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Home , Jeremiah 23, Jeremiah 34

109- DURING ’S REIGN -24; -29; ; -51 August 10

FALSE BE DAMNED, HOPE AND A FUTURE, the as GOD’S INSTRUMENT OF RETRIBUTION, and GOD’S FORGIVENESS OF HIS PEOPLE. These are the topics covered in this entry, which is worth four days of reading.

Figs were a delicacy in the days of Jeremiah, and God used those delicious fruit as a visual aid to get his point across – the point being that the exiles in who were remaining faithful to him had won his favour and he would see to it that they would prosper in their foreign land. On the other hand, sinful king Zedekiah and his fellow idolaters who had stayed back in had not found favour with Jehovah, and he would see that they perished like a bowl of rotten figs!

For the exiles who trusted in his word, Jeremiah wrote a letter to the exiles (chapter 29) which contained some sweet promises, which are quoted frequently to help people want to seek God with all their heart. This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."

Reading this passage in context, it is so reassuring. Imagine how the exiles would have felt reading that letter! Whenever you feel like your life is going nowhere, read this passage and pray the Serenity Prayer – “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Bask in the promises of God, and get courage from them. It may help you to be clearer about what to do!

In chapters 27-28, Jeremiah has some strong words for the false prophets who are telling people that Babylon will fall and all is well. God first told Jeremiah to wear a yoke which would signify the 70 year bondage of Judah. One in particular, Hananiah, completely contradicted Jeremiah’s prophecy of 70 years of captivity by telling everyone that they would be free within two years, and he broke the yoke as a sign of his confidence! Unfortunately, God “broke” him for rebellion and he died that year!

Also serving as a warning to false prophets is chapter 23, which contains a scathing rebuke to them. This chapter is packed with powerful points! Just look at this passage:

23“Am I only a God nearby," declares the LORD, "and not a God far away?

24 Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD.

God is no fool! He sees everything! He knows who is preaching rubbish, and he knows the motives of those who preach! There is truly nowhere to hide! And teachers will be judged more strictly! (James 3:1)

And who cannot chuckle when reading this part?

25 "I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, 'I had a dream! I had a dream!' 26 How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds? 27 They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget my name, just as their fathers forgot my name through worship. 28 Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?" declares the LORD.

However, the final verse in that speech is no laughing matter -

29 "Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?”

Sometimes God’s word will not be popular. Sometimes the majority will not appreciate hearing the truth. We have to stand up for God and his word, even when that truth is like a purifying fire, and a hammer that breaks rocks into pieces! (The way that Hananiah was broken!)

36 But you must not mention 'the oracle of the LORD ' again, because every man's own word becomes his oracle and so you distort the words of the living God, the LORD Almighty, our God.

You know we are in trouble when every man’s own word becomes the so-called oracle of God. This distorts God’s word. That’s why it is so important that we all know God’s word, that we have it in our heart so that we can listen to people’s opinions and teachings through the “filter” of the .

Dr. Error! Contact not defined. writes, “If God and his servant Jeremiah are outraged against false prophets, their fierce chastisement is only a warm-up for the judgement that Jeremiah will bring against Babylonia.” This would have provided comfort for the exiles stuck in Babylon, and would have surely motivated them to keep pure in their walk with God. Chapter 50 starts it off – a long tirade filled with predictions of doom for Babylon and promises of restoration for the remnant. As against the Moabites and the Edomites, the prophet points out that their pride is what has brought the Babylon leaders down.

31 "See, I am against you, O arrogant one," declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty, "for your day has come, the time for you to be punished.

32 The arrogant one will stumble and fall and no one will help her up; I will kindle a fire in her towns that will consume all who are around her."

Although I wrote about arrogance in the previous entry, it is worth mentioning here a universal truth – human nature celebrates when an arrogant person falls! Especially an oppressive arrogant leader! Beware…Just one more reason to work on humility!

In chapter 51, the prophecy gets even more specific, when God says that the Medes will be the instrument that “performs surgery” on the Babylonian army. Wow! When you make such a specific prediction, you better be SURE that it will come true, and of course, we know that it did. God is awesome! [email protected]