.
Thank
you for the promise that despite the challenges
that we may face, you have a plan for welfare
and not evil, for a future and a hope. So
help us to stay focused on that and to continue
to seek you, knowing that when we do so,
we will find you.
We
may not see immediate results, but our lives
prove your redeeming power, so may we never
forget that in times that may seem hopeless.
We know that you will turn all things for
our good because we love you.
In
Jeremiah 30, the Lord commands Jeremiah
to record all that He has told him to prophesy
so the future remnant of people will be
able to reference the Lord's promises
He
records the Lord's promise to correct His
people through His judgment and to exact
vengeance on their enemies who bring their
ancestors into captivity and exile. He will
deliver them, bring them back to their land,
and restore Jerusalem.
A
reference to the future Messiah who will
come out of the remnant is also recorded,
as is the prophecy of the ultimate fulfillment
of the Lord's judgment upon all His enemies.
Chapter
31 gloriously mentions a new future covenant
that Yahweh promises to usher in and bring
salvation to His people.
The
faithful love of the Lord and His redemption
He will provide in the people's lives will
bring incomprehensible joy to the world.
The
Lord provides a great restoration prophecy
to give hope to those who will endure the
coming judgment and devastation. They have
refused the Lord for generations and have
brought His correction upon themselves,
but His love for them does not want to see
them despair as He works to correct their
rebellious nature toward Him.
Jerusalem's
new and glorious restoration and its eternal
dwelling on the earth are announced and
proclaimed to be everlasting, and the Lord's
glory reigns throughout the earth.
EXCUSES
| Jeremiah 31:30
The
people had a habit of blaming God’s judgment
on the sins of their parents or forefathers.
Some people still do this today in the name
of generational curses. I personally don’t
like to use the term “curse,” for every
curse over us was broken at the cross.
However,
there are still generational infiuences
that will perpetuate if not dealt with.
So the Lord is telling the people here that
they can’t blame anyone but themselves,
for everyone will be held accountable for
their own sin, so they can no longer make
any excuses. Heart Check.
Are
you making excuses for sinin your life?
Or do you hold yourself accountable for
the choices you make?
GUIDEPOSTS
| Jeremiah 31:21
Does
anyone ever wonder how in the world we got
around without GPS? I don’t go a single
week without asking Siri to give me directions.
Obviously, the people back in this day didn’t
have GPS—they didn’t even have Thomas Guides
or maps, which now seem ancient to us.
So
they had to set up markers and guideposts
so that their children, who were born in
captivity, would be able to find their way
back to their homeland. They would do this
by piling rocks or using wooden posts to
help guide them along the way. Our guideposts
have been set up for us through the Word
and by His Spirit.
Every
command, every Word that came out of the
mouth of Jesus, was intended to be a guide
for us to come back when we wander o£
track or to warn us of a sharp turn up ahead.
But if we don’t pay attention to those warnings,
we will end up going headfirst o£
the cliff.
Jesus
reiterates this message to the church of
Ephesus in Rev. 2:5 when He says, “Remember,
therefore, from where you have fallen; repent
and od the works that you did at first.”
In
other words, follow the guideposts back
to that starting point, when your heart
was broken and repentant before Him. He
told them this because they had become so
religious that they lost their love and
passion for God and for people. Heart Check.
What
do your markers and guidepost look like?
Are you still on the road? Or do you need
to come back to the point where you started?
Deep
Dive
Why
would God call for certain words to be written
down? What would it signify?
How
is God’s faithfulness and love on display
through these chapters? What other aspects
of His nature are seen (aka ‘heartbeats’)?
According
to chapter 30, what is involved in the process
of restoration?
How
is God’s love described in chapter 31? How
do you see this love on display in your
life?
What
other themes run through this prophecy?
How can they be applied to your life?
Is
this promise for future restoration realistic
to you? Where do you see signs of its fulfillment?
Heavenly
Father, Thank you for every
Word that has been breathed into these holy
scriptures.
We
are so grateful for the message of hope
and restoration that we can look to in the
most desperate situations. Your heart is
always to redeem and to restore, and we
are so thankful, for that has been proven
in our own lives. Because so, we always
have a beacon of hope to cling to, knowing
that your love endures and your purpose
always prevails. Thank you for breaking
the yoke of sin from our necks and healing
us, rehabilitating us, and growing us into
new beings. You have given us honor that
we could never receive from this world.
Nothing compares to what a relationship
with you can o£er.
For
anyone who has ever felt like an outcast,
we know you will lift them up to a place
of honor, because it is your heart to run
after the one on the outside. Your compassion
is so sweet, like honey to our souls. And
if any have been responsible for casting
us out, we know that you will deal with
them, so we have no need to fret over them.
Thank
you for the promise to restore our health
and to heal our wounds. Even if we don’t
receive complete healing on this side of
heaven, the perfection that we can look
forward to is unmatched and eternal. Perhaps
we can’t comprehend it now, so increase
our faith to be able to grasp how great
it will be.
Thank
you for comforting us when we have sorrow
and for turning our mourning into dancing.
For anyone who is weeping for their children
who have gone astray, we stand with them
as they cry out to you for their safe return
back home, both physically and spiritually.
Every
child is precious in your sight, just as
the children of Israel were.
We
declare hope for their future, as you have
spoken it.
If
there is any breaking that needs to happen
within us, we welcome it, for we know that
it will lead to our restoration. I pray
that we will have an unobstructed view of
the guideposts and markers that will lead
us back if we ever wander o£ the path.
If
we’ve lost our passion or love in any way,
we humble our hearts and come back to that
place of brokenness before you, humbling
our hearts, so that you can do a new thing
within us once again. So may we take accountability
today for every misstep, not blaming anyone,
but simply recognizing that it was our own
doing. Thank you for your grace and forgiveness
and for remembering our sin no more.
Thank
you for relentlessly pursuing us. We are
your people, and you are our God. Thank
you for bringing us into the new covenant.
We have found grace in our own wilderness
and now we are able to find rest in you.
Thank you for loving us with an everlasting
love.
I
pray that you will give us the power to
know just how wide, how long, how high,
and how deep that love truly is. You loved
us in our sin—you never asked us to get
ourselves right before you welcomed us into
your arms. What amazing grace, and for that,
we praise you.
So
may we sing aloud on the heights of the
hills and be radiant over the goodness of
the Lord. Let us rejoice and dance freely
under the banner of your love and promise
for a future and a hope.
In
Jeremiah 32, Jeremiah preaches the word
of the Lord that Babylon will conquer Judah
and King Zedekiah will be taken captive
in Babylon. Zedekiah has him thrown in prison
for preaching treason.
Jeremiah
is asked to redeem family land while in
prison, and the Lord uses it to signify
His future plan to redeem the people of
Israel back to their land. Jeremiah prays
for wisdom to understand the Lord's meaning
as destruction is at their door in Jerusalem.
The
Lord again declares His desire and plans
to restore Israel after the judgment and
proclaims a new covenant He will make with
the people.
In
chapter 33, the word of the Lord brings
hope to Jeremiah in prison regarding the
restoration of Israel, and the people will
have joy once more in the land. Another
prophecy of the coming Messiah is foretold,
who will bring ultimate judgment and righteousness
upon the earth with His unending reign.
The
Lord declares His faithfulness to His people
that He will bring a new covenant between
them. He also promises an expansion of the
priesthood that will minister to the glory
of the Lord.
In
chapter 34, the Lord sends a message to
King Zedekiah that Jerusalem will fall to
the Babylonians, but he will not see death
in battle but die a natural death. The Lord
proclaims judgment upon the land for disregarding
His command regarding the slaves throughout
Judah. Zedekiah had revoked his previous
declaration of all slaves in Judah to be
released and allowed them to be brought
back into subjugation.
The
Lord reminds them of His law of the year
of Jubilee, and He has commanded them to
remain free. Judgment is now upon them for
disregarding this command as well.
FAITH
STEPPING | Jeremiah 32:1-15
The
Lord never revealed to Jeremiah why he was
told to buy the land. After all, it didn’t
make much sense. In fact, it would’ve been
unwise by the world’s standards to make
such a purchase. But once Jeremiah did it,
the Lord revealed how this would illustrate
that land would once again be bought and
sold here.
The
Lord still works this way. It made no sense
for me to quit my job, lose all my income,
and start a daily Bible study.When I said
I was going to release videos covering the
entire Bible almost every day for an entire
year, everyone looked at me like I was crazy.
Then I said I was gonna do it again. I felt
even crazier saying it, but I said it with
faith on my tongue, and I trusted Him.
Just
like Jeremiah, it wasn’t until after I stepped
out in faith that the Lord gave me the why
behind his command. Because I walked by
faith and not by sight, I am now seeing
the intangible fruit of that investment,
which is far more valuable than any income
I could’ve ever earned.
But
had I not taken that step, I would’ve always
wondered and never known what God had planned.
I would’ve lost out on His greater purpose
for my life. Heart Check.
Are
you being called to do something that doesn't
make sense to the world? Are you stepping
out in faith to do it anyway?
KEEPING
YOUR WORD | Jeremiah 34:8-22
In
the end, the people broke the covenant and
will face the consequences of it.
What
happened is, in the heat of the moment,
they agreed to do good by setting their
slaves free, but as soon as they returned
home and everything was back to normal,
they changed their minds and went right
back to their old ways.
In
a way, they were Sunday Christians and Monday
morning heathens.
That
might be a bit extreme, but we can do this
by repenting and humbling ourselves before
the Lord. The moment someone irks us or
discourages us, we become angry, critical,
and even depressed.
We
say that we forgive someone, but the moment
they do something else, we remember every
word they said in 1982 at 7:30 in the restaurant
where we were eating. And we put them back
into our chains of unforgiveness. Heart
Check.
Are
you keeping your word when you say you will
do something?
Deep
Dive
Describe
Jeremiah’s character. How does his faith
inspire you?
How
might the heartbeats of God in today’s reading
shape your prayer or reveal an answer as
you declare who God is?
How
does the promise of restoration give you
hope in challenging times?
What
might the “great and hidden things” that
the Lord refers to be?
How
does God view slavery and freedom?
How
can this covenant be applied to personal
relationships?
Heavenly
Father, We come to you with humble hearts,
continually seeking a deeper understanding
of your will and purpose.
Please
reveal to us the hidden things in our lives
that we may not be aware of. We ask for
your Words to continue to be revealed in
our hearts in a personal way.
Help
us to see things from the right perspective
and show us where we may need to make changes.
Give us the strength and courage to follow
through where necessary. We pray that you
will shine your light in any area of darkness
or any corner that may be concealed. I pray
that we never stop coming to you, seeking,
knocking, and asking, for we know that it
is here where we will find you and find
the answer we are looking for.
Thank
you for the reminder that everything you
do is always with our good in mind. What
a beautiful illustration of your love and
goodness that is on display today. Sometimes
it isn’t easy to see the good, but we don’t
walk by the things we can see. We walk by
faith in your holy Word that illuminates
each step we are to take. That light doesn’t
always extend out very far, but it’s just
enough to get us to keep moving forward.
So that’s what we commit to continue doing—moving
forward with you.
If
there is anything you are asking us to do,
will you confirm it in our spirits today?
Give us peace in any decisions that we make,
and I pray that your intention for good
will be the beacon of hope that we can cling
to. You have made the heavens and the earth
by your great power and might. Nothing is
too hard for you. If we are going to declare
that today, then help us to live as though
we truly believe it. Whether the bills are
piling up, we received some bad news, a
relationship is strained, the future looks
grim, we are struggling with our mental
health, we have chronic pain, we are seeking
healing for our bodies, or anything else
that may be burdening us, we will trust
that the same God who delivered the Israelites
out of the hands of the Egyptians is the
same God who will deliver us out of our
own bleak circumstances.
You
are still the commander of the angel armies
and surround us and our enemies on every
side. You have given us our own taste of
the land fiowing with milk and honey, so
help us to continue to take hold of the
promise and plant ourselves in your Word.
I
pray we will obey your voice and walk in
your ways, for we want to walk in the blessings
that follow obedience. So again we say,
there is nothing too hard for you, and we
trust that you are walking with us through
our situations. We are your people, and
you are our God.
Give
us one heart and one mind so that we can
operate in unity as one people. There are
believers all throughout this earth, so
I pray against the division that the enemy
is trying to orchestrate within our churches,
our communities, and our nations. May we
rise up, as one voice, bringing truth in
love and grace to the world. May we bring
comfort to the brokenhearted. May we bring
healing to the bones of the sick.
May
we offer hope to the hopeless. It’s only
through you that we can obtain these things,
so may your Spirit move in and through us,
as we are your instruments to fulfill your
good purpose, which you have promised to
us. Align our hearts with yours so that
we will walk freely and boldly.
Thank
you, again, for your promise of peace and
restoration. Thank you, Jesus, for being
the righteous Branch that helped us to see
that promise begin to be fulfilled on calvary.
We know your steadfast love endures forever,
so we give thanks to you today, for you
are indeed good.
This
section tells the story of the Rechabites,
a nomadic group who followed their ancestor
Jonadab's rules. God told Jeremiah to ask
the Rechabites to drink wine, but they refused,
keeping to their ancestor's rules against
drinking wine, building houses, or planting
vineyards.
This
obedience contrasted with Judah's disobedience
to God. God used the Rechabites' obedience
to shame Judah and warned of impending judgment
due to their refusal to obey His words.
In
this chapter, God commanded Jeremiah to
write down all the prophecies He had given.
Jeremiah dictated these prophecies to his
scribe, Baruch, who read them to the people
in the Temple.
Baruch
played a crucial role in spreading God's
message, ensuring people heard the warnings
and had the chance to repent. King Jehoiakim
showed contempt for God's word by burning
the scroll with the prophecies after hearing
them.
Despite
this, God instructed Jeremiah to rewrite
the scroll with even more severe warnings,
adding a prophecy against Jehoiakim for
disregarding His message.
This
chapter describes King Zedekiah seeking
Jeremiah's advice while the Babylonians
besieged Jerusalem.
Despite
this, Zedekiah didn't heed Jeremiah's warnings.
When the Babylonians withdrew to deal with
an Egyptian threat, many people, including
Jeremiah, tried to leave Jerusalem.
Jeremiah
was wrongly accused of deserting to the
Babylonians, leading to his arrest and imprisonment.
Zedekiah secretly consulted Jeremiah again,
but the prophet gave the same message: surrender
to the Babylonians to save the city. Jeremiah
remained in prison, but his life was spared.
GLUE
| Jeremiah 35
What
is keeping this community together? What
binds this family, this tribe, this clan?
What is the glue connecting them? It's the
precepts handed down by their father—the
traditions they have honored, listened to,
and obeyed. These teachings, deeply rooted
in their way of life, provide a strong foundation
and sense of identity.
In
our own lives, we often hear the words that
are given to us, but do we actually walk
them out in obedience? As a parent of five,
I see this played out daily. I give instructions
to my children, yet sometimes their actions
do not refiect obedience.
But,
to be fair to them (if you're listening,
kids, I love you!), it is the role of the
leader, the disciplinarian, the father,
to guide and correct. Just as God—Yahweh—continually
speaks to His people, giving them His word,
He sees that they often do not listen.
This
tribe, however, has kept human traditions
and devoted themselves to them more than
the people of God have devoted themselves
to Him. Because they have turned their backs
on God’s precepts and instruction, they
are falling apart. Without the glue of obedience
and faithfulness, there is nothing keeping
them connected to God. Heart Check.
What
is glue keeping you together? Who holds
your family, your community, your tribe,
together? Is it the precepts of God, or
something else?
DEVOTED
OBEDIENCE | Jeremiah 36:1-10
What
I find most interesting here is the obedience
of Baruch. As a scribe, Baruch was not a
prophet like Jeremiah, but he was given
the intimidating task of reading a scroll
to all the people, including the temple
priests.
If
he had not listened to Jeremiah, who was
speaking the word of God, and if he had
not walked out that obedience, where would
we be today? The Book of Jeremiah is full
of prophecies, and without the e£orts
of Baruch, we might not have those words
today.
Often,
we don’t realize all the hands that contribute
to the final outcome. It’s like this ministry,
where so many have stepped up—whether it's
Kanoe taking the lead, or those like Monica,
Mitch, and Tracy who have supported her.
Now, others are stepping in to help, with
Zoom calls and a growing community.
All
of this is orchestrated by the Lord so that
His word will not fail. His word will continue
to grow and reach others. Think about it:
If it weren’t for the obedience of a scribe
willing to write down every single word,
we wouldn’t have these prophecies. Imagine
how monotonous and tedious that must have
been—Jeremiah reciting every word and Baruch
carefully writing it all down, quill in
hand. Heart Check.
How
prepared are we to be the hands and feet
of getting the gospel out to others, even
when the job seems menial, tedious, or unseen?
NULLIFY
| Jeremiah 36:20-26
The
fact that they did not tear their garments
indicates they lacked the fear and reverence
they should have had when hearing God’s
word. By the time we reach chapter 36, we
understand that these are dire warnings
of impending doom, yet King Jehoiakim and
his o£icials showed no fear or concern.
Their lack of reaction reveals a lot about
the people he surrounded himself with; if
his close circle was not afraid, neither
was he.
They
had no fear of God or His word, relying
instead on their own power and security
within the kingdom’s inner chambers.
When
Jehoiakim tore the scroll and burned it,
he was attempting to assert control over
the situation. This act was more than just
aggression against Jeremiah; it was an act
of defiance against God. Historically, this
action resembles an Egyptian practice called
an "execration ritual," where
names of enemy cities were written down
and then destroyed, often by burning, as
a way of symbolically conquering them. By
burning the scroll, Jehoiakim was trying
to nullify God’s word, as if by destroying
it, he could nullify the prophecy and escape
its consequences. Heart Check.
Are
you trying to nullify the word of God in
your life by turning a blind eye to it?
INTERCESSORY
| Jeremiah 37:3
What
we see here is a powerful example of intercessory
prayer. King Zedekiah’s actions reveal a
glimpse into his heart.
Despite
his outward rebellion, it seems he actually
believes Jeremiah and acknowledges him as
a true man of God. Why else would he seek
Jeremiah out and ask him to pray on his
behalf? Zedekiah recognizes that Jeremiah
has a direct connection with God, and he
is desperate for that divine intervention.
This
still applies today. We, too, can be intercessors
for one another because we all have access
to the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ.
Zedekiah’s request, "Please pray for
us to the Lord our God," shows his
acknowledgment of Jeremiah’s role as God's
mouthpiece. He believed that Jeremiah had
a direct line to God and could appeal for
help.
But
here’s the good news: we have that same
access through Jesus. We don’t have to rely
solely on others to pray for us; we can
directly approach God ourselves. Heart Check.
Who
can be an intercessor for today with your
prayers?
Deep
Dive
Who
were the Rechabites, and how did their obedience
to their father's commands serve as an object
lesson for the Israelites? Consider how
their commitment contrasts with the Israelites'
disobedience to God's commands.
In
Jeremiah 36, King Jehoiakim burns the scroll
containing God's words. What does this act
show about his attitude toward God's warnings?
Refiect on how we sometimes disregard or
ignore God's word in our own lives.
Why
do you think King Zedekiah sought Jeremiah's
counsel in secret, even though he did not
fully obey God's instructions? Think about
times when you may have sought God’s help
without being fully committed to following
His guidance.
How
did the Rechabites' faithfulness impact
their lives compared to the Israelites'
disregard for God's commands? Refiect on
the long-term e£ects of being obedient
to God's Word versus ignoring it.
Jeremiah
was imprisoned under false accusations.
How can this situation encourage us to remain
faithful even when misunderstood or falsely
accused? Consider how standing firm in your
faith can impact your witness to others,
even in difficult circumstances.
How
can we ensure that we’re not just hearing
God’s Word but truly listening to and obeying
it in our daily lives?
Heavenly
Father, We come before You with hearts full
of gratitude for your Word, which guides
and sustains us.
We
thank You for the lessons from the book
of Jeremiah, reminding us of the importance
of not just hearing but listening and obeying
Your commands.
Lord,
we confess that too often we fall into complacency,
ignoring Your warnings and turning a blind
eye to the truth You speak into our lives.
Help us to be like the Rechabites, steadfast
in our commitment to Your Word, not swayed
by the distractions or temptations of this
world.
Father,
we lift up our leaders in both government
and our homes. May they grow in integrity
and humility, leading with hearts that seek
after You. We pray for the courage to stand
firm in our faith, even when it’s difficult
or when we face opposition.
Let
us not be like King Zedekiah, who sought
Your help but failed to truly obey. Instead,
give us the strength to follow through with
the commands You have given us, trusting
in Your wisdom and love.
Lord,
we know that Your Word warns us of the retribution
that is still to come. We acknowledge that
vengeance is Yours, and we desire to be
on the right side of Your justice. Help
us to examine our hearts, to remove any
sin or disobedience that would cause us
to waste away spiritually. May we be ready,
not with weak hands but with hearts and
lives fully surrendered to You.
We
are so grateful for Your mercy and grace,
made available to us through Jesus Christ.
Thank You that we no longer bear the weight
of our sins if we willingly accept Him as
our Savior. Let us be consumed by the fire
of Your love, not by Your wrath. May our
lives be a living testimony of Your goodness
and truth, drawing others closer to You.
Lord,
teach us to be fervent in intercessory prayer,
lifting up those who are struggling, those
who are lost, and those who need to know
Your love. Help us to pray with persistence
and faith, knowing that You hear and answer
the cries of Your people. We ask all this
in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
In
chapter 38, Jeremiah is imprisoned in a
cistern for his prophecies, but Ebed-Melech,
an Ethiopian eunuch, rescues him. King Zedekiah
secretly consults Jeremiah, who advises
surrender to Babylon to avoid destruction.
Despite this, Zedekiah does not heed the
advice, leading to Jerusalem's downfall.
In
chapter 39, Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians;
King Zedekiah is captured, blinded, and
taken to Babylon. The city is burned, and
the people are exiled. Jeremiah is spared
and freed by Nebuchadnezzar’s orders, while
Ebed-Melech is also promised safety for
his faithfulness.
In
chapter 40, after Jerusalem’s fall, Jeremiah
chooses to stay in Judah and is placed under
the care of Gedaliah, the new governor appointed
by Babylon. Gedaliah encourages the remaining
people to serve Babylon and live peacefully.
Meanwhile, a plot to assassinate Gedaliah
begins to unfold.
In
chapter 74 of the Psalms, the psalmist laments
the destruction of the temple and God's
apparent abandonment of It. He recalls God's
past acts of deliverance and pleads for
divine intervention. The psalm ends with
a plea for God to remember His covenant
and deliver His people from their enemies.
This
psalm, found in chapter 79, is a communal
lament over the destruction of Jerusalem
and the defilement of the temple. The psalmist
pleads with God for mercy, forgiveness,
and deliverance from their enemies. It concludes
with a vow that the people will praise God
forever, despite their current suffering.
TREASON
| Jeremiah 38:1-6
They
lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the cistern,
where there was no water, only mud, and
Jeremiah sank deep into it. This was meant
to be a slow and painful death. There were
no windows, no way for him to climb out,
just the certainty of dying stuck in the
mud—all because he loved God's people and
was faithfully delivering God’s message.
Jeremiah
was countercultural, yet he obeyed the word
of God, even though everyone around him—the
o£icials, the king—was turning against
him. What he said sounded treasonous to
those loyal to their country. Perhaps the
Lord has given you a word, something courageous
but di£icult, something that others
don’t understand.
Kanoe
mentioned that starting this 365 journey
was seen as almost crazy by some in her
family. It’s the same with mine. They support
me, but every time I get up at 5:53 in the
morning to film, with a whole day of work
and family responsibilities ahead, they
wonder, "What is going on? Have you
counted the cost?" Let me tell you,
being countercultural for Jesus Christ and
the gospel is worth every cost. Heart Check.
How
do you respond to the countercultural demands
of God today? And do you sound treasonous
to those around you?
VISION
| Jeremiah 39:7
In
the fulfillment of the prophecy by the words
of Jeremiah, the city is ransacked and set
ablaze. The people are being deported into
exile in Babylon. The last vision the king
sees before losing his sight entirely is
the slaughter of his closest loved ones—his
sons, his nobles, his confidants. He witnesses
their lives being taken away because of
his ignorance, arrogance, pride, and fear.
Are
we, too, on the brink of losing everything
and being blinded by our greed or pride?
Heart Check.
Are
you allowing pride or fear to lead you to
a place of spirtual blindness and loss?
NAME
SAKE | Psalm 79:10
We
have heard God's name so many times. We
know that His name is worthy—worthy of all
praise, worthy of honor, and deserving of
all respect. His character, revelation,
power, might, and sovereignty are all wrapped
up in His name.
We
call upon His name, pleading for Him to
defend us, rescue us, and return to us.
We ask Him to stop turning His back on us,
to cease His judgment and punishment. Elohim
means "God," the one who can make
a promise and has the strength to back it
up.
There's
immense power in a name. And we have the
most vital name, the only name that holds
power and carries a reputation that precedes
it. You may know names in your community
or family that, when mentioned, immediately
command respect simply because of their
reputation and character. Heart Check.
When
your name is mentioned, do people think
of the chacter of God? Why should they?
Deep
Dive
What
does Jeremiah’s experience in the cistern
teach us about standing firm in our faith,
even when facing opposition?
How
did Zedekiah’s fear and pride lead to his
downfall, and what does this tell us about
the consequences of not heeding God's warnings?
What
does the story of Jeremiah’s freedom and
his interaction with the captain of the
guard teach us about God's sovereignty,
even in the hearts of those who do not know
Him?
How
does Psalm 74 refiect the community's lament
and desperation, and how can we find hope
in God during our own times of despair?
In
what ways does Psalm 79 emphasize the need
for repentance and God's mercy, and how
does this apply to our personal and communal
lives today?
Heavenly
Father, We come before You today with hearts
that are laid bare, aknowledging our need
for Your guidance and mercy.
As
we refiect on the words from Jeremiah and
the Psalms, we are reminded of the importance
of listening to Your voice, not just hearing
it, but truly obeying it.
Lord,
we see how Zedekiah’s pride and fear led
to his downfall, and how the people of Jerusalem
su£ered because they turned away from
You. Help us to be people who listen and
obey, who stand firm in our faith even when
it is di£icult. We pray, Lord, that
You would search our hearts and reveal any
areas where we have grown complacent or
disobedient. We don’t want to be like those
who ignored Your warnings, who took Your
protection for granted. Instead, we want
to be like Jeremiah, faithful and bold,
standing for Your truth even in the face
of persecution. Lord, give us hearts that
are soft, willing to be molded by Your Word,
and eager to do Your will.
We
are also reminded of Your mercy, Lord, how
even in the midst of judgment, You protected
Jeremiah and honored him. We thank You for
Your grace, for the ways You protect and
provide for us, even when we don’t see it.
We know that Your love for us is steadfast,
that You are always working for our good,
even in the midst of trials.
Father,
we also lift up those who are like Ebed-Melech,
who are willing to take risks for justice
and righteousness. We ask that You would
strengthen them, and that we too would be
courageous in standing for what is right.
Help us to be vigilant, like the watchman,
always on guard against the enemy's schemes,
but also to remain open-hearted and trusting
in Your goodness.
Lord,
as we read the Psalms, we are reminded of
the deep lament and desperation of Your
people in exile. We cry out to You, asking
for Your forgiveness and mercy. We know
that our sins have consequences, but we
also trust in Your promise that Your wrath
will not last forever. Thank You for Jesus,
through whom we are no longer condemned
but saved by grace. We accept Your gift
of salvation and ask that You would continue
to cleanse our hearts, making us more like
You each day.
Finally,
Lord, we know that the day of retribution
is coming, as mentioned in 2 Thessalonians,
and we want to be ready. We pray that we
would not be found wasting away, but rather,
that we would be found faithful, living
out Your Word in our lives. Help us to be
consumed by the fire of Your love, not by
Your wrath. May we live in such a way that
others see Your light in us and are drawn
to You. We ask all this in the name of Jesus
Christ, our Savior. Amen.
In
chapter 24 of 2 Kings, King Nebuchadnezzar
of Babylon subjugates Judah during Jehoiakim's
reign, but after three years, Jehoiakim
rebels against the king of Babylon.
His
rebellion angers the king of Babylon, and
he calls on his allies in Syria, Moab, and
Ammon to bring destruction upon Judah. Jehoiakim's
death is recorded, and his son Jehoiachin
rises to the throne as Egypt endures great
defeat under King Nebuchadnezzar.
Jehoiachin
surrenders to Nebuchadnezzar, and the royal
household, military men, and skilled workers
are taken captive to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar
chooses Zedekiah, an ally, to be placed
on the throne of Judah.
Zedekiah
eventually rebels against the King of Babylon
during his wicked reign in Jerusalem.
In
chapter 25 of 2 Kings, King Nebuchadnezzar
besieges Jerusalem due to King Zedekiah's
rebellion from the previous chapter, and
the people of Judah are brought to the point
of starvation.
Zedekiah
attempts to fiee with his men when Babylon
breaks through the city's walls, but he
is overtaken by the Babylon army, brought
to Babylon in chains, and loses his eyesight.
The
Babylonians destroyed the Temple of the
Lord, the palace, and all the great houses
in Jerusalem, as well as the walls surrounding
the city.
All
the people of Judah are led back to Babylon,
but the poorest are left to maintain the
vineyards and farming lands. The last of
Judah's leaders are put to death, and Gedaliah
is made governor of the land of Judah. He
preaches to submit to the Babylonians so
as not to cause any more bloodshed, but
the people of Judah put him to death in
the name of treason.
King
Jehoiachin is brought out of prison, allowed
to eat at the king of Babylon's table, and
given provisions for the remainder of his
life.
In
chapter 36, the fall of Jerusalem and Judah
is recorded. It begins with the people of
Judah choosing Jehoahaz as their next king
outside of succession. Egypt comes upon
Judah and subjugates them, and the pharaoh
places his desired man, Jehoiakim, on the
throne of Judah.
Judah's
kings, Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin, are taken
captive back to Babylon, and the Temple
is completely looted.
Zedekiah
is placed on the throne by King Nebuchadnezzar,
but eventually rebels against Babylon and
dismisses the word of the Lord from the
prophets sent to him. Jerusalem sees complete
destruction, and the people are taken captive
and exiled to Babylon. The land begins its
Sabbath rest for seventy years.
BROKEN
CHAINS | 2 Kings 25
I
thank God that we end this book with a glimmer
of hope and one that has a Messianic undertone.
While
Evil-Merodach is not a follower of God,
he had great compassion for Jehoiachin,
and some say it’s because he may have, at
one time, been a prisoner himself. Because
he understood what Jehoiachin was going
through, he had great compassion and sought
to free him. This is what Jesus did for
us. He took on our punishment and had no
desire to see us living in bondage.
Just
like Jehoiachin, we were given a seat of
honor, given new garments, invited to the
King’s table, and provided for our needs.
But sometimes, we lose out on those things
because we refuse to let the chains be broken.
Heart Check.
Is
ther anything holding you captive today?
What chains is Jesus to break off you?
Deep
Dive
Does
the plundering of the temple treasures have
any spiritual implications?
Where
do you see fulfillments of prophecy in these
chapters?
Are
there any parallels with the New Testament
that you can draw from these accounts?
What
is the greater message of the exile in relation
to God’s judgment?
How
did God use foreigners to fulfill His purpose?
How does He still do this today?
Heavenly
Father, We know that obedience to your Word
id essential in our ability to thrive here
on earth.
It
is not your heart for us to struggle through
this life in hopes of one day making it
to heaven, where we can finally take a breath
of relief. Your heart desires for us to
live an abundant life now. That doesn’t
mean a life without struggle because we
also understand that sometimes the preparation
for something greater is a bit painful.
Training camp doesn’t always feel good.
But it’s intended to make us stronger and
better. Help us to remember that in the
middle of our struggle.
Thank
you, Jesus, for the hope that you brought
to the world, in the way that you saved
us out of our own prisons of sin and shame.
You imprisoned yourself when you didn’t
deserve it. You picked us up and looked
us in the eye, telling us how much you love
us and how valuable we are. You graciously
freed us from the bondage we were under
and put us into a seat of honor. You gave
us new outfits to wear, ones that are no
longer stained. And you continue to speak
so kindly to us, dealing with us in the
way that a good father does. We are so grateful
for the way that you meet our every need.
Our stories are far from over, but at least
we have a firm foundation on which we can
build them on.
So
if we are holding on to anything, or if
any chains are continuing to keep us captive,
we let go today. We desire the freedom that
you want us to walk in. We want to be able
to taste and see the good life that you
have for us on this side of heaven. I pray
we continue to listen for your voice each
and every day, so that we do not allow our
hearts to harden.
Thank
you for always making a way for us, despite
our failures. Your promises are truly unfailing.
No matter what, even if all is stripped
away from us, we still have you. We still
have your Word, and we still have your Presence,
Immanuel, God with us. You are the firm
foundation on which we build our lives.
Habakkuk
1 begins with the prophet in agony overseeing
the sinful rebellion of the people towards
the Lord. He desperately desires to understand
how, as a righteous and mighty God, He can
allow such evil and wickedness to continue
and oppress the weak and vulnerable of their
population.
The
Lord answers Habakkuk that the people will
not escape the payment for their vile deeds
and to be patient as He brings His judgment
to fruition. This judgment is proclaimed
to come from the Babylonians, and they will
bring unimaginable a£liction upon
the people as God pours His wrath upon them.
Habakkuk
is troubled by the Lord's response, as their
punishment seems to be far worse than the
sins he sees daily. He waits humbly and
eagerly for the Lord to answer his complaint.
Habakkuk
2 The Lord replies to Habakkuk's inquiry
of the coming harsh and violent judgment.
The Lord commands Habakkuk to record the
vision He sends as a testament to future
generations. To remind them their pride,
greed, violence, drunkenness, and idolatry
have sent them into exile and captivity,
as the Lord could not allow such injustice
towards Him and their neighbors to go unpunished.
Habakkuk
3 Habakkuk praises the Lord for His mighty
power over the nations and creation. He
prays for the Lord to remember the undeserved
mercy He poured out to them in the past
and rescue His people as a witness to the
nations that He is God alone.
He
ends his prayer with the distressing knowledge
of the Lord's imminent judgment and must
patiently await its arrival. Nevertheless,
he rejoices in the Lord's sovereign and
unwavering faithfulness and for the day
of their salvation.
GRAPPLING
| Habakkuk 1:2
So,
for our first heart check, I'd like us to
keep this in mind as we read the rest of
this book: Have you ever struggled to understand
God's will? Have you ever wrestled with
the complexities of the world around you—the
reality, society, and the evil manifesting
itself all around us today?
If
so, you'll find that this book is something
you can deeply relate to. Heart check:
Have
you wrestled with God in your prayer life
SOCIAL
CLIMATE | Habakkuk 1:2-4
Habakkuk
is confused by the twisted justice he observes,
yet he persistently brings his concerns
to the Lord. I challenge you to also go
to the Lord with these questions. Heart
check:
How
would you describe our current social climate?
Do you see it as a time of iniquity, destruction,
violence, strife, or wickedness? If so,
how do you reconcile this with God?
WAITING
ON THE LORD | Habakkuk 2:1
I
love the heart of this prophet. Habakkuk
appeals to God with deep faith, yearning
for discernment and understanding. He’s
saying, "Alright, God, I don’t understand
this.
Please
explain it to me." And now, he’s going
to wait. He will wait and watch expectantly,
patiently, and actively—engaging in active
listening.
He’s
on the lookout for God’s reply or response.
How often do we throw up prayers to the
Lord and then just go on our merry way,
not looking for an answer?
Like,
"Oh God, help me today, bless my husband,"
and then move on. Habakkuk, however, asked
a very direct prayer and waited patiently
for a response. Heart check:
Are
you actively and expectantly listening for
God? Are you waiting patiently and expectantly
for a response to your prayers?
MAKE
IT EASY | Habakkuk 2:2
Now,
in verse 2, the Lord answers Habakkuk: "Write
the vision; make it plain on tablets, so
he may run who reads it." This really
resonates with me. As someone who teaches
and shares God's word, I often feel inadequate.
But here, God is telling Habakkuk to make
the vision plain and easy to understand.
God’s
message should be relatable and accessible
so that anyone who reads it can run with
it—meaning they can take the message and
spread it. This encourages us to present
God’s word in a way that is simple, clear,
and easy to grasp, regardless of our background
or level of education. Heart check:
Are
you ready to share the word of God and make
it known easily?
WOE
TO ME | Habakkuk 3:18-19
In
Isaiah, we witnessed a powerful depiction
of the futility of idolatry, and here in
Habakkuk, we see this theme echoed once
again. Habakkuk refiects on the folly of
the Babylonians' idolatry and how it will
ultimately bring woe upon them.
This
passage also reminds me of the idolatry
in our lives today. Just recently, I saw
a modern example of idolatry—how we often
elevate the works of our hands above God.
Heart check:
Are
you worshipping the creations of your hands
instead of the One who created you?
TRANSFORMED
| Habakkuk 3:2
Habakkuk
has encountered God; in this encounter,
he has been transformed.
This
transformation reminds me of Romans, which
says, "By renewing your mind, you shall
be transformed." Heart check:
Have
you encountered God and been transformed?
QUIETLY
WAITING | Habakkuk 3:16
In
this verse, we see Habakkuk's heart laid
bare. His spirit is resolved and resigned
to God's will. Though scared and trembling,
he quietly waits for God's divine agent
of discipline. Even though this is something
to be feared, he trusts God's will more
than he fears man.
This
reflects the core struggle in Habakkuk—why
does God use evil or allow the wicked to
prevail?
At
the end of the book, despite his fear, Habakkuk
chooses to trust and fear God more than
anything else. He declares that he will
wait for the day of trouble, knowing it
is the hand of God. Heart check:
Can
you wait patiently for a calamity, knowing
it is part of God's plan?
EVEN
IF | Habakkuk 3:18-19
I
was deeply moved by these final verses.
Habakkuk’s declaration is one of profound
faith and resilience. How can we apply this
to our own lives?
Even
if my car is failing, even if my house is
a mess, even if my kids are struggling in
school, even if my marriage is on the rocks,
even if I’m not getting enough hours at
work, even if I’m battling a severe illness
like cancer—even if [insert your struggle
here]—I will rejoice in the Lord. I will
take joy in the God of my salvation.
Heart
Check
Even
if ________(fill in the blank with your
calamity or distress), I will rejoice in
the Lord. I will take joy in the God of
my salvation
This
is your affirmation!
So
that, like Habakkuk, you will trust in God's
will no matter the circumstances. Heart
Check.
Even
if you are facing a specific calamity or
distress, can you, like Habakkuk, affirm
your trust in God's will and rejoice in
Him?
Deep
Dive
Have
you ever felt overwhelmed by injustice or
the moral decay around you? How did you
cope with these feelings, and what did you
learn about God's character in the process?
How
do you actively listen to God in your daily
life? What practices or habits help you
to discern His voice amidst the noise of
the world?
How
do you reconcile God's sovereignty with
the existence of evil in the world? Does
Habakkuk's perspective o£er any insights
into this complex issue?
Describe
a time when you felt a profound encounter
with God. How did this experience transform
your life and your relationship with Him?
Heavenly
Father, Even in the mist of life's challenges
and uncertainties, I am deeply grateful
for the steadfast love of God.
Thank
You, Lord, for Your unwavering presence
and for the hope You instill in my heart.
Just as Habakkuk found solace in Your faithfulness,
I too find peace and strength in Your promises.
As we conclude this study of Habakkuk, we
are deeply moved by the prophet’s unwavering
faith and his willingness to wrestle with
You. May we, too, cultivate a steadfastness
and understanding that mirrors his.
We
acknowledge that it is okay to bring our
pleas, questions, and frustrations to You.
You are our Father, and You desire our honest
hearts. Yet, we must remember that You are
God, and Your ways are far beyond our comprehension.
Help
us to be patient and actively listen for
Your response, even when it doesn’t come
in the timeframe we expect. May we develop
a heart that yearns to know You more deeply
and to share Your love with the world.
Grant
us the courage to evangelize and minister
to those around us, reflecting the transformative
power of Your Word.
In
chapter 41 of Jeremiah, Ishmael, a member
of the Davidic royal lineage, conspires
with his men and assassinates the appointed
governor of Judah, Gedaliah, and murders
worshipers of Yahweh, traveling to the ruins
of the Temple. He spares 10 of the 70 worshipers
and leads them and other captives to the
king of the Ammonites.
Johanan
and his men head out to fight Ishmael and
rescue the captives. Ishmael can escape
and evade capture from Johanan. Johanan
leads the people to Egypt, hoping to escape
the wrath of the king of Babylon upon learning
of the death of his appointed governor over
Judah.
In
chapter 42, Johanan and the people remaining
in Judah consult Jeremiah for direction
from the Lord. Jeremiah agrees to ask the
Lord, provided the people vow to follow
all that is commanded from the word of the
Lord; the people utter their agreement.
The
Lord declares protection and a blessing
upon the people if they remain in the land
and do not fear the king of Babylon. If
they, however, return to Egypt in fear,
all that they feared would befall them in
Egypt. The Lord proclaims their hypocrisy
by exposing their deception to consult Him,
as they have already premeditated the decision
to travel to Egypt.
In
chapter 43, the people are angered by hearing
a different answer from the Lord than they
expected. They accused Jeremiah of falsely
speaking the word of the Lord and of speaking
deception from the Babylonians. Johanan
and his o£icers march Jeremiah and
the people forcefully into Egypt.
The
Lord commands Jeremiah to gather stones
for an object lesson to demonstrate that
all He previously declared would come to
pass because of their disobedience when
the king of Babylon conquered Egypt. He
declares that the people's fate will now
be death or captivity.
In
chapter 44 of Jeremiah, the Lord confronts
the people through Jeremiah about why they
continue to provoke His anger when they
have witnessed His wrath upon Judah and
Jerusalem. The Lord declares that all who
entered the land of Egypt and continued
to burn incense to false gods as their ancestors
did will be cursed and die in Egypt for
their disobedience and rebellion. The Lord
is astonished by their continual lack of
obedience and reverence for His sovereignty.
The
people defiantly declare Jeremiah a liar
and boldly claim they will continue their
sacrifices to the gods of their choice.
They wrongfully proclaim tragedy has befallen
them and their land because they have been
unable to sacrifice. Jeremiah declares a
new and coming destruction to Pharoah, the
Egyptians, and now the people of Judah,
as they have not heeded His warning once
again and have chosen to whom they will
serve.
In
chapter 45, Jeremiah speaks a word from
the Lord to his close companion Baruch regarding
their suffering during the recent destruction
of Judah and subsequent events. The Lord
reminds Baruch that although everything
seems hopeless and bleak, He is still sovereign
and has preserved their lives throughout
it all. He leaves him with a promise of
a day when He will vanquish all evil from
the face of the earth.
DISCERNMENT
| Jeremiah 41:1-3
I
feel a bit stretched in this word today
because we speak a lot about not being cynical
but rather forgiving and loving. In a sense,
I feel like Gedaliah was trying to be this
way and perhaps trying to see the best in
Ishmael despite the warnings that he was
an assassin.
But
sadly, when people are selfish, they will
do anything to remove the obstacles out
of their way so they can get to where they
want to be, which is precisely what Ishmael
did.
Sometimes,
I tend to be a little too trusting of people,
so this is where the stretch comes in. I
feel the Lord is making minor adjustments
in my spirit to be a bit more watchful and
discerning with people because lately, I
have been experiencing issues with trust
and loyalty with people close to me. But
discernment is a very fine line between
trust and cynicism. Heart Check.
How
is your discerment? Do you walk on the fine
line between trusting people and not being
cynical? Are you able to discern when to
be a bit more guarded?
AWARENESS
| Jeremiah 41:1-7
Here
is another example of a person who was unsuspecting
and completely trusting of Ishmael and his
false loyalty. Sadly, they lost their lives
because they were unaware of the situation.
This is another stretching moment for me
because I have become so sick and tired
of the news that I don’t want to hear about
it anymore. On the other hand, my husband
is in full protection mode, and I love him
for it.
But
that comes with lots of news watching in
order to “stay informed.” So again, I feel
a little stretched today because I believe
we need to be aware so that we can be prayer
warriors and watchmen.
But
there’s that fine line between awareness
or watchfulness and obsession. You will
know by the emotions and feelings that well
up within you. If there is anger, bitterness,
hatred, or worry, that is a sign that the
news is infiuencing you more than it should.
But if you can watch it without your faith
and trust in God dwindling, then you’re
more on the awareness side, and you are
in a good place to bring it before the Lord.
Heart Check.
Are
you aware of what is going on in the world?
Has it become an obession? Or are you simply
watching to be informed?
SINCERE
SEEKING | Jeremiah 42:4-6
We
will see that the people were insincerely
seeking God. They already knew they were
going to Egypt, and nothing would stop them,
not even a “no” from the Lord. They were
praying to get confirmation on their plans
and wanted to ensure God was on board with
them. But if we pray this way, it isn’t
faith but superstition and hypocrisy. Heart
Check.
Do
you sincerely seel God in your prayers and
asking? Are you ok with a "no"
answer, or are you trying to get God to
be on board with your plans?
STAY
PUT | Jeremiah 42
As
we said, it would happen, but this word
completely contradicted what they wanted
to hear and probably the opposite of what
they thought the Lord would say. In all
fairness, Babylon had destroyed their land
and everything in it, so staying there didn’t
make the most practical sense.
On
the fiip side, Egypt was still developed
and wasn’t under Babylonian control, so
surely, they must’ve thought that was the
better option. But the Lord said, “Stay
put.”
This
can happen in our lives when we want to
fiee from something we know we’re supposed
to remain faithful to. We want to bounce
when the going gets tough. And we may pray
and ask, “Lord what do you want me to do?”
but when He convicts our spirits to stay
put, we ask again, thinking that surely
we heard him wrong. But we need to be careful
about this, because at some point, He will
let us go down that road, even if it isn’t
His best for us, and like these men, we
will deal with the consequences at the end
of that road. Heart Check.
Is
the Lord telling you to stay put? Are you
set on fleeing to your own Egypt?
NEW
START, NEW HEART | Jeremiah 43
Jeremiah’s
illustration served as a warning that the
very things and people they were trying
to fiee from would hunt them down.
They
may be able to get away from the place,
but they can’t run from their problems.
They may have thought they needed a new
start, but they needed a new heart. Sometimes,
when God tries to do something within us,
we feel that a different job, school, new
friends, or a new husband is the answer.
Sometimes,
He is leading us away from something, so
how are we to know? For one, we know that
God is a God of order. So if He is truly
leading us away from something, chaos and
confusion will not be left in our wake.
There will be peace and order. Unless He
tells you to hurry, there will be no rushing.
Heart Check.
Are
you looking for a new start? Is there choas
and confusion in your wake? Have yoy allowed
God to first give you a new heart?
SCHOOL
OF EXPERIENCE | Jeremiah 44:9-10
The
Lord is trying to get them to remember what
happened in the past when their fathers
rejected Him. Any time we forget the lessons
we’ve learned in the past, we are walking
right into the pit of repeating those mistakes.
Ignoring past experiences assures future
failure. So, we have to let our past be
our school of experience so that we don’t
live in a perpetual state of sin. Heart
Check
What
lessons have you learned in your school
of experience? Have you started to forget?
DREAMS
| Jeremiah 45
I
asked someone the other day about their
thoughts on where they think we are in the
context of the last days. Their answer was
interesting because they said, “Even though
I see the signs of the times, on a personal
level, I have big dreams, and I don’t think
God would allow the end to come without
those dreams being fully realized.”
That
statement kind of took me aback a little
because I do believe that God does not give
us dreams in vain. But I also stand firm
in knowing that He is the giver and fulfiller
of those dreams, and our only role is to
be faithful in what He calls us to do.
So
it will never be my doing or my greatness
that fulfills His purpose because as quickly
as He gives us something, He can be just
as quick to take it away. So in saying these
things to Baruch, we can assume that he
was hoping to be a part of something big—perhaps
saving the people or being esteemed in the
eyes of men.
But
in knowing that his dreams would not be
fulfilled, discouragement began to set in.
Heart Check.
What
more important to you? To make a name for
yourself or to be faithful to what God has
called you to? Are you content with knowing
that some dreams may not come on this side
of heaven?
Deep
Dive
How
can we increase our discernment?
How
can we be aware and watchful without becoming
obsessed or infiuenced by the world?
Did
the people have a better option than fieeing
to Egypt?
Why
did God want them to stay put?
What
are modern day Egypts that we might fiee
to? What consequences do we face?
How
can we ensure that our plans align with
God’s?
Heavenly
Father, Thank you for continuing to grow
us inour faith walk and maturity.
You
have taught us to love as you have loved.
But today you are showing us how to be more
discerning and cautious without becoming
cynical of every person. I pray for wisdom
to increase in every one of us and for the
courage to react when we are faced with
potential danger. We seek your guidance,
and ask that you will always lead our hand,
our words, and our steps in everything we
do. We do not need to fear, for you are
with us, so may we be strong and courageous
as we remain faithful to you, even in the
midst of chaos or bad news.
I
pray that we will be bold like Johanan,
who wasn’t afraid to warn others when there
was impending danger. But he also had compassion
and didn’t have an “I told you so” attitude.
He still took a stand against injustice
and fought for what was right, while protecting
the ones he loved.
I
pray that we will continue to trust in you,
especially when times get a little dicey.
You are our refuge of protection and peace.
You are our portion. We don’t need to run
to Egypt, or anything of this world to give
us security.
Help
us to trust in your Word, it’s perfect timing
and deliverance, and most importantly, its
trustworthiness. May we never be insincere
in our asking for an answer while maintaining
our own plans. You know what’s best for
us, so help us to be obedient to the Word,
even if it goes against what we thought
was better.
Obedience
is the better option, so may we be a people
who are doers of your Word, and not just
hearers.
Please
give us peace with every step we take. You
are not a God of disorder, so I pray that
we do not leave chaos or confusion in our
wake. If we are walking in step with you,
the trail behind us will be paved and not
turbulent.
And
I pray that we will learn from any of the
rocky roads we’ve traveled down. May we
never forget the failures, not in the sense
that we are held in chains of conviction,
but rather lessons to be applied to future
obedience. We don’t want to repeat past
mistakes.
I
also pray against any deception of the “good
ol’ days” when things may have seemed good
as we lived in complete disobedience and
rejection of your Word. We can see how deceptive
sin is—it will lie to us until we are completely
confused. So keep us above the lie. Protect
our minds and hearts from being gullible.
And may we always be sensitive to your Spirit
and truth.
Our
hearts’ desire is to be faithful to what
you have called us to. We may never get
to see the “success” or the results of that
faithfulness while we are on this earth,
but we will trust that you are doing great
things. So I pray that our concern will
always be in line with your heart, which
is in building the kingdom.
As
much as we are told to seek greatness for
ourselves, we instead seek the Greater Than
All. We follow after you and will be content
and perfectly satisfied with whatever you
will. Because your will is good and perfect.
Jeremiah
46 Jeremiah receives a prophecy from the
Lord regarding the coming judgment to fall
upon Egypt. He proclaims Babylon will attack
and defeat Egypt. The destruction will be
widespread, and Egypt will be unable to
recover from their losses.
The
Lord speaks a word of comfort to His people
of comfort and restoration.
Jeremiah
47 Jeremiah receives a prophecy about the
Philistines' coming judgment. In their conquest
of the nations, Babylon will conquer all
their territories and leave no one untouched.
Jeremiah
ponders to what length the Babylonians would
continue to sweep through the nations, bringing
death and destruction.
Jeremiah
48 Jeremiah pronounces a word from the Lord
of coming judgment upon Moab. He prophesies
of the destruction and death to befall them
as the Lord judges their pride against Him.
They had escaped the wrath of the Assyrians
and believed their gods had protected them.
They saw themselves above Yahweh and the
Lord means to correct their false assumptions.
The
Lord also proclaims He will rescue a remnant
of Moab in the future as an act of mercy
in the latter days.
OVERFLOWING
BANKS | Jeremiah 46:7-8
To
this day, monsoon rains bring fiood waters
to the Nile, fiushing out parts of the land
and irrigating crops. This was necessary
for their survival.
Here,
the overfiowing waters are likened to Egypt’s
perception of their power and control. If
we look at the spiritual implication of
this, Egypt in the Bible is likened to the
fiesh, the world, or sin, meaning it is
always coming for us. And if we let our
guard down, the banks will overfiow, and
sin will overwhelm us. This is why we keep
our hearts in check. Heart Check.
How
are your banks? Ate there any areas you
think you have under control that need to
be a bit more guarded?
GETTING
ATTENTION | Jeremiah 47:5
In
1 Kings 18, we read that the prophets of
Baal would dance, scream, and cut themselves
in hopes of getting the attention of their
gods. I thank God we don’t have to do that.
But when I think about it, we sometimes
think we must perform to get in His good
graces.
We
even do it to get the attention of people.
But
if you’re a decent parent, you understand
that a child shouldn’t need to self-harm
to get you to see them. They need to come
into your presence, and parental instinct
kicks in. They just need to say, “Mommy,”
and adrenaline spikes hit.
It’s
the same with our Father. We just need to
come into His presence and cry out, “Abba
Father.” Heart Check.
Are
you trying to perform to get the attention
of people or God?
PRIDEUL
DREGS | Jeremiah 48:1-30
In
case you missed it, Moab’s chief sin was
pride.
And
because that pride has caused the dregs
to settle and create a bitter taste in the
Lord’s mouth, they are being poured out.
None of us would ever say that we want to
be poured out—we don’t want to have to be
emptied for the Lord to get our attention.
So,
we need to be constantly aware of our pride.
One
of the telltale signs of pride manifesting
in your life is the lack of prayer and intimacy
with the Lord. When we don’t pray or converse
with Him, we essentially say we don’t need
His help.
When
we no longer come to His word, we are saying
that we don’t need His guidance and don’t
want to know Him. As harsh as it may sound,
there’s no way around that explanation.
But most of us will come crying to Him in
times of brokenness and despair. We finally
realize that we need Him when nothing else
comes to our rescue. Heart Check.
Are
the dregs of pride setting in your life?
Deep
Dive
Is
it difficult for you to see God’s sovereignty
over all nations? How does this change your
view of enemy nations?
How
does the promise for Israel’s restoration
bring hope?
What
do the fioods of the Nile and the Euphrates
symbolize? What are the spiritual implications?
What
may be provoking the “sword of the Lord”
today?
What
can we learn from the pride and arrogance
of Moab? How does it parallel to our world
today?
Heavenly
Father, We see your heart for all people
today.
I
pray that amid our own struggle, we will
be able to see people the way you do, especially
those who have hurt us or who may be against
us, both on a personal and global level.
Help us to look across the table and see
beyond the exterior, to the heart of a person
rather than what they’re clothed in. I pray
that we do not look at their political a£iliation,
their status in society, their wealth or
the lack thereof, their skin color, or anything
else that the world uses to define someone.
May we see them through the filter of grace,
love, and mercy, just as you do. It is not
our job to cast judgment or to condemn anyone—that
is your job, and you do it justly. We could
never, for we have our own biases and prejudices.
So remove the scales from our eyes today
and build up our trust in your sovereignty
over all people and all nations. May we
have a missionary heart that seeks to save
and not to destroy.
We
see the ripening of judgment happening,
as people draw further from you, but we
will not fear nor will we be dismayed, for
behold, you will save us and our children
from anything or anyone who holds us captive.
We stand on the promise that we will have
quiet and ease, and none shall make us afraid.
We will not fear, for you are with us and
you will never forsake us.
We
also know that because you love us, there
will be correcting and disciplining—but
it is always for our good and never for
our destruction. It isn’t fun and doesn’t
feel good, but the results are welcomed,
and we thank you for being a good Father
who loves us through our issues rather than
leaving us in them. May we never consider
your longsu£ering patience as permission
to continue living in disobedience. But
I pray that your patience and kindness will
always lead us to repentance.
Thank
you for the sword of your Word that endures
forever. While it cuts through the bone
and marrow, judging our thoughts and feelings,
it is washing us clean and purifying us.
Let it wash over us today like a fiood and
carry away any impurities that may be infecting
our mind, bodies, and spirits.
Thank
you for seeing us, the real us, giving us
the freedom to simply come before you as
we are. We don’t need to perform or seek
attention in any way, for it is by your
grace that we are able to come into your
presence. Thank you, Jesus, for making a
way for us and for providing us that access
to the Father. Forgive us if we have ever
tried to come in any other way. We are just
babes who tug on your pant leg, and you
look down with compassion and lift us up
into your arms.
Thank
you for your incredible mercy that continues
to wait for us to come home to you. We look
forward to the day of restoration for all
your people.
In
chapter 49, the Lord prophesies judgments
against the nations of Ammon, Edom, Damascus,
Kedar, Hazor, and Elam. The Lord speaks
a word against the Ammonites, who have been
occupying Israel's inheritance. He declares
the judgment of ruin and captivity on their
nation but also promises to be merciful
to Ammon in the future as He brings a remnant
out of Babylonian captivity.
Judgment
is also declared upon Edom for helping the
Babylonians conquer and defeat Judah. They
are a cousin nation to the people of Israel,
and yet, in their pride and arrogance, they
treated them as a vicious enemy. The Lord
has vowed to lay their nation to utter destruction
and bare their land.
Damascus
is also called under the judgment of the
Lord. The people will see death and destruction
but are promised never to see captivity.
The
peoples of the east, Kedar and Hazor, will
also see His judgment. As wealthy nomadic
peoples, Kedar will see Babylon carry o£
all of their possessions, and Hazor is declared
to see utter destruction from the face of
the earth.
Elam
is the last judgment declared in this chapter,
as the Lord vows judgment upon the nation
for assisting Babylon in conquering and
destroying Judah. The Lord, however, vows
they will not see utter destruction, and
He will show them mercy and pull them out
of captivity in the last days.
In
chapter 50, the Lord’s future judgment upon
the Babylonians is finally pronounced to
the people. Babylon and their gods will
see complete humiliation before Yahweh,
and their land will see complete desolation.
An army from the north will overtake them
and the Lord will repay all of their evil,
violence, and wickedness they have brought
down upon all the nations.
A
remnant of the people of Israel and Judah
will be brought back to their land as one
people again. They will seek continual repentance
and the will of the Lord their God. God
has declared He will hear them and grant
them mercy. Hope is prophesied, as He will
send a Redeemer to come out of Israel and
bring peace and rest to their land.
ASSOCIATION
| Jeremiah 49:8
Dedan
was a tribe south of Edom and known for
its commerce. They are either being told
that they will be pushed to the depths of
judgment, or they are being told to fiee
the judgment, which I think is more accurate.
Their
association with Edom will put them in the
path of destruction if they stay. And we
see this in our own lives. We aren’t usually
bulldozed by sin—it’s a gradual process
that begins with a thought.
But
if we aren’t near things that will tempt
us, we will be less likely to act upon that
thought. So, if we aren’t hanging out with
the wrong crowd or in the wrong places,
we won’t associate with the things that
can push us further into something we shouldn’t
be in. Heart Check.
Could
you possibly be guilty by association? Is
there something in your vicinity that you
need to flee?
BROKEN
BOWS | Jeremiah 49:35
One
of the recurring themes in this chapter
is a false sense of security. Elam, in particular,
was known for its skilled archers. Because
they trusted in the bow rather than God,
the Lord broke their bow.
He
can do this with us as well. The thing we
find our security in, whether in our occupation,
our relationships, our talents, whatever
it is, is the very thing that He can take
away if we depend on it to bring us satisfaction
and glory.
For
me, it was my voice. I was a singer, professionally
and in ministry, and because I took it for
granted and used it for my selfish gain,
my singing voice was literally stripped
away. Yes, I can sing a note here and there
and still struggle through a worship set,
but my voice clips as if someone is grabbing
hold of my vocal cords when I try to sing,
which is physically painful.
But
because I’ve turned my life around and have
completely surrendered my life to Christ
and His glory, He has shifted my voice to
be used for greater purposes. He has revived
it and rebuilt it for His glory. So now,
rather than singing for Him, I am speaking
for Him, which was always part of the plan.
But
a part of me had to die first. I believe
that if I hadn’t been prideful in that area,
I might still be singing today, but my bow
was broken. And it’s okay. Because where
I am weak, He is strong, and that’s where
He wants us—always dependent upon Him and
not our strength. Heart Check
What
is your bow? Is there something you find
security in that would break you if you
lost it? How can you submit it to the Lord?
Deep
Dive
Why
is this message of judgment on the surrounding
nations so important? How might this apply
to us today?
What
do these prophecies say about the hearts
and actions of the people in these nations?
Is this evident in our nations?
Does
the brief message of restoration balance
out the spoken judgment?
How
is God’s sovereignty on display in these
chapters?
If
the complete destruction of Babylon is yet
to come, how does this relate to modern
society?
Heavenly
Father, Thank you for your mercy that we
can always find in you.
Your
heart for all nations is on display today.
Your desire for all to come to repentance
is evident, even through these words of
judgment. They weren’t being spoken because
you’re mean, they were spoken with a broken
heart to a people who refused that love
and mercy you were so freely offering
to them for hundreds of years. You sent
your prophets to speak, and you still do
so today. Thank you for never giving up
on us. I pray that we never miss the call
when your voice is permeating throughout
our land. May those whose ears have been
closed off be open to hear you and
I pray they will respond in humility and
healthy fear.
We
know that the further a nation gets from
you, the riper it is for judgment. I pray
that we will humble ourselves as a nation
and turn to you. May we not be prideful
in any way, nor think that we are above
judgment, for we will become complacent,
just as these nations did. I pray that all
false senses of security will be shattered
in our hearts as we depend on you for our
strength. May this change in our hearts
happen before our bow is physically broken
and we are brought to our knees. But in
saying this, we will not fear, for you are
with us. You still protect your people today,
and we trust that you will never forsake
us.
Thank
you for your everlasting covenant that will
never be forgotten. You are our habitation
of righteousness, so we rest in your assurance
of redemption. Despite our past and even
future sin, your mercy and forgiveness is
never-ending. Thank you for relentlessly
pursuing us. I pray that our commitment
to you will be just as unwavering as that
pursuit.
I
pray that we will be used as your instrument
to help gather the scattered sheep and to
pick up the broken pieces of the vessels
that are shattered. Your heart is always
to rebuild and restore, so we have a part
to play in that. But ultimately, you are
our Redeemer, the Lord of hosts, who fights
for us, pleads our cause, and gives us rest.
Thank you for that freedom that you have
secured for us.
We
have been given the same beautiful promise
given to Israel. If we confess our sin,
your blood will cleanse us from every sin,
past, present, and future.
Thank
you for helping us to see this glorious
message in the middle of this declaration
of judgment. Your mercy truly is unspeakable.
If there is any sort of pride within us,
where we think that we can do something
without you, please show us where it may
be festering in our hearts but lying dormant
in our minds. We want to lay it all out
before you so that there is no area where
we can be blindsided.
We
are so small in comparison with your greatness,
but sometimes it seems like our problems
are insurmountable. But when we recognize
how good and great you actually are, those
things will begin to shrink. In understanding
that, our hearts find rest in your presence.
We praise you, our Prince of Peace.
In
chapter 51, Jeremiah, through Seraiah, pronounces
God's judgment against Babylon, emphasizing
that Babylon's destruction is inevitable
due to its sins and arrogance. God, who
used Babylon as an instrument of judgment
against Israel, now declares that Babylon
itself will face divine wrath.
The
chapter highlights the futility of idolatry
and the certainty of Babylon's downfall,
urging the exiles to fiee from the city
to avoid sharing in its punishment.
In
chapter 52, Jeremiah, or those who compiled
the books, recounts the fall of Jerusalem
and the tragic events that followed, including
the capture and exile of King Zedekiah,
the destruction of the Temple, and the deportation
of the people to Babylon.
The
chapter serves as a historical record of
the fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecies
and the consequences of Judah's disobedience.
It ends with a note of hope as King Jehoiachin
is released from prison and given a place
of honor in Babylon, symbolizing the potential
for restoration.
NOT
FORSAKEN | Jeremiah 51:5
Jeremiah
51 is a powerful chapter in which God pronounces
judgment on Babylon for its sins against
His chosen people. This passage reminds
us that God does not forsake those who belong
to Him and that He will bring justice against
nations that rise up against His people.
Today, as followers of Christ, we are part
of God's chosen people. As we look around
at our society, community, and even our
own families, we must refiect on whether
there is guilt or sin that opposes God's
will. Heart Check.
Is
your land full of guilt and opposition against
God?
GREATER
THAN | Jeremiah 51:17-19
This
section of Jeremiah 51 emphasizes the futility
and foolishness of idolatry. It highlights
how absurd it is for people to worship things
they have created with their own hands,
as these idols are no greater than the people
who made them.
In
contrast, we have a God, Yahweh, who is
the Creator of heaven and earth, commanding
the winds, the waters, and all of creation.
Heart Check.
Are
you worshiping the creations of your own
hands, or are you worshiping the Creator?
THE
WAR CLUB | Jeremiah
In
this passage, God speaks of breaking down
various elements of Babylon, symbolizing
the destruction of all forms of power and
oppression. The imagery of breaking in pieces
governors, commanders, and even the farmer
and his team represents the totality of
God's judgment against those who have done
evil in Zion. This refiects God's ability
to dismantle any stronghold, addiction,
or harmful process in our lives. Call upon
Him to shatter these obstacles so you can
be free and fully surrendered to His will.
Heart Check.
Are
there strongholds, addictions, or harmful
processes in your life that need to be broken
down? What is holding you back that the
Lord's war club could destroy today?
PROPHECY
& TRUST | Jeremiah
This
statement is directed at Babylon, referred
to metaphorically as a “destroying mountain.”
Though Babylon was situated on a plain,
it is compared to a mountain due to its
immense power and infiuence and it’s ziggurats.
However, God’s declaration that He will
make it a “burnt mountain” signifies its
impending destruction.
Babylon,
historically, was the site of the Tower
of Babel—an emblem of pride and self-exaltation.
Despite being a center of wealth and splendor,
known for its Hanging
Gardens
(one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient
World), Babylon's pride would lead to its
downfall. God’s judgment is clear: Babylon,
despite its grandeur, would become a perpetual
wasteland, with no stone left to serve as
a foundation.
This
prophecy was fulfilled, and the ruins of
Babylon now stand as a testimony to the
reliability of God’s Word. Even today, as
remnants of the ancient city continue to
be damaged or removed, we see the fulfillment
of the prophecy that "not one stone
will be left." This serves as a potent
reminder: God's Word will always prevail,
no matter how much time has passed. Heart
Check.
Do
you trust that God will fulfill His Word,
even when it concerns ancient propecies?
FLEE
NOW | Jeremiah
In
this passage, God warns against believing
in rumors of further vengeance from future
Babylonian rulers, as their downfall is
imminent.
The
key takeaway here is recognizing when God
provides an opportunity to escape from a
dangerous or compromising situation. Sometimes,
we receive a clear prompting, a "cracked
door," to fiee before we are caught
in the judgment meant for others around
us. We must be attentive to the Holy Spirit's
nudges and act before it's too late. Heart
Check.
Has
the Lord given you an opportunity to flee
from a harmful situation?
THE
WHINEY WEEPING FELLA | Jeremiah
In
Jeremiah, we are challenged to stand up
with burning devotion and love for those
we know.
A
personal story: today, as I was finishing
Jeremiah, I told my husband how much I love
this book. He said, “Jeremiah? All I can
see in my head is this weeping guy in the
streets who’s just saying, ‘Woe this, woe
that.’” My heart broke because I said, “Well,
you don’t understand his heart dilemma.”
I
continued, “Imagine the person you love
more than anyone, and they haven’t accepted
Christ. The Lord lays it on your heart to
share with them over and over, and not to
relent, but they just won’t listen. They’re
sti£-necked—biblical, right? Their
ears are plugged, and their hearts are hardened
against the word of God.”
He
said, “I’ve never looked at it that way.”
When I mentioned the person he loved deeply,
I could see him wrestle with the idea. He
said, “I wouldn’t want to disobey God, and
I care enough about this person that if
I became like the weeping prophet, maybe
they would turn. But deep down, I’m scared
they won’t.” Heart Check.
Is
your heart burning with devotion and love
for those who need to hear the word of God,
even if it brings you to tears like the
weeping prophet?
Deep
Dive
Why
is God judging the tool He used to judge
Israel?
Why
is Babylon so guilty?
What
could be done to relieve the guilt in our
nations today so we aren't judged?
Is
history important? Why should we know what
happened and when?
Why
can't we just do what we want? Can God be
trusted and believed?
Heavenly
Father, We come before You with hearts full
gratitude and praise.
We
thank You for Your righteous vengeance against
injustice, for we know that You are a God
of justice who does not overlook wrongdoing.
We are humbled by the knowledge that we
do not have to take vengeance into our own
hands, for You are our defender, and You
will repay according to Your perfect will.
Thank
You, Lord, for Your discipline, even when
it is di£icult to endure. We acknowledge
that Your discipline is an expression of
Your love, meant to correct and guide us
back to You. We ask that You turn our hearts
away from the sins of Babylon, both in the
past and the spiritual Babylon that threatens
our souls today. Keep us vigilant, Lord,
with eyes open to the coming judgment and
the doom that awaits those who turn away
from You.
Father,
we pray for a heart that burns with a desire
to save those around us from the impending
destruction. Stir in us a deep, consuming
passion to share Your truth with those we
love, even if it brings us to tears like
Jeremiah. May we not be complacent or indi£erent
to the eternal fiames of hell that await
those who do not know You. Prick our hearts
with Your Holy Spirit, urging us to do what
is right and to serve You above all else,
even in the face of persecution.
Lord,
we lift up our brothers and sisters around
the world who are facing persecution, who
are even dying for Your name. Strengthen
them, and let their faith be a testimony
to Your power and love. May we not take
our liberties and freedoms for granted but
be emboldened to stand up for You in every
area of our lives—at work, at home, in our
communities, and wherever You place us.
We
ask that You use the tools of today—our
phones, our jobs, our social interactions—as
divine appointments for sharing Your gospel.
Let every conversation, every interaction,
be an opportunity to shine Your light in
a world that desperately needs You. Equip
us with courage, wisdom, and unwavering
faith to proclaim Your truth, no matter
the cost.
We
love You, Lord, and we trust in Your perfect
plan. May our lives be a refiection of Your
glory, and may we always be ready to free
from sin and run into Your arms.
Lamentations
is Jeremiah’s written book of poems expressing
his deep sorrow and cries out to the Lord
as he witnesses the distressing moments
exhibited among the remaining people of
Judah in the land after the Babylonian conquest.
Many of God's people had been put to death
by the sword, died in the siege at Jerusalem,
and were exiled to Babylon, while a few
had been left alive to tend the land.
The
book of Lamentations compares how Jerusalem
was in happier times and how deep their
distress in the land is now. Jeremiah knows
the Lord has brought this upon them for
their disobedience to His commands for generations,
as they chose their own ways above His.
He
cries out his deep, anguishing lament with
tears to the Lord as he looks for comfort
from Him in Jerusalem's darkest days. Jeremiah
recalls the judgment of the Lord that has
befallen them as a people and what the prophesied
hand of the Lord fighting against them has
brought them to.
He
details the destruction and devastation
Babylon has caused in the city and the land
and how the people are dying from the subsequent
famine. He recalls the rejoicing of their
enemies that Jerusalem was conquered and
how they had longed to see the people of
the Lord and the city brought to their knees
before them. He laments how the Lord fought
for their enemies against His people and
how their trusted leaders did not save them.
He
asks the Lord to show mercy and pity on
His people and see their agony as death
is all around them.
BROKEN
HEART | Lamentations 1
Ultimately,
we see what sin has done to this once beautiful
and bustling city. Her people are in exile,
her streets are like a ghost town, her prosperity
and beauty are gone, and it appears as though
there is no hope for her.
This
was all because of their sin and disobedience.
They didn’t heed the many warnings and chose
to live life on their own terms. This broke
God's heart, but it also broke Jeremiah's
heart. Like Jesus, Jeremiah wept over Jerusalem.
His heart broke for what broke God’s heart.
His weeping was God-centered and not selfish.
When
we are born, we cry for selfish reasons,
but as we grow older and mature, we begin
to weep for more significant hurt. But the
mark of a true Christlike heart mourns over
the world's brokenness and the people's
rebellion against God. Heart Check.
What
breaks your heart? Are your tears self-centered
or God-centered?
Deep
Dive
How
does Jerusalem’s downfall display the consequences
of rebellion against God?
What
are the personal consequences of sin?
Does
this judgment encourage self-refiection
or does it bring frustration?
What
role does lament and prayer play in times
of suffering?
What
role does repentance play in Lamentations?
What
lessons can be learned from the fall of
Jerusalem?
Heavenly
Father, Our hearts are broken before you
today.
We
not only mourn over the fall of Jerusalem,
as we read this, but we sigh with sorrow
over the brokenness of our own world, much
of which could be fixed by one single touch
from you. The loneliness, depression, suffering,
ruined relationships, wandering, all of
it is temporary, but sometimes it’s hard
to see past it. I pray that if anyone is
su£ering through a season of lament,
that you will touch their lives and bring
wholeness one again.
If
we need to self-examine in any way to bring
forth anything that may be consequential
of sin, please show us and lead us through
it. Make any adjustments necessary. We know
that your heart is to correct us but never
to condemn.
Forgive
us if we have allowed anything to be more
important than you or if we are in any relationships
that we shouldn’t be. Show us where ties
need to be cut, both physically and spiritually.
I pray that you will restore our virtue
and righteousness. We want to honor you
with everything in us, and that begins by
recommitting ourselves to a life lived in
holiness.
Thank
you for loving us through our issues and
for being such a good and merciful God.
I pray that everyone is able to feel your
comforting presence that dwells within them.
May every ear that hears this prayer stand
in agreement in their hearts to turn their
lives over in full submission to you. For
a life lived with you is one that is blessed
and abundant. With you, the yoke is no longer
hard to bear but is easy. The burden is
light. You carry the weight and give us
rest. You restore our souls. Thank you.
We
so desire to live for you so that we are
firm in our identity and our true purpose
is never diminished. I pray that the line
between good and evil is never blurred but
clearly marked out so that we steer clear
of trespassing.
And
Lord, break our hearts for what breaks yours.
I pray that we will be your hands and feet,
comforting those who feel they’ve lost everything
and bringing hope to ones who feel helpless.
Give us the words to speak to them and show
us how we can be a blessing. Help us to
pray for them.
And
we pray for our nations today. Where security,
order, vision, or wisdom has left, we cry
out and plead for their restoration. May
your hand guide decisions and I pray that
your Spirit will permeate throughout every
chamber, office, and meeting. Give them
wisdom and hearts that fear you. Regardless
of who has a title, ultimately, you are
on the throne, and you are the only one
who can save and give us true freedom and
hope. So we worship you and you alone. We
will not fear, for you are with us.
Lamentations
3, Jeremiah pours out his soul as he describes
his constant agony of being unable to escape
the emptiness inside and the depression
that wells up as he is unable to comfort
those around him.
He
is reminded of the goodness and mercy present
when they relied upon the Lord their God.
How faithful He was to them and how they
have failed Him. He sees hope in that the
Lord does not take joy in correcting His
people and will not allow their su£ering
to last forever. The Lord is the only one
who can quench their aching souls, and waits
for the Lord to redeem them as He promised.
As he waits for the Lord to rescue His people,
he longs for the day the Lord repays their
enemies for the evil they have brought upon
them and shows them His mighty hand and
power.
Lamentations
4, Jeremiah declares the Lord's anger has
been satisfied upon His people, and He has
repaid them for their disobedience and rebellion
against Him. Their iniquity against Him
has brought their su£ering, and everything
has changed. No individual or part of the
land has come under the Lord's swift judgment.
He
laments that those who had seen death in
the battle seem better o£ as they
do not continually endure the hardships
and su£ering of those left behind.
The Lord's wrath has been so great that
no one on earth could've imagined the deep
a£liction the Lord would've poured
out on His people.
Lamentations
5, Jeremiah prays for the restoration of
the Lord's people. He asks the Lord to see
their disgrace and restore their inheritance
from their enemies.
He
recalls all they took for granted, as they
now have to endure heavy workloads and the
threat of death for even a tiny bit of food,
as their enemies take advantage of their
su£ering. It has not been enough for
them to conquer the nation, but they continue
to increase their su£ering. They continue
to a£lict them with great evils and
see that they know no relief. He cries to
the Lord of their weariness of heart and
soul and prays for the Lord's forgiveness.
Although His people have not been faithful
to Him, Jeremiah praises the Lord for His
eternal, unchanging nature and recognizes
Yahweh as the only hope and way towards
restoration for their land and peace in
their hearts.
NEW
MERCIES | Lam. 3:22-23
As
I read this verse, I received a message
in my inbox from someone who said, “I don’t
know how you balance everything.” I say
all the time I really don’t know how I get
through each day. Every morning that I wake
up, it feels as though there’s not going
to be enough time in the day for the sea
of tasks that I need to complete, and I
always feel like my head is barely above
water. On top of that, emails begin to come
in, and criticism abounds.
But
I just keep swimming, and eventually, I
get to the end of the day, and I breathe
out a sigh of relief that somehow, the Lord
brought me through another challenge. And
I get to do it all again tomorrow.
This
is faith—knowing that His mercies are new
each day. His strength is renewed within
us. The night and worries of yesterday are
gone. A new day has come. We have a clean
slate with a new provision and forgiveness.
So when I read that text, I answered, “New
mercies. It’s the only way I don’t go nuts
each day.”
But
if we don’t take hold of that and keep allowing
yesterday’s weight to push us underwater,
we won’t be able to breathe it in. Heart
Check.
What
are you doing with His new mercies each
morning? Is it a breath of fresh air for
you? Or does it seem stale as it id filtered
through yesterday's baggage?
SATISFIED
& HOPEFUL | Lam. 3:24
When
we think of hope, it usually precedes something.
Hope is the confident expectation of the
good that is yet to come. But here, it is
the latter of two statements. Jeremiah basically
says that the only reason he can have any
hope at all is because the Lord is his portion,
meaning he has a satisfied soul, knowing
that God is everything he needs.
Earlier,
he said he must remember God's mercies and
covenant love first. If we can’t remember
this and don’t have a satisfied soul, hope
will dwindle because we will always feel
as though we are lacking, leaving us under
the rubble of our problems. That isn’t hope.
Hope
is fulfilling, believing, and uplifting.
This is why Paul said he had to learn to
be content in all circumstances. He knew
this was the secret to endure times of lack
and plenty. He knew that it was only by
God’s strength that he could be lifted to
do anything, and it would never come from
his own doing. That belief is where contentment
comes from—God is everything we need; therefore,
we are never lacking, and we can be content
in all circumstances. And from that, true
hope can go forth. Heart Check.
Are
you satidfied in your life? Where does your
hope come from?
WAIT
FOR HIM | Lam. 3:25
This
idea of waiting for the Lord here differs
from the kind of waiting I do each morning
with my son. Without fail, I was in the
car, honking the horn, knowing that he would
be late for school, and he couldn’t be bothered
by it. He has no urgency and inevitably
always forgets to fill his water bottle
or needs to run back inside for his football
bag.
And
this irks me to the core! The kind of waiting
we are speaking of here is a quiet confidence
that the Lord’s will and timing are perfect,
even if we think we will be late. It is
knowing that His will is perfect and being
accepting of it. There’s no fretting, complaining,
whining, kicking and screaming, or anything
else that expresses mistrust and disbelief.
Heart Check.
How
good are you waiting for the Lord? Is your
confidence and trust in Him quiet? Or are
you displaying mistrust and disbelief in
His timing and plans?
Deep
Dive
What
are ways that prayers may be blocked, as
depicted throughout the Bible?
Is
grief and a£liction ever justified?
What does Jeremiah say?
What
are the consequences of putting our trust
and faith in human leaders? How can we guard
against it?
How
can we prevent our communities from spiritual
decay?
What
can we learn from Jeremiah’s prayer? How
can it be personally applied to your life?
Heavenly
Father, Thank you for always remembering
us.
Thank
you for always looking upon us with tender
care and seeing us as the children you created
us to be. You don’t look at our weaknesses—you
see your strength in them. You don’t look
at our sin, you see the blood of Jesus washing
over us. But if there is any sin within
us, we repent today. We recognize your sovereignty,
for you reign over all and your throne endures
forever, right along with your steadfast
love. Restore and renew a right spirit within
us. Renew our minds, giving us hope for
today and an even brighter hope for tomorrow.
If there is any darkness lurking in our
minds, may your light cast it out. I pray
that all depression and anxiety will flea
as we breathe in your peace.
We
loose any ties that have been holding us
captive to anything that is not in alignment
with you. I pray that you will loosen our
grip on anything or anyone we are holding
on to that we should be setting free. The
only thing we want to cling to is you.
Thank
you for lifting us up when we have fallen
and when we have forsaken our crown that
you have placed on our head. Even if we
have knocked it off, you are right
there to pick it up and put it back in place.
Even if the world can’t see the restored
glory within us, all that matters is that
you do. This life is not the final destination,
and nothing on this earth has the final
say. You bear the final word, so we will
not accept defeat, because you’ve already
won Jesus. And we are your prize. Hallelujah.
We
wait for you today and always, and we seek
you with our whole heart. You are so good
to those who do, so we quiet our spirits
before you, as we wait for the full perfection
of your salvation. In the meantime, help
us to bear the yoke of our youth. While
we are here, I pray that we will be faithful
in the little things and work while we can.
May we always yield to your Word, silently
reflect on it, and allow it to take root
so that we will have confident patience
when we face adversity. This life is like
study hall, and the true test is yet to
come. I pray we will be diligent and faithful
studying the scripture and applying it daily.
Let it be written on our hearts so that
we can pull hope from it when the light
seems to dim.
You
are always the dawn of hope each day, as
your new mercies rise with the sun. The
moment we wake up and take our first conscious
breath, we are being revived as we breathe
in your grace. May we let go of yesterday’s
worries and walk into the promise of a new
day that has been born. Each day has already
been held in your hand, so we don’t need
to fret. The very things we are anxious
about, you’ve already walked with us and
brought us through. We just haven’t gotten
to that part of our earthly timeline. But
you’re the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning,
and the end.
Thank
you for giving us all that we need. You
are our portion, and therefore we are content.
There is nothing we could ever want that
could truly satisfy and bring contentment
the way that you do. So in knowing this,
we put our hope in you today, for you are
worth the wait. Your mercies never end and
your compassions fail not. So I pray that
we will never fail to love you.
Ezekiel
the first chapter, the Lord Almighty gives
the prophet Ezekiel a vision of His royal
throne, glory, and majesty. He attempts
to provide as much detail as possible surrounding
the cherubim and the throne of God before
him. He recognizes the cherubim, which he
would've been familiar with in the temple,
but in all their glorious splendor. He records
the radiant colors and atmosphere that surround
and encompass the throne of God.
A
description of Yahweh's likeness is also
provided, of such radiance and glory that
Ezekiel immediately falls face down on the
ground in reverence as he hears the Lord
speak to him.
Ezekiel
chapter two, the Spirit of the Lord enters
Ezekiel and commissions him to preach to
the rebellious nation of Israel in Babylon.
He is to declare himself a prophet of the
Lord and give the people hope that the Lord
hears their cries, but is warned not to
be disheartened when the people do not accept
the Lord's words of lamentations and woes.
Ezekiel
chapter three, there is an act of obedience:
Ezekiel ingests the scroll the Lord gives
him, and the Lord equips him to declare
His word to the people. His heart is saddened
to no longer see the glory of the Lord but
heads to his first commissioning in Tel
Abib. After remaining there seven days,
the word of the Lord came to him to proclaim
to the people to turn from their iniquities
and adhere to the Lord's calling. The Lord
impresses upon him to speak to all, for
anyone who dies without hearing the merciful
word of the Lord's warning he will bear
the guilt of their condemnation.
Ezekiel
reencounters a vision of the Lord on a nearby
plain where the Lord reiterates His call
to Ezekiel. The Lord promises to be with
him in all situations and guard his tongue
from personally rebuking the people. Ezekiel
the fourth chapter, the Lord employs Ezekiel
to set up a visual for the children of Israel
to see as he prophesies the coming siege
and exile of the people of Judah.
The
Lord instructs him to lie on his left and
right side for a set number of days as symbolic
of the number of years the Lord will repay
Israel and Judah's iniquities. He is to
demonstrate the defilement of the food supply
and how the Lord will not restrain His arm
in the judgment over Jerusalem.
BACKSEAT
DRIVER | Ezekiel 1:20-21
How
many of us love the saying and song “Jesus
Take the Wheel”? As I read it this morning,
the Lord revealed something to me. It says,
“The spirit of the living creatures was
in the wheels,” and “wherever the spirit
wanted to go, they went.”
This
means we need to stop asking Jesus to take
the wheel and realize that He IS our wheel!
He doesn’t need to take control because
He is in control! We are the ones who are
steering ourselves o£ course. When
we start telling Him where to turn and what
road to take, it’s as if we are His GPS.
But when we get this and realize that we
don’t need to steer, and we can simply go
with the leading of His Spirit wheel, we
can then enjoy the scenery instead of being
a backseat driver. Heart Check.
Are
you trying to be a backseat driver of His
Spirit Wheel? Are you trying to tell Him
where to turn while claiming He has control?
ALL
FIGURED OUT | Ezekiel 1 What in tarnation?
If
you’ve never read the book of Ezekiel before,
that may be the sentiment that is echoing
through your brain right now. But here’s
the beauty—it’s as if God is barely opening
the windows of heaven and giving us the
tiniest glimpse into the grandeur and mystery
of who He truly is. Most of the time, when
we don’t understand something, frustration
and anxiety ride on the coattails of that
misunderstanding.
But
this should actually bring us comfort. When
we can’t understand the why behind what
is happening, we can trust in the who. We
can trust that even if we can’t comprehend
why something is taking place, our great
and good God operates beyond what we can
see in the here and now. He is greater than
our problems.
But
if we think we’ve got Him all figured out
and begin to form our ideas of who God is,
we limit what He can do. But He is limitless!
There is nothing that He can’t handle. Yet,
our limited brains can’t perceive that correctly.
Heart Check.
How
do you see God? Do you think have him figured
out? Or is there still mystery about Him
that abounds?
COMMISSIONING
| Ezekiel 2:4
First,
God gave Ezekiel a vision in chapter 1,
and here we see Him commissioning Ezekiel,
meaning he has work to do with that vision.
As believers, we’ve all been commissioned
to go out into the world and make disciples
of all nations.
So
anytime the Lord reveals something to us
or gives us insight or understanding, we,
too, are responsible for doing something
with that Word. Jesus said in Luke 12:48,
“To whom much is given, much will be expected.”
Heart Check.
What
are you doing with the Word, the insight,
and the understanding that He has given
to you? What have you been commissioned
to do?
STUFF
YOURSELF | Ezekiel 3:1-3
When
we eat the meat and potatoes of God’s Word
and don’t just pick at the appetizers, the
Word becomes sweet like honey.
But
if we only graze on the scriptures, it will
be harder for us to get through the more
di£icult passages. They will remain
bitter if we have not devoured the Word.
There’s a reason God is telling Ezekiel
to stuff himself with it: He knows that
if he allows it to remain on the outside,
the only internalizing that will be going
on is his own thinking and insecurities
that will whirl within him.
But
when you stu£ yourself with the Word,
there’s no room for that stu£, and
we won’t be alone in our thoughts because
His truth will start to kick it out. Heart
Check.
Are
you stuffing yourself with the Word? Or
are you just grazing on it like an appetizer?
SPEAKING
VS. SILENCE | Ezekiel 3:26-27
The
Lord had been telling Ezekiel to speak this
entire time, but now He says He will make
him mute for a season. This tells us that
God doesn’t always work in the same ways.
Just because one method of witnessing worked
before doesn’t mean it will work again.
We
need to know when speaking is most effective
and when silence is even better. Sometimes,
God speaks the loudest through our silence.
Sometimes, our voices are a distraction
or even overbearing when He is trying to
whisper. This is why we must be quiet before
Him before ministering. It is there that
He will tell us to speak and give us the
words if necessary, or He will tell us,
“Zip it, lady.”
Heart
Check.
Do
you hear the Lord shushing you? Do you know
when to speak and when to be silent?
Deep
Dive
How
does Ezekiel challenge or a£irm your
view or preconceived notions of what God
looks like?
What
do each of the descriptions reveal about
His character?
How
can we deliver di£icult truth to a
resistant or rebellious people while maintaining
peace in relationships?
How
does this scroll of lament resonate with
you personally?
What
does it mean to be a watchman today?
Does
God still show Himself and His message through
such vivid imagery today?
Heavenly
Father, Thank you for opening up heaven
and allowing us to see more of you.
Every
time you do that, heaven becomes a bit more
real, as you reveal to us the grandeur and
mystery of who you are. You give us new
vision, new insight, and new hope each time
we grow in our knowledge of your greatness.
I pray that we will not allow our limited
knowledge form preconceived notions of who
you truly are. May we never box you in to
our own thinking and cut off the power of
your omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence.
You are El Shaddai, God Almighty, so we
still our hearts before you and let down
our wings that we have been fiapping in
an attempt to fiy this life on our own.
We humbly submit ourselves before you and
listen for your voice that comes from above
the heavens, through your Word and by your
Spirit.
May
we be like the cherubim, who go wherever
your Spirit leads and always in sync with
you. You are our wheel, so if we try to
go in a different direction, we will ultimately
crash. But Christ is in us, so I pray that
we will not abort or walk away from that
keeping. So we are going to let go of our
attempt to control you and tell you where
to turn and where to take us. We will instead,
sit back and relax and enjoy the scenery.
You always intended for us to live a beautiful
and abundant life. I pray that everyone
who hears this is able to do so. In response,
I pray that we will continually bring you
glory right along with the cherubim and
seraphim that surround your throne. You
deserve it and are worthy of it.
May
these images not bring any sort of terror
but rather comfort in our spirits. And as
you continue to reveal yourself to us, I
pray that we will receive it internally,
chew on it, digest it, and then go out and
do something with it. You have called us
all to be disciples but we are also to make
disciples. Show us how to do that. We trust
that you will give us the words to say,
the prayers to pray, and the actions to
live out our faith with boldness and authority.
I
pray that we can all recognize our commissioning
and the tools that you have given us to
be able to carry it out. May we not worry
about it being successful, but instead,
I pray that we will simply be faithful to
the call, regardless of whether it is received
by others or not.
We
are surrounded by rebellion, and we walk
the line between showing love and grace
while also delivering truth and warning.
Oh, God, how do we do it? I pray that we
will carry your heart in everything we do
so that we never misrepresent your character
or your Word. But please don’t let us be
discouraged in any way when we are mocked
or ridiculed. You are our firm foundation
on which we stand and from which we work.
So we will stand firm in our convictions,
never condemning, but also never wavering
from the fullness of your truth.
We
realize that if we want to be effective
witnesses, it’s going to take some good
personal work on our end. We must sit and
be still before you, internalizing your
Word, and listening for your voice instead
of just going through the motions of what
worked before. You don’t always work in
the same manner, so may we be sensitive
to your leading. Hold our tongue where necessary
but amplify our voice when we are called
to speak, as you would with the watchmen.
We know that you are using us just as powerfully
as you did with Ezekiel, and we are here
for it.
In
chapter five, the prophet is instructed
to demonstrate to the children of Israel
what is to come in their judgment. Ezekiel
is told to cut his hair and, with each divided
third, prophetically declare the punishment
the people should expect to witness.
The
Lord declares His judgment is coming, and
no one will escape His wrath against their
abominations. The people had been warned
since the time of Moses that the curses
would come upon them if they continued to
rebel against the Lord. His grace upon the
people has expired, and the Lord's hand
is now against them. He has pronounced unimaginable
terrors and will witness what it means to
no longer have the Lord fight for them.
In
chapter six, the Lord promised to destroy
idolatry from the land. The people had built
their lives around their idolatry, and the
Lord declared He would lay them down before
the idols they trusted in.
There
is a prophecy of spiritual renewal towards
the Lord for future generations. Not all
are foretold to see death in their coming
destruction, but the Lord will protect a
remnant of His people and exile them to
foreign lands. When this prophecy is witnessed,
His people will know He is the True Lord
over the earth, and only He is worthy of
their worship.
In
chapter seven, the judgment is proclaimed
among the nations, and the rest of the Lord's
people in Judah will soon see His judgment
upon them. He will repay their wickedness
and abominations against Him they have displayed
throughout the land. Soon, all rejoicing
will end, and all that will be heard is
mourning.
The
Lord's patience has ended, and the day is
pronounced of the Lord no longer staying
His hand of judgment and wrath upon His
people.
Ezekiel
8 In a vision, Ezekiel sees the Almighty
God, and He takes Ezekiel to Jerusalem.
There, he sees an idolatrous abomination
that has provoked the jealousy of the Lord,
where the king worships in the Temple of
the Lord. The idolatry was rampant throughout
the city of the Lord, and even the priests
of the Lord were worshiping these idols.
The Lord has vowed to rid all of these abominations
towards Him from the land and repay the
people for their rebellious acts against
Him and His name.
SCATTERED
| Ezekiel 5:2
The
word “scattered” really stood out to me
today. In scattering the people, they would
essentially lose their identity as children
of God. This is why the majority of the
population of Israel is no longer genuinely
God-fearing.
If
the enemy knows this, he will use the tool
of scattering to get you to lose your sense
of identity as you become unhinged by all
the distractions in the world. By nature,
I am a scatterbrain. I believe it is one
of the thorns in the fiesh of a creative.
We want to do all things and see squirrels
everywhere. This can be both a blessing
and a curse if not stewarded well.
For
much of my life, I was scattered and not
focused on my true purpose, which is why
it took me 40 years to finally sit down
and do what God had intended for my life.
He has turned all of the scattering for
good, but I can’t help but wonder what He
could’ve and would’ve done through me had
I not been tossed with the wind all those
years. Heart Check.
How
scattered are you? Are you easily distracted?
Or are you foused on what God is doing in
your Life?
RESPOND
| Ezekiel 6
Ultimately,
we see God’s purpose on display here—that
the people shall know He is the Lord. With
God, it always comes down to relationship.
Everything He did was so that His people
would know Him. Jesus went to the cross
to restore our broken relationship with
Him.
He
didn’t bring judgment just to display His
vengeance. He did it because it was the
only way He could get their attention, as
they had become numb to His kindness and
mercy.
When
I think about my life, I was initially drawn
to the Lord because of His goodness and
kindness. But throughout my life, I drifted
in and out of faithfulness because I took
that kindness for granted.
He
finally had to break me so that I would
not continue to waver to the point of my
destruction. It almost happened, and I thank
God that He rescued me before it was too
late. While that breaking was painful and
shameful, I wouldn’t change it because I
will never forget that pain, and it is something
I never want to go through again. I learned
my lesson. So we have a choice… Heart Check.
Are
you responding to His kindness and mercy?
Or is a breaking necessary to get your attention?
USING
THE BLESSING | Ezekiel 7:20
From
the days of Solomon, the people were blessed
with riches in gold and silver. But sadly,
they took those blessings and turned them
into idols.
When
God blesses us with resources, wealth, or
success, we should always see them as a
means to be able to do His work and carry
out His will. If we only see them as a means
for selfish gain, we are abusing the gift
and missing the true purpose of their existence.
Heart Check.
What
are you doing with what God has blessed
you with?
EXPOSING
DARKNESS | Ezekiel 8:7-12
Here,
we see the great sin of hypocrisy among
the city's leaders. They were outwardly
religious and doing all the rituals but
inwardly corrupt. They thought they were
getting away by doing things in the dark,
but they were completely missing God's omniscience
or all-knowing power. There is nothing that
is hidden from Him—He sees everything.
There
will come a day when all that we have hidden
in the dark recesses of our hearts will
be exposed. This is why Jesus came as the
Light of the World—so He could remove the
darkness and expose our weaknesses so we
would not have to face the shame and pain
of judgment.
He
desires to free us from that prison so we
don’t have to wait for eternity to live
abundantly. He wants to bless us now and
will continue working with us daily until
we are called home. Heart Check.
Is
there anything that you are keeping in the
dark that needs to be brought to light?
Deep
Dive
How
can God creatively use your life to communicate
His message to a lost generation?
Does
divine judgment still exist? How? When will
it happen?
Does
idolatry still anger the heart of God? What
consequences will a modern day idolater
face?
What
does the promise of the remnant say about
the heart of God? What does today’s remnant
look like?
Where
do we see abominations taking place “in
the temple” today?
Heavenly
Father, We see yet another incredible display
of your love and mercy today, and I pray
that we will not miss it.
The
way Jerusalem was the center of the world,
we too are at the center of your heart.
We have the wonderful privilege of bearing
your great name, and we know that with that
comes great responsibility. We have the
honor of showing the world who you are,
but when we fail to do that, we are essentially
defiling who you are. Please forgive us
if we have ever done so. We desire to walk
in your ways and observe every spoken word,
whether they were promises written long
ago, or whispers that permeate through our
ears and into our hearts.
I
pray that our lives will not contribute
to the already turbulent waters of the world.
Let us be peacemakers and bring the joy
of the Lord into every room we walk into.
Let us be the example you’ve created us
to be. Keep us centered on your Word and
in your heart so that we do not become scattered
with the wind. Help us to focus on your
will and purpose. Silence every distraction
and draw us back when we begin to go o£
course. I pray that the way we live our
lives will serve as an example to others
in the best way possible. Deal with our
sin so our sin does not deal with us. And
may our faith be genuine so that we will
be found faithful in the end.
Help
us to keep our bodies and minds holy, as
they serve as a temple for your Holy Spirit.
If we have defiled it in any way, please
forgive us and stop us in our tracks should
we ever begin to do so. We want to live
righteous and pure lives, holy before you
always. So keep us in alignment, for we
know that your love and grace does not negate
the need to be holy. Thank you for loving
us enough to do whatever necessary to bring
us back to you. I pray that we will always
respond to your kindness and mercy so that
there is no breaking that is needed in order
to get our attention. But should it happen,
we know that everything you do is for a
good purpose. We know that you are Lord,
and we will hold that banner high over our
lives for the rest of our days.
So
may we put our complete trust in you, knowing
that nothing on this earth can save us.
No amount of wealth will lead us to the
throne. It is only by your grace that we
are ever saved, so I pray that we will hold
that at the highest value, over all things.
We thank you for blessing us, but I pray
those blessings will not become what we
worship. May our success never outweigh
our devotion to you.
Just
as we have seen that your judgment cannot
be outrun, I take this as a blessing, for
we can’t outrun your Presence, and for that,
I am grateful. We don’t want to fiee from
you. We want to be always near. So if it
takes a little bit of painful tugging, let
it be so, as it pales in comparison to the
eternal pain that one would face when they
walk away for good.
I
pray that we won’t fall into the same traps
as the Israelites. Guard our hearts and
minds and do not allow our feet to slip
into the grip of the enemy. May we always
remain humble and repentant, never mistaking
your patience for permission. And if any
weeds of pride begin to sprout within us,
I pray that we will recognize them quickly
for what they are and pull them out so you
don’t have to.
Thank
you, Jesus, for being the Light of the World
and exposing all the dark corners of the
earth and in our hearts. I pray that you
will bring things to light that we may be
trying to hide so that we can deal with
it on this side of eternity. Your desire
is for us to live abundantly now, and not
simply survive. This life is just a shadow
of the things to come, so I pray that as
we live our lives in surrender to you, we
will begin to see the beauty that awaits
us as you continually set us free from the
bondage of darkness. What a beautiful promise
that is.
Ezekiel
9 Ezekiel has a vision where God sends out
six armed men and a man dressed in linen
with a writing case. The Lord instructs
the man in linen to mark on the forehead
of those in the Temple who weep and mourn
for the sins committed in Jerusalem. All
those without a mark will be punished for
their hardened hearts.
Ezekiel
cries out to the Lord regarding the sheer
number who will be slain. The Lord tells
Ezekiel that their sins of violence, injustice,
and wickedness justify His wrath against
them.
Ezekiel
10 Ezekiel's vision continues as the Lord
instructs burning coals from under the throne
of glory to be symbolically scattered onto
the city of Jerusalem. Ezekiel recognizes
the Lord's throne with the surrounding cherubim
when he first sees God's glory at the Kebar
River.
Ezekiel
watches as he envisions the glory of the
Lord leaving the Temple.
Ezekiel
11 The Lord then transports Ezekiel to the
east gate in his vision to where prominent
men of the city were gathered along with
Jaazaniah and Pelatiah, the chief leaders
of the people. These men have led the people
into deep wickedness and idolatry, and the
Lord instructs Ezekiel to proclaim to them
the blood of the people of Israel is on
their heads. They have turned the people
away from the Lord, and they, along with
their people, will now be judged as the
nations they have mirrored themselves after.
The
Lord commands Ezekiel to speak to those
currently in exile to not listen to the
false prophets' pious proclamations in Jerusalem
who deny their wickedness and proclaim the
kingdom of Israel was the only wicked kingdom.
He should speak comfort that the Lord has
promised to restore them one day back to
their land and they should rid it of all
idolatry.
Ezekiel
envisions the glory of the Lord leaving
the city of Jerusalem.
Ezekiel
12 The Lord commands Ezekiel to pack up
belongings like an exile, leave the city
through a hole he digs in the wall, and
not look back on the land he leaves. All
of this is to be proclaimed as a sign to
the people that he is the Lord's prophet
and proclaims the fate of the people and
their king, Zedekiah. All of Jerusalem will
feel the wrath of the Lord as the city is
destroyed, and the land will be made desolate.
The
people have a common proverb they repeat,
and the Lord instructs Ezekiel to declare
that He will not delay in putting an end
to this proverb as He brings His prophecy
to fruition in this current generation.
MARKED
| Ezekiel 9:1-4
In
Ezekiel 9:1-4, the imagery is powerful and
sobering. God calls upon six men, representing
executioners, to come from the upper gate
facing north. These are not ordinary men
but cherubim, angels of judgment. Alongside
them is a seventh figure, a man clothed
in linen, symbolizing a high priest or a
royal scribe. This man carries a writing
case, signifying his role in recording events
and marking individuals.
The
number seven is significant, representing
completion and perfection. The seventh man,
distinguished by his linen garment, is tasked
with marking the foreheads of those who
sigh and groan over the abominations committed
in Jerusalem. This mark is a sign of protection,
indicating that those who are distressed
by the sins around them are set apart by
God.
The
mark, referred to as a "tav" in
Hebrew, is the last letter of the Hebrew
alphabet. Historically, the "tav"
has been depicted as a cross or an "X,"
which some connect to the symbolism of the
cross in Christianity. This mark on the
forehead represents God’s seal of protection
and ownership, a spiritual safeguarding
against impending judgment.
Today,
we understand that as believers, we are
marked by the Holy Spirit, sealed by God,
and protected from the enemy’s schemes.
This mark is not physical but spiritual,
evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit in
our lives as described in Galatians. It’s
a sign of our obedience to God’s commandments
and our alignment with His will.
Are
you marked by God today? Does your life
reflect the fruit of the Spirit, showing
that you are sealed ans set apart by God?
ALL
SEEING EYES| Ezekiel 10:12
So,
those eyes again—full of eyes all around!
If
you’ve ever seen a depiction of the cherubim,
especially with all the eyes on the wheels,
you know what I’m talking about. I remember
the first time I saw it; I sent it to Kanoe
and said, “That’s too many eyes!” But when
you read this passage, it’s exactly what
it says—they’re covered in eyes, representing
God’s omnipotence and omnipresence.
Nothing
is hidden from the Lord. He sees everything
and knows everything. It doesn’t matter
what you’re doing or what you’ve done that
you think no one else knows about—the Lord
knows.
Is
there something you need to confess to the
Lord today?
COOKED
GOOSE | Ezekiel 11:7
In
a nutshell, this passage is saying that
judgment is coming. You’re going to be like
the choice meat in a cauldron—essentially,
your goose is cooked. To put it in today’s
terms, when we say someone’s goose is cooked,
we mean they’ve been caught, they’re in
serious trouble, or they’re certain to fail.
The
Lord is saying here that those left in Jerusalem
are not the righteous remnant who were marked
and sealed on the forehead. No, these people
are marked for punishment and judgment.
Is
your goose being cooked? Or, are you enjoying
a "savory" meal with the Lord?
SOMETHING
NEW | Ezekiel 11:19
In
2 Corinthians 5:17, it says, "Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
old things are passed away; behold, all
things are become new."
This
verse alludes to the new covenant we have
with God through Jesus Christ, made possible
by the Holy Spirit. This transformation
brings a new heart, a new spirit, making
us new creatures.
Are
you ready for your heart of stone to be
turned into a heart of flesh?
EYES
TO SEE | Ezekiel 12:10-13
Jeremiah
sent a scroll to the exiles, probably even
to Ezekiel, who was also a prophet during
that time. It’s likely Ezekiel responded,
keeping Jeremiah informed that Zedekiah,
the king, would fall.
Zedekiah,
being rebellious, ignored the warnings from
not just one but two prophets.
They
told him, "You're going to die; no
matter what you do to try and change your
fate, it's not going to end well for you."
Despite having eyes to see and ears to hear,
Zedekiah didn't listen.
Are
we that stubbon today, ignoring the messages
God places before us? Are you truly listening?
Deep
Dive
Do
you think we appreciate God's presence in
our lives more today than the Israelites
did in Ezekiel’s time? How can we show that
appreciation in our daily lives?
How
does having God in our lives make us stand
out from others? What can we do to ensure
that people around us can see God's infiuence
in our community?
Is
there anything in your life that might be
taking God's place?
If
your true heart of worship was revealed,
what would others see? How can you align
your actions more closely with genuine worship
of God?
How
are you infiuencing others in their relationship
with God? Are there ways in which you might
unintentionally lead others away from Him?
How
can we develop a healthy fear and respect
for God?
Heavenly
Father, We come before You today with humble
with humble hearts, reflecting on the powerful
truths revealed in Ezekiel,
Your
Word pierces through our hearts, convicting
us of our need for true repentance and unwavering
obedience to You. We acknowledge Your holiness
and justice, and we stand in awe of the
vision of Your glory departing from the
temple, reminding us of the consequences
of persistent disobedience and idolatry.
Lord,
we recognize that just as You saw the hidden
sins of Israel, You see the depths of our
hearts. We confess that there are areas
in our lives where we have allowed idols
to take root—whether it be pride, materialism,
comfort, or the approval of others. We ask
for Your forgiveness, Lord. Tear down these
strongholds within us with Your mighty hand,
just as You declared judgment on the idolatrous
practices in Ezekiel’s time. Cleanse us
from all unrighteousness and renew a steadfast
spirit within us.
Father,
we are reminded that Your presence is what
distinguishes us as Your people. Without
You, we are lost and without hope. We thank
You for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit,
which You have graciously given to us through
Christ. Help us to never take Your presence
for granted. May we be ever aware of Your
nearness, living lives that refiect the
holiness and love that comes from knowing
You. Let our hearts burn with a desire to
honor You in all that we do, knowing that
we are temples of the Holy Spirit.
As
we meditate on the judgments You pronounced
on Jerusalem, we are sobered by the reality
of Your righteousness. You do not tolerate
sin, and we are reminded that You are a
God who judges justly. Yet, in Your judgment,
You also provide a way of escape through
repentance and turning back to You. Lord,
soften our hearts to receive Your correction.
May we never become hardened to Your voice,
but instead, respond with humility and a
willingness to change.
We
lift up our leaders and those in authority,
knowing that their decisions impact nations.
We pray for godly leadership that seeks
Your will above all else. Where there is
corruption or injustice, we ask that You
would intervene and bring about righteousness.
Protect Your people from the infiuence of
ungodly leadership, and help us to be discerning
and wise in whom we follow.
Finally,
Lord, we ask that You would burden our hearts
for those around us who do not yet know
You. Just as Ezekiel was burdened by the
sins of his people, may we be moved to intercede
for the lost and to share the truth of Your
Word with boldness and compassion. Let us
not be content with our own salvation, but
rather be driven by a passion to see others
saved from the impending judgment.
Thank
You, Lord, for Your mercy, Your justice,
and Your unending love. We commit our lives
to You, asking that You would guide us in
Your truth and lead us on the path of righteousness
for Your name’s sake.
In
chapter 13 of Ezekiel, the prophet is asked
by the Lord to proclaim to the false prophets
in Jerusalem that the Lord plans to repay
them for their wickedness against His name.
They have spoken false prophecies to the
people and have declared them as the words
of the Lord. They have not sought the Lord's
guidance and prophecy only to please the
people, and destruction will come suddenly
as they claim to prophesy peace.
The
priests in the Temple should expect to be
driven out of the house of the Lord and
their names to be blotted out and forgotten
throughout the generations. On that day,
the people will know they have not heard
from the Lord. Their foundation of arrogance
and greed they have built will come crashing
down with the rest of Jerusalem, and all
their deception is revealed.
The
Lord will also expose the false prophetesses,
and the people will see the folly of their
charms and spells. The Lord God will display
His power above all and bring them down
to ruin.
In
Ezekiel chapter 14, the Lord speaks
of the elders of Israel who proclaim to
seek the Lord's guidance outwardly but are
inwardly self-seeking and full of unrepentant
sin.
He
sends a warning to come to Him in repentance
and turn away from the secret idols they
have stored up in their hearts to condone
their sinful lifestyles. The Lord promises
to make them an example and warn all the
nations of the dangers of profaning the
name of God. The Lord declares that if Noah,
Daniel, or Job were in Jerusalem on this
day, their righteousness would prove them
to be the only ones who could survive His
wrath.
Four
specific judgments are declared to come
upon the people of Jerusalem and Judah:
sword, famine, wild beasts, and pestilence.
In
Ezekiel chapter 15, the Lord provides a
parable to Ezekiel, comparing the children
of Israel to the useless wood of a grapevine.
They have borne no fruit and have laid bare
for so long that their only usefulness is
seen only for kindling a fire.
Their
unfaithfulness and unwillingness to be His
people have brought them to destruction.
TRUTH
| Ezekiel 13:1-3
One
would think that false prophets would be
easy to spot, but the truth is that we tend
to seek advice from those who tell us what
we want to hear, and that’s exactly what
these false prophets were doing.
In
a time of chaos and turbulence, they were
running a campaign of hope, telling everyone
that everything was fine and pulling the
wool over everyone’s eyes while blowing
smoke and putting up mirrors.
Sometimes,
we can even be like these prophets in that
we say things to appease those we are speaking
to because we want them to like us or accept
us. Or sometimes, we try to comfort people
with false words of hope, even using the
name of the Lord to back it up. Heart Check.
What
is your motive when speaking to people?
Do you strive to tell the truth, as hard
as it may be? Or do you say whatever it
takes to make them like you?
WHITEWASHED
TRUTH | Ezekiel 13:7-16
This
idea of whitewashed walls comes from the
actual practice of building a wall and painting
it so that its blemishes are covered and
it appears strong. I would call this a Disneyland
wall—it was a fake reality. They were whitewashing
the truth, but there was zero substance
in what they were saying. It was smoke and
mirrors, a mirage, and no one took the time
to inspect what they were saying truly.
They
trusted this false hope, and when the storm
finally came, the wall toppled on top of
them. We can liken this to the way the truth
is twisted and covered up in our world today.
Politicians on both sides of the fence say
whatever it takes to win the popularity
contest, even if that means abandoning all
values and truth.
They
will say things are good when they’re not
and call what is good evil. It also happens
in the church, where messages of hope are
preached, but sin and repentance are ignored
in the name of “not pushing people away.”
Or
they will promise blessing and prosperity
to keep the people coming back, but forgetting
that the Son of God lived one of the hardest
and poorest lives on earth. This is why
we need to be rooted in the truth so that
it guards our hearts and heightens our discernment
so we are not fooled by whitewashing. Heart
Check.
Are
you inspecting the walls? Or are you falling
prey to whitewashed truth?
FRUITFUL
VINES | Ezekiel 15
In
the end, the Lord is comparing the people
of Jerusalem to a fruitless vine.
They
were created to be beautiful and to serve
a wonderful purpose, but because they have
become unfruitful in the way they turned
to idols for worship, they are now rendered
good for nothing. Unlike the olive branch,
a grapevine is weak, crooked, it burns quickly,
so without fruit, even its wood is useless.
It is only useful when it bears fruit.
Jesus
used a similar metaphor when He said that
He is the vine and we (the church) are the
branches. If we abide in Him and He in us,
we will bear much fruit (John 15:5). The
way we do that is loving Him and loving
people in the way we show love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
and self-control. If we don’t we too will
be rendered useless, cut off, and thrown
into the fire (John 15:6). Time to take
inventory of our vines. Heart Check.
How
fruitful are you? Are you being useful in
the kingdom by fullfiling the purpose God
placed within you?
Deep
Dive
How
does false prophecy compare to the distribution
of misinformation today?
How
can we distinguish truth and guard against
deceit?
How
can we contribute to the distribution of
truth rather than falsehood?
In
what ways might modern day idolatry be “hidden
in the heart”?
What
emphasis is placed on personal responsibility
in chapter 14? What are the implications
in our lives?
How
can these prophecies be applied to our lives
personally?
Heavenly
Father, How we desire to remain close to
you.
We
see how a life lived apart from you can
so quickly become empty. This extends well
beyond the physical. We could have the most
abundant life physically but still be stripped
barren in our spirits. So I pray that you
will keep us close, as we continue to seek
you in all things. May your Spirit continue
to work in us so that we can be a fruitful
vine, sharing your love, radiating joy and
peace, overfiowing with kindness, patient
in all things, gentle in our words and actions,
while maintaining self-control. When we
do this, our lives will be a living testimony.
Our life will preach without ever speaking
a word. This is what it means to live an
abundant life.
Thank
you for always allowing us to return to
your throne of grace and mercy. If we are
harboring anything in our hearts that grieves
yours, I pray that you will show us so that
we can tear it down and cast it out. We
know that idolatry is still alive and well,
not necessarily in the form of physical
gods, but still competing for our devotion
in every way. Forgive us if we’ve allowed
anything at all to take our attention o£
of you. Nothing can satisfy, nothing can
fulfill, and nothing can save the way that
you can.
We
hear the resounding call for a commitment
to truth. Please increase our wisdom so
that we can be ever more discerning. The
devil is a lie, and falsehood is swirling
all around us, but I pray that we will be
still and listen for your truth in the sea
of misleading voices. Help us to stand firm
on your word and never waver when the world
tries to convince us that we are in the
wrong. I pray that we will not be deceived
by the whitewashing of walls or false promises
that this world o£ers. And may we
be carriers of truth, never manipulating
anyone for our own gain, but always upholding
virtue.
We
know that we will all be held accountable
one day for our every word we spoke and
every action we took. We bear our own personal
responsibility, so I pray that we will not
fear this, but keep it as a reminder to
do well in this life. May we honor you with
every breath and every step we take. You
are our one and only God, and we worship
you alone. Thank you for choosing us as
your people.
Thank
you for every person here. I pray that you
will meet them with a divine touch right
now.
Bless
their families, their homes, their health,
and their finances. Where there are unmet
needs, I pray that you will provide. You
are still a miracle working God, and we
believe that there is nothing that you can’t
do. So our problems aren’t too big for you
to handle, nor are they too small for you
to notice. You know every hair on our heads,
you see every tear that we cry, so nothing
is lost on you. Thank you for reminding
us of that today. I pray that we will be
able to rise up today with new vigor and
filled afresh.
In
Ezekiel chapter 16, the Lord proclaims the
children of Israel have shown their inward
desire to be more akin to the children of
the Canaanites and not the righteous children
of Yahweh. For generations, they have turned
from Yahweh and followed the idolatry and
wickedness of the people who lived in the
land of Canaan before their father, Abraham.
Therefore, they have shown themselves to
no longer be the covenant children of the
Lord but of the same people whom their ancestors
drove out of the land.
The
Lord recalls the humble beginnings of the
children of Israel and how despised they
were by the nations around them. The Lord
speaks of the pity and mercy He took on
them as He declared a binding covenant with
them. He transformed them into the great
nation they now stand in and has poured
out His generosity on them for generations.
They
have despised all the Lord has done for
them and have turned their backs on Him,
their first love, and played the harlot
with their false gods.
The
Lord declares a promise to one day restore
His people and provide an everlasting atonement
for them. He will create a new and everlasting
covenant, and they will again be His people
without end.
In
Ezekiel chapter 17, the Lord speaks another
parable to Ezekiel about two eagles and
a vine. The Lord provides the meaning for
him to speak to the children of Israel so
they will plainly understand their folly
and consequences in aligning with Egypt
and the fate of their King Zedekiah.
Once
again, the Lord provides hope for their
future generations, and He will not completely
destroy His people in their wicked rebellion
towards Him and His name.
KEEPING
YOUR WORD | Ezekiel 17:16-21
The
Lord is declaring His judgment based upon
their sin of breaking the oath with Nebuchadnezzar
and ultimately with God. The Lord has been
very clear throughout the Old Testament
that keeping your word is of the utmost
importance. It doesn’t matter how one made
an oath; they were to keep it. We are still
called to keep our word today, whether we
say we are going to do something for someone,
make an agreement, get married, or pledge
an obligation or responsibility to someone.
God still expects us to fulfill it.
This
one will speak strongly to the “yes” people.
Heart Check.
Is
there something you said you would do that
you have not been faithful to complete?
Deep
Dive
How
does this allegory of Jerusalem and God’s
care for it relate to our lives personally?
What
similarities are seen between the sins of
Sodom, Samaria, Jerusalem, and our nation
today?
What
does spiritual adultery look like for us?
How do we recognize its potential and how
do we avoid it?
What
is the eternal covenant and how does it
apply to your life?
How
important is loyalty to God and loyalty
to others?
What
other Biblical examples are there of the
vine? How does this story compare or contrast?
You
are not done with us yet. No matter how
far one may stray, you still call them by
name and desire for their return. We are
so grateful we heard the call and that we
are never out of the reach of your grace
and mercy. We recognize our own humble and
poor beginnings. Even if some of us were
born into wealth, we were all spiritually
dead and in need of revival. You told our
dead bones to live and granted us life by
the power of your blood. You raised us from
a lowly state to a place of great glory
as your bride. You made us fiourish like
a plant in the field and matured us to our
full adornment. And even when we have fallen
again, you pick us back up and cover us
with your grace and love. When others tossed
us aside, you wrapped us up with compassion.
When we were rejected, you accepted us as
we were, with every fiaw and every fault
and you gave us new clothing of righteousness.
We
are so grateful for this beautiful eternal
covenant that you have made with us. Jesus,
thank you for loving us enough to freely
o£er yourself, without fault, as the
perfect sacrifice. There is no greater love
than that. And now we have a crown on our
heads and we’ve been advanced to royalty.
We may not ever feel it in this lifetime,
but we will choose to believe that your
Word that has been spoken is true.
I
pray that we never take any of this for
granted. May we never receive these blessings
in vain or squander them. I pray that wealth,
success, entertainment, laziness, comfort,
or anything else will never take precedence
over you in our lives. May you always be
front and center of our devotion and worship.
We want to remain faithful to the covenant
and faithful to you in every way, so we
will start by simply being grateful for
who you are and what you’ve done. We are
grateful for every blessing, big and small.
So
may we be a people who honor our covenant
with both you and people. When we honor
our word, we are honoring you. If we fail
to keep it, we dishonor you. So I pray we
will not just be yes people. Give us the
courage to say no where necessary so that
we can be confident in our yes.
We
humbly ask for your grace to extend to our
entire nation and throughout the world.
Forgive us where we have strayed from the
virtue that established this great place.
Bring us back to your Word. I pray that
prayer and faith will be allowed and established
once again in our schools and workplaces.
Yes, we believe in freedom and choice, because
that’s what you desire for us, but your
holiness is above all, and so we desire
for all to return to righteousness. Please
hear our prayer and heal our land. You are
still sovereign, and we know and believe
that no matter how withered we may become,
your redemptive power is greater than all,
and you can breathe new life into anything.
Let it be with our people.
