October 25, 2016
Paul wrote to Timothy that he should preach while the people were receptive, for a day would be coming when they would not “endure sound teaching.” In many cases, this time is already here. Many pulpits already pour out a feel good gospel that is no gospel at all. Yet, do not despair. There are still true preachers and there are still those ready to hear and obey. So preachers, keep preaching, “in season and out.” And hearers, keep supporting the preaching of the gospel that calls all to repentance and salvation in Christ Jesus.
October 24, 2016
Amidst prophecies to the Jewish remnant and the nations surrounding Israel, God gave Jeremiah a message for Baruch, Jeremiah’s assistant and scribe. Jeremiah may have been God’s mouthpiece, but Baruch was his pen, and it had left him saying, “Woe is me” (Jer. 45:3). So, God gave a specific word to Jeremiah for Baruch: “Don’t seek great things for yourself. Be satisfied that you have been given your life.” You see, God doesn’t just address kings and nations, he also speaks to individuals. Baruch, who had written down chapter after chapter of Jeremiah’s prophecies, received one little chapter (Jer. 45) all to himself. As you read God’s Word, do you ever feel that a certain passage was written just for you?
October 23, 2016
The remnant that remained in Jerusalem after its fall to Babylon came to Jeremiah asking him to pray to God concerning their plan to escape to Egypt. They begged him to pray to the Lord on their behalf, committing to do whatever the Lord instructed. Yet even as Jeremiah declared God’s response, he predicted their disobedience. Apparently, the people only wanted God’s approval for their plans. When Jeremiah told them that they would die if they went to Egypt, but live if they remained in Jerusalem, they rejected his godly counsel and left for Egypt anyway. Many people today are like this. They just want the preacher to bless the plans they have already made. They really don’t want to hear and obey the Word of the Lord.
October 22, 2016
This was the Word that the Lord gave Jeremiah for Ebed-melech the Ethiopian eunuch who had rescued him from the cistern. The city of Jerusalem would fall, but the Ethiopian would be saved. On the eve of Jerusalem’s fall, a Gentile was promised safety. This anticipates the salvation of the Ethiopian eunuch that Philip met on the desert road to Gaza in Acts 8:26-39. Even in the broad scope of nations at war, God cared for the one who gave aid to His prophet and believed His Word. God still cares for the one who does so.
October 21, 2016
Jerusalem was extremely dry, especially during the summer months, so its inhabitants dug cisterns to collect rainwater. These cisterns were hewn out of the limestone rock prevalent there. They were usually pear-shaped, with a small 2 to 3 foot opening at the top and 15 to 20 feet deep at the bottom. It was into one of these cisterns that the prophet Jeremiah was imprisoned for preaching the Word of God. There was no place to sit nor sleep, just a muddy bottomed cavern with a narrow ray of sunshine passing through the opening above. Perhaps Jeremiah thought it ironic as he cried out from this hollow tomb, remembering his prophecy concerning broken cisterns, “For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water” (Jer. 2:13). God heard his cry and sent someone to rescue Jeremiah from the miry pit. And God has sent another Rescuer, who is the Living Water, Christ Jesus, to save us too.
October 20, 2016
Up until that time, all of the prophecies that the Lord had given Jeremiah had been delivered orally. So the Lord instructed Jeremiah to get a scroll and have every message recorded in writing. Jeremiah enlisted Baruch to be his secretary and repeated every message for him to write down. Later, when the scroll containing all these prophecies was read to King Jehoiakim, the king burned the scroll in his fireplace and ordered Jeremiah arrested. Yet, this did not stop God’s Word. For God hid Jeremiah from the king and had him repeat all the messages once again for Baruch to write down. In the end, King Jehoiakim was killed by the Babylonians as Jeremiah prophesied, but the writings of Jeremiah remain to this day. Heaven and earth may pass away, but the Word of God remains forever.
October 19, 2016
Jeremiah prophesied the coming of a “righteous Branch” from David that would restore and rule over Israel. This can be none other than the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Both Jeremiah and Isaiah prophesied of this coming “Branch” (Jer. 23:5; Isa. 4:2, 11:1). Jesus, who was born into the Davidic line both biologically through his mother, and legally through his adopted father, is the fulfillment of this prophecy. However, this fulfillment is still partial in that he has yet to come to rule as King. He has already come as the Righteous Branch, the Son of David, Son of God, but He will soon return as the Righteous Judge and King over all. Jeremiah offered this word of hope, so that the people during his time would obey God. This is still the reason for this word of hope. Obey the gospel, so that you may be grafted into the Branch and be ready for His return.
October 18, 2016
From his imprisonment in the court of the king’s guard, and while the Babylonian siege threatened Jerusalem, Jeremiah prayed. He prayed to the Creator God whose power is so great that “nothing is too hard” for Him. Do you believe this? What circumstances are you facing that you doubt God’s power to overcome? Where have you given up? Remember how Jeremiah prayed. And remember how the angel Gabriel spoke to Mary about Christ’s conception saying, “For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37). Nothing is too hard for our God.
October 17, 2016
Jeremiah prophesied of a day when Israel would return from being scattered among the nations to the land of promise, a day when their “weary” and “languishing” souls would be “satisfied” and “replenished” by the Lord Himself. And so, Jesus came saying, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matt.11:28-30). It is the Person of Jesus that God has given to satisfy our souls.
October 16, 2016
This was the word of the Lord that Jeremiah prophesied for those Jews exiled in Babylon. They had lost hope because God had allowed them to be carried off from their homes to a strange land. Jeremiah encouraged them to call upon the Lord and not to despair of God’s goodness towards them. Sometimes we are like exiles. We feel that God has forsaken us and we fall into despair. Yet, God’s Word reminds us not to give up hope. For the Lord has an ultimate plan. It may lead through a season of darkness, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Don’t despair. Call upon the Lord and He will hear you.