Short Reflection from Jeremiah 21-36

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

𝕁𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟚𝟙:𝟝

"I Myself will war against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm, even in anger and wrath and great indignation."

It's possible that sometimes God is fighting against us. Not just we fighting against God.

 

𝕁𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟚𝟚:𝟙𝟛

"Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness And his upper rooms without justice, Who uses his neighbor's services without pay And does not give him his wages,"

Let's remember this as we build our careers, reputation, home, family, and relationships. God sees everything and we will give an account to Him!

 

𝕁𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟚𝟛:𝟚𝟠

"‘The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has My word speak My word in truth. What does straw have in common with grain?’ declares the LORD."

There will always be false teachers, disqualified preachers, unqualified teachers. The minister of God should also keep on doing his assigned duty without resignation.

 

𝕁𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟚𝟜:𝟛

“Then the LORD said to me, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" And I said, "Figs, the good figs, very good; and the bad figs, very bad, which cannot be eaten due to rottenness."”

There are no okay figs, not even good figs or bad figs. They were very good or very bad figs.

They were the object of God's favor or God's wrath. Even the NT says whether we are gathering with Christ or we are scattering with Satan.

 

𝕁𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟚𝟝:𝟛𝟘

"Therefore you shall prophesy against them all these words, and you shall say to them, ‘The LORD will roar from on high And utter His voice from His holy habitation; He will roar mightily against His fold. He will shout like those who tread the grapes, Against all the inhabitants of the earth.’"

God is compared to a mighty lion about to go hunting, to devour the prey. Let everyone fear the Lord!

 

[2:08 pm, 09/07/2022] S.R: 𝕁𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟚𝟞:𝟚𝟜

"But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that he was not given into the hands of the people to put him to death."

It might be that some big shot will protect us in the Providence of God. We must be faithful to our calling, but we can be kind to all the people we meet!

 

𝕁𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟚𝟟:𝟙𝟚-𝟙𝟛

“I spoke words like all these to Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, "Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him and his people, and live! Why will you die, you and your people, by the sword, famine and pestilence, as the LORD has spoken to that nation which will not serve the king of Babylon?"”

Thinking about this for already a month now. Sometimes it's the only right way to exist even if the multitude says otherwise.

 

𝕁𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟚𝟠:𝟙𝟜

"For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, "I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they will serve him. And I have also given him the beasts of the field.""

Not just the kings but even the beasts. God ordained Nebuchadnezzar to be the great king. Is NaMo the version of Nebuchadnezzar? All the states of India are bowing to his party nowadays!

 

𝕁𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟚𝟡:𝟟

"Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare."

God has a plan for His people beyond their comfort zone (their country). They were taken into captivity by force, but like Joseph, they shall be kept from utter harm by the Lord. Let's remember this no matter where we have been taken to. God is still everywhere.

 

𝕁𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟛𝟘:𝟙𝟙

"'For I am with you,' declares the LORD, 'to save you; For I will destroy completely all the nations where I have scattered you, Only I will not destroy you completely. But I will chasten you justly And will by no means leave you unpunished.'"

The difference between God's people and the rest of the peoples.

God will destroy others completely.

God will chasten and even punish His people but not destroy them completely.

Taking refuge in God is not only the best way but the only way!

 

𝕁𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟛𝟙:𝟛

"The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying, ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.’"

God will not stop loving because it's everlasting love. This is furthermore illustrated in v37. Many times, Christians wonder whether God stops loving, it's impossible.

I will praise God for His everlasting love.

 

𝕁𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟛𝟚:𝟚𝟟

"Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?"

The omnipotence of God! He can and He will do everything for His good purpose!

 

𝕁𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟛𝟛:𝟙𝟙

"the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say, ‘Give thanks to the LORD of hosts, For the LORD is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting’; 'and of those who bring a thank offering into the house of the LORD. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were at first,' says the LORD."

Those who know the lovingkindness of God are joyful, grateful, and generous!

 

𝕁𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟛𝟜:𝟙𝟟

"Therefore thus says the LORD, 'You have not obeyed Me in proclaiming release each man to his brother and each man to his neighbor. Behold, I am proclaiming a release to you,' declares the LORD, 'to the sword, to the pestilence and to the famine; and I will make you a terror to all the kingdoms of the earth."

Kindness to servants, employees, subordinates, juniors. God demands it.

 

𝕁𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟛𝟝:𝟙𝟠-𝟙𝟡

"Then Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites, "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, 'Because you have obeyed the command of Jonadab your father, kept all his commands and done according to all that he commanded you; therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, "Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not lack a man to stand before Me always."'"

Indeed, there's a blessing from the Lord upon those who obey their parents in the Lord! Ephesians 6:1.

 

𝕁𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟛𝟞:𝟚𝟞

"And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king's son, Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, but the LORD hid them."

The Lord knows how to protect His people from enemies!