Bible Reading Reflection from Jeremiah 46-52

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (JAC), a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟜𝟞:𝟚𝟠

“‘O Jacob My servant, do not fear,’ declares the LORD, ‘For I am with you. For I will make a full end of all the nations Where I have driven you, Yet I will not make a full end of you; But I will correct you properly And by no means leave you unpunished.’”

God punishes every disobedient people, including His people, but He will not utterly destroy His people because He has a plan to restore them. All other nations shall perish but not Israel. The Scripture assures this again and again. And so, we see Israel still remaining while other ancient nations and their people are no longer extant.

It's foolish for people to ignore or neglect the veracity of Biblical predictions and warnings. There will be no excuse for ignorance, only damnation. God drowned the entire world once; He will do it again. He plunged the whole world into damnation just because a naive couple ate a fruit. What makes people think God will understand them for their ignorance. Hell beneath is excited to meet them, Isaiah said!

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟜𝟟:𝟜

"On account of the day that is coming To destroy all the Philistines, To cut off from Tyre and Sidon Every ally that is left; For the LORD is going to destroy the Philistines, The remnant of the coastland of Caphtor."

If the Lord punished His people, why would not He punish the wicked nation? If the Lord chastises the redeemed for their sins, why wouldn't He pour out His wrath on those who defy Him? If the Lord allows bad things to happen to God's people, why won't evil things happen to the godless? If the saints of God aren't living a perfect life, why would anyone think sinners are enjoying a great life? The worst life of a believer is better than the best life of an unbeliever.

In fact, Jesus said it would have been better if the stumblers were not born. If they are born, still it's better to get drowned in the bed of an ocean. Hmm! Even the life of an aborted fetus is better than the best successful life of an unbelieving billionaire!

So, stop envying those millionaires and billionaires, and your neighbors next door!

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟜𝟠:𝟙𝟘

"Cursed be the one who does the LORD'S work negligently, And cursed be the one who restrains his sword from blood."

Wow! This curse is upon those who don't do the work of God diligently.

And what work of God is Jeremiah talking about? It's to kill, to destroy, to burn down the cities.

The kings and soldiers must not hesitate to kill the Moabites. They should not have a second thought to stab pregnant women to death. They should not show mercy to the crying child, nor to the elderly citizens. They must strike them to death. They must set their houses, homes, fields on fire.

Or else God will curse them. Wow! BTW, that’s exactly how wars were fought in ancient times. David, the man after God's own heart had slaughtered ten thousand people. Samuel the prophet hacked King Agag into pieces!

God drowned everyone in the flood of Noah! He rained sulfuric acid upon Sodom and Gomorrah! And God didn't spare His Own Son when He bore the sins of His people; He damned Him at the Cross!

Sins lead to death. Even Jesus, though not a sinner, but a sin-bearer had to bleed and die.

To love God is to hate what God hates

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟜𝟡:𝟛𝟡

"But in the latter days I will restore the fortunes of Elam, declares the LORD."

The repeated refrain is this in the latter days God will restore those whom He would destroy. God seeks repentance unto Him. God does everything for our own good. Indeed, He doesn't take pleasure in the death of the wicked!

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟝𝟘:𝟚𝟡

"Summon many against Babylon, All those who bend the bow: Encamp against her on every side, Let there be no escape. Repay her according to her work; According to all that she has done, so do to her; For she has become arrogant against the LORD, Against the Holy One of Israel."

So, God will repay each one according to their works. Indeed, the Lord's saying, "Do unto others what you want them to do unto you" is applicable even in bad, evil things!

God will make sure it happens!

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟝𝟙:𝟝

"For neither Israel nor Judah has been forsaken By his God, the LORD of hosts, Although their land is full of guilt Before the Holy One of Israel."

If the Lord does not spare His people, why would He spare others?

Actually, God's hand against His people is a chastisement like a good father disciplining his disobedient child. God never will leave them. He cannot because He can make them obedient and righteous again.

But how terrible is the fate of those who defy God! 🥶

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟝𝟚:𝟚𝟜

"Then the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest and Zephaniah the second priest, with the three officers of the temple."

If the temple of God was destroyed mercilessly, and if the priests of God were taken into exiles, it will not be unprecedented to see Churches being burnt down and Christians being persecuted by the government!

It's a mercy of God that hasn't reached us still!